Besides being kinder to the wallet, hostels in Barcelona are great for making new travel friends.
Hostels in Barcelona vary from cheap and cheerful dorms to upscale properties with hotel perks. Some lavish their guests with free meals and sangria, others score points with dreamy Catalan architecture.
Many have rooftop bars or sunny terraces. This makes it easy to amass a crew to scope out all the wonderful free things to do in Barcelona.
The best hostels in Barcelona, Spain, offer something for everyone’s budget and travel preferences.
Criteria for the Best Hostels in Barcelona
As one of the most popular cities in Spain, Barcelona is overflowing with hostels for backpackers through to flashpackers.
This is how we narrowed down the best ones.
Location: Barcelona is humongous. When choosing where to stay in Barcelona, prioritize the Ciutat Vella district – the Gothic Quarter, El Ravel, and La Rambla. Gràcia and Eixample tend to be more affordable. La Barconeleta has you covered for beach places to stay in Barcelona but options are limited.
Price: Dorm beds cost around €30 on average, más o menos. Private dorm rooms are extremely economical for groups. Reductions usually apply to non-refundable bookings, useful if you’ve already determined your Spain travel itinerary.
Amenities: All Barcelona hostels have lockers while padlocks and towels are available for rent. Some hostels have kitchens, bars, terraces, and – on occasion – a pool. Double-check exactly what’s provided before booking a hotel.
Room types: Hostels in Barcelona usually have mixed-gender and female-only dorms. Some have private rooms for solo travelers, couples, or groups.
Review rating: The best hostels in Barcelona score 8/10 (or 4/5) on booking sites. It’s worth checking recent reviews in case they flag any renovation work or seasonal closures.
Best Hostels in Barcelona, Spain
If you’re in a hurry, these are the top Barcelona hostels.
- Barcelona’s best hostel overall: Onefam Ramblas Hostel
- Best hostel in Barcelona for couples*: Primavera Hostel
- Best hostel in Barcelona for families: Toc Hostel
- Most budget-friendly hostel in Barcelona: St Christopher’s Inn
- Best hostel near Barcelona’s beaches: Unite Hostel
- Best party hostel in Barcelona: Sant Jordi Rock Palace Hostel
*Couples will find more options when searching for “pension” and “hostal” accommodations in Barcelona.
1. St Christopher’s Inn
A stone’s throw from La Rambla and the Aerobus stop to Barcelona Airport, St Christopher’s Inn is one of the most convenient hostels in the Gothic Quarter.
Belushi’s Bar presents “Barcelona’s Longest Happy Hour” with incredible deals on cocktails and food. This is a sociable hostel with nightly gatherings over sangria which usually descend into bar crawls.
As one of the most cheap hostels in Barcelona, dorm beds cost around €20. Rates increase for smaller dorms. All beds have a personal charging station and privacy curtains and there are female-only dorms.
St Christopher’s Inn at a glance:
- Unmatched location
- Sociable atmosphere but quiet dorms
- Gorgeous terrace
- No private rooms for couples, only groups
- No kitchen, only fridges
- Breakfast available for purchase
- Dorm beds from 19 EUR, private dorm rooms from 200 EUR.
Book St Christopher’s Inn on Hostelworld or Booking.
Choose a hostel in Barcelona where you can be close to all of the best sites to explore.
2. Toc Hostel
Toc Hostel is a 15-minute walk from the Sant Antoni and Boqueria markets where many Barcelona food tours pass.
This is one of the best hostels in Barcelona with private rooms for families. Four-person rooms feature one queen bed and two bunks while six and eight-person units are all bunks.
There are also comfy double rooms for solo travelers and couples. Mixed and women-only dorms have roomy bunks and large lockers although they do lack privacy curtains.
The hostel is configured for mellow socializing among guests but it isn’t a party hostel.
Toc Hostel at a glance:
- Has a swimming pool and sun terrace
- Cozy communal lounge indoors
- Great kitchen
- Suitable for families and couples
- All private rooms are en suite
- Fingerprint keys add security
- Dorm beds from 33 EUR, private rooms from 120 EUR
Book Toc Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
3. The Central House Barcelona Gràcia
As the name suggests, The Central House is situated in the Gràcia neighborhood.
