8 best hostels in Los Angeles

The bright and lively Los Angeles is known to be the city of celebrities and is the largest metropolis in California. In LA, you get the chance to spot some of your favorite performers simply walking down the street, although fame isn't the only thing that brings vacationers to the city. Interesting museums, fantastic shopping opportunities, unbeatable nightlife and some fascinating hidden gems await all who travel here, and it's definitely a destination like no other.

The luxurious city of LA can be expensive to visit, which is why you should try to save money where you can. There are plenty of nice Los Angeles hotels and Airbnb properties, but you can find much more affordable accommodations in the hostels. Not only are cheap hostels more budget friendly but they also offer a super fun, active and social environment that energetic travelers who want to make friends will love.

Staying in Los Angeles hostels is only one of the travel tips that we have for you; we also suggest that you take advantage of a Los Angeles luggage storage service to keep your personal belongings safe when you're away from your room. The most trusted company is Bounce, and we even have locations in some of the hostels in Los Angeles.

SameSun Hollywood

One of the best places to stay in beautiful Hollywood, Los Angeles is at SameSun. As a Bounce luggage storage partner they have the available facilities to ensure that your bags are safe at all times, and the hostel is fantastic as well. Overlooking the iconic Hollywood sign and located right on the Walk of Fame and Hollywood Boulevard, this location just north of Downtown LA is great for sightseers.

While staying here you'll be close to some nice attractions like Korea Town, Universal Studios Hollywood, the Chinese and El Capitan Theatres, Runyon Canyon, and the Sunset Strip. Inside the hostel, you'll find both dorms and private rooms, plus a guest kitchen, laundry room, and free wifi. Most dorm rooms are mixed but there are female only rooms, too.

What makes SameSun Hollywood unique

This hostel has a large common room where guests often go to mingle or hang out, and it's fully equipped with lots of comfy chairs and a pool table. Those staying here overnight are treated to a tasty free breakfast in the morning as well.

SameSun Hollywood pricing

The price to sleep in their dorms starts at about $59.00 per night. Alternatively, you can have your own private double room with a shared bathroom for $197.00.

Freehand Los Angeles

This hostel in Los Angeles, found in the Commercial Exchange building in the downtown part of the city, will put you close to plenty of great restaurants, bars, and markets. With the nearby metro system, you can get basically anywhere efficiently leaving all of Los Angeles for you to explore. Take your pick between premium hotel rooms and suites or shared dorms, all of which have comfortable beds. The building also has free wifi and a fitness center, perfect for digital nomads and guests who want to work out while in LA.

What makes Freehand Los Angeles unique

This is one of the best hostels in Los Angeles and it really seems like it has it all. They have a great rooftop pool with a bar called the Broken Shaker, plus Rudolph's Bar & Tea cafe in the lobby and even its own on site restaurant called The Exchange. One thing is for sure, you'll never go hungry here.

Freehand Los Angeles pricing

To stay in one of Freehand's dorms with 8 beds it'll cost $67.50 per night, and a deluxe king studio has an average nightly price of $288.00.

Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hotel and Hostel

What used to be a motel is now one of the best cheap hotels and hostels in Los Angeles. They have an undeniably friendly atmosphere and are centrally located, leaving you within walking distance of the Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater. Like with other youth hostels you can expect some noise and partying, although it's a very fun place to stay and making friends is easy.

With free coffee and tea available all day you should be able to wake up just fine, and the laundry facilities, free wifi, storage lockers, board games and book exchange are extra perks as well. Another added bonus is that most dorms and private rooms come with a private bathroom and their own kitchen which is something you don't usually see in a cheap hostel. Sleeping accommodations include premium and budget private rooms or traveler and budget traveler dorm rooms.

What makes Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hotel and Hostel unique

Banana Bungalow has a nice tiki garden with comfy lounge chairs to relax in, a lively common room that always has some sort of event happening like karaoke, comedy and live music, as well as a movie theater that is perfect for movie nights. You can join in on some of the fun activities like walking tours, BBQs, pub crawls and hikes to meet new friends, and wake up every morning to a complimentary breakfast.

Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hotel and Hostel pricing

This is the perfect hostel for both solo travelers and groups with bunk beds in the 8 person dorm costing around $44.25 and a deluxe twin ensuite private room costing just $142.80. They also have another nice location in West Hollywood.

Orange Drive Hostel

With a nice central location in the heart of LA, this hostel is a good choice for all kinds of vacationers. Stepping outside of its doors you'll be just a short walk away from public transit plus some great restaurants, shopping destinations and nightlife. Nearby tourist attractions include the Jimmy Kimmel Live Studio, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Guinness World Records Museum, Hollywood Entertainment Museum, Hollywood Bowl, Paramount Pictures Studios, Sunset Boulevard, Runyon Canyon and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

They have gendered dorm rooms meaning that men and women are separated, but if you're a couple traveling together you can book one of their nice private rooms instead. Other amenities include free wifi, BBQ facilities, a kitchen, plus washing and drying machines available on site.

