Any backpacker traveling to Ukraine will inevitably find themselves in Ukraine’s capital Kiev. Epic, sprawling squares, impressive cathedrals and monasteries, killer fresh food markets, and oh yeah, cheap beer; this is backpacking Kiev.
In the last decade, an emerging backpacking scene has left the door open for entrepreneurial locals to cater to the backpacker crowd. This has led to MANY new hostels opening up in Kiev.
But which hostels qualify as the best hostels in Kiev? How do you know the best hostels from the downright sketchy ones?
For this very reason, I have compiled the most up-to-date travel resources available into a list of the 15 best hostels in Kiev.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kiev has transformed itself from the communist days of old into one of Eastern Europe’s most fascinating cities.
This in-depth guide to Kiev’s best hostels will arm you with all of the best budget accommodation options for this truly special city, so you can rock into Kiev fully prepared to have one hell of a backpacking adventure.
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Kiev
- Overall Best Hostel in Kiev – DREAM Hostel Kyiv
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The 15 Best Hostels in Kiev
DREAM Hostel Kyiv – Overall Best Hostel in Kiev
The clue’s in the name for this top hostel in Kiev: DREAM. See? It’s even in capital letters for emphasis. Yes indeed, DREAM Hostel Kyiv definitely fits the bill for the overall best hostel in Kiev. It’s got a lively atmosphere but it’s also perfect for people who want to sleep in or nap – which is basically like the yin-yang of a perfect hostel, we’d say.
It’s also good when the team running the show is super friendly and helpful, and that’s definitely the case at DREAM. Combine that with an onsite restaurant and bar that won’t break your bank, the offer of free walking tours, bicycle hire, great location, that and the fact that it’s the biggest hostel in Kiev – well, you see what we mean.
Bulgakoff – Best Cheap Hostel in Kiev
You won’t find a better spot for the price. Comfy, spotless, and well looked after, with a warm, relaxed vibe that actually feels like home. Warm, bright, and cosy, with dorm beds that actually give you some privacy thanks to a decent curtain. Pro tip: the larger dorms have way more space than the cramped four-bed ones.
The views, the social atmosphere, and the sheer value are unbeatable. The woman running the place is an absolute gem, making everyone feel welcome with nothing but pure hospitality, language barrier be damned.
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View on Osprey View on REIKust Hostel – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Kiev
Quite location, little market behind the building, close to McDonald’s, KFC and an Intercity bus station! They do your laundry for you!
Everything’s dialled in here, from the warm welcome to the little service touches that make a difference. Rooms are spotless, spacious, and seriously comfy, with a view that makes waking up actually enjoyable. The beds are proper cosy, perfect for crashing after a long day, and the staff are always around to help—no fuss, just solid hospitality.
For digital nomads, the WiFi is a game-changer—blazing fast, so you can actually get work done. Each dorm’s got desks, so you can easily set up a makeshift office when the inspiration hits.
Campus Community A-Hotel – Best Party Hostel in Kiev
A solid budget stay smack bang in the heart of Kyiv. It’s not a wild, beer-fueled party hostel straight out of Southeast Asia, but for about $10 a night, you get access to the Campus Community’s gym, game room, and a spacious restaurant/work area. Perfect for kicking back with a beer and a few rounds of table football.
Check-in’s a breeze, the place is spotless, and the staff are genuinely helpful. The location is spot on—close to NSC Olimpiyskiy, Gulliver Mall, and just a short stroll to the metro, making it easy to zip around the city. Easily one of the best hostel in town.
Kashtan guest house
This hostel ticks all the boxes—prime location, friendly staff, and serious bang for your buck. Smack bang in the heart of the city, it’s perfect for exploring, and the welcoming vibe makes it feel like home. Bonus points for the resident cat, who’s basically the unofficial manager.
The setup is solid: a well-equipped kitchen with filtered water, fast WiFi, and a big top-floor living room with a balcony and a killer view. The beds are comfy, the atmosphere is relaxed, and if luck’s on your side, you’ll end up in some unforgettable late-night chats on that balcony.
Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels in Kiev
Are you looking to stay in specific neighborhood? Check out our guide to Kiev’s best areas to stay.
VShokoladi Hostel
VShokoladi Hostel is by far not the coolest hostel in Kiev, but on the other hand, it really is the winner for best budget hostel in Kiev. And on top of the prices being ridiculously low, you’ll find that it’s very close to Kiev train station – almost on top of it, actually. Which is definitely a major plus. Don’t be expecting a chilled place to socialise, or gallons of atmosphere, though: Vshokoladi is a very cheap place to stay (think basic, utilitarian, etc.) which is, of course, attractive if you’re on a mega budget.
Pallet Hostel
Ok, so it’s not the best hostel in Kiev, but it’s got everything you need: fully equipped kitchen and dining area, high-speed Wi-Fi, free parking (road trip anyone?), and instantaneous boilers so you don’t have to worry about being last in the showers – that water’s still gonna be nice and hot. There’s a bus stop a minute’s walk away, allowing you to bus further into the centre of town to see the sights; sometimes it’s nicer being in a part of town that isn’t at the heart of all the touristy action, right? Plus it’s pretty cheap.
