San Francisco is one of the coolest cities on the planet! Amazing food, gorgeous scenery and architecture, and the presence of one of the most important business environments in the world. San Francisco is many things – artsy, motivated, and beautiful…
From the San Francisco Bay Area up through the city to Union Square, there’s an awesome amount of diversity here. San Francisco’s history as a frontier for queer visibility makes for an eclectic and diverse city, even by Californian standards!
But one thing it isn’t, is cheap. This is exactly why I’ve written this ultimate guide to the best hostels in San Francisco.
To keep costs down in San Francisco, you have to really look to save a penny on every corner you turn. Otherwise, this expensive city will drain your wallet before you know what happened.
This list of the best hostels in San Francisco is organized by YOUR needs. Whether you want to party, chill, get some sleep, work, or save as much money as possible… This guide will help you know which hostel is best, so you can book quickly and confidently!
Let’s look at the best hostels in San Francisco, The Golden City!
Photo: @amandaadraper
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Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in San Francisco
- Best Overall Hostel in San Francisco – Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
- Best Hostel in San Francisco for Solo Travelers – Samesun San Francisco
- Best Cheap Hostel in San Francisco – SFO Crashpad
- Best Party Hostel in San Francisco – Green Tortoise Hostel
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in San Francisco – Amsterdam Hostel
The 5 Best Hostels in San Francisco
Make the most of your backpacking trip in San Francisco and take a leap of faith into my top five of San Francisco’s hostels. These are my top five hostels in San Francisco for your individual travel needs. There are more below so if you don’t think you’ve found the one, scroll on.
1. Pacific Tradewinds Hostel – Best Overall Hostel in San Francisco
- Dorm (mixed): From $42
- Private Room: From $100
- Address: 680 Sacramento St., San Francisco, USA
Just a stone’s throw from many of the best places to visit in San Francisco, this is one of the great San Francisco hostels. Pacific Tradewinds Hostel has a loyal following of social “off-the-beaten-path” travelers. The staff here are friendly and make sure the hostel is always a delightfully sociable experience. San Francisco hostels are always a vibe, you’ll be able to rustle up a crew to head to Union Square in a heartbeat!
You’ll get truly excellent bang for your buck by visiting this highly recommended hostel in San Francisco. With daily activities including a free BBQ on the rooftop terrace, Pacific Tradewinds Hostel is a great place to make friends. Right in the heart of Chinatown, you’re in an epic central location to explore and hunt out the vibrant street art San Fran is famous for.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Central Location
- Free Wifi
- Free Breakfast
With comfortable beds that don’t shake and free earplugs, the dorms at ITH PTH (what an acronym) are a fab setup. Sleeping six in the female-only dorm with another couple of eight-bed mixed dorms, you’ll want to book this hostel before it books up. As is to be expected in San Francisco, the stairs in this house are steep so be prepared getting in and out of the joint… But hey, who doesn’t love a free workout on vacay?
There’s free Wi-Fi (of course, it’s the 21st century) as well as daily events so you can feel connected to whoever and however you choose. The free breakfast is complete with free coffee all day long – and you can get free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ramen noodles! This place is wild.
2. Samesun San Francisco – Best Hostel in San Francisco for Solo Travelers
- Dorm (mixed): From $60
- Private Room: From $177
- Address: 1475 Lombard St, San Francisco, USA
Samesun San Francisco is in an epic central location – great for roaming San Francisco’s streets, and discovering the infamous vibrant street art. There’s 24-hour reception and 24-hour security as well as plenty of female-only dorms at Samesun San Francisco so you’ll always feel safe. The staff are friendly and local so they can help you with any questions you have around San Francisco Bay Area.
