The Best Hostels in Dublin | The Backpacker’s Guide To Dublin’s Hostels

Dublin is one of the most popular destinations in Europe but it’s not known for having many great hostels so you need to act quickly to ensure you’re able to book a good hostel. So, to help make your hostel search easier, I’ve created The Savvy Backpacker’s guide to the best hostels in Dublin based on price, overall quality, and atmosphere.

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Average Dublin Hostel Prices

Dublin hostels tend to be affordable during the week and then expensive on the weekend—a common issue in small cities that have a lot of nightlife.

A well-rated hostel can be as cheap as €20-€30 during the week and then that same bed can be €40+ on a Friday or Saturday night (some are even €65+/night!). On average, a well-rated hostel will cost about €30-€40/night but do check the daily price breakdown.

Hostel prices are constantly fluctuating so I recommend checking Hostelworld to get exact prices for your dates.

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Quick Facts About Hostels in Dublin

Cheap Beds & Good Hostels in Dublin Go Early

The best-rated hostels and the cheapest hostels in Dublin are often booked well in advance—especially in the summer and on weekends. If there is a hostel you really like I recommend booking it early.

Check The Location

Dublin is a small city so just about every hostel should be fairly central. There might be a few outliers but it’s unlikely any hostel in Dublin would be in an undesirable location.

Party Hostels

Dublin has a great nightlife scene so that means there are a few “party” hostels in Dublin—which you may or may not want.

Check the review section of Hostelworld to get a better idea of the hostel’s vibe.

Check-In Times and Cleaning Times

Many hostels in Dublin have late check-in times (around 2 pm-4 pm) but nearly all will let you store your bags if you arrive before check-in—I recommend bringing your own padlock for a locker. Other hostels might have a period during the early afternoon when you’re not allowed to be in your room so the staff can clean.

Age Restrictions

Some hostels cater to families and school groups — so book an 18+ hostel if you don’t want to be surrounded by a bunch of middle school kids. Also, family-friendly hostels tend to attract an older crowd so you probably won’t find the typical “backpacker” experience in these places (but you might find more peace and quiet).

More Questions About Hostels?

Check out our Hostels 101 Guide to learn everything you need to know about finding the perfect hostel.

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Our Top Picks For the Best Hostels in Dublin

HOW I RANK THE HOSTELS

• Overall Quality: I take a holistic look at the hostel to see the positives and negatives. My goal is to find amazing hostels that are still affordable.
• Location: Most hostels listed in this guide will be centrally located (but I’ll make a note if it isn’t)
• Price: I try to filter out the super-expensive hostels to help find the best price-to-quality ratio.
• Vibe/Atmosphere: Every hostel has a personality. Some are party hostels and some are quiet. We try to note the atmosphere so you can find a place to stay that matches your travel style. Take a look at the reviews to get a better idea of the hostel’s vibe.
• Past Guest Reviews: Every guest has a different experience so we look at the good and the bad. We suggest you take a few minutes to read prior reviews.

We encourage you to check out Hostelworld to do a bit of searching for yourself.

NOTE: All prices listed below are the cheapest option available during the busy (i.e. expensive) season. Prices will often be 20% cheaper during the slower seasons.

Jacobs Inn Hostel Dublin

Jacobs Inn is a large modern hostel that has a bit of a hotel feel. It’s located near the bus station and it’s about a 5-7 minute walk to the city center so the location is pretty good. The hostel has nice amenities, the rooms are spacious, the place is clean, and there is a big common area.

Jacobs Inn also organizes tours and pub crawls every night. That said, it’s not the most social hostel and it does attract everyone from families and high-school groups to older travelers and backpackers.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €20-€30 during the week
  • €39 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Isaacs Dublin Hostel

Isaacs Hostel is Dublin’s most popular hostel and it’s easy to see why. First of all, they cater to backpackers so it’s a very lively and social atmosphere — solo travelers won’t have a problem meeting people. Plus, they organize all kinds of activities like free walking tours, pizza nights, live music, quiz nights, etc.

