Cape Town is known for its epic mountain ranges, historic buildings, and breathtaking Blue Flag beaches. As Africa’s second most populous city and South Africa’s capital city, there is no shortage of fantastic things to do and see. However, when it comes to planning a holiday in the Mother City, choosing the right hostel is vital. Nothing puts a damper on a vacation faster than staying in horrible accommodations, which is why we have done the heavy lifting for you and crafted a list of the best hostels in Cape Town. This way, you can book a hostel that meets your vibe without worrying it’s a run-down, out-of-town dump!
5 Best Hostels in Cape Town
Villa Viva Cape Town
If you’re looking for a good hostel in Cape Town within walking distance of the city’s top attractions, then check out Villa Viva Cape Town. This vibrant and modern hostel is spread across four floors of an old Victorian home, with a revamped space that still holds the building’s old charm at its core. You can start your day off with the hostel’s free breakfast before heading to the garden for a dip in the on-site pool. The hostel also has several courtyards and lounge spaces perfect for digital nomads looking to work the day away. After a day of adventure, head over to the on-site bar to mingle with other travelers and enjoy a pint, or check out the selection of board games and get competitive with friends! Other noteworthy amenities include complimentary towels, on-site parking, and a communal kitchen for those who want to whip up a meal.
Villa Viva Cape Town offers a great selection of both private rooms and dorm rooms, with the latter offering beds in either a four- or six-bed female-only or mixed dorm setting. All of the dorm beds feature privacy curtains, a reading light, and a power outlet. The hostel is ideally located just a 10-minute walk from the attractions in Cape Town City Centre.
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Never at Home Green Point
Never at Home Green Point is a great option for travelers who want to stay near the waterfront and beaches. The hostel is located roughly a 15-minute walk from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you’ll find the Cape Wheel, the Cape Town Diamond Museum, and the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island. Green Point Park is located just across the street, and Mouille Point Beach is less than a 20-minute walk away, while Cape Town City Centre can be reached in roughly 20 minutes by bus.
Inside this youth hostel in Cape Town, visitors will find a vibrant and colorful modern motif. Daily activities and tours are posted weekly, with free yoga, sunset cycling tours, and beer pong tournaments hosted regularly. After hiking around the Table Mountain, travelers can return and spend an afternoon cooling off poolside with a drink or snack from the Backpacker Bar. The hostel also boasts an outdoor grill and a communal kitchen for those who want to host a barbecue with other hostel stayers. A myriad of spacious air-conditioned dorm rooms is offered, ranging from four to 12 beds in a mixed or female-only setting. Air-conditioned private rooms are also available with smart TVs and a private en suite that can sleep two people.
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The BIG
The BIG is a luxury boutique hostel offering a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of outstanding amenities to its guests. You can start your day by indulging in the complimentary breakfast and even experience a traditional braai barbecue (who doesn’t love free food?). The hostel has a clean boho-inspired motif and boasts an outdoor pool, a spacious communal kitchen, and a TV lounge area, along with on-site laundry facilities, a café, a book exchange, and a 24-hour reception.
This hostel in Cape Town with private rooms features a great selection of rooms for those looking for some peace and space to themselves. The private rooms boast a smart TV, come with either a fan or air conditioning, and can sleep anywhere from one to four people. Three-person dorm rooms are also offered, consisting of one bunk bed and one single bed, an en suite bathroom, and a smart TV.
The BIG is ideally located in Green Point, close to the DHL Stadium and Signal Hill. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés right around the corner, and free on-site parking is offered for those with cars.
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A Sunflower Stop
This is one of the coolest hostels in Cape Town specifically for digital nomads. Not only does this highly-rated hostel offer 24-hour electricity and lights (which isn’t the case with all Cape Town hostels), but they also provide complimentary filter coffee for those powering through a workday. Digital nomads can set up shop at the poolside bar and sip on cocktails to stay cool, take a dip in the water in between meetings, or take a break to play giant Jenga with fellow travelers. There is also a lounge area inside with plenty of plugs. The communal kitchen is massive and offers plenty of counter space to prepare meals, along with two stovetop burners and plenty of pantry storage. Other noteworthy amenities include a free city tour, free on-site parking, barbecues, bike rentals, on-site laundry facilities, and complimentary towels.
You can choose to stay in one of their eight-person mixed dorms, which have individual lockers to store valuables. There is also a great selection of private rooms either with or without a private en suite. The hostel is located in Green Point, a 15-minute walk from Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Mouille Point Beach, and Rocklands Beach.
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Long Street Backpackers
If you’re on the lookout for a vibrant social hostel in the heart of Cape Town, then Long Street Backpackers might be for you. Easily the best thing about this hostel is its location, as it’s right on the famous Long Street, three blocks away from Cape Town City Centre. Plenty of top-notch attractions are within a 10-minute walk, including the Long Street Baths, Greenmarket Square, and the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum, and there are a plethora of dining options nearby.
Inside, the hostel boasts a homey contemporary feel with a lovely garden courtyard, a billiards table, outdoor barbecues, a communal kitchen, and a lively on-site bar that plays live music. Complimentary towels are available, as well as bike rentals and 24-hour security. The hostel sleeps a maximum of 80 guests and offers mixed dormitory rooms with anywhere from two to six beds per room, but travelers 35 years old or older are not allowed in the dorms. You could also splurge on a private room, which ranges from a standard single with a shared bathroom to a three-person family room and even a double bed suite with a kitchenette and private bathroom.
