Philadelphia isn’t just famous for being the hometown of the Fresh Prince and for the tasty spreadable cheese. It’s got a whole lot of stuff going for it, from American history to cool architecture, amazing street art to a vibrant nightlife. There’s always something cool to see and do in Philly.
With all of this stuff happening in the city streets, it can be pretty hard to work out where you want to stay. Do you want to hang on in the historical area or find somewhere to stay where you can meet other travellers?
We’ve got you covered with our list of the best hostels in Philadelphia, which will take the stress out of deciding on the best place to stay for you.
So, there’s nothing to worry about, we’ve done all of the legwork for you. Get reading and get booking…
Quick answer: The best hostels in Philadelphia
- Overall Best Hostel in Philadelphia – Apple Hostels of Philadelphia
Best Hostels in Philadelphia
Need some help choosing where to stay in Philadelphia? Well start with our hand-picked top Philly hostels.
Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??
Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.
Overall Best Hostel in Philadelphia – Apple Hostels of Philadelphia
- $$
- Free Tea and Coffee
- Free Meals (Some Days)
- Very Sociable
We’re not so sure about the citrus orange and green colour scheme at this top hostel in Philadelphia, but we guess there’s no accounting for taste, eh? The kitchen here is actually pretty cool though, spacious and with a lil’ bit of exposed brick going on. It’s our top pick for the best overall hostel in Philadelphia because of its great staff and good social events (nice if you wanna make friends and stuff).
Oh and the long list of freebies, including tea and coffee, beer, drinks in general at their bar – on certain days, and dinners on some days of the week. Dang do we ever like the sound of all that!
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Philadelphia – City House Hostel Philadelphia
- $$
- 24 Hour Reception
- Common Room
- Pub Crawls
You know when you want a social hostel but the ‘social’ side of things is actually a lot of planned/forced fun? Nah, we’re not about that either. What’s pretty great about City House Hostel is it’s fun AND sociable, but you don’t feel like you HAVE to join in, you know?
And that’s good. Which is why we’ve decided to go ahead and call it the best hostel for solo travellers in Philadelphia. It’s also really near Independence Park, home to the Liberty Bell, if you didn’t know.
City House Hostel Philadelphia is one of our favourites in Philadelphia but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Cheap Hostel in Philadelphia – City House Hostel Old City Philly
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- 24 Hour Reception
- Wheelchair Friendly
This place has a tongue twister of a name but don’t let that put you off (even if you can’t say it out loud). It’s the best cheap hostel in Philadelphia, mainly down to its location just on the edge of the Old City. Plus it’s pretty buzzy, making it another good one for solo travellers.
The surrounding area is full of mixed use buildings, making it a pretty dang hip area to hang out in and explore. In some respects, you get what you pay for, since the place could do with a lil’ bit of an update, but it’s fine for the price we reckon.
City House Hostel Old City Philly is one of our favourites in Philadelphia but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel in Philadelphia for Couples – HI Chamounix Mansion
- $$$
- Heritage Building
- Bicycle Hire
- Free Breakfast
Dang this place is NICE. Like, historically nice. They say it’s a mansion in the name, and it sure is a mansion. Think wood floors and antiques and fancy rugs and stuff – that’s pretty much what you get at this recommended hostel in Philadelphia.
We reckon it’s the best hostel in Philadelphia for couples because, well, because of the amazing decor. You wanna stay somewhere special and cool when you’re travelling as a couple, right? So this place fits the bill. Location is a bit out of town, so it’s even better if you don’t really care about seeing central sights and things like that.
HI Chamounix Mansion is one of our favourites in Philadelphia but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Budget Hotels in Philadelphia
But sometimes it’s not all about hostels, right? Sometimes you need somewhere with a little more privacy, you know, maybe if you’ve been on the road for a gazillion days and staying in too many dorms. Maybe if you’re travelling in a couple. Maybe you’re reading this but you just don’t LIKE hostels. That’s FINE. Here’s a selection of the best budget hotels in Philadelphia to make life easier for ya.
