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The 10 Best Hostels in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Some of the best backpacker spots in Kota Kinabalu

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Superb: 9+ Very good: 8+ Good: 7+ Pleasant: 6+
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Located in Kota Kinabalu, 1.7 km from Filipino Market Sabah, Vibrant Hostel provides air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge. The property is around 4.1 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, 5.6 km from North Borneo Railway and 8.2 km from Likas City Mosque. The accommodation features a shared kitchen, and luggage storage for guests.

The staffs are very nice, kind, and helpful. We extended our stay so we stayed for 7nights and We have no complaints at all. They clean the facilities everyday so all the common areas are always clean. Affordable price, nice location very close to the Imago shopping mall.

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9
Superb
494 reviews
Price from
£9
per night

Set within 2.9 km of Filipino Market Sabah and 2.3 km of Oceanus Waterfront Mall, Faloe Hostel offers rooms with air conditioning and a shared bathroom in Kota Kinabalu. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides a shuttle service, while a car rental service is also available.

I’ve been traveling for sometime, lived in different hostels and this is so far the best hostel I’ve ever been! It feels so homey with the kitchen, living room and dining tables, and place us quite accessible to everything (close to a nice mall.) Perfect for those who are into “chilling” an connect with people rather than immersing to crowd. It’s veryyyy cleannnnn too! Its well maintained by the owners. Squeaky clean! 💗 The most wonderful part of this stay is the people, especially the staff. Warm, helpful and nice. I will come back in KK for sure :)

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9.2
Superb
276 reviews
Price from
£8
per night

Capsule Inn is located in Kota Kinabalu, 4.7 km from North Borneo Railway and 6.4 km from Likas City Mosque. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property. International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC is 11 km from the hostel and Atkinson Clock Tower is 1.3 km away.

Everything was just perfect. Quite, peaceful bedroom with kindly staffs. Location was not that bad as I expected. Restaurants, small supermarkets and all places needed for the stay are located in the building.

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8.5
Very good
188 reviews
Price from
£7
per night

Located in Kota Kinabalu, 400 metres from Filipino Market Sabah, Escape Backpackers KK provides air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge. The property is around 3.1 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, 5 km from North Borneo Railway and 5.9 km from Likas City Mosque. International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC is 11 km away and Sabah State Mosque is 2.9 km from the hostel.

Friendly staff who gave us lots of travel advice and delivered excellent service. Good room with comfortable beds. Nice and social common area, delicious different homemade breakfast every morning ! Thanks for the stay, I would definitely come again.

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8.1
Very good
282 reviews
Price from
£6
per night

Set in Kota Kinabalu and with Filipino Market Sabah reachable within 500 metres, Signel Hostel offers a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a terrace. The property is around 3.5 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, 5.8 km from North Borneo Railway and 6.3 km from Likas City Mosque. International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC is 11 km from the hostel and Sabah State Mosque is 3.7 km away.

thanks very much for this nice stay ! the decoration and the confort of the room are excellente, I really like the concept of the hotel with a mix option for a luxurious hostel or more high standing room ! we really appreciate our stay and want to thank Perez and Gii, the staff was really helpful and nice to us.

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8.7
Fabulous
218 reviews
Price from
£11
per night

Situated within 11 km of International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC and 1.7 km of Signal Hill Observatory, Homy Seafront Hostel offers rooms in Kota Kinabalu. The property is around 3.6 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, 5.4 km from North Borneo Railway and 6.3 km from Likas City Mosque. The accommodation features a shared kitchen and a shared lounge for guests.

Really lovely hostel and I had a really great time there! Everyone there was friendly and the sea view in the living room and my room was spectacular. I will definitely come back one day in the future!

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8.9
Fabulous
973 reviews
Price from
£9
per night

Situated in Kota Kinabalu and within 400 metres of Filipino Market Sabah, Space Cap Hotel has a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi. The property is set 3.6 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, 5.4 km from North Borneo Railway and 6.3 km from Likas City Mosque. The accommodation features a shared kitchen and luggage storage space for guests.

