Planning an epic Eastern European jaunt or just checking out Macedonia? If either of those things are true, then you will certainly find yourself in the Macedonian capital Skopje.
Now don’t get me wrong, Macedonia is more or less a very safe country to travel in. There are, however, parts of Skopje that I would certainly avoid.
So where are all of the safest and best hostels in Skopje located?
That is exactly why I wrote this guide to the best hostels in Skopje for 2024!
Crush your travels with all of the insider information regarding backpacker accommodation in Skopje you’ll ever need.
By the end of this hostel guide you will be able to book your hostel quickly and easily so you can get back to preparing for you trip to this epic Balkan city!
Be sure, there is a hostel for every backpacker on my list.
Let’s get you sorted…
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Skopje
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Skopje – Hi Skopje Hostel
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The 10 Best Hostels in Skopje
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
Hi Skopje Hostel – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Skopje
This hostel is very cosy and it’s got a very friendly atmosphere – that’s a great start for any hostel, right? We say it’s the best hostel for solo travellers in Skopje mainly because of the vibe here, which the awesome staff deffo help create – they’re super helpful, and go out of their way to make sure you’re comfortable and give you tips about what to see in Skopje. This is the ideal sorta place for any solo backpacker; feeling welcome and meeting new people is the cherry on the cake when you’re gallivanting around the world seeing amazing stuff, so… yeah, Hi Skopje Hostel – it’s a good’un.
Shanti Hostel 2 – Overall Best Hostel in Skopje
Some sort of sequel to another top hostel in Skopje called Shanti Hostel, this second iteration is easily the overall best hostel in Skopje. The location is ace, the place is comfy, and both the staff and guests combine together to form a friendly atmosphere – it’s great. There’s a chill garden area, the opportunity for free wine tasting (whaaat), discounts on traditional Macedonian restaurants around town, a free welcome drink… See? It’s also clean and tidy with a nice bit of colourful but minimalist decor and it’s always nice to stay somewhere stylish.
Hostel Valentin – Best Cheap Hostel in Skopje #1
The best cheap hostel in Skopje has gotta be Hostel Valentin – and that’s not JUST because it has pretty much the cheapest price of any Skopje backpackers hostel going. Though that does help. Nah, it’s also for various other reasons, like the location being really convenient (right next to a bus stop), the friendly sociable atmosphere, the spacious dorms with V comfy beds, the general homely feel of it… You get the idea. It’s not the cleanest or coolest hostel going, but meh – for a budget hostel in Skopje this one really does take first place.
UNITY Hostel Skopje – Best Cheap Hostel in Skopje #2
Just love us a parquet floor and here’s where you’ll find some (in the private rooms anyway) – which is, um, great if you like parquet floors. Sorry. Moving on, UNITY has a lot more going for it than just wooden flooring. The location is pretty good: you can be in central Skopje in under 10 mins. It’s generally pretty clean. The WiFi however only works in the main common area making it a bit of a silent, swiping and staring (at your phone) sort of vibe. The kitchen is pretty nice though, the staff are friendly, it’s clean, it’s cheap. A decent, solid choice.
City Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel in Skopje #3
ULTRA-CHEAP. You thought other places in Skopje were cheap? Well, think again, because the very simply named City Hostel is definitely a good option for a budget hostel in Skopje. So, yeah, ok, it’s basic, but that’s fine if you’re getting some good value for money elsewhere – like in the location, for example, or in the free tea and coffee all day, the rental services, the super nice and helpful staff. It’s all there. Just don’t be expecting this to be very useful for travelling photo fodder on Facebook or Insta because we don’t think people would really envy you. Still a recommended hostel in Skopje – if only for the price.
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View on Osprey View on REILounge Hostel Skopje – Best Hostel for Couples in Skopje
We get the feeling couples would love it here, so we’ve given it the accolade of best hostel for couples in Skopje. Why? Well, it’s pretty cool, maybe the coolest hostel in Skopje, maybe not. The decor is like, cute, minimalist kitsch, if such a thing exists – there is, inexplicably, a typewriter on a table, for instance, and there’s a mix of modern and cutesy-traditional. That sorta thing. But overall it’s clean, cool, and the sort of place that you can imagine yourself remembering in a yeah-that-place-was-really-nice kinda way, and that’s a nice thing to share with a partner. Big common areas, decent kitchen, very very nice staff.