Although close enough to get around mainly by foot, its peripheral location makes it one of the top budget places to stay in Barcelona.
The stunning terrace is reason alone to book TCH. Dotted with plants and with a pergola providing shade from the strong summer sun, this is a fine alternative to splurging on cocktails at Barcelona rooftop bars.
Modern dorms have privacy curtains and the hostel arranges cultural outings and pub crawls.
The Central House Barcelona Gràcia at a glance:
- Quiet environment
- Small but well-equipped kitchen
- Fabulous outdoor terrace
- Sociable activities
- Close to Gaudí attractions
- Private rooms only have bunks
- Dorm beds from 20 EUR, private rooms from 88 EUR
Book The Central House Barcelona Gràcia on Hostelworld or Booking.
Park Guell is a beautiful place to spend some time while you are in Barcelona and a nice place to get away from a crowded dorm room!
4. Onefam Ramblas Hostel
As one of the most sociable youth hostels in Barcelona, everyone is guaranteed to make friends at Onefam Ramblas. This hostel is pitched at solo travelers but also welcomes couples and groups looking to mingle.
Dorm beds are “pods” with privacy curtains. There’s a communal kitchen and free nightly dinners for guests.
Located at the south end of La Ramba, Onefam is one of the best beach places to stay in Barcelona. It’s a lovely half-hour walk to La Barceloneta’s beaches yet equally handy for Ciutat Vella.
Onefam Ramblas at a glance:
- Party atmosphere
- Awesome staff
- Comfy pod beds
- Close to beaches and tourist attractions
- Guests exceeding 45 years are not permitted
- No female-only dorms and no private rooms
- Dorm beds from 25 EUR
Book Onefam Ramblas on Hostelworld or Booking.
5. Sant Jordi Rock Palace Hostel
Sant Jordi Rock Palace is one of the few party hostels in Barcelona with a swimming pool. Located on the rooftop, it’s a total sun trap with views over Eixample. Seasonal yoga classes are also held up here.
There’s more common spaces indoors, including a den with guitars for Wonderwall sing-alongs.
Dorm beds have charging stations but no privacy curtains. Private rooms are configured as dorms and have shared bathrooms while select communal dorms are en suite.
Sant Jordi Rock Palace at a glance:
- Small rooftop pool (April to September)
- Party hostel with nightly jaunts
- Bikes available for rent
- Decent kitchen
- Cheap breakfast available
- Lockers have their own locks
- Can be noisy
- Dorm beds from 26 EUR, private dorm rooms from 126 EUR
Book Sant Jordi Rock Palace on Hostelworld or Booking.
Barcelona Sants connects you to much of the city as well as to other big cities around Spain like Zaragoza or Madrid.
6. Primavera Hostel
One of the prettiest hostels in Barcelona with private rooms, Primavera Hostel is perfect for couples. Vintage furniture and cozy armchairs contrast nicely with colorful wall murals.
Rooms feature high ceilings, ceramic flooring, and boho furnishings. Deluxe private rooms have French balconies and an en suite bathroom, others have shared washroom facilities.
Cozy dorms come only as four or six-bed dorms. However, there are no female-only options.
Located in Eixample, Primavera Hostel is a short walk from Casa Batlló, La Sagrada Família, and Passeig de Gràcia. It’s a fantastic base for those traveling to Barcelona to enjoy the legendary architecture.
Primavera Hostel at a glance:
- Quiet
- Boutique decor
- Homely atmosphere
- Large, country-style kitchen
- Small single rooms for solo travelers
- Best hostel in Barcelona for couples
- Dorms have privacy curtains
- Cheap breakfast
- Dorm beds from 40 EUR, private rooms from 85 EUR
Book Primavera Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
7. Piulet Hostel
Four stops from Barcelona-Sants, Piulet Hostel is convenient for planning day trips from Barcelona by train.
Housed in a building designed by Jose Pérez i Terraza, a disciple of Gaudí, this Eixample hostel showcases the kind of architecture usually reserved for boutique hotels.
Piulet is one of the best hostels in Barcelona with private rooms for couples. These have double beds in place of bunks and en suite bathrooms. They’re not huge, but they’re cost-effective and cutely styled.
Six and eight-bed dorms are mixed-sex while four-only dorms are available for women.
