Goa is the hippy-centric, backpacker paradise state in the South of India.
One of the budget-travel epicenters of the planet, Goa is a backpackers paradise, filled with enough beach, sun and weed to keep you happy for a lifetime (and all at a super cheap price).
No matter where about in Goa you stay, there are hostels everywhere. Too many to choose from in fact!
So we created the solution – welcome the no stress guide to the 20 best hostels in Goa, India!
Our goal is simple – to help you book a hostel in Goa.
To do this we’ve taken the best-reviewed hostels on Hostelworld, and put them into one list.
And to take it a step further, we’ve organized those hostels by different travel needs.
So whether you are a solo traveler looking to make some friends, a traveling couple looking for some privacy, or a Digital Nomad trying to meet a few deadlines, our ultimate list of the best hostels in Goa is designed to help you book a hostel quickly.
Let’s dive into the top hostels in Goa!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Goa
- Overall Best Hostel in Goa – Happy Panda – Arambol
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Goa – Zostel Goa – Arambol
- Best Cheap Hostel in Goa – That Crazy Hostel – Anjuna
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Goa – SUMMER by thehostelcrowd – Palolem
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Goa – Woke Hostel – Arpora
The 20 Best Hostels in Goa
In this post we’ll help you decide where to stay in Goa. Organized by YOUR needs, our list of the 20 best hostels in Goa will help you find the best type of hostel that fits your travel-style.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, then remember to check out our best Airbnbs in Goa post too.
Psst! Heading to a hostel? Don’t forget to pack a padlock! It’s well worth having one so you can secure your locker and protect your stuff!
Hostels in Arambol & Mandrem
Set in North Goa, Arambol & Mandrem cater to a budget conscious, hippy crowd. There are loads of yoga and esoteric happenings and general good vibes. Whilst there are no all night parties, there is still plenty to keep your evenings filled with.
Overall Best Hostel in Goa – Happy Panda – Arambol
- $$
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Kitchen
- Airport Transfers
The overall best hostel in Goa is Happy Panda, they’re just great! As the best hostel in Goa in 2020 Happy Panda know exactly what Goa backpackers are looking for and deliver it in full. The hostel itself is cool, clean and community-oriented. There are plenty of communal spaces to hang out in and there’s always someone in the kitchen cooking up a great veggie something for everyone to try. If you’re down for a super relaxing time in Goa you’ll surely love Happy Panda. Bookworms will squeal with joy at their packed bookshelf!
The Happy Panda bar is pretty awesome and serve up an ice cold Kingfisher whenever you want it! Don’t worry if they’re fully booked, they’ll pitch a tent for you in the garden! Beggars can’t be choosers, right?!
Roadhouse Arambol
- $$
- Garden Area
- Laundry Facilities
- Late Check-Out
It’s safe to say that some areas of Goa can get pretty crowded at certain times of the year but not Arambol and not Roadhouse. If you like a quiet yet sociable hostel you’ll love Roadhouse Arambol. This is the kinda place where sing-songs around the campfire are the norm and everyone greets you like an old friend. The hostel itself is clean cut and modern. The dorms are bright and well laid out to give guests maximum space to live in. Just 5-minutes walk from the beach Roadhouse is a great youth hostel in Goa.
Bootstart Colive – Mandrem
- $
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
- Tours & Travel Desk
Bootstart Colive is a bit of a hidden gem. Set back from Mandrem Beach, Bootstart Colive is an authentic, chilled out and super affordable Goa backpacker hostel. Calm and quiet this is an ideal hangout for digital nomads who need to focus on the task at hand. Each guest gets their own storage locker beneath the bunk bed, big enough for your rucksack. Just remember to bring your own lock, Bootstart Colive is super safe but it’s good practice to lock your stuff up!
