View of Bangkok from the State Tower (photo: Ninara)
The best hostels in Bangkok range from quiet spots to get a good night's sleep to party palaces with super social vibes.
Most backpackers use Bangkok as a base for their Southeast Asia travels, passing in and out of the capital city on their way to other parts of the region.
To make your life a little easier, we've put together a list of Bangkok's best hostels.
With so much to do and see, the last thing you want to worry about is planning your accommodation.
Quick Recommendations
Quiet Night — Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel
Social Atmosphere — Once Again Hostel
Partying — Bodega Bangkok Party Hostel
Amenities — Here Hostel
City Entertainment — Slumber Party Bangkok
Cheap Stay — Playground Hostel
Travelers in Bangkok (photo: Igor Ovsyannykov)
What to Look For
Bangkok is a huge city with accommodation ranging from tiny mom and pop hostels to international luxury resorts.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when deciding where to stay.
Best Neighborhoods
Two types of backpackers come through Bangkok: those who prefer the old side and those who prefer the new side.
The old city of Bangkok is home to a delightful array of temples, palaces, and ancient architecture. You will probably be surprised at its unique, exotic charm.
Many backpackers will probably have heard about its most popular street, Khao San Road, as it is the party road where backpackers meet, and almost anything goes.
The other part of Bangkok you can find a lot of backpackers is an area called Sukhumvit.
Sukhumvit is a popular district for nightlife, shopping, and traditional Thai food with dozens of streets to explore.
You will notice it is much more modern than the other side of town with skyscrapers and worldwide-recognized consumer chains.
The BTS (metro) line also runs right through Sukhumvit Road, making the rest of the city conveniently accessible.
Where you stay depends on the type of experience you are seeking.
It can be time-consuming traveling between the two parts of town, but, then again, backpackers tend to skip around Bangkok quickly anyway.
Cost of Hostels
Bangkok can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. In the off-season (September-November and January-April), you will find better deals than in the typical travel season.
Adam, Go Backpacking's Community Manager, has stayed in Bangkok for as little as $5 per night in a private room at Yes Khaosan! in the center of Khao San Road.
He's also stayed at one of his favorite hostels ever in Sukhumvit (Slumber Party Bangkok) for less than $2 per night in December.
Where and when you stay are key factors in the options you have when searching for hostels in Bangkok, but expect to pay anywhere from $4-9 per night.
See also: The Cost of Travel in Thailand
BTS in Bangkok (photo: Quinn Kampschroer)
Additional Tips
In Bangkok, the struggle for all backpackers is transportation. Taxis are cheap, but public transport is even less expensive, and most would like to use it when possible.
Bus routes are next-to-impossible to figure out (especially on a short visit).
Traffic is a nightmare no matter where you are — the solution is the MRT.
If you are staying within walking distance to the BTS, it will allow you to get almost anywhere on the Sukhumvit side of town quicker than using a taxi. Plus, it is easy to figure out.
Khao San Road in Bangkok (photo: www.travelsribes.com)
Best Hostels in Bangkok
Let’s get on with the search. Below we have highlighted some of the best hostels in Bangkok based on what you may be looking for.
Best Hostel for a Quiet Night — Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel
From $13 for a dorm (6-8 beds)
Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel is the perfect place to grab a good night of sleep on your stopover in Bangkok.
You can even have the luxury of cooking a simple meal from home in one of the most stellar kitchens we've seen in any Southeast Asia hostel.
Enjoy a quiet night in the quality facilities of Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel.
And if you meet a few friends and decide you want to go for a drink, Khao San Road is only a short ten-minute walk!
Check availability on Hostelworld
Best Hostel for Social Atmosphere — Once Again Hostel
From $13 for a dorm (12 beds)
Once Again Hostel is a great place to stay if you are a social bee looking to meet some friends for the rest of your Southeast Asia backpacking trip.
Located in a nice part of Old Town, it boasts the hostel was designed for travelers to fit their needs. That might be why the common area has such a good vibe.
Also, Once Again Hostel has a cool rooftop where you can spend many nights; and every other guest seems to think the same.
Check availability on Hostelworld
Best Hostel for Partying — Bodega Bangkok Party Hostel
From $6 for a dorm (14 beds)
Thailand is the king of party hostels. The islands are filled with young backpackers looking for a good time, but so is Bangkok!
As soon as the sun goes down, you will see that the drinking games and alcohol never stops flowing at Bodega. Get ready for a good time or else the good time will find you.
Bodega Bangkok Party Hostel (yes, that's its real name) is internationally known internationally for its crazy atmosphere. And it's just minutes from some of the best clubs in Sukhumvit.
Check availability on Hostelworld
See also: Thailand Nightlife – Bars, Clubs, and Dating Tips
Wat Arun (photo: Julian Hacker)
Best Hostel for Amenities — Here Hostel
From $14 for a dorm (6 beds)
When it comes to stacking a hostel with everything, Here Hostel has done just that (including a multi-level indoor slide, so you get to the party downstairs even quicker!).
With an outdoor pool, multiple outdoor terraces, a bar, security lockers, and even a book exchange, Here Hostel has done an excellent job at bringing comfort to the traveler.
Feel like you are at home as soon as you step in. Not to mention, it is only a short walk from the madness at Khao San Road.
Check availability on Hostelworld
Best Hostel for City Entertainment — Slumber Party Bangkok
From $7 for a dorm (10 beds)
Slumber Party Bangkok offers a plethora of entertainment. Adam checked in for a two-night stay and ended up staying for nearly two weeks.
Whether it's walking tours, pub crawls or just friendly staff, count on entertainment staying at Slumber Party Bangkok.
There is always fun to be had in a clean and safe environment, which is why it's one of Adam's favorite hostels.
Check availability on Hostelworld
Best Cheap Hostel — Playground Hostel
From $5 for a dorm (8 beds)
Though Playground Hostel is away from the traditional areas where backpackers stay, it provides an excellent facility in the heart of a unique neighborhood not far from public transportation.
Adam also stayed at Playground Hostel on one of his trips to Bangkok so he could explore a new area of the city. He ended up staying longer because he enjoyed the environment.
With three levels of bunk rooms plus an outdoor/indoor lounge with a pool table, there is plenty of room for a crowd.
Depending on when you visit Bangkok, you can stay at the Playground for anywhere from $3-7 per night, making it our pick for Best Cheap Hostel.
Check availability on Hostelworld
Conclusion
Bangkok is a place backpackers seem divided on. Some love it; some don’t. Either way, we're confident these are some of the best hostels in Bangkok.
We have listed some of our favorite hostels, but it isn’t even a sliver of the whole pie in Bangkok.
There are so many accommodation options in this city. We could write a book and still not cover every hostel.
More Thailand Hostels
Last Updated on August 18, 2020 by Dave Lee
Adam is the Community Manager at Go Backpacking. You can find more of his writing on his own blog, Wanderway. Read his debut travel fiction novel, Summer of '92, on Amazon now!