Gar’is Hostel
To be the coolest hostel in Kiev doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s gotta look the part inside – sometimes it’s all about where a place is located. And Gar’is Hostel is a good one for that. It’s in the historical Pecherskyi District, which is sometimes called the ‘heart of Ukraine’ apparently, so you’ll love wandering around this famous area without having to actively travel to it. Convenience doesn’t stop there: the nearest metro stop (Klovska, 5 mins walking) goes direct to Boryspil Airport. Inside Gar’is is clean and basic, but serves its purpose well.
Sun City Hostel 4
This spot is all about laid-back nights in a beautiful city, surrounded by friendly faces. The owner goes above and beyond to make sure guests feel at home, and the location couldn’t be more convenient—close to the central train and bus stations.
The dorms are well set up, with bunk beds that actually have privacy curtains and lockers. Hot showers, plenty of bathrooms, and even a grocery store downstairs make life easy. Check-in and check-out times are flexible, and while the staff’s English isn’t perfect, their hospitality more than makes up for it.
Eurohostel Kiev – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Kiev
Alert! This is the second cheapest hostel on this list so if you are after a big bargain of a budget hostel in Kiev then this should be on your radar. That’s right, Eurohostel Kiev is cheap cheap cheap – and it’s got private rooms that are similarly wallet-friendly, too. But at the same time, since it’s so much of a damn bargain, you can’t expect it to have all the bells and whistles. It’s basic but decent, and it’s only a ten-minute walk into central Kiev, with other shops and various Kievan establishments nearby. The staff are friendly and helpful – they can also provide transfers in their Mitsubishi Outlander XL 4×4.
ZigZag Hostel
Fun, fresh, friendly: the three F’s of ZigZag Hostel make it a welcoming place to arrive and a warm place to stay. A recommended hostel in Kiev, ZigZag is a relatively recent venture and has space for 62 people over two floors; each room has been designed with security and style as much as comfort in mind. It’s also pretty central, meaning that the major hotspots of the city are within walking distance, further saving you money on public transport or taxis. Helpful and engaging staff also help give this place a great atmosphere.
Veselka
Location location location: it’s right above Zoloti Vorota metro station, making it easy to get to when you first arrive – because nobody likes lugging a hefty backpack through urban centres, do they? And as a digital nomad you’ve been in a gazillion backpacker hostels already, so here’s something: what makes Veselka interesting is that it’s used a lot of the time by locals. Sure, backpackers stay here too, but the presence of real people makes it cool. Wi-Fi in every room keeps things zippy, plus the common room is packed full of sofas, chairs and plug sockets.
Magic Bus Kiev
What is magic about Magic Bus Kiev? Probably the decor, which is a somewhat mad mix of Bob Marley meets Southeast Asia in Kiev, making for an interesting sensory experience. This is a top hostel in Kiev, run by two friends with a shared love of travelling so they make for pretty good people to be running a hostel since they know what backpackers want in a place – not just a base to sleep. That said, the dorm’s got 12 beds and a balcony with a hammock, which is very Southeast Asia. They also run free walking tours.
TIU Kreschatik
Well, you can’t get more central than being located on Kiev’s main street – Khreshchatyk – can you? That’s definitely one good thing about TIU Kreschatik: within just a minute of walking out the door here, you’re faced with cafes, bars, restaurants, tourist attractions – the lot. Whilst definitely, definitely a top hostel in Kiev for location, the place itself is pretty nice, too, with warm, homely decor and a friendly atmosphere, with staff who can recommend not only things to do in Kiev but other hostels in Ukraine if you’re travelling around. Side note: we never found out what TIU stands for.
Hostel Smile
Compared to the price of other Kiev backpackers hostels this one is expensive – though compared with hotels it’s still a right bargain. So that is something. Hostel Smile comes as a recommended hostel in Kiev for its majorly central location, with a load of landmarks within easy walking distance. It’s got no dorms so there’s only options for private rooms – hence the price – but with the facilities to cook your own meals, space to socialise, and again we can’t emphasise enough that LOCATION (like, seriously), it’s pretty much a great choice.
What to Pack for your Kiev 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 Kiev
Alas, our hostel exploration journey has come to an end; that’s a wrap on my best hostels in Kiev list.
You can now successfully separate the best hostels in Kiev from the bad apples (which we obviously left off this awesome list).
I hope with the information you now possess, you can book the best hostel for yourself based on your own needs and backpacking style.
Kiev is an awesome city, and getting some well earned rest at a great hostel will keep you charged up for the full-on days in front of you. If it’s something you’re into, you can also take a trip to Chernobyl too.
Still have trouble deciding? If you feel like you are swimming through a borscht soup of hostel choices and are a tad conflicted, than I recommend booking my top pick for best overall hostel in Kiev: DREAM Hostel Kyiv. Happy travels guys!
FAQ about Hostels in Kiev
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Kiev.
How much does a hostel cost in Kiev?
On average, hostel prices vary on room type and location, but you can generally expect to pay around $8 and $33 per night.
What are the best hostels in Kiev for couples?
Check out these top-rated hostels for couples in Kiev:
Globe Runner Hotel & Hostel Kyiv City Center
DREAM Hostel Kyiv
What is the best hostel in Kiev near the airport?
While there aren’t any hostels in Kiev that are particularly close to the airport, some offer airport shuttles or will help you arrange transport. Check out Gar’is Hostel, located in the historical Pecherskyi District.
Travel Safety Tips for Kiev
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 Ukraine and Europe
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Kiev.
Planning an epic trip all across Ukraine 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 Kiev 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 Ukraine for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Kiev before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Eastern Europe backpacking guide.
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