The 10 Best Hostels in Portugal

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Wondering where to stay in Portugal and need some hostel picks?! Before I start this list properly, I’m going to talk about the top hostels in the country as a whole. These are the absolute best places to stay for backpacker vibes. When in doubt, just go with the best!

1. Lisboa Central Hostel – Best Hostel Overall

• Price: $$
• Best for: Everyone! There’s a lot going on here
• Highlights: Many events, very clean, and a games room
• Dorm (mixed): From $43
• Private Room: From $93
• Address: Rua Rodrigues Sampaio 160, Lisbon, Portugal
• Location: Lisbon

So, yeah, if you’re looking for not just the best hostel in Lisbon, but the best in all of Portugal… here it is! Seriously.

Can I tempt you with homemade soup? Homemade milkshakes? This place is so damn homey that you won’t even feel like you’re checking into such a popular hostel.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• The breakfasts: Fruit pancakes + more are on offer to kickstart your mornings in the capital
• Prime location: It’s located right by Parque Eduardo VII
• Ran and owned by locals: No one has better knowledge of a city than those who’ve spent their lives here

The staff here will also sort you out with cheap beer, sangria at a steal, super fun bar crawls and movie nights for when you can’t do anything but veg out in front of a screen. But don’t worry: you won’t feel grimy staying here since it’s pretty dang clean. And the staff are super friendly too.

I rank this one number one because it checked all the boxes! literally… I couldn’t find anything wrong even if I wanted to. And if you aren’t vibing with the hostel, you can take the train leaving from Marques de Pombal close by for your convenience.

2. The House of Sandeman – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers

• Price: $
• Best for: Solo travellers looking to mingle with others
• Highlights: The bar and free breakfast
• Dorm (mixed): From $27
• Private Room: From $241
• Address: Largo Miguel Bombarda Nº3, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal
• Location: Porto

This historic building isn’t just full of character, it’s absolutely dripping in it. The dorms are built inside old port wine barrels, so passing out after a big night feels oddly appropriate. Who needs a winery tour when your room is a piece of winery history?!

A loaded complimentary buffet breakfast, a cosy lounge with river views, and a crew that actually cares sets you up for an impressive stay in Porto. Expect hot showers, free towels, secure lockers, discounted tours, unlimited tea and coffee, daily cake, and dangerously good happy hour drinks.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Welcome drink included: I always find it’s easier to make friends at hostels where they give you a drink to calm the nerves
• A mind-blowing brekky: Eggs, pancakes, fruit, you name it… the buffet here felt more 4* hotel than budget hostel to me
• ON-SITE bar: As much as I loved Porto’s wine scene, I didn’t even need to leave the hostel for a cheeky tipple

Where is it? Downtown Porto, of course, so it’s a pretty sick locale I gotta say (history, river, all sortsa stuff on your doorstep here). It’s a memorable hostel, the kind of place you’ll use as a measure when you visit other hostels. Definitely the top dog of Porto’s hostel scene. And honestly, I prefer Porto to Lisbon, so you can’t go wrong here!

3. Hostel GaiaPorto – Best Cheap Hostel

• Price: $
• Best for: Budget travellers, especially those on their own
• Highlights: The themed events, decent laundry facilities, and a nice garden
• Dorm (mixed): From $31
• Private Room: From $74
• Address: Rua Cândido dos Reis nº 374-376, Porto, Portugal
• Location: Porto

On the other side of the river to the main hub of the city, this backpackers hostel in Porto is pretty much a calm place to stay because of that. Solo travellers, couples, groups of friends, whoever you are: this will be a good and cheap choice for you.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Many activities: The staff arrange many cool things to get involved with, so you can easily make friends here
• You will enjoy the cute garden: I found it really chilled. And the views overlooking the Douro River… wow!
• Relaxed and cosy ambience: It’s a social hostel without being a wild party hub – just the way I like it

Imagine lounging in a chill, quiet garden that overlooks a river with a cold brewski in hand, the absolute dream. Need to make some cheap eats? They’ve got a kitchen that’s just begging for you to get your chef on if you’re trying to keep your cost of living in Portugal down.

And don’t even get me started on the laundry facilities – no more rockin’ the three-day-old socks.
The best part about this hostel is the crew, such friendly vibes! Perfect start to a banging hostel experience.

4. Rising Cock Party Hostel – Best Party Hostel

• Price: $$
• Best for: Wild party animals
• Highlights: The location, outdoor BBQs, and awesome pub crawls
• Dorm (mixed): From $49
• Address: Travessa do Forno 14, Lagos, Portugal
• Location: Lagos

There are no words. Perhaps two words: Rising Cock. I can’t believe I get to write those words.