What makes Orange Drive Hostel unique

There are lots of places to relax and hang out at this hostel, like in their picnic area or common room. They also offer complimentary breakfast every morning which will help you get up and out into the city as soon as you wake up.

Orange Drive Hostel pricing

Are you considering Orange Drive Hostel? A spot in their gendered dorm rooms costs about $52.00, and a double room with a private bathroom is priced at around $140.00 per night.

Surf City Hostel

Having first opened its doors back in 1995, this hostel in Los Angeles knows how to do it right. It's situated on the stunning Hermosa Beach putting you right by the water, and with lots of nightlife nearby and a social atmosphere within the hostel, it's a good choice for travelers who don't mind a bit of extra noise from the local bars at night.

Each dorm room has a spot for you to keep your things, plus free linen and towels. Private spaces are available as well. Other amenities that you can take advantage of include free wifi, a kitchen, laundry facilities, and a library with useful travel guides.

What makes Surf City Hostel unique

This is the best hostel in the city for those who want to spend time by the water since it's located right on the beach. Before you head out to enjoy the waterfront you can fill up with a delicious free breakfast, and grab one of the beach volleyballs that you can borrow from the hostel to use at the shore.

Surf City Hostel pricing

The average price for dorm beds at Surf City is $59.85 each night. If you'd rather have your own space you can get a private queen room with your own bathroom and a lovely view of the ocean for $250.95.

SameSun Venice Beach

If you don't want to stay in the bustling city center why not book this hostel with a great location in West Los Angeles? This Venice Beach hostel is situated close to the Venice skatepark, Muscle Beach outdoor gym and Venice boardwalk for those who want to stay active, and you'll also have easy access to the Los Angeles Santa Monica Pier and the Venice Canals.

The hostel features both shared dorms that sleep mixed gender guests as well as some reserved for only women, plus comfortable private rooms for those who want a more secluded experience. On site there are also laundry facilities and a guest kitchen, air conditioning, free wifi and, since they are a Bounce luggage storage location, you'll never have to worry about finding somewhere to keep your bags.

What makes SameSun Venice Beach unique

You'll wake up on the right side of the bed every morning in this Los Angeles hostel which serves free breakfast for all of its guests. On top of that, they also have a recently renovated common room where you can meet other people staying here.

SameSun Venice Beach pricing

SameSun Venice Beach aims to please guests of all kinds. This hostel prices a bed in their dorm rooms at around $51.50 per night, and a private double ensuite room costs about $300.00.

Melrose Hostel

With a nice location in central Los Angeles at Western and Melrose Avenue, this is a boutique hostel with affordable accommodation and close proximity to some great attractions. It's a recently renovated hostel that used to be a high end furniture store so you can expect clean and modern amenities. From here you'll be able to reach downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Universal Studios, the Griffith Observatory, Koreatown and Thai Town easily, plus the metro and bus lines will be within walking distance.

They only offer dorm rooms so keep that in mind, but it's a great option for solo travelers. Air conditioning, free wifi, computers, a modern kitchen, and lockers in the rooms are available to all guests.

What makes Melrose Hostel unique

Looking for somewhere to enjoy great views and make new travel buddies? You can have all that without even leaving the hostel thanks to their awesome rooftop patio and common room which also has a pool table. Every morning you'll be treated to a yummy free breakfast.

Melrose Hostel pricing

Melrose Hostel is clean and a popular choice. This hostel offers dorm rooms with an average price of about $50.00 per bed each night.

Podshare Los Feliz

Podshare is a company with several locations in LA; one in Venice, another in the Arts District in Downtown LA, Hollywood, and Los Feliz. The latter is a great location in a small building with only ten pod styled beds meaning that it doesn't get too noisy. Each pod comes with a reading light, power sockets, and a personal TV.

The building offers free wifi, computers, shared bathrooms and a laundry room, and some of the top bars and restaurants in the city can be found within walking distance. Los Feliz is an up and coming neighborhood that will allow you to have a more authentic experience in Los Angeles.

What makes Podshare Los Feliz unique

No need to worry about finding food in the morning since this Los Angeles hostel serves a complimentary breakfast every day. Be sure to take advantage before you head out the door.

Podshare Los Feliz pricing

The pods in this hostel in Los Angeles cost approximately $60.00 per night. You can also get a full pod, which sleeps 2, in a shared room for $80.00, perfect for couples.

Visit LA on a budget

If you're spending a few days in LA and want to have enough money to visit all the sights you might not want to book an expensive hotel room. Luckily, the hostels in Los Angeles price their rooms affordably giving you the flexibility to do what you want during your trip.

This is a big city with plenty to do, so before your book your tickets to Los Angeles check out these articles on 3 Days in Los Angeles: Everything You Should Know and The Best Time to Visit Los Angeles: The Ultimate Guide.