Close to the city’s major attractions, this is an affordable accommodation option for a couple of nights in the Golden City. San Francisco hostels aren’t cheap but the free breakfast on offer at Samesun San Francisco is a good way to save some coin. Whether you’re here to see the Golden Gate Bridge or vibe out at Union Square, you’re in the perfect spot.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Spacious Dorms
- Private Rooms
- Free Wifi
Samesun is one of the few San Francisco hostels within walking distance of the Fishermans Wharf, home to the Sea Lion Population and Pier 39. I love this location for its walkability to explore the diversity of San Francisco. As a solo traveler, it takes a lot off your mind not thinking about transport so get those shoes on and work the legs boo!
There are spacious dorms and private rooms at Samesun San Francisco, each with ensuite bathrooms which is pretty unique. Most of their rooms have private balconies too which is an absolute treat! Centrally located on Lombard Street, Samesun Hostel San Francisco is a great stop on your backpacking America trip.
3. SFO Crashpad – Best Cheap Hostel in San Francisco
- Dorm (mixed): From $21
- Address: 465 Verducci Dr, San Francisco, USA
The best cheap hostel in San Francisco for budget backpackers, the hallmark of affordable accommodations in San Francisco. When looking for a place to stay that doesn’t cost the earth, this is your best bet. Here, you can have it all, from comfy bunk beds to more TV subscriptions than you’ll have time to watch.
San Francisco hostels are usually in repurposed houses and SFO Crashpad is no different – I love how easy it is to feel at home here. It is pretty far out of the city (Union Square is a 30-minute drive away) but the bus stop is only one block away. If you want to pop into the city one last time before you fly from San Francisco International Airport, there’s secure luggage storage here too.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Self Catering Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
- Free Wifi
Enjoy sweet dreams in a mixed dorm room for four and make full use of the hostel’s facilities during your stay. There’s a kitchen to cook up your food in and a dining area where you can meet fellow broke backpackers and compare budget travel notes. There’s a lounge with all those TV options, a PlayStation, and free Wi-Fi too.
SFO Crashpad is also a great choice for people wanting a hostel near San Francisco International Airport. Less than ten minutes drive from the airport, the hostel is within a 15-minute drive of San Francisco downtown, a wonderful central location. You can easily get to the city’s major attractions and stay in more affordable accommodation, sounds like a win-win to me!
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View on Osprey View on REI4. Green Tortoise Hostel – Best Party Hostel in San Francisco
- Dorm (mixed): From $49
- Private Room: From $105
- Address: 494 Broadway, San Francisco, USA
Get the party started in San Francisco with a stay at the lively Green Tortoise Hostel. The best party hostel in San Francisco, this family-run hostel is perfect for getting to know your fellow travelers. You could even start a night out with a tasty food tour in San Francisco!
Join energetic pub crawls to explore San Francisco’s nightlife and enjoy other free activities, there’s plenty to do in Green Tortoise Hostel. You can give yourself some TLC in the sauna, get your pool game up to speed, and meet loads of fun and friendly people. The top-notch tours are definitely worth joining, the Green Tortoise Hostel has been running for decades and the staff know their stuff.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Free Sunday Night Dinners
- Fully Equipped Kitchen
- Free Breakfast
There’s a shared kitchen where you can whip up your culinary masterpieces, and breakfast is included each morning to nip any hangovers in the bud. The weekly Sunday free dinners are a taste sensation and a great way to meet your fellow travelers and swap Union Square stories. San Fransisco’s nightlife is notorious for its variety and flare, I’m sure there won’t be many quiet moments around the Green Tortoise Hostel dinner table.
When dinner is done and you want to suss your admin for the week or travels ahead of you, make the most of the laundry facilities. Rinse and reset your backpack and relax in that sauna, book a late checkout, and commit to catching Z’s. The dorm setup at Green Tortoise Hostel is good for sleeping – there are female-only dorm rooms, mixed dorms, and private rooms too.
Even if you’ve only got three days in San Francisco you’ll have fun!
