Santiago is Chile’s capital and largest city, and for many travelers, it is the gateway to this often underrated South American destination.
But by South American standards, Santiago is expensive and traveling on a budget there can be a challenge. Which is exactly why we made this list of the best hostels in Santiago.
Santiago is a modern, European-esque, but still completely retains its own unique qualities.
With the help of this no BS guide, you’ll be able to book your Santiago hostel quickly and with confidence.
Our list was put together with one thing in mind – get you matched up with the hostel that best suits YOUR travel needs.
So whether you wanna party, chill, make some friends, or just find a cheap bed and get some sleep, our ultimate list of the 20 best hostels in Santiago has got you covered.
Quick answer: Best Hostels in Santiago
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Santiago – Hostal Forestal
- Best Cheap Hostel in Santiago – Eco Hostel
- Best Hostel for Couples in Santiago – Che Lagarto
- Best Party Hostel in Santiago – Hostal Providencia
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Santiago – Santiago Backpackers
The 20 Best Hostels in Santiago
Remember, the point of this no BS list is to show you the highest reviewed hostels in Santiago and get you to the one that matches your travel needs. Make sure you know where you want to stay in Santiago. You don’t want to end up far away from the things you want to see!
In other words? We did the research so you don’t have to!
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!
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Santiago – Hostal Forestal
- $$$
- Free Breakfast
- Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
The best hostel for solo travellers in Santiago is Hostal Forestal as they’re always super busy! As a highly recommended hostel in Santiago, Forestal is always buzzing and full of travellers of every kind; those backpacking solo, those with their crew and as they offer private double too, Forestal is popular with couples. Solo travellers have plenty of opportunities to mix, meet and mingle with their hostel buddies in the cafe or in the cosy lounge area. If you’re keen on cooking there’s one easy way to traveller’s hearts and that’s food as Forestal has a great guest kitchen.
Castillo Surfista
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Free City Tour
- Self Catering Facilities
Castillo Surfista is a great youth hostel in Santiago for solo travellers as it’s low key, fun and friendly. Some solo travellers prefer to travel alone as they like the slower pace of travel and the chance to really connect with their surroundings rather than arrive, see, do and leave again! Castillo Surfista has everything the solo traveller could need; a steady turnaround of guests, a free city tour and an outdoor terrace perfect for hanging out with new friends.
Best Party Hostel in Santiago – Hostal Providencia
- $$$
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Free Breakfast
- Self Catering Facilities
Hostal Providencia is the best party hostel in Santiago without a doubt. They have their own hostel bar that’s always pumping and serving up a cracking selection of beers and brews. You don’t wanna miss out on their Terremotto nights, they’re quite the experience! Terremotto is the traditional Chilean cocktail; suffice to say you HAVE to try it during your time in Chile! Hostal Providencia is one of the coolest hostels in Santiago not only for their bar but their friendly and attentive service.
La Chimba
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- Tours & Travel Desk
La Chimba is a multi-award winning youth hostel in Santiago and they’re bossing hostel life! They have a great party vibe here and the team are always up for a good time. The outdoor garden and patio area is the favourite hangout spot for backpackers from across the world. La Chimba is a great all-rounder, especially for digital nomads; they have consistently fast WiFi and plenty of comfy spots to work from throughout the hostel.
Best Cheap Hostel in Santiago – Eco Hostel
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Self Catering Facilities
- Tours & Travel Desk
The best cheap hostel in Santiago is, easily, Eco Hostel. The Eco team offer a cheap and cheerful hostel experience in Santiago specifically for travellers on a tight budget. Knowing that every penny counts the Eco Hostel team have created a guest kitchen so you and your crew can cook up a dirt cheap meal to save splashing out at restaurants. Eco is a top hostel in Santiago as through their tours and travel desk you can book eco-tours of Chile. You name it they can arrange it, horse riding, condor watching, or a visit to the hot springs in the mountains.
La Casa Roja
- $
- Swimming Pool
- Bar Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
La Casa Roja is the best budget hostel in Santiago, they even have a swimming pool! You won’t find a cheaper hostel in Santiago with a pool, that’s for sure. La Casa Roja has its own bar too. If you’re looking for a cheap party hostel in Santiago La Casa Roja is where you need to head! The team are eco-conscious and encourage their guests to recycle where possible. They can arrange bicycles hire to save riding in taxis, they even have their own bike parking spots!
