Buzzy nightlife, great shopping scene, Cardiff is a fun city surrounded by valleys, castles and beaches, making it an extra fun place to visit in summer when the weather is poppin’ for outdoor activities.
They love rugby here, so if you can catch a game at the Millennium Stadium you should definitely go for it – it draws huge crowds!
But being a city, it’s difficult to know which area to stay in. But not only that, sometimes city hostels can be a bit… ropey. You know, old. Are the ones in Cardiff OK to stay in…?
Don’t worry! The Cardiff hostel scene is as strong as its drinking scene. And we’ve selected the best hostels in Cardiff (and put ’em into handy categories) to help you choose the right one for you.
So what are you waiting for? Have a look at the top hostels in Cardiff!
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Best Hostel in Cardiff
Bear with me here. If you’re looking for a dirt cheap place to stay in Cardiff then this is certainly an option. BUT as a word of warning, the few hostels that the city has are somewhat…grim. If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, this is the one hostel I’d recommend you check out.
Bunkhouse
Desperate times call for desperate measures in the hostel scene in Cardiff…On first reflection, the reviews may look a bit scary for this place considering Europe is usually spoiled for choice with hostels. The price is one of the cheapest you’ll find in the city, so if you’re looking to do things on a shoestring, Bunkhouse might be your saviour.
It’s right on St Mary’s Street so all the clubs and food places within a stone’s throw. Because of that you have to expect some noise throughout the night being so central, so packing earplugs is a must. The staff are friendly and there’s a choice of mixed and female-only dorms. Of course, the dorms are no frills but the beds are comfy and they get the job done. Just a heads up to bring a padlock for the lockers if you wanna keep your gear safe.
Set in a Victorian building it’s got a load of period features (high ceilings and all that) and albeit somewhat dated, is a fine enough base for a couple of days exploring Cardiff. The cafe/bar area is a pretty chill place to hang out in, but if you wanna hit the city then you’ll love the central location of this place. All in all, it’s not the most sparkling of hostels but if you’re a veteran backpacker I’m sure you’ve done and seen much MUCH worse.
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View on OspreyMore Epic Budget Stays In Cardiff
Cardiff is a place that is probably best to splash a lil more cash and get a hotel or Airbnb in my humble opinion. Alas, they won’t be as dirt cheap as some of the hostels here but I think in this scenario it’s worth paying a bit more to be comfortable. Plus, you can snag some steals if you look in the right places (the right places being my top budget picks below…)
Very central Cardiff – peaceful cosy loft room
I don’t believe you can get any more central within this price range if you tried! This room in a shared house is the perfect central location for your city adventures. It’s a cosy, quiet attic room in a big older house, located in a diverse and peaceful neighbourhood. It’s very close to Cardiff city centre – just a ten minutes walk from bus/train stations, Cardiff Castle etc.
Just a word of warning that the attic room is up a wooden loft-ladder so you need to be OK with getting your spiderman on! Steve is a really friendly host, flexible and thoughtful of all of his guests. This place is a gem.
The River House Cardiff
This is quite a small bed and breakfast, but one cute thing about this place is that it’s run by a brother-sister team, which is fun. They wanted to create somewhere that feels like home, and they thought one way to do that was to serve up an absolutely huge free breakfast every morning! Suits us just fine.
The owners work super hard to make this the best place in Cardiff to stay – that means everything from catering for everyone’s dietary requirements to keeping the place literally spotless. Plus there’s a resident cat to have a cuddle with if you like cats.
Ibis Budget Cardiff Centre
It’s Ibis! Everyone knows Ibis. It’s a solid option for a budget hotel anywhere in the world, so that means it’s also a pretty decent option when you want a budget hotel in Cardiff. Great value for money, seriously.
There are a few combos of rooms that you can choose to suit your backpacking ways and keep to a budget even MORE. For instance, if you’re with a couple o’ mates, get a triple room and split the cost! Easy! And guess the F what? There’s a free breakfast too.
