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The 10 Best Hostels in San Diego, USA

Some of the best backpacker spots in San Diego

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Superb: 9+ Very good: 8+ Good: 7+ Pleasant: 6+
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Facing the beachfront, Samesun Ocean Beach offers 2-star accommodation in San Diego and features a shared lounge and terrace. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides an ATM, and luggage storage for guests.

Ocean Beach is 300 metres from the hostel, while Sunset Cliffs Beach is 2.5 km away. The nearest airport is San Diego International Airport, 6 km from Samesun Ocean Beach.

I loved how you can easily meet people. There’s a chill spot to just watch TV too. I adored Brandon who was so kind and welcoming!

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9
Superb
1,590 reviews
Price from
£31
per night

Stay Classy is well located in the centre of San Diego, and provides a shared lounge and free WiFi. The property is located 1.4 km from San Diego Convention Center, 2.8 km from San Diego - Santa Fe Depot Amtrak Station and 3.1 km from USS Midway Museum. The accommodation features a shared kitchen, and luggage storage for guests.

The shared bathroom is equipped with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At the hostel each room is fitted with bed linen and towels.

We liked hair iron and laundry

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9.1
Superb
1,008 reviews
Price from
£45
per night

Ideally set in the Downtown San Diego, Gaslamp Hostel features air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge and free WiFi. The property is around 3.3 km from Balboa Park, 5 km from San Diego Zoo and 7 km from Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The property is 10 km from University of San Diego and 11 km from SeaWorld San Diego.

Location, staffs, cleanness and friendly environment

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8.6
Fabulous
1,640 reviews
Price from
£40
per night

Accommodation at HI San Diego Downtown Hostel includes heating and a fan. Private air-conditioned rooms are available with en suite bathrooms and hairdryers. Personal lockers are available for each dorm bed. Free high-speed WiFi is included in public areas.

Peaceful, beds comfortable, perfectly airrated in common areas, plenty plenty of windows in dinning, place always clean, plenty utensils, very spacious rooms enough separation from roommates, front desk kind n helpful, feels very secure and day time quiet… bonus ear plugs for street noice but windows n curtains help to decrease it… This is my go to place downtown San Diego. Great value for money It’s very central to literally everything I just got out Afew steps n there was CVS etc Place is perfectly situated in convenient location downtown

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8.1
Very good
1,310 reviews
Price from
£31
per night

Set in San Diego, within 200 metres of Mission Beach and 1.4 km of Sail Bay Beach, ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel provides accommodation with a shared lounge and free WiFi. The property is around 3.8 km from SeaWorld San Diego, 6.6 km from Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and 6.6 km from Sunset Cliffs. The accommodation offers evening entertainment and a shared kitchen.

This hostel is comfortable and clean. The staff are friendly and helpful. The location is close to beach and buses. Perfect place to stay.

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8.6
Fabulous
189 reviews
Price from
£32
per night

Situated in San Diego, 2.7 km from Ocean Beach, California Dreams Hostel - Ocean Beach features accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a shared lounge. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and an ATM, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides evening entertainment and a tour desk.

Valeria, the receptionist was an amazing staff! She recommended to us various places to go and definitely made us feel extremely welcomed. The facilities in the hostel were perfect! The lobby was clean. They provided breakfast too! The rooms felt very clean and well-maintained. They also provided towels which was a plus. There were also bicycle rentals available.

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8.4
Very good
654 reviews
Price from
£32
per night

Situated in San Diego, 100 metres from Pacific Beach, California Dreams Hostel - Pacific Beach features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking and a terrace. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and an ATM, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides evening entertainment and a tour desk.

Very familiar space! Good kitchen to cook… Friendly and attentive staff, beds are comfortable with curtains that give you privacy. Amazing location in pacific beach! ❤️

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8
Very good
370 reviews
Price from
£32
per night

Situated directly on the boardwalk in Pacific Beach, ITH Beach Bungalow Surf Hostel San Diego offers oceanfront accommodation 3 km away from world famous Belmont Amusement Park. This eco-friendly hostel features BBQ facilities, a garden and a shared lounge.

Great location and extremely friendly staff! You can rent surfboards and wetsuits in the hostel and enjoy the location at the oceanfront! Also very nice breakfast included (fresh pancakes, eggs, unlimited coffee and tea). Much recommended for all easygoing and adventurous travelers!

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8
Very good
940 reviews
Price from
£28
per night

Located in the centre of San Diego, PodShare San Diego is set 1.1 km from San Diego - Santa Fe Depot Amtrak Station and 1.1 km from Maritime Museum of San Diego. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Private parking is available on site.