Best Hostel for Couples in Santiago – Che Lagarto
- $$
- Self Catering Facilities
- Outdoor Terrace
- Security Lockers
The best hostel for couples in Santiago is Che Lagarto. Their spacious private rooms will make you feel like you’re in a swanky, modern hotel rather than a hostel. That said, there are plenty of communal areas for you and your partner to hang out in and get to know your fellow hostel dwellers. The private rooms are Che Lagarto have ensuite bathrooms which is an added bonus. As a top hostel in Santiago Che Lagarto has ‘Apart Hotel’ rooms complete with private kitchenette area, ideal for travelling couples.
The Bellavista Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Self Catering Facilities
- Tours & Travel Desk
The Bellavista is a highly recommended hostel in Santiago, perfect for couples. Their private double rooms are cosy yet spacious and the hostel as a whole has a really friendly and laid-back vibe. Although not party central The Bellavista Hostel attracts a chilled out, few beers of an evening kinda crowd. If you and your SO are at a loose end or haven’t planned your trip after Santiago be sure to visit The Bellavista tours and travel desk for advice and inspiration.
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Santiago – Santiago Backpackers
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- Tours& Travel Desk
The best hostel for digital nomads in Santiago is Santiago Backpackers. Digital nomads tend to stick around a little longer than the average backpacker and Santiago Backpackers is perfect. They have a free dinner every night, you can BYOB and make the most of their free breakfast too. This is on top of free, unlimited WiFI access throughout the building. Digital nomads looking for a home from home rather than a cheap and cheerful hostel for the night should book their stay at Santiago Backpackers; the best hostel in Santiago for digital nomads.
Plaza de Armas
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Self Catering Facilities
- Tours & Travel Desk
For digital nomads looking for a Santiago backpackers hostel that caters to all their working needs be sure to check out Plaza de Armas. They have everything you could need, a contemporary and inspiring design, guest kitchen and naturally great WiFi too. They have their own cafe which is a great spot to hide out in with your laptop. If that doesn’t take your fancy then the hostel terrace is hit by the sun throughout the day if you want to get your tan on while you type!
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Read our full review!
More of the Best Hostels in Santiago
H Rado Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Free City Tour
- Cafe Onsite
One of the overall best hostel in Santiago is H Rado as they’ve got everything you could ask for from a hostel and then a little bit more! As the best hostel in Santiago in 2020 H Rado not only offers a free breakfast, free bed linen and towels but a free city tour too! This city tour is not only the perfect way to get to grips with Santiago but to also meet other travellers in the area. There is a low key party vibe here, perfect for travellers who are around for a good time and a few drinks!
Ventana Sur Hostal
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Cafe Onsite
- Swimming Pool
Ventana Sur Hostel is easily the joint best hostel in Santiago as they have a swimming pool, a nice treat! It’s not just the pool that makes Ventana Sur the coolest hostel in Santiago but their awesome staff, great free breakfast and fast WiFi. It’s not unheard of for hostel owner Ivan to rally the troops and have a hostel BBQ for an evening. The perfect opportunity to share a bottle of wine..or two, and get to know your hostel buddies.
Casa Roble Hostal
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Tours & Travel Desk
- Outdoor Terrace
Casa Roble is a cute and cosy youth hostel in Santiago ideal for travellers who like a good nights sleep and a friendly welcome. That’s all of us, right?! As a boutique hostel, Casa Roble has a strong focus on design and comfort. Although there is no guest kitchen Casa Roble is just a few steps away from a great selection of Chilean restaurants and diners. Be sure to ask the Casa Roble team for directions or for their insider knowledge as to what Santiago hotspots to hit up and when.
Poker Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
Poker Hostel is a highly recommended hostel in Santiago but is often overlooked by travellers in favour of more party orientated venues. Poker Hostel is a chilled out and friendly hostel less than 30-minutes away from the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport. It is the best hostel in Santiago close to the airport, bear that in mind if you’re due to fly out after you’ve finished exploring the Chilean capital.
Salvador Hostel y Cafe
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
Salvador is a great Santiago backpackers hostel for digital nomads, their cafe is the perfect place to work and drink tonnes of coffee to keep focused! If you’re travelling long term you’ll definitely need a hostel day on your journey and Salvador is ideal for those kinda days. They have a cosy common room complete with Smart TV with Netflix, what a treat! Salvador Hostel y Cafe is located in the heart of Providencia, the go-to neighbourhood for backpackers.