Penrose Hotel
- $$$
- Airport Shuttle (FREE)
- Free Breakfast
- En-suite Bathrooms
This place is niiice. A towering modern hotel with modern hotel rooms and jazzy budget hotel decor – you know how we roll. It’s cool here since you get all the benefits of being in a more modern setting than, say, a B&B, with super comfy beds, modern facilities, etc. It’s not as cheap as a hostel, obviously, but there are perks. Like… staying in a hotel, for one. Free coffee in the lobby, free newspapers. We could go on, of course. Definitely one of the best budget hotels in Philadelphia.
The Conwell Inn
- $$$
- 24 Hour Reception
- Disabled Access
- Library
A big and beautiful place to stay, this is one of the best budget hotels in Philadelphia. Located in the historic part of this city, choosing to pay a little extra to stay here will mean you can walk to all of the tourist attractions and not have to fork out any money extra on transport.
The rooms are massive – you’ll have so much space to spread out, which makes it one of the top hotels in Philadelphia. The staff are really helpful too, which is always a bonus!
Artist in the Barn
- $$
- Kitchen
- Balcony
- Air Con
This is the kind of place that really makes it feel like you live in the city you’re visiting. Stay in one of the best budget hotels in Philadelphia and enjoy loads of space and the convenience of staying somewhere with your own kitchen too. The apartments are clean and close to restaurants and shops, so you can buy ingredients to cook in your kitchen and keep to your daily travel budget.
The only thing is, there isn’t much of a chance to meet other guests, but if you’re happy with your own company, or cool to hangout with the people you are travelling with, then that shouldn’t be a problem.
La Reserve Bed and Breakfast
- $$
- Communal Lounge
- Maid Service
- Free Breakfast
This cool budget hotel in Philadelphia might not be Instagram cool, but its classic, plush interiors make it feel like you’re staying somewhere really expensive. The location is really good too – so close to the big historic sights that you can walk there, which is also handy for when you want to find a restaurant for dinner. The bedrooms are big and come with modern en suites. And for when you want to just hang out there’s loads of communal lounges for guests to use.
Four Points Philadelphia
- $$$
- Fitness Centre
- Free Breakfast
- Good Views
It’s a big, shiny hotel, but its one of the best budget hotels in Philadelphia. Not only do you get to stay somewhere with a gym, so you can keep up with your workouts, but they serve up a mean American breakfast too.
With rooms that have views across the city skyline, a big ol’ TV in your room and a comfy bed, you might not wanna leave your room! But with so many of the tourist attractions in the city close by, you’d be silly not to even attempt to go outside.
Burbridge Street B&B
- $$
- Outdoor Terrace
- Free Breakfast
- Weird/Cool Decor
The sort of place where the owners are so nice they’ll order a pizza for you (if you want), Burbridge Street B&B is, um, a B&B. That’s obvious. But that also makes it slightly more hostel-like, but only cause you’ve got shared bathrooms at this budget hotel in Philadelphia.
The design of the place is pretty cool too, it’s all houseplants and antique furniture – we don’t think it’s SUPPOSED to be cool, but it ends up looking pretty cool… to us, anyway. It’s really homely and comfy, the owners are great, what more do you want?
Burbridge Street B&B is one of our favourites in Philadelphia but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…
Pop your email here & get the original Broke Backpacker Bible for FREE.
What to Pack for your Philadelphia Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Philadelphia
There you have it, all the best hostels in Philadelphia for you to enjoy.
With so much to do and see in the city, there is a big mix of accommodation to choose from, which means it’s easier to find somewhere that suits you. If you want to party, there’s a hostel, or if you’re on holiday with your partner, there’s a place that is perfect for you.
And, if you are finding it a struggle to work out the best hostel in Philadelphia for you, there really is nothing to worry yourself about. Just book yourself into the best overall hostel in Philadelphia – Apple Hostels of Philadelphia.
So all you have to do now is enjoy yourself in the sunny city of Philly!
FAQ about Hostels in Philadelphia
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Philadelphia.
Travel Safety Tips for Philadelphia
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.
More Epic Hostels in USA and North America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Philadelphia.
Planning an epic trip all across USA or even North America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around North America, check out:
- Best hostels in Las Vegas
- Best hostels in Boston
- Best hostels in Los Angeles
- Best hostels in Pittsburgh
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Philadelphia 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!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