USS Midway Museum is 2 km from the hostel, while San Diego Convention Center is 3.2 km away. The nearest airport is San Diego International Airport, 2 km from PodShare San Diego.

The staff is very friendly and do their best to help. The beds and sofas are very comfortable. A quiet place to relax and work at the same time or to explore the wonderful place little italy and indulge in culinary delights.

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7
Good
177 reviews
Price from
£54
per night

Lockers are offered in each dormitory room at Lucky D’s Hostel. Two shared showers and toilets are available on each floor. Towels are provided for private room guests and available to rent for $1 to guests staying in dorm rooms.

The staff were friendly and accommodating. Waffles on the weekend were awesome and the Thanksgiving dinner was huge. At the celebration I met a staff member who was a writer and a gentleman from Italy who was headed home - and I will not soon forget the friendliness that I feel is a standard there.

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7.4
Good
729 reviews
Price from
£31
per night

Looking for a hostel?

Budget travellers know that there is no better way to make the most of their trip than by staying at a hostel: save money for exploring during the day, and swap stories with fellow backpackers in the shared kitchen or bar in the evening. Dorm-style bedrooms with shared bathrooms are standard hostel fare, but private rooms are also available for those willing to pay a bit more.
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Hostels that guests love in San Diego

  • 8.6
    Scored 8.6
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 1,640 reviews
    As a solo woman traveller, i felt very safe and welcome at the Hostel. The beds were comfortable, the property was quiet (which was surprising considering it's in a bustling neighbourhood, close to everything), everything was clean including bathrooms, the staff was informative and helpful, they had amenities and laundry (!), the uniqueness of the building itself made the stay above and beyond staying at any other hostel.
    K
    Karina
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £92.11
    8.1
    Scored 8.1
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 1,310 reviews
    Great location at the Gaslamp Quarter, friendly staff, safe security system, clean rooms, good ratio of dormitories / rooms vs bathrooms
    Françoise
    Solo traveller
  • 8.6
    Scored 8.6
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 1,640 reviews
    It’s a proper travellers hostel and has lots of space for hanging out and meeting people. It has a great and big kitchen for cooking your own stuff, laundry facilities and staff who are always available. It’s really nice they put on evening things for guests. Taco Tuesday was a highlight at a nearby bar with an all you can eat deal on tacos for $5! Also the space is really cool and pretty!
    Catherine
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £266.73
    8.9
    Scored 8.9
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 1,582 reviews
    Rooms good size, comfortable beds and clean. Children’s cots provided on request. Room serviced daily and well equipped (safe, fridge, coffee machine). Simple but adequate breakfast provided with hot and cold options. Great location on the beach front with good access to I-5 for exploring La Jolla, SD Zoo / downtown, and wider SD area. Lots of food options and shops within walking distance. Heated swimming pool facing the beach. Secure parking on site (additional charge) with ‘free’ valet service.
    Martin
    Family with young children
  • Avg. price/night: £55.33
    9.1
    Scored 9.1
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,008 reviews
    Great location (very central) and very clean property. also lots of privacy for that it’s a hostel. would stay again!
    D
    Daria
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £239.13
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,590 reviews
    BEST hostel in the world. As a solo backpacker, 100% recommended. Comfortable beds, clean, amazing vibes, good breakfast included, amazing staff, great location... I only wish I could have stayed longer!!!
    Julia
    Solo traveller
  • 7.6
    Scored 7.6
    Good
    Rated good
     · 318 reviews
    The hostel is amazing. I’ve stayed there for 8 nights and it was the best hostel experience ever. The location is perfect, it’s very close to convenience stores, restaurants and bus stops. The property is clean, the beds are comfortable, and the staff is very helpful and friendly. There is a kitchen with all necessary tools, laundry and everything you need during your stay. I would definitely recommend this place! 10/10👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
    Viktoriia
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £239.13
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,590 reviews
    Used to stay often at hostels but changed more to hotels over the years and with pandemic. This was my first hostel since things opened up, and it could not have been better. Met a lot of great people, staff was great, and the hostel was safe with a fantastic vibe to it. Would love to come back again!
    Miyazaki-man
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £89.68
    7.4
    Scored 7.4
    Good
    Rated good
     · 728 reviews
    Great location near to Gaslamp. Hotel staff was very understanding and helpful when I had to leave early because I got COVID. Shared bathrooms were clean and well-maintained. The decoration of the hostel is very cool. Respectful and friendly guests and staff
    Claudia
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £266.89
    7.8
    Scored 7.8
    Good
    Rated good
     · 2,648 reviews
    great location, friendly staff, area felt safe, very handy for metro and little little Italy. enjoyed our stay. Good restaurants close by.
    GARY
    Young couple

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