As Game of Thrones obsessives, we had to visit Dubrovnik, home to many locations from the series, and we were blown away by how awesome it is. The architecture here was even more breathtaking than what we saw in Korcula, even if we did find it much more expensive than elsewhere, the walls alone cost us €40 each. Ouch!
Dubrovnik’s hostel scene is fairly typical for the Balkans: social, but not spectacularly stylish as you’d find in somewhere like Ubud (Bali) or Tulum (Mexico). Swimming pools are a rarity as Croatia is still a European country, which means gloomy weather for over half the year.
Between ourselves and our friends, we’ve stayed at all of these hostels so we’re bringing them to you from personal experience.
This post covers the best spots to stay during your budget-friendly Dubrovnik trip!
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If You’re in a Rush, Here Are Our Top Dubrovnik Hostel Picks
A Closer Look at Dubrovnik’s Best Hostels
With so many hostel options to choose from, finding the right place to stay can be challenging. Rest assured though, We’ve got you covered! Here are the top five hostels, separated into travel niches to make things that much easier for you.
#1 Hostel Angelina – Old Town Dubrovnik Southern – Overall Best Hostel
- Price: $$$
- Best for: Couples, friend groups and solo travellers
- Highlights: Air con in the rooms, secure lockers and great tours
- Dorm (mixed): From $64
- Private Room: From $175
- Address: Bunićeva poljana 2, Old Town, Dubrovnik
Hostel Angelina Southern is our pick for the BEST hostel down here, and is one of Croatia’s best hostels too in our eyes. It’s super popular and much loved by all who stay, ourselves included, and it’s not hard to see why! These guys know what they’re doing and have made a really incredible hostel here.
Friendly, welcoming, and super chilled, Angelina Southern is the perfect place to start your Croatian adventures. It is located right in the centre of town close to the city walls so you are already at the heart of this epic place. We were given free city maps too so the staff make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- The aesthetic: This 400-year-old building really suits the old-school Dubrovnik aesthetic
- The location: It’s only 15 minutes from the beach and the Adriatic Sea
- The staff: Friendly, multi-lingual staff are on hand to assist at all times, and help you book excursions
If you want to meet other travellers, this is THE place. There are organised wine tours and guided walks, as well as cosy common rooms to chill out. There are also great kitchen facilities that are sure to help you bond over a meal with new peeps! We didn’t even know Dubrovnik was a wine hotspot before rocking up here and being told by the staff.
There are female and mixed dorms available, so you can keep the cost of your nightly stays down. Plus staying in a private room is a super great way to meet other travellers. It’s just got a cosy, social vibe to it! We only stayed for 1 night though as private rooms are crazy expensive in peak season.
The team who run this Dubrovnik backpackers hostel are really experienced and super helpful. Anything you need, just holla! The dorms are cosy and homely, just what you want in a hostel! We’ll be back for sure.
#2 Dubrovnik Backpackers Club – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers
- Price: $$$
- Best for: Solo travellers and those looking for a family environment
- Highlights: The social vibe, and decent laundry facilities
- Dorm (mixed): From $64
- Private Room: From $162
- Address: Mostarska 2d, Dubrovnik
My first ever Dubrovnik trip was a solo one, and Dubrovnik Backpackers Club turned out to be the perfect place to base myself for 3 nights. There were some great common areas to mingle with other travellers and awesome staff who pointed me in the direction of cool places to see in the city.
I mean, there’s even a friendly labrador onsite at this family-run hostel! It’s hard not to be in a good mood when there’s a dog around. Give JoJo some cuddles when you come here!
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Social vibe: I found it super easy to meet new friends here, and not just JoJo the dog!
- Free parking: I didn’t drive here, but when I arrived the staff showed me the parking spot and said it’s free for guests
- Good garden: Great chilled vibes where it was easy to meet fellow backpackers over some Ozujskos (the local beer)
Dubrovnik the Backpackers Club welcomes everyone with a smile. You’re sure to find someone to explore the city with here and there’s free city maps so you don’t get lost! It’s got a very chill atmosphere, but perfect for getting to know everyone.
This hostel offers something for everyone with dorm rooms as well as rooms with a private bathroom. There’s a kitchen too so you can save money making your own meals. I didn’t use it personally, but it seemed clean enough when I passed through.
If you wanna hit up all the tourist hotspots in Dubrovnik with your new crew, you’re in the perfect spot inside the city walls of Old Town Dubrovnik. You’re also pretty close to the ferry port too.
If you want to take it easy, the place even has a Smart TV in the common room (with Netflix)! This place has a little something for every type of backpacker traipsing through the place.
#3 City Walls Hostel – Best Budget Hostel
- Price: $$$
- Best for: People looking for a quiet spot
- Highlights: Air con, a fully equipped kitchen, and the location
- Dorm (mixed): From $65
- Address: Svetog Simuna 15, Old Town, Dubrovnik
As soon as I arrived at the City Walls Hostel, I knew I was in for a treat. The location was unbeatable – right on the city walls of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. I could hardly contain my excitement as I checked in and made my way up to my room.
Although the rooms were simple but surprisingly comfortable. I had one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages on the cozy bed. And with the city walls just outside my window, I felt like I was part of the history and charm of Dubrovnik.