Vaayu Waterman’s Village – Mandrem
- $$$
- Bar & Restaurant Onsite
- Free WiFi
- Late Check-Out
Vaayu Waterman’s Village is an indie Goa backpacker hostel that has both cottages and cabins available to stay in. Ideal for couples, in particular, Vaayu Waterman’s Village is an authentic Goan homestay hostel on Aveshem-Mandrem Beach Road. Vaayu’s perfectly captures the Goan vibes in everything they do, from the style of the hostel to the welcoming nature of the staff. Admittedly a little more expensive than some other top hostels in Goa but Vaayu Waterman’s Village offers great value for money and good night’s sleep.
Best Hostels in Anjuna & Vagator
Anjuna are Vagator are Goa’ hedonistic party havens. The crowd here come here for one thing – all night parties down on the beach!
JUNGLE by thehostelcrowd – Vagator
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
Set in a classic, colonial Portuguese mansion JUNGLE is a top hostel in Goa, certainly one of the best. This hostel is super charming and easily the kinda place where you can extend your stay. If you like the fresh air, being surrounded by plants and like to have plenty of space to sunbathe and do yoga you’ll just love JUNGLE. If you’re an uber chilled traveller wanting to hang out near Vagator Beach JUNGLE could be the best hostel in Goa for you. The free breakfast is a total bonus and with a cafe of their own makes it one of the top hostels in Goa for 2020.
Lazy Llama – Anjuna
- $$
- Bar Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
- Late Check-Out
Lazy Llama is another great youth hostel in Goa for solo travellers who just wanna relax! The Lazy Llama is lazy by name and by nature; everywhere you look there’s a cosy spot to chill out in! Enough hammocks for everyone…nearly! If you’re a solo traveller who loves getting yourself out there and meeting new people every hour of the day you’ll love Lazy Llama. They’re located just 5-minutes walk away from world-famous Anjuna Beach where you’ll find all the backpackers hanging out! Solo nomads who wanna relax and find a new crew will love Lazy Llama.
Best Cheap Hostel in Goa #1 – That Crazy Hostel – Anjuna
- $
- Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
- Late Check-Out
The best cheap hostel in Goa is That Crazy Hostel. It’s much loved by all who visit and it’s not hard to see why. Nestled away in Northern Goa close to Anjuna Beach That Crazy Hostel has all the mod cons you’d want from a hostel but still has all the hippy vibes you’re heading to Goa to experience. The garden area is That Crazy Hostel’s best feature, colourful and sun trapped it’s safe to say you won’t be straying very far once you’ve checked in! Swing by reception around midday to find out what the evening’s event and entertainment are.
Roadhouse Anjuna
- $$
- Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
- Tours & Travel Desk
Roadhouse Anjuna is the sister to Roadhouse Arambol and has all the same calm and peaceful vibes as its sister but is located, well duhh, at Anjuna Beach! Roadhouse Anjuna is a great budget hostel in Goa and they have everything you could ask for. Free WiFi, air conditioning, a community kitchen and their own cafe too. Roadhouse Anjuna is a highly recommended hostel in Goa as gets booked up well in advance. If you wanna stay at this little gem of a hostel you’ve gotta get ahead of the game.
Hyyge Hostel – Anjuna
- $
- Garden Area
- Ceiling Fan
- Luggage Storage
Hygge is a great cheap hostel in Goa; simple but ample Hygge is perfect for travellers on a super tight budget. Hygge is another super hippy youth hostel in Goa located just 500m from Anjuna Beach. In a closed compound, all of its own Hygge is a real home from home and the team make everyone feel really welcome. Being one of the newest hostels to open in Goa Hygge are still collecting reviews but they’ve made a cracking start and certainly deserve support from the travelling fam!
Best Cheap Hostel in Goa #3 – Bunkker – Little Vagator
- $
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
- Late Check-Out
Bunkker is a top hostel in Goa and great for travellers on a shoestring budget. Bunkker is a new Goa backpacker hostel and is still in tip-top condition. Made entirely from upcycled shipping containers Bunkker is modern, on-point and has a more hipster than hippy vibes. No bad thing! Super close to Rider Mania and Sunburn staying at Bunkker means you can either party til dawn or get an early night. Whatever floats your boat! The dorms are all air-conditioned which is a big bonus!