We’re big fans of their free breakfast, self-catering kitchen, and cozy common area. It’s about a five-minute walk from the center of Dublin. Ohh, and it’s one of the most affordable hostels in town.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €16-€25 during the week
  • €26 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Abbey Court Dublin Hostel

Abbey Court has been Dublin’s most popular hostel for the past two years so it obviously does a lot of things well. It’s clean, the staff is great, it has free breakfast and a kitchen, and they have a nightly pub crawl and walking tours. It’s located in the very center of the city so it’s only 2 minutes from Temple Bar.

Abbey Court is also an affordable hostel but the cheap beds do go quickly. It can get a little rowdy—especially in the 24-person and 28-person rooms.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €14-€20 during the week
  • €28 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Ashfield Hostel

The Ashfield Hostel is located right in the thick of things so the location doesn’t get much better. It’s a fairly basic/no-frills hostel but they have free breakfast and there are free walking tours. It can get a little noisy at night so bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.

That said, The Ashfield Hostel is fairly cheap for Dublin (especially during the week) so it’s not a bad choice if you just want somewhere to sleep after a long night out in Dublin.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €18-€25 during the week
  • €32 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Barnacles Temple Bar House Hostel

Barnacles Temple Bar House has a lot of stuff going for it — it’s located in Temple Bar, their staff is super friendly, it has free breakfast, city tours, and pub crawls. We also like that it has a kitchen and chill-out areas so it’s easy to meet other travelers.

The hostel can be a bit loud at night (that’s what happens when you stay in the Temple Bar neighborhood) so keep that in mind.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €26-€33 during the week
  • €32 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Abigails Dublin Hostel

Abigails Hostels is a solid hostel that’s located in a central part of town but it’s just far enough from the rambunctious Temple Bar area to ensure a quiet night.

The hostel is basic but clean, comfortable, and affordable. It caters to all ages so it’s not super social but there is a common area, kitchen, and free breakfast.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €18-€25 during the week
  • €39 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Gardiner House Dublin Hostel

The Gardiner House is another solid hostel that’s new to the Dublin Hostel scene. It’s built inside a 200-year-old convent and it’s complete with a Victorian chapel.

It’s super centrally located and affordable. The staff is great and the atmosphere is good. A light breakfast is included, there are free walking tours, and there’s a kitchen.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €16-€24 during the week
  • €38 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Kinlay House Dublin Hostel

Kinlay House Dublin gets good reviews and is a bit of a party hostel — probably because it has its own pub and it’s located near Temple Bar. There is a large common area, a fully-equipped kitchen, a large dining room, laundry facilities, and a free light breakfast. The cleanliness and overall facilities are about average but it’s also a fairly inexpensive hostel (at least during the week).

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €14-€21 during the week
  • €35 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Generator Hostel Dublin

Generator Hostel Dublin is part of the Generator chain. This hostel is more like a boutique budget hostel than a hostel and it has a lot of amenities you won’t find in normal hostels. It’s clean, it has a nice bar, it’s in a decent location, and the beds are comfortable. I like to think of the Generator as a high-end hostel for travelers who value comfort.

Because of its size, Generator Hostel Dublin doesn’t always have a super social atmosphere (except for its great bar). Our main criticism is that the price is often jacked up to €60-€70/night on the weekend.

• Price per night starts around (via Hostelworld):
  • €25-€35 during the week
  • €65 on the weekend
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

photo credits: Jacobs Inn, Isaacs Hostel, Abbey Court, Ashfield Hostel, Abigails Hostels, Kinlay House Dublin, Generator Hostel Dublin,

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More Helpful Europe Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

Here are some helpful links to articles that I think you’ll find interesting if you’re staying in hostels and traveling around Europe on a budget.

• Dublin Travel Guide: What to do, see, and eat in Dublin.
• Dublin Pass Review: Is the Dublin Pass a good deal for your travel style?
• Dublin Travel Costs: How much to budget for your trip to Dublin.
• Guide to Hostels in Europe: Tips and advice for finding the best hostels in Europe
• Hostel Etiquette: The unwritten rules about staying in a hostel.
• Backpacking Europe Packing List: What you should (and shouldn’t) pack when traveling to Europe.
• Choosing Travel Insurance: Tips for choosing travel insurance.
• The Best Travel Shoes: Finding comfortable and stylish shoes for travel.
• The Best Travel Backpacks: Guide to my favorite travel backpacks that are designed for Europe.