Welcome to your detailed guide for hostels in San José, Costa Rica. You can choose from 37 San José hostels. In total, there are 64 cheap places to stay in San José such as guesthouses and bnbs. Prices start from $10 for a dorm.
Above we list every single hostel there is in the city. Let us take a broader look at what you can expect - and what not. We created this cheatsheet for you to get a more complete picture of the hostel quality in San José, average prices and types of hostels to choose from.
Total number of hostels
37
Average dorm price
$17
Average private room price
$47
Most San José hostels are located in
Los Yoses, Barrio La California, Barrio Escalante
Average rating of all hostels
7.1
Below you can discover the best hostels to suit every traveller type. All of our recommendations are based on information shared by genuine travellers, the hostels and data that has been calculated from the system. Don't forget to check the ratings and see how these compare with the rates.
Travelling on your own to San José? Fabulous!
Pick a great hostel designed with solo travellers in mind, and you're bound to meet plenty of like-minded people who have also dared to venture to San José alone. Here are the top hostels for solo travellers in San José. We've also highlighted which hostel offers special perks you, as a solo traveller, will love. Each hostel offers great social spaces to meet fellow backpackers and wonderful opportunities for making new friends. You'll soon realise that travelling on your own definitely does not mean travelling alone.
This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in San José. To help you make friends with San José before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
San José is the capital city of Costa Rica. Although it doesn't necessarily concentrate as many touristic attractions as other parts of the country (with beaches, volcanoes, mountains, and national parks) it is the starting point for most travelers when visiting the country. San José receives so many travelers a year that is very likely you'll make friends with other foreigners visiting Costa Rica during your stay.
There are plenty of San José hostels and accommodation options available. There is a high concentration of budget accommodation and hostels in San José. In fact, there might be a shortage of higher-end hotels, but budget travelers and backpackers are guaranteed to have plenty of choice according to their preferences and budget! Depending on your travel plans, you might want to stay in the city centre or closer to the airport (for early departures to the rest of the country, for instance). If the latest suits you best, Alajuela is the place in which to look for accommodation, since the airport is at least an hour-and-a-half drive because of the traffic.
As the main city in the country, it has plenty of little luxuries that might not be that common in the most touristic areas, that tend to be more rural. There are plenty of shopping opportunities and you'll find so many international fast food chains in the main streets that will make you think for a moment that you are somewhere in the USA.
There is a very lively nightlife scene in San José. Street life is important, and, particularly on Thursdays, you'll have the chance to see a lot of people partying in the streets, where entertainers tend to perform. The city is also very open when it comes to the gay scene.
Written by local enthusiast for San José hostels zararock
There are plenty of frequently asked questions about hostels in San José. We've collected the most common questions and doubts when it comes to picking your preferred accommodation in San José. The more you know, the better you can plan with confidence and ease, right?
A hostel in San José costs on average $17 for a dorm. A hostel in San José with private rooms costs on average $47.
Hostelz.com shows all 37 Hostels in San José. Simply filter by neighborhood and price to find your perfect budget place to stay.
Hostel Shakti is the best hostel in San José for families.
Hostel Bekuo is the best hostel in San José for groups.
DSCVR - The Garden San José and Selina San José are the best rated hostels in San José for female solo travellers.
Hostelz.com compares prices for 37 hostels in San José, Costa Rica. We list for you other cheap places to stay in San José such as
This makes this very website the best place to find cheap accommodation in San José.
DSCVR - The Garden San José is the best rated hostel for partying in San José.
Oh man, so far no one from the community has left a comment or travel tips for San José. How about you kick start the discussion here? Gather your best backpacking recommendations for San José and jot them down below. The community thanks you.
Pack smart, not hard
Hostel? Check! Now let's have at your hostel packing list for San José and Costa Rica.
You may wonder what to pack when staying in hostels? There is a few absolute basics you always have to pick. Other items are more optional and depend more on your location. Here is the must-packing items when staying in hostels:
These are the basics, yet there is more. We wrote a big, detailed guide on what to pack, tech gear and things you won't need.
