The BEST Cheap Hostels in Dublin for Budget Travellers [2023 EDITION]

• Overall Best Hostel in Dublin – Ashfield Hostel
• Best Cheap Hostel in Dublin – Abbey Court
• Best Hostel for Solo Female Travellers – Gardiner House
• Best Hostel in Dublin for Solo Travellers – Abigails Hostel

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When backpacking Dublin, you’ll find all sorts of different hostels. From extreme-party to homely hostels, there are endless options. The main types you’ll find in Dublin are party hostels, digital nomad hostels, and youth hostels.

Booking a hostel is a great way to stretch your budget. Dublin is known to be an expensive location to travel to. Hostel prices are high here, but well worth the money. The one thing that makes hostels really stand out is the incredible social vibe. You can meet travellers from all over the world by sharing common spaces and staying in dorms – it’s a great way to make new friends.

Luckily, most hostels are focused on being very affordable while still offering a high value. The general rule is: the bigger the dorm, the cheaper the nightly rate. If you go for a private hostel room, you’ll end up paying a bit more, but it’s still more affordable than Dublin’s hotels. I did some research and listed the average price that you can expect for a hostel in Dublin.

• Private Rooms: 50-230€
• Dorms (mixed or female only): 20-45€

When looking for a hostel, you’ll find most Dublin hostels on HOSTELWORLD. There you can check out photos, detailed information about the place and even reviews from previous guests. Just like other booking platforms, each hostel will have a rating, so you can easily pick out the hidden gems! In general, most hostels can be found near the city centre, in the heart and soul of all the cool attractions like Temple Bar and O’Connell Street. To find the best hostels in Dublin, check out these three neighbourhoods:

• City Centre – My pick for where to stay in Dublin you’re visiting for the first time. Packed with shops and boutiques, parks, pubs and clubs.
• Trinity – Home to the world-renowned Trinity College Dublin, this neighbourhood is brimming with historic buildings and iconic architecture.
• Temple Bar – Temple Bar is far and away the most famous neighbourhood in Dublin and my pick for where to stay for Dublin nightlife area.
• Phibsborough – Tucked away north of the city centre is Phibsborough, one of Dublin’s up-and-coming and coolest neighbourhoods.
• Portobello – Portobello is a trendy and cosmopolitan city suburb located south of Dublin’s city centre.

You see that it’s important to find out where to stay in Dublin before you book your hostel. Do your research beforehand and have an even better trip!

Now you know what to expect from hostels in Dublin, let’s waste no time and crack on with my recommendation of the 5 BEST Cheap Hostels in Dublin, for any type of traveller.

Ashfield Hostel is a classic backpackers hostel. It’s not boutique or fancy in any way, but it’s fun, friendly, and one of the cheapest hostels in Dublin, Ireland. Here, you’ll find a welcoming place to stay in the city that offers great value for money.

You’ll get all sorts of travellers here: backpackers, solo travellers, couples, and groups on their school holidays. It’s not a raving party hostel as a result, and you may find yourself staying with older travellers or university students. It’s one of the best hostels for those wanting a pretty chill time.

This budget hostel in Dublin may be basic, but you’ll get a clean room with a comfy bed, space to stash your gear, warm showers, and social spaces. There’s also a free breakfast served up each morning, saving you even more pennies.

Where is Ashfield Hostel?

This place claims to be the most central hostel in Dublin and to be fair, it seems that way. It’s situated right in the city centre between Trinity College and O’Connell Street; that means Temple Bar and all its nightlife and culture are just a minute’s walk from the hostel. Nearby are bus stops that easily connect you to Dublin Airport, the ferry terminal, Heuston Station, and much more importantly… the Guinness Storehouse.

There are a fair few rooms to choose from, so there’s something for everyone. Here are the dorm options:

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

And now for the private rooms:

• Twin room private ensuite
• Double bed private ensuite
• Three-bed private ensuite

Prices here are from $30 per night.

Any extras?

