7 best hostels in Adelaide

Adelaide, the coastal capital of South Australia, is a calm and laid-back city visited for its rich history, colorful cultural events, and picturesque coastline and hills. It’s the gateway to some of the country’s top wine countries, making it a love spot for wine and food lovers. It may not be as popular as other cities like Sydney or Melbourne, but it’s becoming an up-and-coming tourist hotspot, attracting travelers from around the world.

Locals and international tourists can benefit from staying in one of the top hostels in Adelaide. The city isn’t new to the hostel scene, and though some Adelaide hostels have closed over the years, new ones are popping up to welcome backpackers, solo travelers, and holidaymakers. They have also evolved to offer private rooms, in addition to dormitories with bunk beds. Hotels are still a hit, but nothing beats hostel prices for budget-conscious travelers.

Below are some of the best hostels in Adelaide; most are within Adelaide City Centre for your convenience. You’ll also find a few Bounce partner hostels for its luggage storage service in Adelaide to give you a safe and secure location for your belongings. If you're not in a hostel with luggage storage, download the Bounce app to find a safe and affordable place to stow your bags in the city.

YHA Adelaide Central

Whether traveling alone or with a group, you’ll have a fantastic time at YHA Adelaide Central. For one, it’s a Bounce partner hostel, meaning you can ensure you have a place to store your valuables without worrying about them being lost or stolen. Once you’ve settled in and stowed your bag, you can begin your adventure hassle- and worry-free.

Another reason Adelaide Central YHA is worth checking out is its convenient location, overlooking picturesque Light Square. It's near Adelaide Central Market, the State Library of South Australia, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Zoo, and many more. You can easily walk to the Convention Center or Chinatown in the Southeast end of the CBD for international goodies and treats. The Adelaide Central Bus Station is also only 150 meters from the hostel.

It has private and mixed rooms for males and females, as well as family rooms with double beds and bunk beds. Guests can use the games room, socialize in the lounge/dining area with movies available, and cook their meals in the fully set-up kitchen.

What makes YHA Adelaide Central unique

Adelaide Central YHA boasts a dedicated group meeting and dining space that comfortably seats sixty people. It features a meeting area with AV equipment, a private, self-catering kitchen for your group, and an open-air area with BBQ. You can also guarantee you won’t share rooms with other guests.

YHA Adelaide Central pricing

Take advantage of cheap hostel prices by sharing a room with fellow travelers. A bed in a shared gendered dorm for six people costs about A$42.60, while a family ensuite for four is A$156.00 a night.

Tequila Sunrise Hostel Adelaide

Located in the bustling Adelaide CBD, a stone’s throw from Adelaide Central YHA, Tequila Sunrise Hostel in Adelaide is a clean and eco-friendly accommodation with free coffee, close car parking, and a 24-hour kitchen. It is a cheap hostel in summer and winter, suitable for backpackers and young travelers.

This youth hostel emphasizes social experiences. It has private and shared dorms that can fit up to twelve people. It’s one of the most booked hostels in Adelaide and has won the best Adelaide hostel for its superb location in the middle of South Australia and socializing atmosphere.

What makes Tequila Sunrise Hostel Adelaide unique

Tequila Sunrise Hostel Adelaide provides its guests with plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. It regularly hosts socializing dinners where you can hang out while enjoying free dinner. And in the morning, you’ll wake up to a filling free breakfast buffet of seasonal fruits, pancakes, tea, and coffee.

Tequila Sunrise Hostel Adelaide pricing

Tequila Sunrise Hostel in Adelaide lets you stay in a spacious female-only or mixed dorm for about A$48.00 a night. Note that the hostel prices change throughout the year, with rooms slightly cheaper in winter.

Sunny's Adelaide Backpackers Hostel

It may be the smallest backpacker hostel in Adelaide, but Sunny’s friendly atmosphere and budget rooms are unbeatable. But don’t come here looking for a luxurious private space, as it only offers a mix of six-bed female, eight-bed male-only, and eight-bed female-only dorms. Your booking includes access to the open kitchen for 24 hours, free WiFi, and complimentary tea- and coffee-making facilities. Free parking is also available, though limited, and requires booking.

Though small, Sunny's Adelaide Backpackers Hostel is one of the favorite places to stay among backpackers due to its home-like atmosphere. The helpful and friendly staff will welcome you and help you find the best activities around.

What makes Sunny's Adelaide Backpackers Hostel unique

This Adelaide hostel is an excellent base for tours within the city center and beyond. The Central Market is only three minutes from Sunny’s on Grote Street and twenty minutes from Morialta Conservation Park. For nature lovers, you can join a free guided tour to Adelaide Botanic Gardens from 10:30 AM daily.

Sunny's Adelaide Backpackers Hostel pricing

If you’re looking for the best cheap hostels, Sunny's Adelaide Backpackers Hostel and Travel should be on your list. A bed in one of the dorms has an average nightly price of A$28.00.