The Angel Hotel
This budget hotel in Cardiff is in a Victorian building right next to Cardiff Castle. What?! We know right? Pretty cool. And of COURSE that means this place is gonna be pretty dang elegant – and it is!
Elegance means (for us) a decent restaurant and bar with all the trimmings of a period property. It’s not exactly the lowest end of the budget, but you can treat yourself here without splurging, as they say. Oh, and, hang on – did someone say ‘room service’?
Cardiff Sandringham Hotel
Cake game strong at this budget Cardiff hostel. (Yes they serve good looking cakes). And it’s actually pretty cheap for the most basic option. So you can stay here without feeling guilty that your backpacking budget is being frittered away on stylish stays. No sweat.
Plus you can actually save money here, sorta, ’cause it’s so central – in walking distance to a load of sights, bars, restaurants. All that city stuff. And if you thought this place was full budget, think again! The bar here has live jazz in the evenings. What?!
Sleeperz Hotel Cardiff
Sleeperz (with that all-important Z) is, like, a modern budget hotel. You can get yourself a basic little (very little) room with a bunk bed and en-suite bathroom for not much coin and that’s pretty good.
This budget hotel in Cardiff is right near the train station, which is a plus if you wanna get around – or in, or out, of Cardiff. Plus there’s a load of stuff within walking distance, it’s a great location to be honest.
NosDa Hostel & Bar
Clean, comfortable, but also a fun place to get a lil’ bit turned, this top hostel in Cardiff is the place for people who like listening to music and having a drink. I mean, who doesn’t like that?
It’s the best party hostel in Cardiff because it has it’s own bar slash live music venue, which is pretty dang cool. Here you can listen to local bands, eat some Welsh food, have a loada drinks, and then stumble to your decent dorm. They even put on a beer festival!
Nomad
If you’re looking for a magnificent budget hostel in Wales, this Cardiff backpackers hostel is the place. The value for money game here is on point: free tea and coffee all day, free breakfast, and all set in a comfy B&B style building. We love it.
Besides being the best cheap hostel in Cardiff (great if you’re backpacking, obviously), it’s also a fun place to hang out. There’s a ping pong table for all you pros and non-pros out there, plus there’s a bar. And that’s always welcome.
YHA Cardiff Central
Wowww, the lounge area of this place is NICE! It’s definitely one of the best aspects of this cool hostel in Cardiff – and also a super chill place to get some work done, which is why we’ve also chosen it as the best hostel for digital nomads in Cardiff.
And when you’ve had enough typing and scrolling? Just head to the hostel bar. Great for digital nomads who want to let off a bit of steam, this Cardiff backpackers hostel is a decent place for those who wanna meet people and party, too.
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Hide Yo’ Money!What to Pack for your Cardiff 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 our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Cardiff
Those were the best hostels in Cardiff. And some of them are really nice!
It’s surprising how many top hostels there are in the Welsh capital, from traditional B&B style places, to more cool hostels in Cardiff, there’s quite a bit to choose from!
And if you’re allergic to dorm rooms, and a budget hostel in Cardiff just isn’t your thing, we also included a few of the best budget hotels in Cardiff so that there really is something for everyone on our handy list.
Still can’t decide on a place to stay? No worries. Our top choice for bthe est overall hostel in Cardiff, The River House, is a solid option!
FAQ about Hostels in Cardiff
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Cardiff.
What are the best hostels in Cardiff for couples?
The Riverhouse is an excellent budget stay for couples in Cardiff. It’s clean and in a great location.
What is the best hostel in Cardiff near the airport?
The airport is quite far from the city center, so it is better to find the best place in a great location. I recommend Ty Rosa Boutique B&B, just a 22-minute drive from Cardiff Airport.
Travel Safety Tips for Cardiff
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.
More Epic Hostels in UK and Europe
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Cardiff.
Planning an epic trip all across UK or even Europe itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Europe, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Cardiff has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in UK for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the best places to visit in Cardiff covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in Cardiff if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in Cardiff before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Europe backpacking guide.
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