Kombi Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
- Self Catering Facilities
Kombi Hostel is a great backpacker hangout in Santiago. Offering everything the modern backpacker could ask for from a hostel. Free WiFi, free breakfast, a guest kitchen and cute outdoor terrace. As a top hostel in Santiago Kombi has their own tours and travel desk to help you and your buddies make the most of every minute of your time in Chile. Kombi is a laid back kinda hostel who love to organise activities and fun nights for their guests. Don’t be shy, dive right in!
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Don Santiago
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- Luggage Storage
Don Santiago is a great youth hostel in Santiago if you’re looking for value for money. As one of the best budget hostels in Santiago Don Santiago offers an amazing free breakfast at their cafe in town. We’re not talking rubbish toast and jam, we’re talking sautéed tomatoes, carrots and zucchini, omelette sprinkled with oregano and smoked chilli and fresh bread. Amen.
Chile Lindo
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Free City Tour
- Self Catering Facilities
If you know you’re gonna be knackered from the bus journey when you arrive in Santiago or are leaving the city early in the morning be sure to book a bed at Chile Lindo. As a great Santiago backpackers hostel, Chile Lindo is just a 10-minute walk from the main bus terminal and only 15-minutes from Santiago city centre. They are just 4-blocks away from the historic neighbourhood of Concha y Toro. Chile Lindo is a brilliantly located youth hostel in Santiago.
AJI Santiago
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Free Dinner
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
AJI is the best hostel in Santiago if you are a stickler for value for money. Although not the cheapest AJI is a great budget hostel in Santiago as they offer a free breakfast and a free dinner every night. This is a really sociable hostel and they crew love their food. If you can, make sure you stay on a Friday night to get in on the BBQ action! The dorms are colourful, clean and spacious.
Happy House Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Free City Tour
- Bar & Cafe Onsite
Happy House Hostel is one of the coolest hostels in Santiago. They have everything you could think of and more; cracking hostel vibe, their own bar, a free breakfast and a free city tour. Happy House is the best hostel in Santiago in many people’s eyes and rightly so. The Happy House team have created a brilliant hostel environment and everyone leaves with a smile. They even have their own swimming pool! Happy House is becoming more and more popular so you’ll want tobook your bed ASAP.
What to Pack for your Santiago Hostel
We don’t often travel without these essentials.
1. 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.
2. Playing Cards: These waterproof cards are essential kit for every backpacker. Play by the pool, beach or at your hostel after a long day with travel buds, without your cards breaking or getting soaked. And once you pull out those cards, the chance that you’ll be the hero of the night is pretty high (no promises though).
3. Active Roots Microfiber Towel: Quick-drying, lightweight, super soft and compact – the Active Roots Microfiber Towel is essential for every backpacker. No need to use the scabby towels your hostel may or may not provide! Use it for drying off, as a yoga towel or even as a picnic blanket – the options don’t stop here. Made of antibacterial material, you don’t have to worry about your towel starting to smell unpleasant either after lots of use.
4. TRTL Travel Pillow: Get rid of the red eyes and yawning with this TRTL travel pillow. It’s not just a normal neck pillow (I mean, look at it!), the ergonomic design gives your neck and head so much comfortable support that you’ll actually be able to have some decent rest. Super easy to carry and clean, it takes up so little space compared to a traditional travel pillow.
5. Sea to Summit Travel Soap: When dirtbagging around the globe, hygiene sometimes comes a bit short. This Sea to Summit Travel Soap can wash your hands, clothes or anything else, wherever you are. The soap strips are dry and super thin but dissolve in contact with water, so you can even take it easily through security in a carry-on.
6. Padlock: Theft happens in hostels, so keep a padlock to clip on your locker. This padlock can also double to keep your pack shut while in-transit. No need for keys (which can easily be lost or stolen too), you just have to remember a three-digit number to unlock your travel essentials.
Why you should travel to Santiago
There you have it – The Broke Backpacker’s No BS guide to the best hostels in Santiago.
I know this list will be of great help and save you some serious travel-research time. And remember, if you are having a difficult time making a selection, go for H Rado Hostel. With free towels, breakfast, and a city tour at a reasonable price – you can’t go wrong!
Travel Safety Tips for Santiago
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!
More Epic Hostels in Chile and South America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Santiago.
Planning an epic trip all across Chile or even South America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around South America, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Santiago has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your backpacking Chile adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
Yay for transparency! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book your accommodation through the site, The Broke Backpacker will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep the site going.
