Vancouver is a nature-lovers paradise and one of the best cities to visit in Canada. With over 250 parks in the Vancouver region alone, it’s no wonder millions of tourists flock to the West Coast metropolis every year. When it comes to the city’s hostel scene, tourists will want to consider several factors from location and hostel vibe to budget and access to public transport. Ironically, holiday planning can be quite stressful, as it involves not only organizing accommodation and transportation but also planning activities in Vancouver and potential day trips from Vancouver. But that’s where we come in. Whether you’re here to sip craft coffee in hip neighborhoods or explore the lush landscapes and rugged mountains, we’ve got your hostel game covered with the best hostels in Vancouver.
Best Hostels in Vancouver, Canada
- Best Overall Hostel: Samesun Vancouver
- Best Hostel for Couples/Families: YWCA Hotel
- Best Party Hostel: Cambie Hostel – Gastown
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: HI Vancouver Downtown
- Best Budget Hostel: Vancouver Backpacker House
Samesun Vancouver
If you’re looking for a hostel in Downtown Vancouver that has all the bells and whistles, then Samesun Vancouver is your place. This fantastic hostel offers a warm social vibe with plenty of opportunities to meet other travelers. In the morning, you can enjoy a free continental breakfast served in the dedicated dining room or whip up your own breakfast in the stainless steel communal kitchen. There is an on-site restaurant and bar where you can unwind and cheers to newfound friends or order a meal before settling down for the night. The hostel hosts plenty of events weekly, including Happy Hour at the bar, which is great for social butterflies looking to link up with new travelers. Other amenities include an on-site laundry, free Wi-Fi, and discounted tickets for eager hockey fans to see the Vancouver Canucks play. Private rooms are available with or without ensuite bathrooms and can accommodate anywhere from one to four people. You can also opt to book a bed in a four-, six-, or eight-bed mixed dorm or female-only dorm.
This Vancouver hostel is situated in the heart of the city, less than a 10-minute walk from several attractions like the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Contemporary Art Gallery, and Emery Barnes Park. The Vancouver City Centre is also a short walk away, providing guests with easy access to the metro blue line leading south to Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport.
YWCA Hotel
The YWCA Hotel is the ideal hostel in Vancouver for anyone who is coming to the city to catch a professional sports game. This Downtown hostel is conveniently located right across the street from BC Place where the Whitecaps FC call home and a block away from Rogers Arena where the Vancouver Canucks play. On top of that, the hostel is right beside Robson Street, a popular shopping street lined with restaurants and retailers. Plus, Vancouver’s Chinatown district and the Stadium-Chinatown Metro Station are less than a 10-minute walk away.
This is the perfect hostel for families or couples looking to hit Vancouver on a budget getaway. You may be wondering why we call this a hostel when the ‘Hotel’ is right there in the name. Well, the YWCA Hotel isn’t a traditional hostel. It instead runs more like a hotel offering private rooms with shared bathrooms and communal areas. Visitors can book rooms for up to four people and each room comes with a TV, desk, and air conditioning. The hostel also boasts an on-site laundry facility, free Wi-Fi, and a gym.
Cambie Hostel – Gastown
Cambie Hostel – Gastown is not just a place to crash, it’s also the best party hostel in Vancouver! Free Wi-Fi, a fully-equipped communal kitchen, daily activities, and a rooftop patio with panoramic city views are just the beginning. This social haven also boasts common areas perfect for meeting fellow travelers or for finding activities to sign up for. With a lively onsite pub serving up local brews and live music until 2 a.m., your nights are guaranteed to be as epic as the mountains surrounding this vibrant city. The hostel also provides free earplugs for light sleepers who don’t want to party to the wee hours. But it’s not just about the party vibes – Cambie Hostel also offers cozy dorms and private rooms, ensuring a good night’s sleep after dancing the night away. You can choose to book a private room or a bed in a four-bed female-only dorm, or a four-, six-, or eight-person mixed dorm room. Each bed comes with a lockable large drawer under the bed to secure valuables. Oh, and for those who are missing their feline friends back home, the hostel has a pet cat named Oreo that will be happy to give you some cuddles!
Cambie Hostel – Gastown is ideally located in the hip Gastown area, where cobblestone paths line the streets dotted with trendy coffee shops and quirky boutiques. The famous Gastown Steam Clock and the Vancouver Lookout are five minutes away or less on foot. There are tons of restaurants and pubs just outside the hostel door, too.
