The Best Hostels in Bali: Where I’d Actually Stay in 2026

First things first, Bali is a BEAST. Technically it’s not a huge island, but tell that to someone who’s trying to get from Uluwatu to Canggu on the back of a scooter in peak rush hour. Not fun.

It’s not as simple as jumping from hostel to hostel. Choosing where to stay is a whole decision to make in its own right; don’t just book the cheapest dorm and hope for the best.

Below is a Google Map to help you navigate the main areas you can stay in. Clicking each one will give you more information about it.

Want to skip the small talk? Jump straight to the best hostels in each area if you’ve already figured out where you want to crash.

Best Canggu Hostels
Best Ubud Hostels
Best Uluwatu Hostels
Best Nusa Penida Hostels

Now that we’ve gone over what to expect from the hostels while backpacking in Bali, I won’t make you wait any longer! Let’s dive into each.

Ahhh Canggu. The marmite of Bali. Love or hate it, you have to admit it’s home to some cracking hostels. Whether you’re looking to live out your digital nomad dreams, lock in on surfing or take it too far every night, there’s a myriad of hostels to suit. Here’s the best of em.

The Farm Hostel – Overall Best Hostel

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.

• Price: $$
• Best for: Solo travellers, social travellers, and anyone looking to meet new people
• Highlights: Swimming pool, included breakfast
• Dorms from: $11 USD
• Private rooms from: N/A
• Location: Canggu
• Not for you if: You’re trying to avoid rowdy party hostels

There are few hostels that I’ve come across that have a cult following as much as The Farm Hostel in Canggu. So, of course, I had to check it out for myself. Word on the street is the OG hostel before expansion used to feel a little more magical, but honestly, I still rated it massively. It’s one of those spaces that feels so naturally social; even the biggest introverts will check out with more friends than when they arrived.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• 2 PILLOWS!! (Need I say more?)
• Weekly events for making socialising easy. Including beer pong tournaments, free Indonesian dinner, pizza night, bingo and the famous Farm pub-crawl.
• On-site bar, kitchen and social area to relax in.

Post-refurb, this Canggu hostel has evolved into a massive community space, now offering enough beds for up to 80 backpackers. As you can expect, it gets pretty feral in the evenings. Pub crawls, trivia nights, happy hours – the whole shebang.

When the time has come to face the music – the music being nursing your hangover – you’ve got not just one, but two glistening outdoor pools at your disposal. Set in a sprawling garden area with bean bags and sun loungers, it really does make the perfect backdrop to laze the day away if that’s what the itinerary calls for. When it is time to go out and about, you’re in a mega location. Located in Batu Belong, you skip out on some of the worst of Canggu’s chaotic roads, whilst keeping relatively close to all of Canggu’s top things to do. Win, win, win, baby.

Tribal Bali – Best For Digital Nomads

• Price: $$
• Best for: Digital nomads, long-stayers, hardcore hustlers, and veteran entrepreneurs
• Highlights: Swimming pool, on-site cafe and restaurant, huge coworking space
• Dorms from: $14 USD
• Private rooms from: $50 USD
• Location: Pererenan, a five-minute drive from hipster Canggu
• Who it’s not for: backpackers who shudder at the thought of opening their laptop and checking emails on their vacation

Tribal is a very special hostel… With sleek, custom-designed private rooms and dorms to ensure a good night’s sleep, Tribal is Bali’s newest and most modern hostel. It is without a doubt the best hostel in Bali for digital nomads, or anyone looking to get shit done.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• A nomad’s dream, with a HUGE co-working space
• Amazing coffee and a restaurant on-site to fuel a hard day’s hustle
• Dedicated phone booths for those who need a bit more privacy
• And a gigantic pool!

What is a bit of work without a whole load of play? We’re in Bali after all. When you’re in dire need of a screen break, the infinity pool that’s been winking at you all morning is happy to keep you company. If not, hit up the billiards table with a dorm mate for a game of rapido pool.

There’s always plenty happening down at Tribal. If you’re looking to find the perfect place to blend fun and hustle, there’s no better place in Bali. Once you’re ready for bed, head up to the spacious hostel rooms, which have received rave reviews. As the first co-working hostel in the world, you know that Tribal have done a thing or two right.

