The 4 Best Hostels in Cape Town (Updated 2026)

cape town It has been a popular backpacker center for many years. It also quickly became a favorite digital nomad This is also due to the city’s vibrant nightlife and rich and diverse culture.

There are plenty of budget hostels for backpackers and nomads, but not all are created equal. Here’s my list of the best hostels in Cape Town to help you have a great time, meet other travelers, and get a good night’s sleep in one of the world’s greatest cities.

Here is my list of the best hostels in Cape Town. But if you don’t want to read a longer list, here are the best in each category:

Want to know the specific conditions of each dormitory? Here’s my breakdown of the best hostels in Cape Town and why I love them:

1. Villa Viva

Located close to trendy Kloof Street and its popular bars and restaurants, Villa Viva is a fun, social hotel with a bar hosting late-night parties and live music on weekends. I particularly enjoyed the various activities organized by the hotel, such as painting nights and bryce (South African BBQ). There’s also a hostel WhatsApp group that makes it easy to meet friends and make plans, and there’s an outdoor swimming pool for you to use while hanging out.

I really like that the dorm beds have thick mattresses (and curtains so you can get a good night’s sleep). There are sockets and lights on the bed too. The highlight for me, though, was the pressurized rain shower. marvelous!

Overview of Villa Viva:

• Hostel Whatsapp group makes meeting friends easy
• Lively outdoor area with swimming pool and gardens
• Organize numerous events

Book here!

2. Ashanti Cottage Gardens

Ashanti Lodge is located on the leafy outskirts of the Gardens, in a quiet area (although it’s only a 10-minute walk to Kloof Street). Although it has a swimming pool and is a social place, it is more of a quieter place. Even though it’s small, it’s still easy to meet other travelers if you’re traveling alone. There is a shared kitchen if you want to cook, as well as a café that serves breakfast and reopens as a bar every night.

While the dorm beds didn’t have curtains, I did appreciate that the mattresses were thick and there were plenty of plugs and USB ports in the room. The modern bathroom also had a very good high pressure shower (a big plus in my opinion!).

Overview of Ashanti Cottage Gardens:

• outdoor swimming pool
• Great shower
• On-site cafe/bar

Book here!

3. Not at home at Green Dot

This is a fun party hotel located in the vibrant Greenpoint neighborhood. It’s also one of the few hotels with air-conditioned rooms (a huge plus if you’re here during the hottest part of the summer). Like most party hotels, the rooms are very basic with sockets, shelves and squeaky metal beds with very thin beds.

But what this hotel lacks in comfort, it makes up for in its super friendly staff and vibrant atmosphere. They organize daily events and activities such as Q&A, bryceand hiking, so meeting people is easy. There’s also an active hostel WhatsApp group, daily happy hour at the bar, bike hire, swimming pool, large kitchen and some indoor workspace if you work online.

Never at home Green Dot at a glance:

• Fun bar and pool for hanging out
• daily events and activities
• The dormitory is air-conditioned

Book here!

4. Long Street Backpackers Hostel

Just a 10-minute walk from the start of the historical walking tour and many other historical attractions, this is the place for you if you want to be at the center of all the action. It’s a hotel full of fun and social gatherings, and it’s also one of the cheapest in the city, making it a great choice for budget travelers. The real highlight, however, is that since the hotel is on the same grid as the Parliament Buildings, there is never a power outage (blackouts and blackouts are common in Cape Town).

The outdoor garden area is an oasis of tranquility away from the bustling hotel bar, where nightly events such as karaoke, beer pong and open mics are held. Like most party hostels, the dorms have cheap metal beds, no curtains and basic mattresses, but if you stay here, sleep may not be your priority!

List of Long Street Backpackers Hostels:

• Lively parties every night
• Centrally located, no load shedding
• budget friendly

Book here!
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cape town It’s a big city with a lot to offer, so it’s important to choose the right hotel based on what you want to see and what you want to do. Luckily, there are plenty of amazing options to ensure you have a fun and affordable trip to this postcard-perfect destination.