Welcome to your detailed guide for hostels in Cape Town, South Africa. You can choose from 48 Cape Town hostels. In total, there are 89 cheap places to stay in Cape Town such as guesthouses and bnbs. Prices start from $9 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 Cape Town, average prices and types of hostels to choose from.
Total number of hostels
48
Average dorm price
$18
Average private room price
$136
Most Cape Town hostels are located in
Green Point, Observatory, Tamboerskloof
Average rating of all hostels
6.6
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 Cape Town? 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 Cape Town alone. Here are the top hostels for solo travellers in Cape Town. 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 Cape Town. To help you make friends with Cape Town before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Cape Town is one of Africa's most alluring and popular cities for tourists and there are numerous Cape Town hostels.
Cape towns landmark is the dominating Table Mountain which rises behind the beach and seafront areas to an impressive height.
There is a huge hostel backpacker scene in Cape Town. Some come for a week and many stay on and try to find work. There is huge concentration of hostels on and around Long Street in the Downtown area of the city. There are so many Cape Town hostels to choose form that i'ts a good idea to research ahead and get one that suit your needs as prices are pricey for South Africa and it's more expensive than anywhere outside Joberg. That said, by North America or European standard you can bed down at a fraction of the cost of home.
Long Street is also a vibrant area for bars and nightclubs so the hostel scene here might not be to everyone's taste due to the noise and beggars . There are plenty other hostels in nearby Claremont, Green Point, and Sea Point areas. There are pluses and minuses to staying in each area depending on what you are looking for. Green Point is close to the Waterfront development and is handy for tours to Robben Island and has cinemas, bars, and restaurants and so many facilities you would not even need to leave the area, Sea Point is convenient for those who want to access the beautiful beaches near Cape Town.
There are plenty of frequently asked questions about hostels in Cape Town. We've collected the most common questions and doubts when it comes to picking your preferred accommodation in Cape Town. The more you know, the better you can plan with confidence and ease, right?
A hostel in Cape Town costs on average $18 for a dorm. A hostel in Cape Town with private rooms costs on average $136.
Hostelz.com shows all 48 Hostels in Cape Town. Simply filter by neighborhood and price to find your perfect budget place to stay.
Zebra Crossing Backpacker Lodge is the best hostel in Cape Town for families.
Atlantic Point Backpackers is the best hostel in Cape Town for groups.
CURIOCITY Cape Town and Once in Cape Town are the best rated hostels in Cape Town for female solo travellers.
Hostelz.com compares prices for 48 hostels in Cape Town, South Africa. We list for you other cheap places to stay in Cape Town such as
This makes this very website the best place to find cheap accommodation in Cape Town.
Atlantic Point Backpackers is the best rated hostel for partying in Cape Town.
It offers: Bar.
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 Cape Town. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Cape Town. 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!
Get a hostel with free pickup from the airport, otherwise it'll cost you R130 or more!
Anonymous
Pack smart, not hard
Hostel? Check! Now let's have at your hostel packing list for Cape Town and South Africa.
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.