last update: October 20, 2023 | October 20, 2023
Cape Town has been a popular hub for backpackers for many years. It's also quickly becoming popular with digital nomads, thanks to the city's vibrant nightlife and rich, diverse culture.
There are many cheap hostels here for backpackers and nomads. Below you will find a list of the best hostels in Cape Town to help you have fun, meet other travellers, and get a good night's sleep during your time in one of the world's greatest cities.
But first, here are four things to remember before choosing a hostel in Cape Town:
- location – Cape Town is not spread out and most major areas can be reached quickly and easily. However, it's a good idea to consider safety, nearest attractions, etc. when making your decision. . Choose a hostel near the places you want to see and/or the nightlife you want to experience. Then you won't have to waste time and money on the go.
- price – Most hostels in Cape Town are fairly cheap, but some are cheaper than others. If you are willing and able to pay a little more, you can get accommodations with perks like AC. But the cheaper options still offer a lot of value.
- manners – All hostels offer free Wi-Fi and some include free breakfast. But if you want more than that, search to find the hostel that best suits your needs.
- employee – All of the hostels listed here have great staff! They are very friendly and knowledgeable. Even if you don't stay at one of the places listed below, browse reviews to find a place with helpful and friendly staff. They can make or break a hostel!
Below is a list of the best hostels in Cape Town. But if you don't want to read a longer list, here are the best for each category:
Want to know the details of each hostel? Here's a breakdown of the best hostels in Cape Town and why I love them.
Price legend (per night)
- $ = less than 250ZAR
- $$ = 250-400 ZAR
- $$$ = 400 EUR or more
1. Villa Viva
Located near trendy Kloof Street and popular bars and restaurants, Villa Viva is a fun and sociable hostel with a bar that hosts late night parties and live music on weekends. I especially like that the hostel organizes all kinds of events such as painting nights. Grill (South African BBQ). There's a hostel WhatsApp group where you can easily meet people and make plans, as well as an outdoor swimming pool for when you want to kick back and relax.
I really liked that the dormitory beds had thick mattresses. (There are curtains so you can sleep well.) The bed also has an outlet and a light. But the highlight for me was the pressurized rain shower. It was great!
Villa Viva Overview:
- $$$
- Hostel Whatsapp group makes it easy to meet people
- Lively outdoor space with swimming pool and garden
- We organize many events and activities.
Beds start from 420 ZAR and private rooms start from 950 ZAR.
2. Ashanti Lodge Gardens
Located in the leafy countryside of Gardens, Ashanti Lodge enjoys a quiet location (just a 10-minute walk from Kloof Street). It has a pool and is sociable but a bit quieter. Although it's small, it's easy to meet other travelers even if you're traveling alone. If you'd like to cook, there's a communal kitchen available, and there's also a cafe that opens for breakfast and reopens promptly every night.
The dorm beds didn't have curtains, but the mattresses were thick and there were plenty of plugs and USB ports in the room, which was nice. The modern bathroom also has a really nice high pressure shower (a big plus in my book!).
Ashanti Lodge garden overview:
- $$$
- outdoor swimming pool
- great shower
- Cafe/bar on site
Beds start from 460 ZAR, private rooms start from 865 ZAR.
3. Never at Home Green Point
This fun party hostel is located in the vibrant Green Point area. It's also one of the few hostels with air conditioning (a big plus if you're staying here during the peak summer heat). As with most party hostels, the rooms are very basic – no outlets, no shelves and creaky metal beds with thin mattresses.
But what the hostel lacks in comfort, it more than makes up for in the extremely friendly staff and lively atmosphere. They organize daily activities and events such as quizzes. Grill, and since you are hiking, it is very easy to meet people. There's also an active hostel WhatsApp group, daily happy hours in the bar, bike rentals, a swimming pool, a large kitchen and several indoor work spaces if you work online.
Never at Home Green Point at a glance:
- $$
- Nice bar and swimming pool
- Daily events and activities
- The dormitories have air conditioning
Prices for beds start from 372 ZAR and private rooms start from 1,562 ZAR.
4. Atlantic Point
Atlantic Point is one of the city's oldest backpacker hostels. Located in Green Point, this hostel has a homey, friendly atmosphere and is one of those hostels that makes you feel like you're staying at a friend's house. It's not a party hostel, but it has a pool and a small bar with daily happy hour, making it easy to be sociable and meet people. Free breakfast is also provided.
The dorms are small, but clean and bright, with beds with thick mattresses, lamps and shelves (there are no privacy curtains). However, only some rooms have air conditioning, so be sure to make a reservation if you are visiting during the hot summer months.
Atlantic Point Overview:
- $$
- Bar with daily happy hour
- free breakfast
- Cool outdoor space with swimming pool
Beds start at 315 ZAR, private rooms start at 1,403 ZAR.
5. Long Street Backpackers
Just a 10-minute walk from the starting point of historic walking tours and many other historic attractions, this is the perfect place if you want to be in the heart of all the action. This fun and sociable hostel is a great choice for budget travelers as it is one of the cheapest hostels in the city. But the real highlight is that the hostel is on the same power grid as the Parliament Buildings, so the power never goes out (black and brown outages are common in Cape Town).
The outdoor garden space is a quiet oasis away from the booming hostel bar, which hosts nightly events such as karaoke, beer pong and open mics. Like most party hostels, the dorms have cheap metal beds without curtains and basic mattresses, but if you stay here, sleep probably isn't your priority!
Long Street Backpackers Overview:
- $
- Lively party every night
- Central location without load balancing
- budget friendly
Beds start from 195 ZAR, private rooms start from 640 ZAR.
Cape Town is a big city with lots to do, so it's important to choose the right hostel based on what you want to see and do. Luckily, there are many amazing options here to make visiting this postcard-perfect destination fun and affordable.
Book your Cape Town trip: logistics tips and tricks
flight reservation
Find cheap flights with Skyscanner. My favorite search engine searches websites and airlines around the world so you always know everything.
Accommodation Reservation
You can book hostels through Hostelworld, which offers the largest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, try Booking.com. We consistently offer the lowest rates on guesthouses and budget hotels.
Don't forget travel insurance
Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. Comprehensive protection in case something goes wrong. I can't go on a trip without it, as I've had to use it several times in the past. Here are some of my favorite companies that offer the best service and value:
Are you looking for the best company to help you save money?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to use when traveling. I list everything I use to save money on the go. You can also save money when traveling.
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