10 best hostels for solo female travellers 2023
We think it’s time to celebrate every kick-ass woman who’s traversing the globe in search of their next adventure, and to encourage every travel-curious female to pick up that backpack for the first time. Travelling alone as a woman can be daunting, but it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences there is. Take it from these solo female travellers!
Solo travel brings with it so many unique experiences and the freedom to embrace them on your own terms. You’ll discover places beyond your imagination, immerse yourself in exciting new cultures and find an inner nomad that you never knew existed. And best of all no matter how far you roam, you’ll always be able to find an amazing hostel full of wonderfully like-minded people. You might have boarded that plane solo, but once you’ve met the world you’ll never be alone again!
So what exactly do solo female travellers look for in a hostel? Top-notch security and a safe location are key. It has to have great facilities, like cosy dorms, clean bathrooms, delicious breakfast and a fully-stocked bar. But most importantly it needs to offer warm, welcoming vibes and great opportunities to meet fellow wanderers – think free beers, local tours and communal family dinners!
We won’t keep you in suspense any longer, because we know you’re dying to find out which hostels were awarded as ‘The Best Hostels for Solo Female Travellers in 2020’ in our annual HOSCARs. Well, here they are!
10. Hostel One Budapest – Budapest, Hungary
Hostel One has the feel of a true backpacker’s community, and it’s one we want to join! Come for the fantastic location, impeccable cleanliness and comfy beds, but stay for the next-level staff who go above and beyond to keep the social vibes alive 24/7. Seriously – by day they use their local expertise to take guests on free walking tours, and by night home-cooked communal dinners, drinking games and ruin bar crawls are on the cards. Nobody stays solo for long in Hostel One! This is a party hostel, so get ready for some hazy nights… and look forward to piecing them together with new friends in the morning. You did WHAAAT?
Hostel highlights:
- Free city tours
- Free communal dinners
- 24-hour reception
🏠 Address: Budapest, Rumbach Sebestyén u. 6, 1075, Hungary
🏘 Neighbourhood: Pest Old Town
🚍 Nearest station: Deák Ferenc tér metro station
9. The RomeHello Hostel – Rome, Italy
One piece of advice for solo female travellers: join in with everything! Inside every group activity are travel friendships waiting to be formed – and you’ll be pretty spoilt for choice at The RomeHello. They have Italian cooking classes, ping/beer-pong tournaments, yoga lessons, karaoke nights… okay maybe don’t join everything, you’ve got to see Rome at some point! Our female guests also love its fab facilities, like en-suites and individual lights, power sockets and shelves on every bed. The bar and beer garden are always buzzing and the artsy interiors are seriously photogenic. BRB, Googling flights to Rome…
Hostel highlights:
- Female-only dorms
- Unbeatable location
- 24-hour security
🏠 Address: Via Torino, 45, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
🏘 Neighbourhood: Municipio 1 (central)
🚍 Nearest station: Repubblica metro station
8. Garden House Hostel – Porto, Portugal
This hostel is almost too pretty! It’s in a beautifully restored 19th century house complete with original fireplaces and grand stairways. It’s got female-only dorms with individual bed lights, lockers and balconies that look like they belong on a postcard. The garden terrace is a winner, especially on a sunny day when you can enjoy your free hostel breakfast al fresco with the other guests, or bond over bottles of wine on a warm Porto evening. And on top of all this it has a fantastic, safe location on a quiet street in the heart of Porto’s picturesque Old Town.
Hostel highlights:
- Beautiful interiors
- Lovely staff
- Free breakfast
🏠 Address: Rua de Santa Catarina 501, 4000-452 Porto, Portugal
🏘 Neighbourhood: Porto Old Town
🚍 Nearest station: Bolhão metro station
7. The Hostello – Verona, Italy
When you arrive at The Hostello, expect a warm Italian welcome from Anna, Matteo, Gianna and Annalisa, who’ll want to show you the real Verona. It’s located in Veronetta, the city’s hip university district that’s full of quirky bars, local restaurants and cool art galleries. After a free communal breakfast, join your hostel mates on excursions like bike tours and wine tastings – because nothing brings backpackers together like free wine! Return to the hostel to hang out in its renovated cellar where there’s a high chance of cuddles with the resident cat, and end the night in one of their stylish female-only dorms. The rooms even have balconies, so get practising your best Juliet act – this is ‘fair Verona’ after all!
Hostel highlights:
- Homely vibes
- Majorly cool location
- Beautiful bathrooms
🏠 Address: Via Venti Settembre, 80, 37129 Verona VR, Italy
🏘 Neighbourhood: Veronetta
🚍 Nearest station: Via Venti Settembre 70 bus stop
6. Lub D – Siem Reap, Cambodia
If you’ve ever stayed at any of Lub D’s hostels you’ll know their facilities are out-of-this-world-amazing, and Lub D Siem Reap is no exception. It’s spotlessly clean, the dorms are luxurious and the bathrooms are excellent with hairdryers and straighteners provided. But hey, we know you’re more interested in that killer pool with swim-up bar. And what about the social lounges, pool tables and retro arcade games? It goes without saying that the parties here are epic, and as a solo traveller you’ll encounter more potential BFFs than you can shake a selfie stick at. Lub D has even got your hangover covered, with all-day breakfast served whatever time you decide to roll out of your bunk. Can we move in please?