Look, based on the name, you already know what to expect. It’s a party hostel in Lagos that will send you nutty in the best way possible. Centrally located in Lagos’s old district, it’s a walking distance from a bunch of sweet restaurants, bars, and other goodies.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free Breakfast: I found this hostel hit my pocket a little harder, but the quality of breakfast here quickly justified that
• Super Social: Probably the easiest place to make friends during my travels across Europe
• FREE Pub Crawls: We told you this was a party hostel, and that’s because they party real hard here

This place is as social as it gets, with nightly drinking games setting the tone before the pub crawl even kicks off. Mama and the crew pour their hearts into every stay, making sure everyone feels at home and the good times keep rolling. Crêpes and tika tika tea every morning add the perfect finishing touch.

As one of Portugal’s top party hostels, days here are for recovery and recharging, with Saturday BBQs hitting the spot. When night falls, it’s all about going full throttle. Free pub crawls is one thing and it helps that the staff just know how to get down.

Or up. 😉

5. WOT Lisbon Nomad – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads

• Price: $
• Best for: Digital nomads and anyone looking for a good chilled life/upbeat nightlife balance
• Highlights: The excellent Wi-Fi, outdoor pool and laundry facilities
• Dorm (mixed): From $25
• Private Room: From $121
• Address: R. Pedro Nunes 10, Lisbon, Portugal
• Location: Lisbon

For me as a digital nomad, my stay at WOT Nomad Social was an awesome mix of the ability to work while also having city adventures and nightlife right on my door step.

I met some amazing people here. 

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Laundry facilities: I was able to lock in on work without the hassle of hunting for a laundromat in Lisbon – very easy!
• Central Lisbon location: Another win for convenience! No need to hunt for the good spots when they’re already here
• Social common areas & work-friendly spaces: I found it easy to make friends, then work in quiet before hitting the nearby bars and clubs

In the building just nearby, also owned by WOT Lisbon, you can work, have breakfast and use the self service laundry. In the evenings, people sometimes gather in the shared spaces before heading out to explore Lisbon’s nightlife together. The dorm beds are cubical style with privacy curtains.

If you’re looking for a social, centrally located hostel in Lisbon where you can smash through some work as well, WOT Nomad Social is a great choice.

6. Yes! Lisbon Hostel – Best for Community Feel

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Anyone wanting to make friends in more of a social/
• Highlights:
• Dorm (mixed): From $52
• Private Room: From $137
• Address: Rua de Sao Juliao 148, Lisbon, Portugal
• Location: Lisbon

This. Is. LISBON!!! … Wow, sorry. But it is…

This hostel has been given the award of the “most popular hostel in Lisbon” many years in a row for a reason.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Family dinners: I really felt welcome here, and bonded with other guests over the family dinners they cook nightly
• Great location: It’s around the popular Alfama area, which is where you can walk around and enjoy some cracking views
• Pub crawls: In the evening the staff will take groups around some of the best bars in the area to party

The staff are super friendly and helpful, creating an atmosphere that makes this one of the best hostels for solo travellers in Portugal. Free walking tours, beach trips, and tasty home-cooked Portuguese dinners, as well as lessons in the local lingo, make it pretty easy to get chatting and make some pals.

Oh and shout out to the family dinners at this Lisbon hostel. One word: immense.

7. Onefam Ribeira – Best Hostel in Porto

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Anyone looking to socialise
• Highlights: Family dinners, and great pub crawls
• Dorm (mixed): From $61
• Private Room: From $174
• Address: R. Chã 89, 4000-052 Porto, Porto, Portugal
• Location: Porto

“Onefam”? You may ask what that means, but better to find out yourself. The ambience this place has makes everyone feel right at home with family.

This super Porto hostel is equipped with a lounge where guests can chill, watch movies, play the guitar, drink, and chat. It’s all good! But where it really comes into its own is the delicious family dinners. They’re included, which explains the high price.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Family dinners: I would say they’re “free”, but tbh at $61 a night it basically covers that. Still delicious though
• Great location: It’s near Sao-Bento Station, which is a super awesome spot that’s close to everything
• Daily activities: Every day they host a ton of fun events including walking tours, pub crawls and more

This is a great place with some RAVING pub crawls, which helps add brownie points. The free daily events and the general social space make it one of the best hostels in Porto for backpackers.