This may be one of Dublin’s budget hostels, but it’s more than just a cheap place to stay for the night. There are also additional perks that help you save money on your trip. These include:

There are also a few free events to join in if you feel like being sociable, including… 

• Daily free walking tours of Dublin
• Pub crawls

It’s not a fancy hostel, but if you don’t mind a no-frills stay in Dublin, this place will do just fine. Ashfield Hostel is a classic backpacker-y hostel; it can be a bit noisy, but it’s social and you’ll save money staying here.

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Situated in a historic building, Abbey Court is not the sort of place you will miss easily, it’s one of the most amazing hostels in Dublin, Ireland. It’s completely covered in bright murals of flowers and is funky inside and out. Abbey Court is also an award-winning hostel, and people keep coming back.

Since it opened in 1999, it’s seen thousands of guests arrive through its doors, all of them looking for a cheap hostel in Dublin. It’s still cheap (and pretty awesome) to this day! Throughout you’ll find cool hang-out areas, including a lush courtyard garden decorated in a boho style, and a basement bar and games room and take advantage of the free WiFi.

The dorms at this hostel are pretty simple, no pod beds here. Some of the rooms also aren’t very spacious, but that’s no big deal. It certainly doesn’t stop the rave reviews pouring in from happy hostel-goers!

Where is Abbey Court?

Ok, so these guys also claim to be the most central hostel in Dublin (apparently that’s a thing), but I think they’ve got a good reason for that. It overlooks the Liffey River and is right next to O’Connell Street with the famous O’Connell Bridge nearby, leading to Temple Bar. From here you can get around to many of Dublin’s top sights on foot like Trinity College and Grafton Street, so you won’t have to splash out on public transport as it’s right in the city centre.

Wondering what the sleeping arrangements are? There are a fair few room options available at Abbey Court Hostel, including:

• Female dorm
• Male dorm
• Mixed dorm

There are private rooms, too, including:

• Standard twin room private ensuite
• Standard double bed private ensuite

Prices start at $21 USD per night.

Any extras?

As well as being one of the cheapest hostels in Dublin, Abbey Court also has some pretty good features to shout about:

With so much on offer and an awesome location in one of Dublin’s coolest neighbourhoods close to Trinity College and Grafton Street, this place is definitely a cheap and popular mainstay of the Dublin hostel scene. There’s a reason this place has over 12000 reviews on Hostelworld – people keep coming back to this Dublin hostel.

This hostel has been ranked among the top 10 hostels in Ireland, and it’s a pretty solid hostel. Unlike some of the other budget hostels in Dublin, Jacobs Inn has been purpose-built. As such, it’s modern and nicely designed. It feels a little more like a sleek hotel than backpacker digs – especially if you opt for one of the private rooms.

Shared spaces here are cool and contemporary, with tons of indoor plants and parquet floors, neon signs on the walls, that sort of thing. The interiors are definitely something to shout about compared to most hostels. The rooftop terrace is also something that really sells this Dublin hostel.

Since it’s purpose-built to be a hostel, the beds here aren’t just basic bunks. Instead, they’ve got pod beds; comfy, and spacious, with their own lights and power sockets.

If you’re thinking it’s all style, no substance – think again. Jacobs Inn is a super social place, great for solo travellers. It’s one of the top hostels in Dublin, Ireland for sure!

Where is Jacobs Inn?

Jacobs Inn isn’t the most central hostel in Dublin, but it’s situated near Connolly Station and Dublin’s main bus station, meaning it’s a great location if you plan on taking any day trips from Dublin. This also means you can get to Dublin Airport pretty quickly from here. All the sights and energy of O’Connell Street, Temple Bar and beyond are very close by.

In terms of room options at this stylish hostel, there’s a good selection on offer. Let’s take a look at the dorms:

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

And the private room options include:

• Double bedroom
• Twin room
• Four-bed room
• Six-bed room

Prices start at $34 per person per night. 

Any extras?

