What makes a hostel great in your opinion? Is it the ability to make friends? One filled with fun free activities and group outings? Being surrounded by like-minded budget travelers? Getting a great bang for your buck? No matter what type of hostel is your favorite, this list of 8 unique hostels to visit in 2025 is sure to have a few new stays to add to your bucket list.
*Disclaimer: Some images in this article are taken from the Hostelworld booking page. This is due to difficulty in taking my own photos for privacy purposes during my stay. I have stayed in each of these hostels*
swanky mint (zagreb, croatia)
The Swanky Mint Hostel is truthfully a great version of your quintessential European hostel done well. Offering a wide variety of both women only bunk rooms, co-ed bunk rooms and private rooms you’re bound to find a room that works for you. They have a very popular bar and pool that brings young travelers from the area to mingle. Croatia is an up-and-coming country in Europe that is currently attracting tons of tourism.
One of the greatest parts of this hostel is its location. Located in the heart of Zagreb and less than half a block from a popular tram stop you won’t have to lug your heavy backpack too far to your hostel. Upon checking in you’ll also be given a voucher for a free cocktail. This is a great hostel at a great price if you’re in Zagreb and wanting to meet fellow travelers.
Fuzzy log (ljubljana, slovenia)
Of all of the hostels I’ve stayed in this was the best in terms of co-working. If you’re working remote and looking for a place to feel inspired in a new city the Fuzzy Log may just be for you! Located on the top floor of the Ibis hotel, you’ll find a huge hostel.
This hostel offers a workout facility, a kitchen, a bar/cafe area, an outdoor seating area and more. I personally enjoyed the quaint two person room. It was very “no-frills”, but comfortable and affordable. Slovenia, in my opinion, is an incredibly underrated country and Ljubljana is due for its time in the limelight. If you’re looking for things to do in Slovenia look no further!
Two Pillows (Valletta, malta)
Two Pillows is a fantastic boutique hostel. I didn’t even know boutique and hostel could be put together, but here in Malta, at Two Pillows, it works. After being burned at a hotel in a nearby city, we decided to resort back to the hostel traveling and after checking in at Two Pillows we were blown away.
This hostel is conveniently located, has enormous rooms and even a sauna and jacuzzi. The building is modern, the staff are incredibly helpful and recommended a restaurant that became our favorite in all of Malta and overall it felt more like staying in a hotel than a hostel, but at a hostel price.
While we were in Malta we learned how to sail, and I couldn’t recommend an experience more highly. I was concerned about sleeping on the boat and motion sickness, so we stayed here instead!
TOC Hostel (Granada, Spain)
TOC is a hostel group with 6 locations across Spain. What makes this hostel especially unique is its hotel feel. After studying abroad in Granada and finally returning for the first time since leaving we were very driven to stay in an area that we both knew and loved. This hostel is located in a quieter part of the city right off of the main drag. The crowd here was a mix of travel junkies, remote workers and solo travelers looking to make friends.
The fun architecture, interior design and fabulous communal areas were a selling point alone. If you choose to stay in a private room, as we did, you will feel like you’re staying at a cool trendy hotel. Our biggest regret was that it was sold out when we tried to extend our stay for an additional few nights.
The hat (madrid, spain)
The Hat, has its own cute slogan “Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home”. Located in the “centro” of Madrid and less than a 5 minute walk to the famous Plaza Mayor this hostel’s location couldn’t be better.
With a wide variety of private rooms and traditional hostel bunk rooms anyone who wants a great bang for their buck should consider this hostel. The simple yet clean design choice of using sleek white and wood is a great aesthetic. Sometimes hostels can can be a bit dingy or rundown, but not this one.
The rooftop has a bar and the lobby has a great co-working area. They even offer free sangria and many different unique activities. At such a great price point and location this hostel is fantastic for any money savvy traveler.
La Redonda (Sayulita, mexico)
”We are not hippies, we are happies”. The cute slogan donning the stairs up to the reception area of the La Redonda Hostel couldn’t be more accurate.
In this enchanting beach town you’ll find yogis, spiritual leaders, surfers and free spirits galore. Located in the heart of the city and just blocks from the beach, the location couldn’t be better. Whether you opt to stay in a private room or a shared accommodation you’re bound to meet tons of similar travelers from around the world
Some of the offerings at this unique hostel include surf trips to beaches a bit further away from the ones in the heart of Sayulita, surf lessons, yoga, beach bonfires and more.
Cube – boutique capsule hostel (kampong glam, Singapore)
Southeast Asia is known as a budget travelers paradise. Unfortunately, Singapore, doesn’t exactly fall into that category. Singapore is undoubtedly the most expensive country in all of Southeast Asia. However, it offers a unique hybrid of different nearby cultures and flavors and after the Crazy Rich Asians movie came out has driven even more tourism to this tiny country. Singapore is mainly comprised of three different ethnic groups, Chinese, Malay and Indian, which in my opinion brings lots of delicious food.
After expressing concerns about the cost of travel in this country we found a great hostel for us. Traveling as a couple in a hostel can be complicated, but the CUBE offers bunk rooms with queen sized beds in small capsules to host couples. We stayed in a room with a total of 4 capsules that each had a co-ed couple, making this an incredibly unique hostel. The structure of the capsules that contained outlets, lights, fans and curtains kept each capsule relatively private.
The restrooms are shared, and in individual rooms which is very nice. The total for both of us to stay for one night ended up being less than $80 USD, which is an absolute steal in Singapore.
The Dorm hostel (phuket, thailand)
This list promised unique hostels and this one takes the cake! The Dorm Hostel in Phuket is exactly what you’d expect from a hostel in Phuket. For one night and two people it cost us $17 USD.
The hostel sleeping area is essentially one giant room with a hallway down the middle. On either side there are capsules for individuals or couples. Shockingly, the room was incredibly well air conditioned and quiet.
If you are looking for a very cheap place to stay before heading to the famous Thai islands from Phuket this will do the job. They also, of course, offer lockers to store your luggage – but bring your own locks!
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