Bologna is a fantastic city in my humble opinion. :)
You are looking for hostels in Italy? 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 Italy 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 Italy.
We list every single hostel in Italy and the world. In total, we have 862 cities in Italy 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 Italy. 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.
As the boot of Mediterranean Europe, Italy is a beautiful country to travel through. You could spend a lifetime here and still have more to explore! The Trenitalia railway system makes the country ideal for exploring by train, but some people prefer to drive themselves.
Many travelers find the best way to enjoy their time is to have a theme for their Italy trip, or perhaps a different theme for each city. This way, you can get the fullest experience based on your interests and passions. If your theme is food, you can spend hours a day sampling authentic Italian dishes such as pizza, tortellini, and spaghetti, and even visit the grocery stores to attempt your own pasta night at the hostel kitchen (or at least make an authentic Nutella recipe). Other recommended Italian themes are architecture, wine, art, religion, and history.
The Veneto region in the northeast is a great place to start your journey. The capitol of Veneto is Venice, which is also the largest city in the area. The city built on water absolutely cannot be missed, even for those who abhor typical tourist activities. Italy hostels in Venice are cheapest off the island, but staying on the island for at least one night is highly recommended, as the nightlife provides a completely different atmosphere. Although these Italy hostels typically cost a little more, you may break even, as you'll be able to walk through the maze of streets instead of taking a boat. Other suggested cities in Veneto are Vincenza; Padua; and especially Verona, the historic town that served as the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."
From any Veneto city, it's just a few hours by train to arrive in Tuscany. As Tuscany caters to both students and travelers, hostels are diverse and abundant. Florence is a location friendly to the budget traveler. From art like Michelangelo's David, to architecture such as Brunelleschi's Dome, Florence is a visual treat. From there, you can explore the rest of the Tuscan region. Many people enjoy touring the vineyards, but you cannot miss the town of Pisa, best known for its Leaning Tower.
South of Tuscany is Rome, the capital city. Here is where you'll find icons such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. Encased in Rome is the smallest nation in the world, Vatican City. It's worth several day trips to explore the Vatican Museums featuring the Sistine Chapel, entering Saint Peter's Basilica, and attending a meeting where the Pope speaks. Italy hostels in Rome are all across the board, so choose one that best caters your needs, location, style, and budget!
From Rome, you can explore further down the peninsula to well-known areas such as Napoli or Pompeii, or go to the islands of Sicily or Capri. Italy hostels can be found in larger cities, or if you'd prefer to set up a home base in Rome, there are many tourism services that escort you from Rome to Southern Italian attractions. When your time in Italy comes to an end, you can head to one of the many international airports, or go east to Bari and continue your journey by taking a ferry ride to Greece.
Handwritten by local expert for Italy hostels Jessica Lippe
Oh man, so far no one from the community has left a comment or travel tips for Italy. How about you kick start the discussion here? Gather your best backpacking recommendations for Italy and jot them down below. The community thanks you.
Bologna is a fantastic city in my humble opinion. :)
Lucca is a beautiful medieval city, surrounded with the beauty of the Toscana landscape, truly a living fairy tale town.
I had the pleasure of staying in Villavellalonga in 1987 and 1989 with my wife Maria-Rosaria, who's mother was born in the town (Berenice Bianchi). Villavellalonga is one of the nicest towns I have ever visited. The scenery is breathtaking and the township so beautiful with the old buildings and cobble roads. As a …
Most hostels in Rome are located near the train station. It's a very touristy area, but it's a reasionably central area in the city and it's nice to be able to walk directly to your hostel from the train station. If you stay somewhere not near the train station, there's also a metro stop at the train station, so …
Modena is wonderful. Very peaceful with wonderful food.
Positano is glamorous -- just as it is in the movies.
Rimini used to be called the Teutonic (German) BBQ, because thousands of German holiday-makers lay on the beaches and turned over like steaks. It is still the same, just more international now. You've got to pay for most beaches and the beach strip is filled with restaurants, shops, and hotels. If one likes to party …
Arezzo is the city where the famous film "La vita è bella" by Roberto Benigni was filmed. Around the city there are around ten to twelve panels telling which scenes have been filmed there. For those who like that film and for those who do not know it but are looking for a marvelous, quiet, Tuscan city -- Arezzo is …
I have visited Sorrento twice. I absolutely love it there, it is one of my favourite places in the whole world. I would strongly reccomend anyone to visit Sorrento and the surrounding area, as it is beautiful and the culture is fantastic! I can't wait to go back!
Perugia is a wonderful place to visit. The people are very friendly and there is a lot to do both in town and in the surrounding areas. I can not wait until I visit again.
Simply, you must go to Alghero! It's a beautiful city located in one of the most beautiful island in the world, Sardinia. I think Alghero is underrated or simply ignored by most of the people but the fact is that the old city is a real treasure that everyone should visit.
I went to Sperlongo 2 years ago in the summer time. I spent a month in August, it was very hot! Beautiful Beach. Lots to do for both young and old. I stayed in Old Sperlonga and had a great time! Met lots of nice people!
Sermoneta is more beautiful than any town in Tuscany, yet has only a few tourists. It cannot stay that way for long.
In the words of Dante, the Collelonghese are truly "forte e gentile". As I continue to meet decendents of these proud people across the USA, I am amazed at the contributions which this small town has made to Americian society. In my many journeys to Collelongo over the past forty years I have always been greeted …
Savona is my favourite place in the world. I wish I could stay there forever. If only I could find a job I would.
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 Italy 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.