Being a cool, modern hostel and all, you can bet that there are some pretty good amenities at Jacobs Inn. Guests will have access to the following perks and features:

Not only one of the cheapest but also one of the coolest hostels in the city Jacobs Inn will satisfy any backpacker travelling in Dublin. From the private pod-style bunks all the way to their boutique hotel quality private rooms, it’s clearly the perfect Dublin hostel, especially for solo travellers.

Gardiner House Hostel is a modern hostel situated inside a historic Georgian building – a 200-year-old converted chapel, to be precise. That means you can really stay in a slice of Irish history at this Dublin hostel.

The place has been nicely restored with a load of period features left intact, like sweeping staircases, big windows, and high ceilings. It could be, for the price, the fanciest hostel in Dublin!

The dorm rooms have also been tastefully decorated here, with white-washed walls, light wooden floors, and clean, neat beds. One of the coolest things about this place is that you get to stay in the converted chapel itself, complete with original stained glass windows. Don’t worry, they still have free WiFi!

There are plenty of places to hang out here. The spacious outdoor terrace in particular is awesome for a pint (or more) on a sunny day, and getting to know your fellow guests, great for solo travellers. So not only is it a social hostel, but it’s also great value for money and full of historic charm.

Where is Gardiner House?

A little further out of central Dublin than other hostels, but worth it for what you get, all the major tourist attractions are still within a 15-minute walk. That includes Temple Bar, Croke Park and Christ Church Cathedral, while O’Connell Street is just a five-minute stroll from the hostel. So, it’s still an excellent base for exploring Dublin.

In terms of room options at Gardiner House, dorms include:

• Mixed dorm 
• Female dorm

And the private rooms are as follows:

• Twin room private shared bathroom
• Double bed private shared bathroom
• Double bed

Prices start from $27 USD per night.

Any extras?

Gardiner House may be set in a historic building, but there are loads of modern conveniences provided for your stay. Additional features here include:

This is an awesome budget hostel in Dublin. It’s an all-around great mix of good location, sociable vibes, and value for money. It’s all topped off with that historic building.

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Abigails Hostel may not be as fancy as some of the other cheap Dublin hostels, but it’s still a modern, clean, and welcoming place to stay. You’ll be guaranteed a cosy bed to sleep in, with friendly staff on hand to help you with your Dublin travel plans.

The dorm rooms here are pretty funky, with wooden floors and bold-patterned wallpaper. Everyone gets their own little place to store their luggage, a USB socket and a reading light.

In terms of the atmosphere, it’s definitely not a hostel for party animals. The perks on offer, as well as the cleanliness factor and welcoming vibe, all add up to a pretty great place to be especially for solo travellers.

Where is Abigail’s Hostel?

Abigail’s Hostel is a centrally located hostel, situated on Aston Quay overlooking the River Liffey, a mere minute’s walk to Trinity College, Temple Bar, and O’Connell Street. There are also ferry terminals, bus stops that can take you to Dublin Airport, and the Guinness Storehouse all within walking distance. It’s got to be one of the best hostels in Dublin if you want to be in the city centre.

There are a few different dorm options available at Abigails Hostel, with just one type of private room to opt for. These are as follows:

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm
• Twin room ensuite

Prices start from $30 per night.

Any extras?

There are some pretty good perks to staying at Abigails Hostel, which include the following amenities:

A few events help make it at least a little bit social here, too…

• Free walking tours daily
• Pub crawls

Abigails Hostel is definitely a great choice if you’re looking to travel cheaply in Dublin. It’s in the city centre, there’s a nice overall vibe, and you can save further pennies with that free breakfast. It’s got to be one of the best hostels in Dublin city centre.

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While Dublin may have a reputation for being an expensive place to visit, staying in this fun city doesn’t have to exhaust your wallet. There are plenty of great hostels in Dublin, and I hope you’ve found what you were looking for in this article. If you’re still unsure, my advice would be to get yourself to the Temple Bar and worry about it later – let the rest of the night unfold from there.

Whether you’re spending a weekend in Dublin or plan to stay long-term, there’ll be somewhere affordable for you. I hope this guide has helped you find somewhere awesome to stay for your upcoming trip to Dublin!

Updated June 2023

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!