Best Party Hostel in Goa – Pappi Chulo – Vagator
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Bar Onsite
- Tours & Travel Desk
Pappi Chulo is a buzzing and vibrant party hostel in Goa. If you’re seeking party vibes, community vibes and amazing hostel vibes all in the one place you’ll just love Pappi Chulo. With their own bar in the garden, a great sound system and an even better taste in music Pappi Chulo is the coolest hostel in Goa that party people fall head over heels in love with. Without a doubt, the best party hostel in Goa, Pappi Chulo is the kinda hostel you’ll dream about. The dorm rooms are clean, airy and bright. The beds are super comfy; the perfect place to nurse a hangover before you do it all again.
Dreams Hostel – Vagator
- $$
- Self Catering Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
- Outdoor Terrace
Surely it’s the digital nomad dream to be able to live and work just steps away from beaches like Vagator in Goa? Dreams Hostel allows digital nomads to do just that. Why not live the dream at Dreams? With hippy vibes in no short supply, a decent internet connection and super nice dorm rooms there’s a lot to love about Dreams Hostel. There is plenty of zen areas to work in and you’ll find the hostel office is quite productive. As a much loved Goa backpacker hostel Dreams is a great place for digital nomads and, in fact, chilled out travellers of all kinds.
Pssssst! Not picked the perfect travel backpack yet? The Broke Backpacker team has tried out over thirty backpacks this year! Our favourite travel backpack is the Aer Travel Pack 2.
View on AERHostels in Baga & Calangute
Baga & Calangute are popular among package, mainstream and domestic travellers to Goa. Expect the odd chain hotel and family of holidaying Brits and Delhiites!
Castle House – Baga
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
- Cafe & Bar Onsite
As Goa backpackers hostels go Castle House is right up there with the best, especially for travelling couples seeking a private room! Castle House is great for couples who want some time to themselves, to chill out by the pool and relax in the sun. Located just a few minutes walk from the ultimate beach combo of Calangute-Baga-Candolim and 20-minutes from the city of Panjim Castle House puts you at the heart of Goa’s backpacker zone. The Castle House swimming pool, pool table and library will help keep you and your partner busy, on top of all that beach action!
Hashtag Rooms – Calangute
- $$
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Laundry Facilities
- Tours & Travel Desk
The whole of Hashtag is super clean and tidy, including the bathrooms. If you’re working your way from North to South be sure to start your time in Goa at Hashtag Rooms in Calangute. This top hostel in Goa is just 100m from the beach! Truly a place for everyone Hashtag Rooms is a great hangout for solo travellers, digital nomads and have enough beds to accommodate groups too. If you’re a last minute kinda traveller you’ll find all the information you could possibly need at their tours and travel desk.
Best of the Rest
Best Cheap Hostel in Goa #2 – Hopping Frog – Assagao
- $
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Laundry Facilities
- Late Check-Out
Hopping Frog is the best budget hostel in Goa and is one of the best-connected too. Staying at Hopping Frog sees you just 15-minutes away from the big town of Mapusa, just 10-minutes from Assagao Beach area and is close to Goa’s main train station too. Hopping Frog is a top hostel in Goa for travellers on a micro-budget as they have everything you could need right there; a cafe and bar, laundry facilities and free WiFi too. Hopping Frog is simple but cosy, cool and cost-effective.