8. Porto Wine Hostel – Best Hostel for Wine Lovers

• Price: $$
• Best for: Wine lovers
• Highlights: Free wine on arrival, and more wine!
• Dorm (mixed): From $42
• Private Room: From $134
• Address: Campo dos Martires da Patria, 52, (in Cordoaria Garden, next to the University), Porto, Portugal
• Location: Porto

Here is another of the best hostels in the country and one with a unique twist. I love that this place actually embodies one of the biggest reasons people travel to Porto… to taste the wine! A little something to help with the social butterflies.

You even get a free glass of wine on arrival. And once they’ve hooked you in with the freebie, well let’s just say you’re gonna knock back a few more at the bar…

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free wine: On arrival you’ll be given a free glass of port to give you a little taster of what to expect in this country
• The piano: If you’re a musical prodigy, hone your skills on the piano here, but be wary of performance dipping after a few wines
• The bar: Few people know about port wine more than the staff here – you can even indulge in famous port wine cocktails

But one of the BEST things about this place is that it’s cheap! These days, finding hostels under $50 in Portugal is rare, so this hostel is a big score!

9. Banana Beach House Lagos – Best Hostel in Lagos

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Surfers and anyone who loves beaches
• Highlights: Surf lessons and beach vibes
• Dorm (mixed): From $52
• Address: Estrada da Ponta da Piedade, R. da Costa D’Oiro lt 23, Lagos, Portugal
• Location: Lagos

If you’re a surfing person you’ll love this place. It’s basically all about surfing. If you’re not into that you can just live your best beach bum life too or chill around the pool. Days here consist of surfing and BBQs, followed by drinks in the evening and…you guessed it…more surf in the morning.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Surf lessons: Surfing newbie? No problem! You can take lessons from here on a daily basis
• Privacy curtains: With this + quiet hours in the evenings, it’s easy to get a good night’s kip
• Free breakfast: You even have the option to pay to upgrade to a premium breakfast

Most surf hostels I’ve stayed in are often dirty with a lot of sand from the beach coming inside, and many bugs around. That’s not the case here, this was the cleanest hostel I’ve visited to date.

It’s actually one of the cheapest surf hostels in Portugal. That’s right: in the whole damn country. Get involved.

10. Casa d Alagoa – Best Hostel in Faro

• Price: $
• Best for: Social backpackers looking for new friends to explore the Algarve with
• Highlights: The location and regular events
• Dorm (mixed): From $34
• Private Room: From $110
• Address: Praca Alexandre Herculano 27, Faro, Portugal
• Location: Faro

This cool backpackers hostel in Faro is inside a super stunning villa which is the ultimate Portugal dream when you picture a getaway here. But you won’t be coming to this place to stare at the walls – it’s ALL about the atmosphere here.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Social vibes: It’s one of the easiest places to meet people from 150+ hostels I’ve been to
• Daily pub crawls: The only thing I hated here was the morning after the pub crawl
• Family dinners: A great opportunity to make new friends and enjoy local food

Guests can eat their fill and get silly at their sangria and BBQ nights. It’s also easy to get chatting with fellow travellers. Make the most of your days here by heading out on a bike tour, spotting some wild flamingos, or exploring other unique things to do in Faro. This is the kind of place you end up extending your stay.

I’ve been 3 times now and it’s my go-to when I come to Faro. It’s lively and always easy to meet others here.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Portugal

If you’re staying at hostels like The Rising Cock Party Hostel, chances are you’ll want to be extra safe for those drunken nights. Travel insurance has your back.

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.

There’s a wide range of hostels in Portugal that cater specifically to backpackers. Family dinners are fairly common here, which I don’t see often in other countries. Often you’ll pay extra for them, but sometimes they’re included in the price (although the base cost for these hostels is generally higher).

Most of these hostels suit the social backpacker. If you like to rock up to a hostel, make new friends, enjoy a few drinks, and get involved with activities, then these places are ideal for you. Sure, there are a couple of chilled/quiet spots that digital nomads may gravitate towards, but social is the order of the day in Portugal, regardless of whether you visit Lisbon, Porto, or anywhere else.

I’ve stayed at most of these during several Portugal trips over the years, and would say Lisboa Central Hostel is the best of the bunch. Book a bed there and thank me later.

If you’ve already backpacked through Portugal, drop your hot takes – best spots, overrated ones, absolute gems. Always keen to hear what’s worth it and what’s not in this ridiculously beautiful Mediterranean country.

Now, go have fun. But maybe not too much fun. Or just enough to justify staying somewhere called Rising Cock…