Piulet Hostel at a glance:
- Beautiful heritage interiors and modern fittings
- Large terrace plus indoor nooks
- Good kitchen
- Small co-working space for digital nomads
- Friendly vibe but not a party place
- Dorm beds from 57 EUR, private rooms from 184 EUR
Book Piulet Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
Barcelona has so many cool neighborhoods to stay in and explore.
8. Fabrizzios Terrace
In terms of budget places to stay in Barcelona, Fabrizzios Terrace Hostel offers cheap single rooms and dorm beds. The private rooms are great for solo travelers eager to mingle but who prefer not to share sleeping quarters.
Scattered with plants and mosaics, the terrace is the draw. There’s also a cozy den indoors for when it gets too hot. The four-person dorms have a little window bay lounges. Small groups could reserve these dorms.
Within walking distance of Passeig de Gràcia and the Gothic Quarter and an easy metro to the beach, Fabrizzios has a great location for a classic two-day Barcelona itinerary.
Fabrizzios Terrace Hostel at a glance:
- Landscaped terrace
- Free breakfast
- Excellent location
- No female-only dorms
- Beds are basic and lack curtains
- Dorm beds from 38 EUR, private single-occupancy rooms from 55 EUR
Book Fabrizzios Terrace Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
9. Party Hostel Kabul
Party Hostel Kabul is one of the rare budget places to stay in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Hotels in the neighborhood don’t come cheap!
As the name suggests, Party Hostel Kabul is designed for night owls and revelers.
It’s not the best hostel in Barcelona if you need your quiet. Guests tend to congregate in the bar or on the rooftop before heading off to explore nightclubs. Inevitably, that means early sleepers are woken up in the early hours.
All bookings include free breakfast. The “Bed and Breakfast” rate also includes free sangria and tap beer during happy hour and 50% off other drinks at the bar.
However, the lack of a kitchen might be tricky if you’re spending more than three days in Barcelona.
Party Hostel Kabul at a glance:
- Barcelona’s original party hostel
- Free breakfast
- Upgrade for free drinks
- One of the best youth hostels in Barcelona for meeting people
- No kitchen
- Private rooms only have bunks
- Complimentary earplugs for those braving the 22-bed dorm
- Dorm beds from 36 EUR, private dorm rooms from 117 EUR
Book Party Hostel Kabul on Hostelworld or Booking.
Sagrada Familia is an amazing place to visit, but if you want a budget stay, you’ll want to stay in a different neighborhood.
10. Unite Hostel
There aren’t many beach places to stay in Barcelona beyond a handful of hotels. Unite Hostel is located next to the Olympic Port and its beaches.
This modern building has light-filled communal areas and cabin-style bunks for added comfort.
All shared and private dorms have an en suite bathroom which contributes to its cleanliness. However, late sleepers may be disturbed by dorm buddies taking early showers.
The main lounge has window seats, egg chairs, and beanbags – lots of options for chatting, reading, or catching up on emails. There’s even a piano, perfect for breaking the ice. Unite Hostel also arranges a mix of daily activities on and off-site.
Unite Hostel at a glance:
- Excellent communal spaces
- Close to attractions, beaches, and nightclubs
- Breakfast available
- Decent kitchen
- Has a co-working space with computers
- No privacy curtains
- One of the cheapest hostels in Barcelona
- Dorm beds from 20 EUR, private rooms from 100 EUR
Book Hostel Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
11. Amistat City Hostel
One of the coolest youth hostels in Barcelona, Amistat City Hostel has a chill out zone frequented by local DJs. The staff can also assist with gig tickets and provide tailored tips for bars, restaurants, and unusual things to do in Barcelona.
The hostel comprises female-only, male-only, mixed, and non-binary dorms with cabin-style beds. Up to two guests can sleep in the pod beds. Units are backlit with different colored lights and have their own television.
There are private rooms fitted with bunk beds designed for small groups.
Amistat City Hostel at a glance:
- Funky aesthetic inspired by music
- Lovely terrace
- Excellent kitchen
- Sociable yet mellow atmosphere
- Not very central
- Close to the metro
- Keyless QR code entries for added security
- Dorm beds from 25 EUR, private dorm rooms from 124 EUR
Book Amistat City Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.