Sepeda Hostel – Best Budget Hostel

• Price: $
• Best for: Digital nomads, slow travellers, backpackers looking for connection
• Highlights: Free brekky, free yoga and an epic garden/pool area
• Dorms from: $8 USD
• Private rooms from: $57 USD
• Location: Canggu
• Who it’s not for: Someone looking for something a bit livelier with a ultra central location

There were a couple of reasons why I landed on Sepeda Hostel initially. First of all, the thought of staying a party hostel whilst I was working made me want run away screaming in the other direction. That took a good chunk of options off the cards already. Second off, I wanted a good enough space to actually be able to work. Not only does Sepeda have a co-working space, but it’s AC’ed (!!!) – a godsend for people like me who all but start melting come midday. Add in the free yoga, free brekky and exclusively female-only building, and I was happy to check it out for a couple of days.

Why you’ll love it:

• Social but chill – dip your toe into whatever ya fancy
• Surrounded by rice paddies slightly tucked away from the main Canggu chaos
• Calisthetics gym, pool, rooftop movie room, tons of chill out spaces

I extended…and extended…only checking out a good two weeks later to explore other parts of Indo. And after that? I checked back in. Yes, all the aforementioned amenities make it a very comfy hostel to kick it back for a while, but most hostels in Canggu have similar offerings. What made this SO attractive to me as a working backpacker was the crowd. Everyone else seemed to also be working remotely, or a very slow traveller at that. There was no revolving door of backpackers that made up background noise of familar faces. Instead, it almost felt like I was back at uni, running into the same friendly faces every day.

I woke up, went to yoga, grabbed my free brekky, worked for a couple of hours, chilled by the pool and got involved in whatever activity was on in the evening. An easy routine to fall into indeed. There are probably nicer hostels with better amenities, more social crowds and a better location, but Sepeda will always feel like my home away from home in Canggu <3

Elsewhere Surf Camps – Best for Surfing

• Price: $$
• Best for: Surfers, yoga, partying!
• Highlights: Swimming pool, daily surf lessons and free activities every night
• Dorms from: $9 USD.
• Private rooms from: $39 USD
• Location: Canggu
• Who it’s not for: People wanting a quiet spot to chill and recharge

Surf, Party, Adventure is the motto here, and Elsewhere Surf Camps lives up to it. With a jam-packed daily schedule which you can dip in and out of as you choose, this hostel is not for those wanting to beach bum. If you love to send it, both in and out of the water, you’ll fit right in. It’s all about meeting new people and feeling instantly at home with the crew.

Why you’ll love it:

• Daily social activities will make it suuper easy to make new friends!
• Daily surf lessons for any beginners or intermediates wanting to level up their skills
• Party vibes. It’s all go here

Elsewhere Surf Camps isn’t exclusively a surf hostel, but it’s the perfect spot to be in if you DO want to surf every day. They offer all of the social perks of a backpacker hostel and all of the expertise of a surf camp. In other words…the best of both worlds. They even offer all-inclusive surf packages which can help you propel quickly into pro territory if you really lock in 😉

Surf aside, there are events on every night, from chilled-out Sunday BBQs to livelier parties. In the daytime you’ve got an AC’ed cinema room decked out with Netflix, yoga classes and a swanky pool. Whether you want to slurp a smoothie bowl, sip an espresso martini, or nosh down on some noodles, the restaurant and bar have you covered too.

The Tipsy Gypsy Hostel – Best for Solo Travellers

• Price: $
• Best for: Solo travellers and those looking to meet new people
• Highlights: Swimming pool, super central location
• Dorms from: $6 USD
• Private rooms from: N/A
• Location: Canggu
• Who it’s not for: People who’d rather pay a little extra for plusher amenities

Tons of hostels get branded as being the best for solo travellers simply because its a party hostel. The Typsy Gypsy is different. Sure, if you want to check in and get fucked up, you’ll be greeted with open arms. But if you’re looking for connection that goes deeper than sinking a couple of Bintangs with the guy next to you, this is also the place.

Why you’ll love it:

• Super social, party hostel (hence the name!)
• Home away from home vibe. It has a big community feel, which is extra nice for us solo travellers
• The swimming pool is lush to nurse a hangover, or crack open your first Bintang of the day

I can’t put my finger on why some hostels instantly feel like a home away from, there must be some witchy kind of magic behind it. Perhaps it’s the staff that’ll have you on name basis after your first night, or maybe it’s the fact that the hostel is tiny for Bali standards – just 32 beds – so familiar faces are just the way things go here. If the crowd are leaning into a messy one, it’s an easy one to get involved with. Either way, the music gets shut off by 11pm so you actually have some respite, unlike other ‘party’ hostels.

If you repel big chain, cookie-cutter hostels, small but mighty Typsy Gypsy might just be your gal. Come for the vibes…stay for the vibes.

What if they’re all full?