Hostel highlights:
- Central location – 5 minutes from Pub Street
- 24-hour reception and security
- Unbelievable pool with swim-up bar
🏠 Address: Wat Bo Village, Sangkat Sala Kamroeuk, 7 7 Makara St, Krong Siem Reap 17254, Cambodia
🏘 Neighbourhood: Central Siem Reap
🚍 Nearest station: Avis bus stop
5. La Banda Rooftop Hostel – Seville, Spain
Seville is a pretty laid-back city, and it doesn’t get more chill than drinking cocktails at sunset, looking out over the cathedral from the rooftop of La Banda. The hostel’s massive family dinners, held every night, bring together every kind of traveller and are the starting point of countless great travel memories – which usually progress into live music and drinking games on the roof! Don’t ever worry about having to explore the city alone, as the staff at La Banda love showing newbies around on a bike tour and filling them in with local tips. And by night they’ll guide you through the most authentic Andalusian nightlife – flamenco show, anyone?
Hostel highlights:
- Scandi-chic designed rooms
- Live music nights
- Brilliant location
🏠 Address: Calle Dos de Mayo, 16, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
🏘 Neighbourhood: El Arenal
🚍 Nearest station: Puerta de Jerez metro station
4. Goodmorning Lisbon Hostel – Lisbon, Portugal
It’s pretty hard not to have a good morning when you wake up to the smell of freshly cooked waffles and roasted coffee – especially when you realise it’s all free! There’s never a dull moment at this super social hostel. It’s close to the lively Bairro Alto nightlife district, but it can be difficult to leave when the bar stays open 24 hours a day! These guys know that the best way to a solo traveller’s heart is with free booze, which is why they offer an hour of free sangria and beer every evening – the perfect ice breaker! And that’s without mentioning the homemade dinners and themed parties… is there any wonder Goodmorning Lisbon made the top five?!
Hostel highlights:
- Pizza nights
- Female-only dorms
- Free city tours
🏠 Address: Praça dos Restauradores 65, 1250-188 Lisboa, Portugal
🏘 Neighbourhood: Bairro Alto
🚍 Nearest station: Restauradores metro station
Book GoodMorning Lisbon Hostel
3. Lost Inn Lisbon – Lisbon, Portugal
Inside a historic 18th century home with pastel pink walls and gorgeous époque tiles in Lisbon’s lively Chiado neighbourhood is where you’ll find Lost Inn Lisbon. It’s a cool, modern hostel that our solo female travellers LOVE! Daily activities here include walking tours, social events, free food, free drinks and guitar singalongs. The staff make sure everybody gets in on the action – just read this review from a solo backpacker who gave Lost Inn perfect 10s across the board!
“Safe, clean, secure, and with a joyous vibe in a perfect location in downtown Lisbon. Lost Inn made my trip so much better. A special shout out to both the free sangria in the evenings and the tour to Sintra. Both made it easier for a slightly introverted solo traveller to meet new folks and see new things in a group.” – We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
Hostel highlights:
- Safe, central location
- Free breakfast
- Female only dorms
🏠 Address: Beco dos Apóstolos 6, 1200-028 Lisboa, Portugal
🏘 Neighbourhood: Chiado
🚍 Nearest station: Cais do Sodré
2. Stamps Backpackers – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Very narrowly missing out on the top spot is a Chiang Mai fave: Stamps Backpackers. Popular activities in this Thai travel-hotspot include feeding elephants and ziplining through the jungle – tiring work! Which is why Stamps offer cosy private sleeping pods to collapse into at the end of the day. If you’re ever feeling homesick, grab a familiar meal from their western-style kitchen then head over to the bar, and before you know it you’ll be 8 beers deep, caught up in a group activity like karaoke or trivia night and feeling like one of the family! They even have a blackboard where solo guests can write their contact details and find other nomads to connect with – they’re basically the cupids of the backpacking world!
Hostel highlights:
- Cheap drinks
- Perfect atmosphere
- Large backpack lockers
🏠 Address: 1/11 Chaiyapoom Road, Soi 1, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
🏘 Neighbourhood: Chiang Mai Old Town
🚍 Nearest station: Tha Phae Gate bus stop
1. We Love F****** Tourists – Lisbon, Portugal
We’ve finally reached our number one, and it’s the third Lisbon hostel to make the cut. It sounds like Lisbon is the place to be for solo female travellers this year!
So what secured We Love F. Tourists the top spot? Well, it has just about EVERYTHING that a solo female backpacker looks for in a hostel. Social atmosphere? How about home-cooked family dinners with free Portuguese wine, group day trips around the castles of Sintra and pub crawls around under-the-radar drinking spots. Spectacular facilities? Well there’s the beautiful dorm rooms with balconies overlooking São Jorge Castle, the on-site bar with cheap booze deals and the tasty free breakfast for a start. Location? It’s only in Lisbon’s most central neighbourhood, Baixa, surrounded by museums, boutique stores and food markets. But what about the staff? Actually, they’re kind of legendary – expect to be greeted with free drinks, city maps and expert tips on how to enjoy Lisbon like a local. One of our guests said that “the staff made the entire trip better than I could have anticipated”. Okay, We Love F. Tourists certainly ticks all the boxes. ☑️
Hostel highlights:
- Movie room
- 24-hour security
- Fun group activities
🏠 Address: R. dos Fanqueiros 267, 1100-230 Lisboa, Portugal
🏘 Neighbourhood: Baixa
🚍 Nearest station: Rossio metro station
There we have it – the top 10 hostels for solo female travellers! If you’re planning a solo adventure, make sure you hit them up!
If you’ve stayed in any of these epic hostels before, or have another favourite that didn’t make the list, let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to check out all of our other HOSCAR winning hostels!
Keep reading!
🌟 10 best hostels for solo travellers 2020
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