You are looking for hostels in Israel? 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 Israel 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 Israel.
We list every single hostel in Israel and the world. In total, we have 47 cities in Israel 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 Israel. 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.
Whether you travel to Israel for a beach holiday or for religious regions, Israel offers a lot of variety for all kind of travelers. The differences among areas in Israel couldn't be any bigger -- from the liberal city of Tel Aviv where the conflict doesn't seem to exist, to some of the world's holiest places with the multicultural Jerusalem as its centre.
Hostels in Israel can be found in each of the bigger cities; especially in the main cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, travelers can choose from many hostels with basic amenities to more luxurious hostels, and from big dorms to private rooms.
There's a lot to see in Israel, and travelers will need at least a few weeks to cover all the main sights. Traveling from one place to another is very easy. as Israel has a good train and bus network throughout the country.
The country can be divided in several areas -- the south is mainly desert and offers some spectacular scenery. The south is also home to the resort town Eilat. In the west, some beach destinations can be found; Tel Aviv being the most popular with an infamous nightlife. The northern part is home to the student city of Haifa, the Sea of Galilee, and the Golan Heights. Jerusalem is the religious capital of Israel. Information on Palestine, with destinations such as East Jerusalem, the Dead Sea Bethlehem, and Jericho can be found on an individual page.
Tel Aviv is where most travelers meet Israel, as it is where the international airport is located. Tel Aviv is the most laid-back destination in Israel, and if you're not aware of the conflict prior to arrival in Israel, you may not even notice at all. Tell Aviv has a nice beach and boulevard, while the district of Jaffa is basically the Old Town with the nice small alleys.
Despite being only one hour away, Jerusalem seems like a different planet compared to Tel Aviv. Jerusalem is where Jesus was crucified and is home to many holy religious sites of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It's a great mix of the religions, and you can clearly see the different neighborhoods. The conflict is more visible here for visitors, as you can see many armed soldiers and police on the streets, but the conflict normally doesn't bother any tourist here. Jerusalem is a must-see for every visitor to Israel.
The south is totally different from the rest of Israel, as it is mainly desert. Beautiful sand desert and canyons can be explored in this region. It is possible to book an Israel hostel in the middle of the desert and stay there for a few days. Eilat, in the very south, is a popular beach destination on the Red Sea. It is also and access point to Egypt and Jordan.
The main attractions in the north are Haifa, the Golan Heights, and the Sea of Galilee. Haifa is a student city and sunbathing on the beach is possible. The city is built on a steep hill, providing many beautiful views over the city. The Bahá'i Garden is a must-see. Akko, with a beautiful Old Town, is only half an hour from Haifa. The Golan Heights offers beautiful scenery and is close to the border with Syria. The Sea of Galilee plays a big role in the bible, and in the towns near the lakes, visitors can find a laid-back atmosphere and nice boulevards.
Israel offers for both religious and atheists a lot of places of interest, and even a few weeks in the country may not be enough!
Handwritten by local expert for Israel hostels Martin Straatman
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 Israel. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Israel. 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 Israel 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.