Port Adelaide Backpackers

Port Adelaide Backpackers is proud to be the only backpacker hostel in the center of Historic Port Adelaide. This unassuming redbrick facility offers cozy lodging about twenty minutes from Adelaide City Centre. But you won’t feel far from all the action because it’s surrounded by pubs, restaurants, shops, and supermarkets.

As a family-run business, guests are treated like a family at Port Adelaide Backpackers. You can meet fellow travelers and mingle with friendly locals in one of the nearby restaurants and pubs. You can also discover the historic buildings, visit museums, and learn about the seafaring history at Port Adelaide.

Port Adelaide Backpackers offers an array of accommodation options, including air-conditioned private rooms with single and double beds, dorms, and family rooms that can sleep up to four people. The private rooms have equipped with door combination locks for maximum security.

What makes Port Adelaide Backpackers unique

Thanks to its location, this backpackers hostel offers plenty of activities and sights to see around the port. Besides visiting old structures and museums, you can participate in water adventures like sailing, kayaking, fishing, and dolphin river cruising. The area is also close to renowned wine-growing regions you shouldn’t miss.

Port Adelaide Backpackers pricing

The cost of renting a private room at the hostel is about A$90.00 a night and A$99.00 for a family room a night. If you want a cheaper option, book a night at one of the dorm rooms for around A$30.50.

Adelaide Travellers Inn Backpackers

Situated on broad three-lined Hutt Street, one of the city’s original public streets, is another hostel called Adelaide Travellers Inn Backpackers. It’s one of the two properties of Adelaide Backpackers in the Central Business District. Guests who want to stay here will be near a cluster of restaurants, cafes, and several stone buildings.

Choose from dorms and private rooms with shared bathrooms. Most dormitories are equipped with four beds. It also features communal areas, including a kitchen and a lounge.

What makes Adelaide Travellers Inn Backpackers unique

If you want to take public transport to tour the city without using your travel budget, take the free city bus at the stop near the hostel. It operates regularly and circuits every fifteen minutes, giving you access to the hotspots in CBD.

Adelaide Travellers Inn Backpackers pricing

Stay in one of the dorm rooms with two bunk beds for about A$40.00 a night. If you’re not comfortable sharing a room with others, you can opt for a private ensuite room for A$138.00 per night.

The Adelaide Backpackers and Travellers Inn

Hindley Street is known as the melting of creative culture in Adelaide, with an eclectic mix of cafes, galleries, educational institutions, and eaters. If you want to stay in this area during your visit to Adelaide, then consider The Adelaide Backpackers and Travellers Inn. Its convenient location gives guests easy access to surrounding local shops, restaurants, cultural sites, and parklands.

You have a choice of private and shared dorm rooms with bathrooms at The Adelaide Backpackers and Travellers Inn. You sleep in a private space with a double bed or a single room with bathroom facilities, suitable for solo travelers.

What makes The Adelaide Backpackers and Travellers Inn unique

If you’re looking for activities to do but don’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to talk with one of the hostel’s friendly staff. They can help with your travel plans and inform you of their latest tours and trips. They often organize activities guests can do together, including a tour to Kangaroo Island, day trips, and wine tours.

The Adelaide Backpackers and Travellers Inn pricing

The Adelaide Backpackers and Travellers Inn has multiple beds, so you’ll likely find one for your budget and needs. To save on accommodation, why not share a room with others in a dormitory for about A$32.00 a night? If you’re with a travel buddy, a twin room with a private room is available for A$140.00 per night.

Shingo’s Backpackers

If Adelaide isn’t your final destination and you need a place to rest in the city while preparing for your next trip, you might want to check out Shingo’s Backpackers. It’s not the best for a long-term stay, especially if you’re looking for high-end hostel facilities. It’s small yet clean and homely, with lots of freebies, like free WiFi, complimentary tea and coffee, a parking area, and more. You can request pick up from Adelaide Central Bus Terminal, the train station, or the airport.

Shingo’s Backpackers is a pretty basic hostel with double rooms and four and six shared dorms for males, females, and mixed. It has a dining room, a large kitchen, and a TV room to watch your favorite shows. You only need to pay a minimal fee to use the laundry facility.

What makes Shingo’s Backpackers unique

When looking for the most affordable accommodation, Shingo’s Backpackers will please your wallet. It is also centrally located in Adelaide, within walking distance of most must-see tourist attractions. Plus, it’s well-connected via public transportation.

Shingo’s Backpackers pricing

The standard rate for a dorm at Shingo’s Backpackers starts at A$22.50 a night and A$80.00 for a private double room. If you want to stay for a week, you can save more — a dorm room only costs A$105.00 per person a night.

Pick a budget hostel in the capital of South Australia

Adelaide’s hostel scene may not be as extensive as more famous cities like Melbourne and Sydney, but they’re pretty decent, offering travelers inexpensive accommodation solutions. These cheap hostels can still be a bit pricier than other places, but with the incredible experiences and adventures you’ll have in Adelaide, it’s worth every dime.

When planning a trip to South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital, you’ll want to be more informed about the seasons and what activities you can do during your stay. We recommend you read our guides, Best Time to Visit Adelaide: The Ultimate Guide and 3 Days in Adelaide: Everything You Should Know.