HI Vancouver Downtown
Tucked between the sandy shores of Sunset Beach and Davie Village (Vancouver’s lively gay district), HI Vancouver Downtown is the best Vancouver hostel for those who want a good balance of attractions and nightlife. Even though the hostel was just renovated, the best part of this hostel is truly its location. Davie Street is a block away, Sunset Beach is a 10-minute walk, and Stanley Park, English Bay, and the Vancouver Art Gallery are all within a 30-minute walk.
Inside, visitors will find a modern vibrant décor with plenty of communal areas to socialize. The kitchen is massive and boasts two to three of every appliance so that multiple guests can cook at ease. There is a large dining area with plenty of tables and chairs to play board games or set up shop on a laptop. Visitors can even head out to the terrace to read a book in the sun loungers or enjoy their cup of coffee in the open air. Other awesome on-site amenities include a billiards table, a meeting room, laundry facilities, parking, and free Wi-Fi.
You can book either a standard private twin room, a private family room, or a bed in a dorm room. Dorm rooms are available with configurations of two bunk beds (four beds) in a male-only, female-only, or mixed setting. Each dorm room has lockers for guests to use to lock up their luggage.
Vancouver Backpacker House
Located in Burnaby, this is the ideal cheap hostel in Vancouver for those looking to pinch a few pennies. While Burnaby may sound far from the city, it’s actually only about 20 minutes to the downtown core via the Skytrain (including a three-minute walk to the station). The Skytrain station is located at the Metropolis at Metrotown Shopping Centre, Vancouver’s largest shopping mall, so visitors can shop to their heart’s content with the money they’re saving by staying outside the downtown area. The famous Burnaby Village Museum is also nearby, less than 25 minutes by bus.
The Vancouver Backpacker House is truly no-frills and offers great affordable prices with the option to stay in a three-, five-, or 10-person mixed dorm room or a three-bed female-only dorm room. There is also a variety of private rooms available that can sleep up to three people. A quaint communal kitchen is well-equipped to whip up a meal and there are on-site washers and dryers to get some laundry done. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi and nearby free public parking.
HI Vancouver Jericho Beach
If you’re looking for a hostel that’s away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Vancouver and close to the beautiful beaches, then HI Vancouver Jericho Beach is the place for you. Located in Jericho Park, this hostel is ideal for those who want to access to nature without sacrificing distance to attractions. The hostel is only a 30-minute bus ride from Downtown but has hiking trails, biking trails, and the beach literally on its doorstep. Visitors can even rent sporting equipment at the front desk as they stock everything from bicycles, tennis rackets, and footballs to frisbees and soccer balls. Kayak rentals, windsurfing, and beach volleyball can also be found nearby.
Inside this spectacular hostel, visitors will find plenty of vibrant communal spaces to pop down and hang out. The on-site restaurant, DICED Discovery Cafe, offers plenty of tasty bites a local brews for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and guests can even enjoy their food in the open air of the outdoor patio. Other on-site amenities include a library, foosball, free Wi-Fi, barbecues, a communal kitchen, and laundry facilities.
There are several types of private rooms available to book, from an eight-person apartment-style room with a private kitchen and bathroom to a simple double private room with an ensuite. A bed in an 18-bed mixed dorm is also available, but it’s not as crowded as it sounds! The dorms are divided into two-bunk bed quadrants for maximum privacy and have individual lockers for guests to store their bags.
Cambie Hostel – Seymour
Located in the Financial District in the heart of the city, the Cambie Hostel – Seymour is easily one of the best youth hostels in Vancouver. With incredible access to attractions like the Vancouver Lookout, Gastown, and Downtown Vancouver, guests at Cambie Hostel – Seymour will have the best of the city right on their doorstep. The Granville Metro stop is conveniently located just a block away, giving excellent access to the purple line that runs from Downtown all the way to Surrey and the east side of Burnaby.
This hostel is ideal for introverts or those who don’t want to stay in dorm rooms with too many people as the hostel offers only two-bed female/male-only rooms or a four-bed mixed dorm. There are plenty of tables in the communal areas for a digital nomad to pop down with their laptop or watch a show on the TV. At the end of the day, visitors can head to the 515 Bar downstairs for a tipple or around the corner to Malone’s Taphouse, where guests of the Cambie Hostel receive a discount. Other on-site amenities include washers and dryers, luggage storage, and free Wi-Fi.