Urban Hostel and Apartments – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Skopje
Free coffee whenever you like, a chill vibe, a great location (10 min walk from central) with loads of cool little cafes and traditional bits and bobs to check out, yep this is the best hostel for digital nomads in Skopje. Not only can you stay in a dorm but you can also hole up in your very own apartment (it’s in the name), some of which have jacuzzis – now we’re talking. But yeah, there’s plenty of space for laptop work here, and each room has an individual WiFi connection so people don’t slow it up all the time. Certainly not the cheapest in terms of a Skopje backpackers hostel, but otherwise a bargain.
Nordic Hostel N-Box – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Skopje
Nordic Hostel N-What? Dunno what that name is about, but apparently this top hostel in Skopje is attempting to combine Scandinavian and Macedonian design. We aren’t sure if cubicle-style accommodation is an overly Scandinavian thing, but, hey, let’s go with it. To be fair, this place is pretty cool, possibly could be but maybe isn’t the coolest hostel in Skopje. It is, however, due to its boutique-iness, the general style, the cosiness of it all, the best hostel with a private room in Skopje. Ok, so it is actually pretty cool. Location-wise it’s also good: city centre’s about a 10-15 min walk.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels in Skopje
Shanti-Hostel
Ah, look who it is – it’s Shanti-Hostel, the first and original Shanti. It’s bright and colourful in this Skopje backpackers hostel, which makes for a… happy? Environment? Yeah, let’s say that: happy environment. It’s cheerful, that’s a better way to put it. There’s also a free breakfast, free coffee and tea, a free laundry service if you stay for 3 or more nights, and a general charm about it that’s mainly down to the people that run this place. It’s easy to meet and mingle with other backpackers here. With that and the decent location close to all of the best things to do in Skopje, it’s difficult to fault this place. Maybe on the colour schemes but we’ve already decided that it’s cheerful, so there.
Get Inn Skopje
Modern, minimalist (ish), clean, generally pretty cool, and with a nice atmosphere – even though Get Inn has a really, really silly name, we can forgive it for the decent decor and general vibe of the place. It’s a youth hostel in Skopje that has a mildly boutique-y feeling, which is good, but what’s better is their weekly itinerary of free stuff… Monday: free dinner. Tuesday: free haircut. Wednesday: free walking tour. Thursday: free rent-a-bike. Friday: free rakija. Saturday: free wine. Sunday: free popcorn. In terms of both value for money AND social stuff, this place is a winner. The staff can always advise you on where to catch the best nightlife in Skopje.
What to Pack for your Skopje Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Skopje
Well guys, that’s all I got: we have arrived at the final act of my best hostels in Skopje list.
Backpacking the big cities in Eastern Europe is not without its risks. That said, you are now armed with the most up to date information regarding the best (and safest) hostels in Skopje.
You can rest easy knowing we did all the research to ensure that you have the best possible experience backpacking in Skopje.
The purpose of this hostel guide was to put all of the best hostels in Skopje on the table, so that you could choose the one that best suits your travel style. Hopefully now booking is easy and uncomplicated.
Where you stay certainly matters. A trip to Skopje is of course no different. Be sure to book early if you have an eye on a specific hostel as the best ones do book out fast, especially in the summer months.
Still having trouble arriving at a conclusion? Feeling on the fence about which hostel is the best hostel in Skopje?
No worries…
When folks are in doubt, I typically recommend that you just book my top overall pick for best hostel in Skopje: Shanti Hostel 2.
FAQ about Hostels in Skopje
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Skopje.
How much does a hostel cost in Skopje?
Depending on the level of comfort you prefer, the average price of hostels in Skopje can range from $10 – $13+ per night. Of course, the private rooms are on the higher end of the scale than the dorm beds.
What are the best hostels in Skopje for couples?
Urban Hostel & Apartments is a top-rated hostel for traveling couples in Skopje. It’s just a 10-minute walk from the Main Square and Old Bazaar.
What are the best hostels in Skopje near the airport?
The airport is quite far from the city centre, so it’s better to find the best place that offers airport transfers. I highly recommend Hostel Valentin, one of the best cheap hostels in Skopje.
Travel Safety Tips for Skopje
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.
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Skopje has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you’re in the Balkans and want some inspiration for your next destination, check out Tirana, Albania’s capital city. There are a bunch of awesome activities to do here and some truly wonderful sights to be seen some great hostels in Tirana, and Albania was honestly my favourite country in all of Europe!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Balkans backpacking guide.
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