New York City is absolutely chock-full of sights, entertainment, and some of the best food you will find anywhere. Whether you opt for a Michelin Star restaurant or some slices of authentic New York Style pizza, your tastebuds will be happy campers. It goes without saying that visiting places such as Rockefeller Plaza, the Empire State Building, and Central Park should without a doubt be on your itinerary for your stay in New York.
If you love art, be sure to take some time to peruse the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum. Each one of these museums is special in its own way and will leave you inspired. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is also situated in the heart of New York City. This is truly a touching installation commemorating the lives lost in those tragic events. You can walk the grounds of Central Park for hours on end and still not see all of the beauty it has to offer.
New York City is appropriately known as the city that never sleeps, as there is always somewhere you can go for entertainment or a late-night snack. New York can be pricey, but luckily, we have compiled a list of great and affordable hostels for you to check out before planning your visit.
The Local NYC
First up, we have The Local NYC which is a spacious and modern hostel that is located in the artsy region of Long Island City. You can easily access the subway from here and get to Manhattan or Brooklyn quickly this way. There are numerous amenities that come with staying at The Local NYC, such as a swanky lounge room, a bar, superbly soft linens and towels, and a rooftop terrace where you can catch a sunset over the NYC skyline.
Either mixed, female-only, or male-only dorms are offered at The Local NYC, and you will be given a security locker to stash your belongings. If you crave some alone time, the private rooms are very cozy and are set up with double beds. Every room style comes with an en suite bathroom, too.
Hostel details
Address:
13-02 44th Avenue, Queens, New York, USA.
Guest rating:
4.6 out of 5.
Price per night:
from $41.
Freehand New York
Freehand New York is a place that does not feel like your typical hostel. Careful thought and consideration have gone into the design and layout of the Freehand New York, you will surely feel welcome when stepping into this hostel. The Freehand New York is situated in what used to be the George Washington Hotel in Manhattan, so you will be met with an ideal location and rich history here.
Guests have the option to book a pleasant private room that comes with high-quality televisions and even bathrobes. The shared dorms are just as comfortable as the private rooms, and they all come with their own bathrooms, as well. At the end of your days, stop by the on-site restaurant for delectable cuisine created by their expert chefs.
Hostel details
Address:
23 Lexington Avenue, New York, USA.
Guest rating:
4.7 out of 5.
Price per night:
from $31.
HI NYC Hostel
HI NYC Hostel is our next spot, which is situated right near Times Square, so there is plenty to easily do and see while staying here. The hostel is able to provide a massive kitchen for guests to use, a theater room, and pool tables. There is always an opportunity to socialize here at HI NYC.
The dorm rooms are either mixed, female-only, or male-only, and they are newly updated. Each guest is provided with fresh bed linens and towels, so you do not have to worry about packing those with you. If you wish to secure your belongings in a locker, the rooms are equipped with them as well, but you will need to contribute your own lock. There are of course private rooms if you would prefer that, and some of them sleep up to 6.
Hostel details
Address:
891 Amsterdam Avenue, NY 10025-4403, New York, USA.
Guest rating:
4.4 out of 5.
Price per night:
from $46.
NY Moore Hostel
The NY Moore Hostel can be found in the upbeat neighborhood of Brooklyn, and it is decorated with trendy art throughout it. There is a courtyard within this hostel where you can hang out and enjoy a cup of complimentary tea or coffee while reading a book or chatting with fellow travelers. If you like board games, you will be pleased to know that there are some to choose from here, too.
You may opt for a mixed or female-only shared dorm. You do not have to worry about the hassle that bunkbeds sometimes are when you are here. Each guest gets their own twin bed with a bedside table and lamp for maximum comfort and convenience. The private rooms have ample space, and each room comes with linens, towels, and a blanket provided.
Hostel details
Address:
179 Moore Street, New York, USA.
Guest rating:
4.3 out of 5.
Price per night:
from $26.
Chelsea International Hostel
We finally have the Chelsea International Hostel, which is in one of the best locations you can find in NYC. The hostel is situated in the heart of Manhattan, and super close to the High Line Park and Times Square. Free breakfast is provided to every guest staying here, which is great for the days that you are ready to just go and explore all that the city has to offer. This hostel also hosts all-you-can-eat pizza nights occasionally, too.
The shared dorms sleep up to 4 individuals and the bathrooms are located on the same floor as the rooms. There are numerous private rooms if that is more your speed, and some of them do have en suite accommodations. Towels and linens are provided for you by the hostel, so you can travel as lightly as possible.
New York City may be called the city that never sleeps, but these hostels throughout the Big Apple ensure that you still can get some rest and relaxation in between your exciting adventures.
Hostel details
Address:
251 West 20th Street, New York, USA.
Guest rating:
4.2 out of 5.
Price per night:
from $31.
About our New York City hostel recommendations
Are you a solo traveler looking for a private room? Or a backpacker traveling around in a group wanting to stay in a cheap and cozy dorm? Above you will find the best hostels in New York City for all your needs.
Please note, we only list hostels that have an aggregated guest review rating of at least 4.0 out of 5. We aggregate all reviews from different booking sites and other unbiased review websites. Hence, you can be certain all hostels listed above offer an excellent value-for-money stay in New York City.
Best price guarantee
For our hostel recommendations, we work together with Hostelworld and Booking. These partnerships don’t have any influence on the recommendations we make or on the order in which our recommended hostels are listed. The reasons why we have chosen to partner with these companies is that they’re trustworthy, offer excellent service and they both apply the best price guarantee. This means you can claim a refund for the difference if you find your reservation cheaper on another website. It has to be for the same property, accommodation type, dates, cancellation policy and conditions, otherwise, you can’t claim the refund for the difference. If you book through Booking.com then all you need to do is contact them at least 24 hours before your check-in date. If you book through Hostelworld you must claim the refund within 24 hours after you made the booking.
Top 5 hostels in New York City
To summarize again, based on thousands of guest reviews, these are the best hostels in New York City:
Why you should be careful when booking the cheapest hostel available
The cheapest hostels available are typically not in a great location. If you want to go sightseeing or go for a night out in central New York City, you probably end up having to pay for public transport or a taxi to get there. So your stay could end up being more expensive compared to a stay in a central location. For first-time travelers, we recommend staying central anyway, but also for frequent visitors, it’s probably worth it to pay a bit more to stay in a central location.
Another reason why you shouldn’t stay at the cheapest hostel is that the people staying at the cheapest hostels are often not the people that can afford to travel like you. Because a very cheap hostel is often cheaper than renting a flat, these places tend to attract migrant workers or local misfits. That’s probably not the crowd you want to hang out with, especially if you’re a solo traveler looking for friends.
The third reason why you should avoid the cheapest hostels is safety. Some of the cheapest hostels don’t check IDs, don’t ask for signatures, or only accept cash at check-in. The hostel won’t know who is actually staying there.
Lastly, the service at these hostels isn’t great. For instance, if you choose to store your luggage, your bags will be unattended in a public space. It won’t be recorded anywhere or tagged and stored in a locked room.
So, it’s probably worth it to spend a bit more on your hostel stay in New York City.
And finally, a tip: always read the latest reviews of the hostel! All places have good and bad reviews, but the most recent reviews matter the most.
More New York City tips
Get to know the city even better and check out our other articles about New York City:
Best cheap hotels in New York City
Where to stay in New York City
Best boutique hotels in New York
