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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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Review Score

Wonderful: 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. This 2-star hostel offers a shared kitchen, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. The accommodation provides an ATM, and luggage storage for guests.

Perfect perfect perfect! Staff are so kind and helpful. Property is perfectly clean- kitchen bathrooms and sleeping dorms/ private rooms. Nice surf boards for rent at a cheaper price than elsewhere - $12. Free beach towels Clean rooms Nice full kitchen Free yoga Everything wonderful

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9
Wonderful
1,225 reviews

Stay Classy is well located in 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.

You can play billiards at the hostel.

Great place to stay, with clean beds, you do not need to carry your own lock, you can set directly a passcode on the lockers. Bathrooms were clean. Definetely will stay again in my next visit.

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9
Wonderful
815 reviews

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.

I like the hospitality and diversity in the hostel. I love how authentic the building is! It was very nice meeting all the adventures people. The manager is great to solve problems related to visitors. Can't wait to come back to that place for my future travels to San Diego!

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8.6
Excellent
1,363 reviews

Set in a Victorian house in the heart of Central San Diego, this hostel offers dormitory rooms and private rooms with free WiFi, breakfast and free guided local activities.

ITH Adventure Hostel also serves a daily pancake breakfast. The property hosts a social hour every night in which guests can bring their own drinks and food.

The cleanliness is top notch especially the bathrooms. Given they are shared, it’s impressive how impeccable they maintain it at all times. They also have rules for guests displayed clearly. It creates a distinct advantage for them over other hostels in the vicinity. Santiago and the volunteers are always happy to help on any front. It feels like at home. The location is super convenient. You can walk all downtown, close to public transportation (Trolley and bus), great neighborhood for restaurants, Farmers market, Bay Area etc.

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8.1
Very Good
1,048 reviews

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.

Clean and cozy hostel with a really nice atmosphere. the staff was very friendly and kind. felt really comfortable here. Everything is new and one can feel in all the rooms (shared and the bedroom) that they put a lid of effort in creating this great hostel spot!

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8.7
Excellent
118 reviews

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.

lovely chill atmosphere, beautiful aesthetic, clean facilities. hostel mates were very nice and staff was super friendly and helpful - Vlad made some amazing pancakes and even taught a little guitar.

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8.6
Excellent
501 reviews

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.

The staff was amazing. They were all were sweet and took great care of me. Victoria was always smiling, friendly, and helpful which made the place feel like a home. Meghan was quite good to create activities for the guests. The breakfast got the job done so not much to say about that. In general the hostel was very clean and nice. The fact that you had a curtain at your bed helped making your bed area private. The location was magnificent - very safe and right next to the beach. It was super easy to rent surfboards or bikes at the hostel. Tip of the iceberg was the mexican restaurant “Oscar’s” on the other side of the road because they had cheap but amazing tacos. Thus, nice and easy to get a good lunch/dinner close to the hostel. Definitely a place I would book again.

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8.2
Very Good
353 reviews

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.

I like the comfortable bed nice clean room big kitchen area. I have toodler 2 years 5 months she also feel happy too. The location just close to cvs farmacy which is like big convenience store. And nice Indian food near by. Inside the room have small refrigerator that so good.

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8.1
Very Good
962 reviews

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.

Erica was the Volunteer Staff who lives there in exchange for her housing. She was very helpful at every turn. We will definitely stay here again.

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7.1
Good
148 reviews

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, cozy accomodation, nice people, good black coffee, cozy tomcat, i had very great time in SD, thank you guys

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7.9
Good
927 reviews

Hostels – what are they?

Hostels offer so much more than a cheap place to stay – they're also a fun way to travel and meet like-minded people. Common areas like shared kitchens and game rooms give you the chance to swap tips, tricks, and travel stories with backpackers from all over the world.

Hostels have come a long way since the first youth hostel opened back in 1912. Nowadays there's something for everyone, from budget "crash pads" to 5-star "poshtels." Whether you'd prefer a bed in a shared dorm or your own private room, you'll see that most hostels are cheaper than local hotels – and a lot more fun, too!

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