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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.

It is close to the ocean, in a fabulous street. Hostel was nice inside

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9
Superb
1,667 reviews
Price from
R$ 191
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.

Amazing value! The best hostel I've been to so far. In the US I only experienced 10 times worse hostels for this price. I'd definitely come back and recommend it to everyone staying in SD!

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9
Superb
1,051 reviews
Price from
R$ 262
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.

the ppl was really friendly. they allowed me to checking before, in my room just was me, it was so comfortable. the location was perfect. just 28 min away from the airport (BY BUS, i love it) the bus is 6 min walking. everything was really nice, they had different activities every night!! i love it. i would go again! even i saw they cleaning everyday! you feel like you’re home.💗💗

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8.6
Fabulous
1,705 reviews
Price from
R$ 259
per night

Set in a Victorian house in the heart of Central San Diego's Little Italy Neighbourhood of Downtown, this hostel offers dormitory rooms and private rooms with free Wi-Fi, breakfast and hosted social activities.

Great location. Very helpful staff. Very clean and comfortable stay.

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8.2
Very good
1,051 reviews
Price from
R$ 226
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.

Everything seemed nice and clean

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8.1
Very good
1,362 reviews
Price from
R$ 205
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.

The location was fantastic, the staff were amazing. Its one of the most well run hostels I’ve stayed in yet.

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8.6
Fabulous
197 reviews
Price from
R$ 207
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.

A like the events and very friendly atmosphere

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8.5
Very good
692 reviews
Price from
R$ 239
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.

Ryan, Bri, and Luana were the freaking best! I have stayed in many hostels before where the staff was reclusive and didn’t care to meet you. However, Ryan was exceptional when it came to going out of his way to make you feel welcomed and provided whatever I needed to have a comfortable stay. Having an employee like him is what makes hostels memorable! Thank you guys for everything! 10/10

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8
Very good
372 reviews
Price from
R$ 209
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.

Staff was great. Friendly and professional. The location was in a great location close to restaurants and bars and public transit.

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7
Good
184 reviews
Price from
R$ 354
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.

Excellent location! This hostel faces the magnificent Pacific Ocean. It is the very best seaside hostel I have stayed. I wish I would have known this hostel earlier as I feel that the previous four nights were wasted on staying at various beachside hostels at San Diego and LA.

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7.9
Good
946 reviews
Price from
R$ 180
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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  • Stay Classy
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,051 reviews

    Stay Classy is well located in the centre of San Diego, and provides a shared lounge and free WiFi.

    The staff and the ambience at the hostel were superb!

  • HI San Diego Downtown Hostel
    8.1
    Scored 8.1
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 1,362 reviews

    Situated in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, this non-profit hostel, has a fully-equipped kitchen and offers free coffee, tea, hot chocolate and filtered water 24-hours a day. Balboa Park is 4.8 km away.

    the location and that it's clean and organized

  • PodShare San Diego
    7.0
    Scored 7.0
    Good
    Rated good
     · 184 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.

    Friendly staff and everything was very comfortable.

  • Lucky D's Youth and Traveler's Hostel
    7.4
    Scored 7.4
    Good
    Rated good
     · 738 reviews

    Located 5 minutes’ walk from the Gaslamp Quarter, this East Village San Diego hostel offers free Wi-Fi. A common room features a DVD player and XBOX system.

    it was super clean and the staff were always nice!

Great access to the city centre! Check these hostels in San Diego

  • Samesun Ocean Beach
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,667 reviews

    Facing the beachfront, Samesun Ocean Beach offers 2-star accommodation in San Diego and features a shared lounge and terrace.

    One of the coolest places I've ever stayed in :)

  • Gaslamp Hostel
    8.6
    Scored 8.6
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 1,705 reviews

    Ideally set in the Downtown San Diego, Gaslamp Hostel features air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge and free WiFi.

    Location, staffs, cleanness and friendly environment

  • ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel
    8.6
    Scored 8.6
    Fabulous
    Rated fabulous
     · 197 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.

    Great staff, good community vibe of people, very clean

  • California Dreams Hostel - Ocean Beach
    8.5
    Scored 8.5
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 692 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.

    The setup was great and everybody was friendly and helpful

  • ITH Adventure Hostel San Diego
    8.2
    Scored 8.2
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 1,053 reviews

    Set in a Victorian house in the heart of Central San Diego's Little Italy Neighbourhood of Downtown, this hostel offers dormitory rooms and private rooms with free Wi-Fi, breakfast and hosted social...

    Friendly staff, great location, safe neighborhood.

  • California Dreams Hostel - Pacific Beach
    8.0
    Scored 8.0
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 372 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.

    Literally a beachfront property, only a 2 minute walk .

FAQ about hostels in San Diego








Hostels that guests love in San Diego

  • Avg. price/night: R$ 1,080.13
    7.7
    Scored 7.7
    Good
    Rated good
     · 1,172 reviews
    Hotel was in a great location with the bars and restaurants of Gaslamp district and trolley stop only a couple of mins walk away. The room was well equipped with a coffee machine, fridge, safe and large TV, even the windows opened which is a rarity in hotels these days. The beds were so comfy, you literally just melted into it which was bliss after a days sightseeing.
    Suzannah
    Group
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 359.82
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,051 reviews
    One of the best hostels ever: clean, safe, in a great location, providing both privacy and community spirit. Lives up to the name!
    Julia
    Solo traveller
  • 7.9
    Scored 7.9
    Good
    Rated good
     · 946 reviews
    This hostel is great for the location and meeting people. The rooms are as clean as they can be taking in the factor that the beach is on the door step. Free breakfast is great and they have lots of activity options if you are travelling alone
    Emma
    People with friends
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 359.82
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,051 reviews
    The best hostel I have stayed in. Very clean. Well thought out and had all the amenities required. The host moved the dates at a request due to work commitments.
    Lauren
    Group
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 702.42
    7.0
    Scored 7.0
    Good
    Rated good
     · 246 reviews
    Great location, comfy room. Area felt safe and easy to use public transport to get into San Diego.
    Ella
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 688.24
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,667 reviews
    Great location and a really clean and well run hostel. We had a private room which was extremely comfortable
    James
    Young couple
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 569.35
    8.1
    Scored 8.1
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 1,362 reviews
    Great location, nice free breakfast, helpful staff, communal areas were clean. Hostel was quiet and the staff were very good with keeping the place safe and secure, generally all round it was very good.
    Charlotte
    Young couple
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 359.82
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,051 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: R$ 688.24
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,667 reviews
    From the outside you would think this is the most relaxing and fun „hippie“ place. On the inside then, the style is much more „organised“, „clean“ and „protected“. Very clean place. Food needs to be marked with name and departure date. No smoking inside. Modern youth hostel furniture. Central Ocean Beach, close to the beach.
    Maxi
    Solo traveller
  • Avg. price/night: R$ 688.24
    9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 1,667 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

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