5. Amsterdam Hostel – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in San Francisco
- Dorm (mixed): From $33
- Private Room: From $115
- Address: 749 Taylor Street, San Francisco, USA
There are heaps of handy freebies at Amsterdam Hostel, including Wi-Fi and round-the-clock tea and coffee, great for digital nomads on the get-shit-done mission. With plenty of opportunities to work, rest, and play, this is the best hostel in San Francisco for digital nomads.
Once you’ve hit those deadlines, grab a free city map and hop on a rented bike to explore San Francisco. Make sure you come back on time to join the pub crawl though! You’re in an epic central location to explore San Francisco, Union Square is just three blocks away.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Free Wifi
- Lots of Common Areas to Work From
- Free Secure Luggage Storage
With free tea and coffee all day, Amsterdam Hostel is a highly recommended one of the San Francisco hostels for sure. There is also a large shared kitchen and dining area, a spacious terrace, a mini cinema, and an onsite Internet Café. Or, you can head out and make the most of the diverse cafes and restaurants in San Francisco.
You can choose to stay in private rooms or dorm rooms, depending on your personal travel needs. I love to have a private room and take advantage of the epic common areas for mingling with other guests. There’s a great outdoor terrace at Amsterdam Hostel, great for enjoying meals or meeting new people. If you need your own space to get through a big project I’ve got some recommendations for Airbnb’s in San Francisco too.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Epic San Francisco Hostels
Don’t be too hasty to book, here are a few more bomb-ass San Francisco hostels to consider. Make the right choice for you and remember, you can always switch hostels.
6. HI San Francisco – Fisherman’s Wharf
- Dorm (mixed): From $41
- Private Room: From $99
- Address: 240 Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123 USA
Providing awesome views of Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and San Francisco Bay is HI San Francisco – Fisherman’s Wharf. When the sightseeing takes its toll, take some time out to rest and recharge, this San Francisco hostel has a sun deck, mini cinema, and lounge.
There’s a fully equipped kitchen and you can enjoy a filling breakfast each morning as you stay updated with the free wifi. The free parking can help you to make huge savings if you’ve traveled to San Francisco in your own vehicle. It’s a great hostel in San Francisco for all travelers and groups of friends.
7. HI San Francisco Downtown
- Dorm (mixed): From $48
- Private Room: From $95
- Address: 312 Mason Street, San Francisco, USA
The award-winning HI San Francisco Downtown is likely to continue being one of the best San Francisco hostels forever. There are free tours to make the most of your time in San Francisco, pub crawls, and heaps of arranged activities to keep you busy. If you just want to take it easy, the TV and games room is ideal.
Share home-cooked meals in the kitchen and sleep like a baby in the small dorms that come with private lockers. Private rooms are available too, and there’s free breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Daily housekeeping and laundry services add to the homey comfort of the private rooms and the dorms.
8. Orange Village Hostel
- Dorm (mixed): From $43
- Private Room: From $86
- Address: 411 O’Farrell street, San Francisco, USA
Orange Village Hostel is a safe and secure pad with 24-hour security and lockers for secure luggage storage. There are single-gender dorms for four along with excellent en-suite double rooms for travelling couples. Breakfast is free at Orange Village Hostel and if you want to socialize, head there or make a meal in the communal kitchen.
Orange Village Hostel has laundry facilities and a steam room to rinse and reset. There’s also a TV room, free Wi-Fi, a tour desk, and an onsite ATM if you want to suss your next adventure. Union Square and other attractions are within easy reach of Orange Village Hostel if you can leave the comfort of the amenities.
9. Union Hotel
- Private Room: From $54
- Address: 2030 Mission St, San Francisco, USA
Although not a hostel, the single and double private rooms at Union Hotel make this a top-notch San Francisco base. Perfect for budget travelers who prefer a more secluded stay in affordable accommodation. You’ll need to share bathrooms, but you can then retreat to your peaceful and private sanctuary for the night.
All rooms have cable TV. Free Wi-Fi and hairdryers are also available. In the heart of the offbeat Mission District, the accommodation is close to nightlife, museums, restaurants, parks, and public transportation links.