The shared bathroom is fitted with a bidet, a hairdryer and slippers. The rooms at the hostel have air conditioning and a desk.

The location, the staff, the view

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8.2
Very good
345 reviews
Price from
£11
per night

Situated in Kota Kinabalu, less than 1 km from Filipino Market Sabah, Borneo Gaya Lodge features air-conditioned accommodation and a shared lounge. The property is around 3.1 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, 5.1 km from Likas City Mosque and 5.8 km from North Borneo Railway. The hostel also offers free WiFi as well as a paid airport shuttle service.

Friendly & helpful staff.

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8.1
Very good
90 reviews
Price from
£18
per night

All units at the hostel are equipped with a seating area. Each room is fitted with a private bathroom equipped with a shower and a hairdryer, while selected rooms are equipped with a kitchenette fitted with a fridge. Guest rooms at Oikos Poshtel include air conditioning and a desk.

Very strategic location, the place is clean, all facilities are provided too. It's quiet too.

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7.5
Good
174 reviews
Price from
£29
per night

Nusantara Mattwaddien Hostel is set in Kota Kinabalu, 3.8 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 5.3 km from North Borneo Railway. The property is situated 6.5 km from Likas City Mosque, 11 km from International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC and 1.9 km from Signal Hill Observatory. The accommodation offers a shared kitchen and a shared lounge for guests.

staf friendly, easy access with restaurant, laundry and others

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6.8
Review score
322 reviews
Price from
£8
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.
Search hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Most booked hostels in Kota Kinabalu this month

Great access to the city centre! Check these hostels in Kota Kinabalu

  • Warisan Homestay 18pax Kota Kinabalu
    9.3
    Scored 9.3
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 3 reviews

    Warisan Homestay 18pax Kota Kinabalu is located in Kota Kinabalu, 3.7 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 5.2 km from North Borneo Railway.

  • Vibrant Hostel
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 494 reviews

    Located in Kota Kinabalu, 1.7 km from Filipino Market Sabah, Vibrant Hostel provides air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge.

    very good, room very clean and staff very friendly

  • Homy Seafront Hostel
    8.9
    Scored 8.9
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 973 reviews

    Situated within 11 km of International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC and 1.7 km of Signal Hill Observatory, Homy Seafront Hostel offers rooms in Kota Kinabalu.

    Super frinedly staff, quiet, clean, magnificent view

  • Signel Hostel
    8.7
    Scored 8.7
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 218 reviews

    Set in Kota Kinabalu and with Filipino Market Sabah reachable within 500 metres, Signel Hostel offers a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a terrace.

    Clean. Felt like home eventho its a public resident.

  • Space Cap Hotel
    8.2
    Scored 8.2
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 345 reviews

    Situated in Kota Kinabalu and within 400 metres of Filipino Market Sabah, Space Cap Hotel has a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi.

    Nancy was very helpful and the location was perfect

  • Borneo Gaya Lodge
    8.1
    Scored 8.1
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 90 reviews

    Situated in Kota Kinabalu, less than 1 km from Filipino Market Sabah, Borneo Gaya Lodge features air-conditioned accommodation and a shared lounge.

    De gastvrijheid en behulpzaamheid van de gastheer.

  • Xplorer Backpacker
    7.8
    Scored 7.8
    Good
    Rated good
     · 12 reviews

    Set in Kota Kinabalu, 800 metres from Filipino Market Sabah, Xplorer Backpacker offers air-conditioned accommodation and a shared lounge.

  • Oikos Poshtel
    7.5
    Scored 7.5
    Good
    Rated good
     · 174 reviews

    Located in Kota Kinabalu and with Filipino Market Sabah reachable within 1.6 km, Oikos Poshtel provides a tour desk, non-smoking rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi and a restaurant.