The common area was small, but that didn’t matter too much since I spent most of my time out exploring the Old Town. And with the hostel located just a five-minute walk from the city gates, I was at the heart of the action in no time.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- The location: It’s in the middle of the historical part of the city, making it easy to access the main hotspots
- Super friendly staff: You know what? Warm staff always leave a big impression on me, and that’s the case here
- Quiet place to stay: Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the party places, and that’s certainly possible here
Of course, one of the highlights of my stay at the Old Walls Hostel was being able to stroll along the city walls whenever I pleased. As a guest of the hostel, I had easy access to this iconic landmark, and I took full advantage of it. The views of the Old Town and the sea beyond were simply breathtaking.
Overall, I highly recommend the Old Walls Hostel for budget travellers looking for a comfortable and convenient base from which to explore Dubrovnik. The location can’t be beat, and the cosy rooms and friendly staff make it a great choice for any traveller.
#4 Old Town Hostel – Best Party Hostel
- Price: $$
- Best for: Party animals
- Highlights: The social vibe, and guitars!
- Dorm (mixed): From $58
- Private Room: From $152
- Address: Od Sigurate 7, Dubrovnik
Old Town Hostel is the best hostel in Dubrovnik if you wanna be active 24/7. The Old Town team have created a super interactive, happy and exciting youth hostel in Dubrovnik, there’s never a dull moment!
Whether you rock up to the Emergency Hat Party, join the Moonlight Nature Walking Tour in Gradac Park or join in with the hookah hour – suffice to say our friends loved every minute of their time at Old Town Hostel.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Hookah pipes: You can get a little taste of the Middle East if you fancy a good smoke here
- Satellite TV: There’s a decent array of channels here if you wanna watch the footie, or anything else
- Guitars to borrow: Staff here are happy for you to get some practice in on your path to superstardom. Rock on!
The staff truly go above and beyond here – down to giving Croatian lessons! But of course, it’s the party vibe that attracts people here. You get your own key so there’s no chance of being locked out!
The kitchen facilities and free spices mean you have somewhere to come back and cook up a hangover feed! You also have comfy common areas for those nights in when you don’t feel like being out on the town and great free Wi-Fi so you can stream Netflix!
The dorms here are spacious and clean, guaranteeing you some good sleep (when you aren’t out partying!). Location is sick too, you’re inside the city walls so it’s super easy to explore the city.
#5 Hostel Free Bird – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads
- Price: $$
- Best for: Remote workers
- Highlights: The calm environment to work in
- Dorm (mixed): From $52
- Address: Andrije Hebranga 53a, Dubrovnik
A little way out from Old Town, Hostel Free Bird is great for travellers who want to experience the old and the new in Dubrovnik. It’s close to plenty of bus services, so you can have an authentic city experience still.
It also has solid Free Wi-Fi and a quiet space for the digital nomads to knuckle down and get some work done.
FYI, there is a pizzeria 50m away from Free Bird! But if that doesn’t do it for you, there are shared cooking facilities onsite that you can take full advantage of. It’s also pretty close to the main ferry port and bus station making onward travel easy.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Non smoking hostel: Must admit that I hate the smell of cigarettes, so this is a massive selling point for me
- Quiet location: Admittedly it’s far from the Old Town, but it makes up for that by being a more relaxed area
- Friendly staff: The staff are the life and soul of Free Bird. It’s no party place, but they really give some great local recs
Well connected to public transport the Free Bird team are on hand to give directions, book experiences in Dubrovnik and offer insider tips and tricks to help you make the most of your time in Dubrovnik.
All the dorms are new, clean, spacious and comfortable. You’re guaranteed a good night’s rest which is something I’d crave when on the road! The dorms also have beautiful views of Dubrovnik, too! I’d say this place is really a great spot for digital nomads to sit down and get inspired.
Travel Safety Tips for Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is very safe, but you can still get ill or fall on the walls here. Get insured to cover any potential issues.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Still Undecided on Which Dubrovnik to Stay in?
There’s a decent selection of hostels here, and to be honest, the prices are definitely NOT Broke Backpacker friendly, so we only recommend treating yourself to 3 days max before heading to cheaper locations (like my beloved Bosnia across the border).
The hostels do at least generally have a good social scene, and most are near the Old Town.
Still can’t pick? Go with Hostel Angelina – Old Town Dubrovnik Southern. We listed it at number one for a reason. It is the GOAT of Dubrovnik hostels with a vibe that couldn’t be beaten.
Perhaps Old Town Hostel is a good alternative if your primary aim is to party. But my suggestion would be to come here specifically for the GoT scenery and other highlights which make Dubrovnik special, then head somewhere cheaper for the parties. Albania is a good option for that!
Whatever you choose, we say DO come here despite the cost. It’s a truly special city that has blown up on the tourist trail for good reason.
More Epic Hostels in Croatia and Europe
Hopefully, by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Dubrovnik.
Planning an epic backpacking trip across Croatia or even Europe itself?
Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides and tips on where to be to stay around Croatia, check out:
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Croatia for a wealth of info!
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in Dubrovnik if you’re feeling fancy!
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Balkans backpacking guide.
Thanks so much for your post. I can’t find Hostel Angelina Northern anywhere else online. Has the name changed? Can you please provide another link to the site?
Hi there! We aren’t really sure what happened to Hostel Angelina North. It kind of just dropped off the map, I am assuming they either closed down or it was our mistake with the name. Sorry about that. It’s a mystery! Anyway, hope you were able to find another awesome place to stay in Dubrovnik… Hostel Angelina South (not north!:)) is the best place in town.