10. Music City Hotel/Hostel
- Dorm (mixed): From $52
- Private Room: From $106
- Address: 1353 Bush Street, San Francisco CA, USA
Musical-minded travelers and creative free spirits are sure to love Music City Hotel /Hostel—there are recording studios right under the hostel! That makes this the coolest hostel in San Francisco in my eyes. Plus, guests can take advantage of free slots to make their own beautiful music.
You might even meet your new band members as your roomies at Music City Hotel! There’s a shared kitchen where you can save some dollars by making your meals, and you can catch up with admin with the laundry facilities. Music City Hotel is one of the best hostels in San Francisco.
11. USA Hostels San Francisco
It may be a bit pricier than other digs, but the free breakfast, Wi-Fi, walking tour, luggage storage (on the day of check-out), and discounted tours save you way more in the long run. It’s one of the coolest hostels in San Francisco.
Whether you want to relax and chill or be a social butterfly and mingle, this hostel caters for all. There’s a shared kitchen, dining area, and lounge of course. Dorms have lockers and the pod beds provide plenty of privacy when it’s time to get some shut-eye.
The maximum dorm size is four people which massively reduces the chances of being stuck with a snorer! Plus, there is a Yoga and fitness studio onsite and the hostel is handily situated on the edge of Tenderloin. – A hip neighborhood packed with art spaces, colorful streets, and cool cocktail bars.
12. HI-San Francisco City Center
With single-gender dorms and mixed rooms, each with its own bathroom, HI –San Francisco City Center is a great San Francisco hostel for travelers. It’s easy to meet new people and feel right at home here, start at the tour desk and let the friendly staff guide you. The historic building has splashes of its past splendor with all modern amenities, top-rate facilities, heaps of activities, and a funky location.
Wi-Fi is fast and free and there’s also a free breakfast every morning, there’s a kitchen, lounge, book exchange, laundry facilities, onsite bar-cum-café, and more. This hostel’s right in the city center, just a 10-minute walk from Market Street, the BART station is nearby making this a cool base. You could even visit Alcatraz Island!
Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting San Francisco
Everyone needs good hostel travel insurance, there are no exceptions to this rule, get yours and save your future self the hassle.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
FAQs About Hostels in San Francisco
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in San Francisco.
What to Pack for your San Francisco Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hostel Packing list for even more top hostel packing tips!
How much does a hostel cost in San Francisco??
The price of hostels in San Francisco varies on the room type. The dorm average price starts at $31, while private room starts at $33+.
What are the best hostels in San Francisco for couples?
The Orange Village Hostel is my number one pick. The Private rooms here are chic and there’s plenty of space to be just you and your boo. If you want to socialize there’s space for that too.
What are the best hostels in San Francisco near the airport?
SFO Crashpad is less than ten minutes drive from San Francisco Airport. Get in touch with these guys to get advice on transport between the San Francisco International Airport and your accommodation or ask for an airport transfer.
Final Thoughts on San Francisco’s Hostels
By now I hope my epic guide to the best hostels in San Francisco has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure. Whether you’re here to party, for work, or just on a backpacking tour of the States, there’s a hostel for you. Affordable accommodations are few and far between so choosing where you stay is definitely important.
If you’re still on the fence – I get it – there’s been a lot of options. I’d book in at Pacific Tradewinds Hostel, it’s my number one pick for a reason. Check it out for yourself and if it doesn’t fit right, switch it up!
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, stay at SFO Crashpad – the cheapest hostel on my list. Not only does it have a cheap nightly rate, but there are tonnes of secret freebies too.
I’m sure wherever you stay in this golden city you’ll love it. Be prepared for lots of walking and lots of hills and you’ll be fine!
If you think I’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit me up in the comments!
Photo: @amandaadraper
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in California for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the best places to visit in San Francisco covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in San Francisco if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in San Francisco before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate USA backpacking guide.
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