St Clair Hotel-Hostel Vancouver
St. Clair Hotel-Hostel is where affordability meets coziness in the heart of Central Vancouver. This hotel-style hostel offers top-notch amenities with private rooms that can sleep anywhere between one and four people. Each room has a shared bathroom, thus the hostel-like part of the accommodation. If you’re planning a long stay, then you’ll be happy to hear the hostel has an on-site laundry facility where you can do your laundry at a budget price. The hostel also offers you free tea, coffee, and Wi-Fi, and there are lockers at the end of each floor for you to use to lock up your passports and laptops while out.
Now, when it comes to location, St. Clair Hotel-Hostel has got you covered. Cathedral Park is right across the street, offering a peaceful spot to enjoy your morning coffee. The hostel’s just steps away from the vibrant Granville Street, where you’re surrounded by eclectic shops, restaurants, and the lively entertainment district. Gastown is only a five-minute walk away and the Granville Metro Station is only a block away, offering easy access to the purple metro line running to Surrey and Burnaby. If you’re in need of some nature therapy, Stanley Park, Vancouver’s iconic green escape, is a short stroll away, offering scenic views and outdoor activities.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Vancouver Hostel
When it comes to choosing the perfect Vancouver hostel, there are a few key factors to keep in mind for a seamless stay. First up, location is everything! Consider what you want to explore, whether it’s the vibrant downtown scene, the relaxed vibes of Jericho Beach, or the cultural charm of Gastown. Each neighborhood offers a unique flavor of Vancouver, so pick a hostel that aligns with your preferred atmosphere and keep in mind transportation. Next on the checklist are amenities. Look for essentials like free Wi-Fi, comfy beds, and communal spaces to meet fellow travelers. A fully equipped kitchen can be a game-changer for budget-conscious foodies, and if you’re looking for that extra touch, some hostels even offer social activities or walking tours to kickstart your adventure.
Don’t forget to factor in your budget and the overall vibe of the hostel, which you can get a better idea of by checking online reviews. Some hostels are known for their lively party scenes, while others boast a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Check online reviews for insights into the hostel’s ambiance and cleanliness, too. Lastly, keep an eye out for additional perks like free breakfast, free parking, laundry facilities, or rooftop views.
Insider Tips For Hostel Living in Vancouver
Welcome to the cozy world of hostel living in Vancouver, where the vibes are as friendly as a Canadian hello! First things first, book your stay through reputable platforms like Hostelworld or Booking.com for the best deals and a hassle-free experience. Hostelworld also has the added bonus of letting you virtually meet other hostel stayers in an online chat consisting of other hostel stayers who have booked at the same time, so you can plan outings and make new friends before you arrive.
Now, let’s talk about community and how important it is to embrace it and the diversity of the hostel! Strike up conversations in the common areas or join hostel-organized activities; you never know when you’ll find a fellow traveler eager to explore Stanley Park or hit up a local coffee shop with you. And speaking of exploration, be sure to check out nearby attractions. Most hostels offer local maps and insider tips on hidden gems, so take advantage, and for a truly local experience, ask the hostel staff about their favorite spots – they’re experts on the area, after all.
When it comes to dorm living, a little courtesy goes a long way. Respect your roommates’ space, keep the noise down during late-night arrivals, and stash your belongings neatly in your locker. Make use of the communal kitchen if you’re looking to save some coin, but always ensure you clean up after yourself in common areas.
When it comes to hostel essentials, you’re going to need a good padlock, a quick-drying microfiber towel (not all hostels provide towels), some earplugs, and an eye mask. For a real game-changing sleeping experience, we highly recommend these all-in-one headphones and an eye mask. They are perfect for travelers who need white noise or for those who want to drown out the sound of that whale siren in the bed next to you.
Editor’s Note: Several of the hostels in this article do not allow locals of southern BC to stay at their hostels. Make sure you double-check before booking if you are a local to the area.
Before you know it, you’ll be staying at one of the best hostels in Vancouver with a cool pint in your hand and perhaps some even new cooler friends in front of you. All you have to do now is point, click, and book. Happy hostel booking!
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