Popular hostels sell out, especially during peak season. But backpackers are flaky and cancel all the time. We’ve built a tool that lets you know as soon as a bed becomes available, so you don’t have to keep checking 😉

Ubud is for the wellness lovers and anyone who wants to slow down away from the chaos of Canggu. Its hostels reflect that. They tend to run a little bougier on the spectrum as far as hostels go. I fully encourage you to lean into it 😉

Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel – Best Boutique Hostel

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Yoga, relaxing, socialising and hanging out with puppies.
• Highlights: Swimming pool, free breakfast and movie nights in a cinema room!
• Dorms from: $26 USD
• Private rooms from: $100 USD
• Location: Ubud
• Who it’s not for: Scrappy backpackers who don’t care for their dorm to include any flashy extras

It’s crazy to think that hostels can swing THIS boujey. From free yoga, free massages and even free manicures…this isn’t your usual scrappy hostel you check into for a cheap place to lay your head. Sure, it’ll cost you a pretty penny, but all of the included extras really make the splurge worth it. Even the free breakfast is a cut above the rest – no toast and jam here, oh no. You order from their on-site cafe, completely free of charge. Outside of brekky, the cafe serves up some banging coffee and brunch dishes, making it very easy to stay in the hostel grounds for your whole stay if that’s what the doctor ordered.

Why you’ll love it:

• FREE yoga, massages and manicures?!
• Puppy therapy (I’m sold)
• Trivia nights, family dinners with live music and Balinese dancers and movie nights

All of this is to say that the vibe swings very chill here. It’s still social, but in a way where friends are made around the pool rather than from predrinks that are getting too rowdy. Ubud lacks the nightlife seen in Canggu or Uluwatu, allowing (or forcing) you to lean into the slow pace it’s so known for. For a chill, community-driven hostel in Ubud, Puri Garden is definitely worth spending a little more on.

Savanna Ubud – Best for Flashpackers

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Yogis, boujee travellers, those who want to relax in one place.
• Highlights: Swimming pool, free yoga, free massages, weekly events
• Dorms from: $29 USD
• Private rooms from: $94 USD
• Location: Ubud
• Who it’s not for: Backpackers who can’t justify 30 bucks a night…even with all the added extras

Nothing about Savanah screams hostel. It’s the closest you’ll get to a boujey resort whilst paying a fraction of the price. It’s got an impressive lineup; double beds in the dorms, daybeds dotted around the pool and a team that remind you why the Balinese are known for their hospitality.

Why you’ll love it:

• Unwind with their FREE morning yoga classes and FREE daily massages!
• Evening activities such as Movie Nights, Family Dinners, Trivia Nights and BBQ Nights to help you meet fellow travellers.
• On-site pool, restaurant and bar, so you don’t ever really need to leave

You’ll have your own oasis amongst the hustle of Ubud, with free daily massages and yoga to keep you firmly in R&R mode at all times. If you do want to head out on an adventure, Savanah offers cooking classes, hikes up to Mount Batur and day trips to tick off Ubud’s heavy hitters. Stay a couple days and you’ll feel as though you’ve done Ubud properly.

It’s not the cheapest spot in Ubud, but the higher price tag attracts a crowd travelling a little more intentionally that your average Mad Monkey-er. If you want a hostel where you can slow down, unwind and connect without it involving a pub crawl and mystery nuclear blue shots, Savanah offers something out of the ordinary.

Arya Wellness (female only) – Best for the Gals

• Price: $$
• Best for: Solo female travellers after a wellness-focused stay with a ready-made community of like-minded women
• Highlights: Wellness retreat vibes, awesome outdoor pool & chill-out spaces, free brekky
• Dorms from: $42
• Private rooms from: $115
• Location: Monkey Forest Road, central Ubud
• Who it’s not for: The boys! Sorry lads, this hostel is women’s only

Picture Love Island – but make it wellness and all for the gals. That’s exactly the vibe at Arya Wellness Retreat, where it’s less hostel, more wellness retreat…for backpackers. Everything about Arya has been designed for relaxation and connection. It’s small and community-based, so don’t be surprised if you find that you (and everyone else in your dorm) end up staying for 2+ weeks. The all-female setup gives it that ultimate sleepover vibe where you can really relax and unwind.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

1. Free daily yoga, meditation, pilates, and poolside massages
2. Cooking classes, movie nights, and family dinners
3. Big focus on community

If you’re looking for a mix of chill, health, and social vibes, this place has it down to an art with a wellness-focused lineup: think meditation, yoga, massages, mani-pedis, movie nights, cooking classes, family dinners, and even day trips. Their menu’s all about the good stuff too – packed with healthy, delicious dishes that make it easy to stay nourished. Kick back on a beanbag, sip a fresh coconut, and soak in the travel stories and new friendships. It’s a hostel experience that feels like community – not just a revolving door of backpackers looking for somewhere to crash for the night.

