Vancouver is Canada’s gem-city of the west coast. With amazing culture, scenery, hikes and day trips, Vancouver truly has it all.
Except for a low price.
Canada is not a cheap backpacking destination, and Vancouver is one of the country’s most expensive cities. Which is the precise reason why we put together this guide to the best hostels in Vancouver.
With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to travel to 1) save some money, and 2) find a kick-ass hostel that suits your personal travel style in Vancouver!
We accomplished this by putting together the best hostel reviews on the web. We break down the highest reviewed hostels in Vancouver, and separate them into different categories, so you can easily find which of the best hostels in Vancouver suits your needs!
So whether you are looking for cheap hostels in Vancouver, the best party hostel in Vancouver, or anything in between, our ultimate guide to the best hostels in Vancouver will get you exactly where you need to be!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Vancouver
- Overall Best Hostel in Vancouver – SameSun Vancouver
- Best Hostel for Couples in Vancouver – YWCA Hotel
- Best Party Hostel in Vancouver – Cambie Hostel – Gastown
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Vancouver – St Clair Hotel-Hostel
The 9 Best Hostels in Vancouver to Crush Your Travels in 2022
Regardless of where you choose to stay in Vancouver – be it in a chill area, a social one, or somewhere cheap – there’s going to be the right backpackers for you. Our guide to the top hostels in Vancouver will cover all of these aspects and has got your back.
SameSun Vancouver – Overall Best Hostel in Vancouver
SameSun is the best hostel in Vancouver in 2021. Offering a tasty free breakfast, including muffins and bagels and a brilliant free city tour, SameSun is the best hostel in Vancouver for travellers of all kinds. Bright and modern SameSun is a top hostel in Vancouver offering backpackers use of all the facilities they could wish for; there’s a guest kitchen, common room, bar and restaurant.
Backpackers staying at SameSun have no trouble meeting new friends and there is a relaxed and welcoming vibe to the place. The dorms are super clean and spacious and toasty warm too. The SameSun team are incredibly helpful and polite in true Canadian style!
Cambie Hostel – Seymour – Best Cheap Hostel in Vancouver #2
Sister to the Cambie Hostel in Gastown, Cambie Seymour is a top hostel in Vancouver ideal for beer lovers! Offering cheap, icy cold beers throughout the year Cambie Seymour is a great place to meet locals and hang out with fellow backpackers.
These guys and girls love their music and they love their music loud! Malone’s Social Lounge & Tap House is a brilliant Vancouver backpackers hostel bar and you’ll defiantly leave with more friends than you arrived with! The dorms are simple but comfortable and clean.
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 REIVancouver Backpacker House – Best Cheap Hostel in Vancouver #3
If you’re looking for a calm and quiet youth hostel in Vancouver you should check out Vancouver Backpacker House. The definition of a classic traveller’s inn, Vancouver Backpacker House is super cheap, super simple but practically perfect for laid-back travellers who need a place to crash. Well connected to Vancouver via the SkyTrain VB.House is just a 10-minute walk from the massive metropolitan mall and just around the corner from a great yoga studio and fitness centre.
The guest kitchen is fully kitted out and free to use at any time.
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 REIYWCA Hotel – Best Hostel for Couples in Vancouver
Technically the best hostel for couples in Vancouver is actually a hotel, but with a strong hostel-like vibe. Travelling with your partner to Vancouver? You need to check in to YWCA Hotel. The private rooms are gorgeous! Super comfortable, stylish, and offering impressive views of Vancouver’s skyline, YWCA is a highly recommended hostel in Vancouver.
If you and your lover wanna find some new folk to hang with you’ll find the YWCA gang hanging out in the TV lounge or at the cafe. Pssst, shopaholics listen up! YWCA is on Robson Street, Vancouver’s shopping paradise!
Cambie Hostel – Gastown – Best Party Hostel in Vancouver
Cambie Hostel is the best party hostel in Vancouver hands down! One of only a handful of Vancouver backpackers hostels to have their own bar, Cambie Hostel is set in the heart of buzzing and bustling Gastown. The crew here know how to have a good time and like their music loud! A good night’s sleep is easy to come by once the party is over!
