You are looking for hostels in Cornwall? 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 Cornwall 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 Cornwall.
We list every single hostel in Cornwall and the world. In total, we have 15 cities in Cornwall 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.
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 Cornwall. 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.
Cornwall is quite well known for its picturesque landscape and authors such as Daphne du Maurier, who have used this landscape as inspiration for their writing. Cornwall is a little more expensive than the north of England, and more expensive still in the summer months. But it is worth it.
Although traditionally popular with elderly couples looking for a weekend, getaway Cornwall is becoming more of a place for young people. Towns like Falmouth have two universities, so they have a large population of young people. Falmouth has many little hipster bars and cafes, and a variety of second hand clothing stores and independent shops. It has small cobbled streets and, like most of Cornwall, it has a lot of hills.
Similarly, the nearby city of Truro boasts a variety of shops and a stunning cathedral. Walking around this town you will come across a lot of trendy looking young people. And you'll hear acoustic music coming from the many pubs and bars, as it has a good live music scene contributed to by the students. If you like history, a visit to Pendennis Castle is a great option. It was one of Henry VIII’s fortresses and protected England from invasion since Tudor times. There is also the National Maritime Museum located along the Falmouth harbour, which contains information on all things sea, boats, and Cornwall related.
With great beaches and good sea Cornwall attracts a lot of surfers from all over the world seeking out good waves, and many hostels are geared towards surfers because of this. Newquay is in particular is a popular destination with many hostels for surfers and holiday makers of all kinds. People also tend to visit Cornwall for its great range of outdoor activities. There are many great coastal walks and hikes to be done in this beautiful county. Although if going in winter, be prepared for rain!
For something a little different, the quiet quaint town of Fowey is beautiful in the summer months. It also holds a literary and music festival in May which attracts a lot of people. So if booking a hostel for these months, be sure to do so in advance. St Ives is another great town which attracts a lot of families with young children. The beaches here are lovely, and the sea is such a beautiful shade of blue, you would be forgiven for thinking you were not in England anymore!
Hostels in Cornwall are common, but not quite as much so as in other parts of England. There tends to be at least one in most towns and cities, and more choice in the bigger towns. As expected, the hostels in Cornwall are more crowded in the summer months, and it is recommended that you book ahead of time for these months if you want to have a guaranteed room. The hostels tend to be of a different style than the ones found in mainland Europe. They are often closer to a guesthouse, not always having such a social atmosphere. They are generally good value for money though, and great if you just need a place to rest after busy days spent exploring the beautiful scenery.
Handwritten by local expert for Cornwall hostels Pippa
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 Cornwall. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Cornwall. 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!
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
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.
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 Cornwall 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.
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.
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.
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.