I’m only offering one tried-and-true hostel in Uluwatu. Quality over quantity eh? Treat her kindly.

Lay Day Hostel Uluwatu – Best for Party Animals

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Party animals, surfers, solo travellers who want a guaranteed social scene
• Highlights: Massive tropical pool with sunken pool bar, lively bar and events every night, close to Padang Padang, Bingin and Impossibles
• Dorms from: $24
• Private rooms from: $193
• Location: Uluwatu
• Who it’s not for: Anyone after a quiet base; this place runs on events, beer pong and DJ nights, so light sleepers will struggle

I love Uluwatu, but when I first visited it was massively let down by the subpar hostel scene. Then Lay Day came along. It quickly became The Hostel in Uluwatu – I wouldn’t stay anywhere else now.

It’s got everything a proper backpacker hostel should: a wicked pool, a social scene that actually delivers, something going on every single day, and dorms that actually let you catch up on sleep and recharge your social battery. The pool is the centrepiece, groovy-shaped and anchored by a sunken pool bar, with an on-site ice bath off to the side for post-surf recovery or, let’s be honest, post-night-out damage control.

Why you’ll love it:

• Surf lessons offered…because when in Ulu!
• Volunteers and staff alike will make you feel instantly at home
• Banging location

The food offered is a mix of Western and Indonesian, is realitively priced and surprisingly yummy. But the real draw here is the crew. The volunteers will have you signed up for the pub crawl before you’ve even unpacked, and the staff are, in the best possible sense, dangerous. Check in, clock the leaderboard behind the bar, and give it about five minutes before beating the top score for most shots in one sitting starts to feel like a perfectly reasonable life goal.

Now. I don’t want to hear any bitchin that Nusa Penida isn’t technically ON Bali. It’s in the province of Bali so it’s good enough for this list, alright?

The Penida Project – Best in Nusa Penida

• Price: $$
• Best for: Solo travellers, party-goers, anyone wanting a small, intimate hostel to really connect
• Highlights: Pod-style dorms with personal lockers, reading lights and charging points; free daily yoga; scuba diving and manta ray snorkelling and island tours bookable on-site
• Dorms from: $9.32 USD
• Private rooms from: N/A (dorms only)
• Location: Ped, Nusa Penida, 5 minutes by shuttle from the beach
• Who it’s not for: Anyone who wants to walk everywhere; there’s no Grab or Gojek on Nusa Penida, and the hostel is in the jungle rather than the centre, so you’re reliant on the shuttle or a scooter to get around

How could I not include Penida Project on this list? It’s essentially a backpacker institution on Nusa Penida. Perched away in the jungle, this hostel only offers six dorms so the vibe is cosy, intimate and very, VERY social. It’s got all of the amenities you’ll find at other chain hostels on the island: super bubbly volunteers, an impressive pool, activities every day…just with a lil more soul.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free harbour pickup and shuttle service to restaurants
• Daily events every night of the week: music trivia, movie night under the stars, traditional Balinese family dinners
• Staff and volunteers are LEGENDS!!

If you don’t drive a scooter, don’t be put off. Not only do they offer pickup from the harbour when you arrive (so long as you book the boat through them), they’ll also drop you off in town on their shuttle which runs three times a day. They also run tours to explore the island, including diving and snorkelling with mantas so you won’t feel stranded in the jungle. Back on site, they offer some UNBELIEVABLE pizzas and weekly Balinese family dinners. If you don’t mind giving up a bit of convenience for lush tropical backgrounds with a tight-knit backpacker community, Penida Project is definitely one to check out.

Bali has BOOMED in recent years. As such, a lot has changed. Here are a few recent developments that are worth knowing about before you land.

The Tourist Levy

A one-off IDR 150,000 (around $8.50 USD) fee, paid per trip on the Love Bali site. Make sure you go to the official site – scam sites are rife. You’ll get a QR code; this is separate from your Visa on Arrival. For the first couple of years, the levy ran largely on the honour system, but spot checks are now happening, so have it ready.

Overtourism and Traffic

Bali received more than 6.9 million foreign visitors in 2025, accounting for over 44% of all international tourists to Indonesia. The island is busier than it has ever been, and the roads reflect it. Peak-hour traffic in Canggu and Seminyak can drop to walking pace. Factor this into your plans: that 20-minute scooter ride to dinner can turn into an hour without warning.