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More Great Hostels in Cape Town
Ashanti Lodge Gardens
Located in the Gardens neighborhood, this highly-rated hostel holds the record as the oldest hostel in the city, and with age comes experience and wisdom! Ashanti Lodge Gardens is set in a gorgeous Victorian mansion with a large outdoor terrace featuring a pool, plenty of lounge chairs, and a raised deck with tables, along with a lovely manicured garden with picnic tables. Guests can enjoy lunch or dinner at the on-site bar, which serves up refreshing pints, burgers, and more, or they can head to the communal kitchen that is well-stocked with everything needed to prepare a meal. Other awesome amenities include a billiards table, a free city walking tour, on-site laundry facilities, and airport transfers.
Private rooms are available with the option of one double bed or two twin beds, or you can go the more traditional backpacker route and book a bed in a six- or eight-person mixed or female-only dorm. Each dorm bed comes with a locker, a digital safety box, and a reading light. This Cape Town hostel is ideally located beside De Waal Park, less than a 10-minute walk from the Iziko South African Museum, Long Street Baths, and the South African National Gallery.
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Zebra Crossing Backpacker
Zebra Crossing Backpacker is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxed hostel in Cape Town. Located at the foothills of Signal Hill, this no-frills hostel offers plenty of great amenities, including a beautiful garden patio with barbecues and tables, a fully equipped communal kitchen, and an on-site café. There is also a common room with plenty of couches, a library of books, and a piano.
This cheap hostel in Cape Town offers a myriad of affordable private rooms for all group sizes. Private rooms range from a one-person mini-single to a spacious six-person private room, and all rooms come with a shared bathroom. You could also opt to stay in one of the eight-person dorm rooms, which are offered in both a female-only or mixed setting.
One of the biggest selling features of this hostel is its proximity to attractions. Not only are the hikes at Signal Hill a 15-minute walk away, but Cape Town City Centre is also just a short trek down the road. The hostel is located on one of the main streets, meaning there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafés just a stone’s throw away. The famous Clifton Beaches are also just a 10-minute drive away, and the hostel offers parking for those who have vehicles.
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91 Loop
Located in the heart of Cape Town City Centre, this fabulous modern hostel is ideally located within walking distance of the city’s best museums and restaurants. Greenmarket Square, the Iziko Slave Lodge, and the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum are all roughly a five-minute stroll away, and the My Citi bus stops just across the street, offering excellent transit across the city.
Perhaps the coolest thing at this hostel is the 20-person mixed pod dorm, which offers fantastic privacy in an affordable, air-conditioned room! Each pod comes with a key-card-controlled locker, reading lights, adjustable mood lighting, and an electrical plug. Four-, six-, and eight-person standard dorm rooms with en suites are also offered in either a mixed or female-only setting. Each dorm bed also comes with a reading light, locker, and electrical outlet.
This hostel is the perfect respite for those who want modern facilities and a social atmosphere. 91 Loop features a fantastic on-site café and restaurant, a courtyard with foosball and ping pong, and large lounge areas with couches that have built-in outlets. You’ll enjoy plenty of freebies here as well, like complimentary breakfast, towels, and city walking tours.
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Big Blue Backpackers
Big Blue Backpackers is one of the best Cape Town hostels for those who want to explore the attractions at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The hostel is located roughly a 10-minute walk away from the lively waterfront area and a 15-minute walk away from DHL Stadium and Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés nearby, and free on-site parking is available.
Inside, the hostel boasts spacious rooms and shared spaces, including a games room with billiards, darts, and plenty of board games. After exploring the city, you can head back to the hostel to cool off in the pool or head to the on-site bar for a cocktail or a bite to eat. Big Blue also boasts a large communal kitchen so travelers can prepare their own meals.
There are plenty of options here when it comes to rooms. For a classic backpacker dorm, you can book a bed in one of their four-, six-, eight-, or 11-person mixed or female-only dorms, where each bed comes with a locker. Several layouts for private rooms are offered as well, including family rooms with en suites and budget-friendly single rooms with shared bathrooms.
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House on the Hill
House on the Hill is another great option in the Green Point neighborhood. This pet-friendly guesthouse is located in a Victorian townhouse and boasts beautiful South African décor along with a cozy courtyard, a homey lounge area, and a spacious communal kitchen. They also provide parking for those with a vehicle.
This is not a traditional hostel as there aren’t any shared rooms, but instead, they offer shared hostel-like facilities. With only five rooms, travelers can expect a quiet, laid-back atmosphere perfect for relaxing at the end of a long day. All of the rooms come with a fan, desk, and a balcony, along with an en suite. The rooms are quite spacious and can sleep anywhere from one to four people.
House on the Hill is located right off Main Road in Green Point, offering excellent proximity to cafés, restaurants, and bars. DHL Stadium and Green Park are roughly a 10-minute walk away, and the attractions at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront are only a 15-minute walk away.
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There you have it—the best hostels in Cape Town for every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking to sip cocktails poolside, join in on free walking tours, or relax in a courtyard with a book, you’ll find all the best places to stay right here! All you have to do now is figure out which of these outstanding hostels matches your vibe.