With big comfy sofas, and plenty of space to meet and mingle Cambie Hostel has just the right amount of party vibes and chilled out feels. The Cambie Bar is a fav of the local crowd so you’ll be able to find out about some of Vancouver’s best-kept secrets and must visit destinations over a beer or two.
St Clair Hotel-Hostel – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Vancouver
Keen to please everyone St Clair Hotel-Hostel has affordable hostel dorms and private hotel style rooms. As a top hostel in Vancouver St Clair is located a short walk from backpacker hotspots like Granville, Gastown, and the Waterfront. The staff are really lovely and genuinely happy to help travellers in any way that they can.
There are basic self-catering facilities at St Clair in the form of a microwave, but being at the heart of Vancouver means that there are some great must-try restaurants and diners neighbouring them.
HI Vancouver – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Vancouver
HI Vancouver Central is the best hostel for solo travellers in Vancouver. Spacious, safe and super sociable, HI Central is a fantastic youth hostel in Vancouver for travellers who want to explore the city on foot. Slap bang in the centre of Granville Street, HI Central is next door to some of Vancouver’s best clubs, cafes and restaurants. Great for digital nomads, HI Central has free and unlimited WiFi throughout the hostel, including in the dorm rooms. It’s close to most of the top attractions in the city for a fun-filled vacation.
If you’re a solo traveller keen on finding a new crew in Vancouver, HI Central is a great starting point.
HI Vancouver is one of our favourites in Vancouver 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.
Burnaby Rentals – Best Cheap Hostel in Vancouver #1
The best cheap hostel in Vancouver is Burnaby Rentals. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly home from home in Vancouver you’ll feel as if you’ve hit the jackpot with Burnaby Rentals. A little way out from Vancouver’s bustling business district Burnaby Rentals is a great place to stay if you’re planning on living like a local in Vancouver.
The lounge area is cosy and comfortable and guests have access to the communal kitchen which too helps reduce costs. They offer free, unlimited WiFi and use of the laundry facilities too. Burnaby Rental is the best budget hostel in Vancouver for sure!
Burnaby Rentals is one of our favourites in Vancouver 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.
HI Vancouver Downtown – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Vancouver
HI Downtown is the best hotel in Vancouver for digital nomads as they have the three essentials ticked off; free WiFi, guest kitchen and laundry facilities. All the things digital nomads who live on the road need access to! Perfect! HI Downtown could just be the coolest hostel in Vancouver as they have their own games room complete with pool table and table football too. What better way to unwind after a long day on the laptop than with a few games of pool with your hostel buddies.
The free breakfast is a total bonus and is the perfect way to fuel up and get those creative juices flowing.
HI Vancouver Downtown is one of our favourites in Vancouver 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.
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Hide Yo’ Money!What to Pack for your Vancouver 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 Vancouver
Whether you are visiting for a full holiday or just the weekend,Vancouver is an amazing travel destination – but it’s expensive! With the help of this guide to the best hostels in Vancouver, you’ll be able to significantly lower the cost of your time in this Canadian city, and to do it in style!
So, which of the best hostels in Vancouver are you going to book? The best party hostel in Vancouver? Or the best hostel for solo travelers?
If you still can’t decide, just go with SameSun Vancouver – our pick for the best hostel in Vancouver for 2021.
FAQ about Hostels in Vancouver
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Vancouver.
How much does a hostel cost in Vancouver?
The average price of hostels in Vancouver can range from $23 – $28+ 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 Vancouver for couples?
YWCA Hotel is an ideal hostel for couples in Vancouver. It has comfortable and stylish private rooms.
What is the best hostel in Vancouver near the airport?
The Vancouver International Airport is quite far from downtown, so it is usually better to find the best place to stay within the area. Once you’re downtown, we highly recommend YWCA Hotel, located on Robson Street, Vancouver’s shopping paradise!
Travel Safety Tips for Vancouver
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 Canada and North America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Vancouver.
Planning an epic trip all across Canada or even North America itself? Thinking of going on a Road Trip leaving from Vancouver?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around North America, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Vancouver 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!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Vancouver for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the best places to visit in Vancouver covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in Vancouver if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in Vancouver before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Canada to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Canada backpacking guide.
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!