    The place less than 5mins walk away from Imago mall

  • Nusantara Mattwaddien Hostel
    6.8
    Scored 6.8
    Pleasant
    Rated pleasant
     · 322 reviews

    Nusantara Mattwaddien Hostel is set in Kota Kinabalu, 3.8 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 5.3 km from North Borneo Railway.

    staf friendly, easy access with restaurant, laundry and others

  • H2 Premium Backpackers
    6.0
    Scored 6.0
    Pleasant
    Rated pleasant
     · 1 review

    Less than 1 km from Filipino Market Sabah, H2 Premium Backpackers is situated in Kota Kinabalu and provides air-conditioned rooms.

  • Aeropod Hostel Economy Deluxe King Room
    5.4
    Scored 5.4
    Average
    Rated passable
     · 18 reviews

    Set within 5.4 km of Filipino Market Sabah and 700 metres of North Borneo Railway, Aeropod Hostel Economy Deluxe King Room offers rooms with air conditioning and a private bathroom in Kota Kinabalu.

FAQ about hostels in Kota Kinabalu









Hostels that guests love in Kota Kinabalu

  • Avg. price/night: £35.77
    8.8
    Scored 8.8
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 1,451 reviews
    Best hostel I've ever stayed in east Malaysia. Located at the heart of the KK town. Easy access to several tourist spots and local food spots. Stayed 3 quality nights at mixed bed dorm and it gives me sweet dream everyday.
    wayne weng
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £32.71
    8.3
    Scored 8.3
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 991 reviews
    great location right in the heart of town. rooms were clean and comfortable. they provided coffee and tea for a budget hotel which is unexpected. having a water cooler at the lobby was a nice touch as it was very hot during our stay. So to have ice cold water to cool you down was a plus.
    Bob
    Group
  • Avg. price/night: £17.26
    8.9
    Scored 8.9
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 973 reviews
    Great location, close to night market, KK sentral station and jetty terminal. Very friendly staff, great views from the hostel. Simple and tasty breakfast.
    Nicol
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £10.70
    8.5
    Scored 8.5
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 108 reviews
    This place has such an amazing vibe..amazing staff, bar downstairs, chill out rooms on every floor. One of the only places I've stayed in kk that feels like a real backpackers hostel. Great location for markets and waterfront. Good dorm size, comfy beds, basic facilities sure but absolutely amazing for the price. Highly recommended :))
    Abigail
    Solo traveller
  • 9.2
    Scored 9.2
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 276 reviews
    The friendly staff, the trips to the night market together with the staff and guests, the room and toilets are clean, we can book tours directly from the hostel, power outlet and reading light at each bed, towel and blanket are provided too. We could do our laundry inhouse at a really cheap cost too.
    Liyena
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £17.26
    8.9
    Scored 8.9
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 973 reviews
    The Hostel was kept really clean and safe. The staff were really nice and every time we asked for more towels, umbrellas, etc., they gave it to us.
    Jiwon
    Group
  • Avg. price/night: £55.61
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 101 reviews
    We stayed for one night and the experience was good. The host is very friendly and helpful. The location is good as well, just the opposite of Marriott Hotel, and you can find the restaurants easily around the hostel. Overall, it is a good choice for a group people looking for a comfortable place with a budget price.
    SK
    People with friends
  • Avg. price/night: £17.26
    8.9
    Scored 8.9
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 973 reviews
    This was without a doubt the best hostel I ever stayed in so far. It’s clean, safe, good facilities, nice rooms, nice kitchen and living room, super friendly people who work there,… I definitely go back!
    Delphine
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: £35.25
    8.7
    Scored 8.7
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 141 reviews
    Contactless check in. The cheapest room in town! Comfortable room with hot shower and wifi makes you feel lazy to go out 😂Efficient staff. Great location !ATM, supermarket, cafe and clinic are few steps away! I like the hostel environment with pleasant background music at the lobi..less scary when you came back late at night 🤣
    melissa
    Family with young children
  • Avg. price/night: £17.26
    8.9
    Scored 8.9
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 973 reviews
    It is a just small hostel with a reasonable price and good service for backpackers or someone who travels on budget. The staffs are very friendly. Room is small and simple, but very clean. They also have a small cozy common area where you can watch Netflix for free at night or enjoy a beautiful sea view through a big window in early morning.
    Andieln
    Solo traveller

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