If that isn’t a sign to go and explore other parts of Indo, I don’t know what is 😉

Immigration Crackdown

Only relevant if you’re working remotely or staying long-term. The Dharma Dewata task force has been patrolling Canggu and Seminyak since April 2026, checking visas and social media for evidence of people working on tourist visas.

Digital nomads have always sat in a grey zone here. If you’re using Bali as a full-time content creation backdrop or end up staying most of the year on a string of tourist visas, you’re the profile these crackdowns are aimed at. If you’re a nomad staying a couple of weeks and clocking a few hours in a cafe, you’re probably fine.

On paper, you should be sorting the right visa before you arrive. In reality, these things are always somewhat murkier.

Hostel Safety Basics

Just like the rest of Bali, hostels are super safe. As such, common sense prevails. Lock your valuables in the locker provided (bring your own padlock to be safe, I love the ones with flexible cables) and don’t leave anything out in open dorms. Several hostels in this guide offer female-only dorm options if that’s a priority. Stick to the basic travel safety 101s and you’ll find that staying safe in Bali is a doddle.

Travel Insurance

As much as I love Bali, shit can go wrong anywhere…

Safety comes first. Helmets, lockers and good travel insurance are important, especially when staying in hostels! Getting a decent eSIM BEFORE you arrive is also that bit extra of insurance in case things go tits up when you first touch down. There are tons to choose from, so you’re bound to find the one that’s perfect for you.

Sort out your insurance before you go. There are several good options, but our overall pick is SafetyWing. Most of the Broke Backpacker team has used it at one point or another, and we’ve filed claims for rabies jabs in Bali, a hospital stay in Mexico, and a clinic visit for a stomach bug that wouldn’t quit. All paid out.

It’s month-to-month, no lock-in, no itinerary required, and you can buy it after you’ve already left. A little over $2 a day if you’re under 40.

New SafetyWing customers: use code BROKEBACKPACKER for 8 free weeks of electronics theft coverage. You have to scroll down and click the pink camera on their landing page to enter it, and you have to do it before creating your account.

Hostelworld is my usual go-to when booking hostels in Bali. Saying that, don’t solely rely on it. Sometimes there’ll be properties on Booking.com that don’t even exist on Hostelworld. It’s especially good for hostels with private rooms, particularly in Ubud.

It’s always worth doing a check on both as prices don’t always match, and availability sometimes differs. Takes thirty seconds.

I tend to do my first stage of research on Hostelworld by plugging in my dates and seeing how many people are staying in each hostel (a feature that Booking.com doesn’t have!) Reviews also tend to be more up-to-date and backpacker-centric on Hostelworld, so it’s a good resource if you’re a solo traveller and want to see how social a hostel is. Afterwards, I’ll check Booking.com to check prices and book the cheaper of the two.

Another thing that Hostelworld has going for it: if you book through the platform, you’ll get access to location and hostel-specific group chats. These are a GREAT resource for solo travellers as you can see any meetups happening that time and any other backpackers flying solo who want to make new mates. Honestly, if the price difference between both platforms is minimal, I tend to stick with Hostelworld for the access to group chats alone.

Hire the Best Balinese Driver – Pak Edy

Hiring a driver literally takes all the guesswork and stress out of your trip. From knowing the best shortcuts that don’t result in parking in a rice paddy to planning out the most incredible Balinese adventure, Pak Edy has it covered. 

With years of experience, Balinese local Edy knows the absolute best spots to visit on the island and how to tailor your adventure to your interests and needs. He also knows exactly where the most incredible and authentic food can be found in Bali.

Call or Text +62 812-3765-6124 on WhatsApp to book Pak Edy for your Balinese adventure.

Bali’s hostel scene is cool… like really freakin’ cool. Some you can surf with. Some you can boogie with. Hey, there’s even some where you get a marg and a tattoo for under ten bucks! It really is the most developed and varied hostel scene you’ll see in all of Southeast Asia (and, dare I say, the world…)

If you’re still wondering where to stay in Bali, I get it, there are a lot of options. Book in at The Farm for a couple of nights and go from there. If that’s a bit too tight on your wallet, check out Sepeda for the most bang for your buck. Or, if you’re one of the many digital nomads or entrepreneurs heading to Bali, you HAVE to book in at Tribal. No further explanation needed on that one.

Cya out there! I’ll be waiting for my Bintang as payment 😉