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Goa – SUMMER by thehostelcrowd – Palolem
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Self Catering Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
Digital nomads in Goa have a tough balance to strike. Who would want to work when you could spend every waking minute on the beaches of South Goa?! Thankfully SUMMER by thehostelcrowd make it as easy as possible to max out on those beach moments and make the money too. As the best hostel for digital nomads in Goa SUMMER is a cool and calm hostel near Palolem. Ideal for digital nomads SUMMER has decent free WiFi for guests as well as a communal kitchen and laundry facilities, and the private rooms offer desks and are super affordable.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Goa – Woke Hostel – Arpora
- $$
- Swimming Pool
- Cafe Onsite
- Tours & Travel Desk
Woke Hostel is a flashy, high-end hostel set in a colonial Portuguese mansion near Arpora. There is a real charm to Woke Hostel, perhaps it’s the building itself or perhaps it’s the simple but tasteful decor. Either way, Woke is a highly recommended hostel in Goa, ideal for travellers who have a slightly bigger budget to play with and want a taste of luxury. The staff at Woke Hostel are outstanding and host Shadab is quite the storyteller! Whatever, your Goa itinerary, this is a good base.
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What to Pack for your Goa Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear… Here are some other items you might not have thought to pack.
1. Power Bank: Everyone knows the mini heart attack when your phone is about to run out of power. Surviving long bus rides without charging stations can be agonizing, which is why every backpacker should have this Anker Power Bank. You can charge your phone up to 5 times, or plug in two devices simultaneously. With high-speed charging and enough power to keep you going for days, you can conquer even the biggest adventures without a problem.
2. TRTL Travel Pillow: Nothing is worse than a sleep-deprived and grumpy backpacker. Do yourself a favour and get some decent rest with this comfortable TRTL travel pillow. The ergonomic design (fancy!) makes it possible to sleep upright, which can be a real struggle with normal neck pillows. Having this cool pillow makes long bus rides or flights way more enjoyable – and who knows, maybe you’ll even be looking forward to it next time. If so, leave those guys a good review.
3. Active Roots Toiletry Bag: The Active Roots Toiletry bag keeps all of your bathroom essential items organized instead of flowing around your backpack. Having everything handy and accessible in one water-resistant bag is a bathroom lifesaver. This toiletry bag also helps from being that embarrassed person walking back to the dorm room, in a towel, to grab forgotten shampoo.
4. Padlock: Keep your stuff safe, guys. Unfortunately not all dorm lockers share the same security standard. You’ll want a lightweight lock that can fit all the various dorm lockers you’ll clip it to. Having a padlock that is flexible and can fit a variety of locker styles is the best way to make sure none of your belongings wander away while you are out.
5. Active Roots Water Bottle: Sturdy and durable, the Active Roots water bottle survives the roughest adventures while keeping your drink cold or hot for at least 24 hours. Vacuum-sealed and made from stainless steel, the bottle can fit 25oz, which is plenty to keep you hydrated. Super cool bonus: the bottle isn’t just super useful, it helps to reduce the single-use plastic waste – save the planet by filling up your bottle.
6. Universal Travel Adapter: Not every country has the same electrical plug style, so carry along a universal travel adapter. You’ll want one that covers varying voltage levels, has protection from power surges, a fried laptop is not fun, and enough ports so you don’t have to spend all day individually charging your devices.
Why you should travel to Goa
If you are backpacking through Goa, prepare to have the time of your life. Goa is fun, filled with interesting people, and it’s at one of the best bargain prices in the world.
With the help of this guide to the best hostels in Goa, you’ll be able to easily pick the hostel that fits your travel style, and book with confidence.
So, which on are you going to book? The best hostel in Goa for solo travelers? Or how about one of the best hostel cheap hostels in Goa?
Still stuck? Do yourself a favor and just book our pick for best hostel in Goa for 2020 – Happy Panda!
Travel Safety Tips for Goa
And don’t forget Travel Insurance! We’ve put together a roundup of Travel Insurance for backpackers – check it out here, or if you’re low on time, get a quote from World Nomads, our favorite travel insurance provider.
Getting an estimate from World Nomads is simple – just click the button or image below, fill out the necessary info, and you’re on your way!
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Goa has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
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