Hostels in Gambia Hostels in Gambia

You are looking for hostels in Gambia? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Gambia hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Gambia.

All Cities in Gambia

We list every single hostel in Gambia and the world. In total, we have 2 cities in Gambia for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All Gambia hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Gambia. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Gambia

The Gambia, or officially Islamic Republic of The Gambia, is a tiny country in West Africa. It is surrounded on three sides by Senegal, with a small Atlantic coast. The Gambia is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. The capital of the Gambia is Banjul, but the two largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama. The international airport is in Banjul and is serviced by flights from Lagos, Accra, Brussels, Dakar, and Casablanca. Charter flights are available from London, Oslo, and Stockholm. Visas are required for travellers from France, Spain, Portugal, and the US; they are available on arrival at the airport. Most other nationalities can visit visa-free. PLEASE check requirements for your specific country before travelling.

The Gambia was a Portuguese colony during the early years of the slave trade, from about 1450 or so; in 1765, it became a British colony under the Crown. Two hundred years later, in 1965, the Gambia gained independence from Britain.

The currency in the Gambia is the dalasi. The biggest economies in the Gambia are fishing, farming, and tourism. Tourism numbers are steadily growing and it is likely that the Gambia will be a top destination for travellers within the next five years. With an abundance of wildlife, from nearly 600 bird species to manatees, hippos, monkeys, and crocodiles, the Gambia is a nature lover’s paradise.

The climate in the Gambia is tropical. A hot and rainy season occurs from June to November; from November to May there are cooler temperatures and less precipitation. The geography is grasslands and river plains; the Gambia’s borders mirror the Gambia River and are only 50km apart at the widest point. Along the flood plain, there are Guinean mangroves near the coast, while inland the terrain becomes more savannah-like.

Hostel accommodation in the Gambia is rare, but you may find one or two traditional hostels in the capital, Banjul. Otherwise, search out bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, or pensions. There are beach lodges along the coastal towns; they can be very basic (private rooms with shared bathrooms) but inexpensive.

Once you have your accommodation sorted, you can set out to explore this unique country. Popular tourist attractions include the Senegambian stone circles, which run from Senegal through the Gambia. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and UNESCO considers them to be the “largest concentration of stone circles anywhere in the world.” They are truly unique and should not be missed. Ruins of the 17th century British Fort James are also worth visiting, although they are sadly neglected and facing serious threat from erosion. Travellers should also take time to visit the national parks and wildlife reserves. The Kachikaly crocodile pool and Abuko Nature Reserve are two of the most popular.

Similar to other West African countries, the Gambia’s culture is vibrant and fun. Senegalese music and dances are closely linked to the Gambian styles. They fuse a combination of Western dance and pop with the sabar, traditional drumming and dancing. Banjul or Bakau are the places to go to experience this side of the Gambian culture. Whatever you choose to do in the Gambia, you will leave with an experience like no other.

expert for Gambia hostels

Handwritten by local expert for Gambia hostels Jakob Lombardi

Travel Tips for Gambia - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Gambia. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Gambia. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in Gambia

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in Gambia?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in Gambia here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

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Safety and Packing

Are hostels in Gambia safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

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