The Hostel Barcelona List: 10 Best Hostels in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most popular travel goals for most people who want to go to Spain. It’s an eclectic city where you can explore its unique nightlife, rich culture, delectable cuisine, and famed art. You can also choose from the hundreds of hostel Barcelona is famous for, where you can relax and unwind after exploring the city.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect Mediterranean youth hostel, the most famous party hostel, or the cheapest hostel, you’ll indeed be covered. Most backpackers and the more average tourists prefer the accommodation options found throughout the city.

 They are primarily located near Barcelona’s attractions and are reasonably priced. Here are some of the most famous and the best hostel Barcelona can offer:

Our top 10 of Barcelona :

• Hostel One Paralelo
• HelloBCN Hostel
• Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel
• Pars Teatro Hostel
• Yeah Hostel Barcelona
• Kabul Party Hostel Barcelona
• St. Christopher’s Barcelona
• Rodamón Barcelona Centre
• Sant Jordi Hostels Rock Palace
• Hostel One Sants

What Can You Expect When Visiting Barcelona?

There are many reasons you should choose to stay in a hostel in Barcelona. One of the most compelling ones is that you can expect to be greeted warmly compared to accommodations found in other destinations in Europe. Most of them also have a long list of amenities without costing hundreds of Euros.

 But the most crucial benefit of choosing to stay in a Mediterranean youth hostel Barcelona can offer is the chance to meet like-minded travelers and make new friends.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to head to Barcelona is between May to June, when there’s a flurry of festivals that signals the start of the summer. The actual summertime is sticky due to humidity, and locals leave the city to cool off somewhere else.

 On the other hand, winter is considerably milder than in other cities in Spain, with temperatures peaking at 10°C (~50°F). Although coming in the spring may be a good idea to avoid the crowds, showers are persistent during April, which may ruin some of your sightseeing plans.

 Still, regardless of what month of the year you decide to start your journey, you’ll surely encounter large crowds as Barcelona is Spain’s most visited city.

Customs and Culture

The city of Barcelona is situated in the Spanish province of Catalonia, which makes its culture vary widely from the more central cities close to Madrid and even to Seville and Granada.

However, the most obvious sign of the stark difference is the locals’ language. Aside from Spanish, they also speak Catalan, and you should remember that this is not a dialect of the former. Catalan developed from Latin during the Roman era several centuries ago. 

While exploring Barcelona, you might notice that most of the street and road signs are written in both Catalan and Spanish. So, most of the residents in the city, and the province as a whole, are bilingual. This may also be the case in some restaurants’ menus.

But you don’t need to worry about dealing with two languages that you barely know! Most locals don’t expect tourists to know Catalan, so if you know some Spanish words and phrases, there’s a big chance that you’ll be spared from any language confusion.

Still, you’ll likely find an English speaker at most hotels and tourist areas as the city is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Europe.

Like most places in Spain, tipping is an uncommon practice in Barcelona. But depending on where you decide to dine, you may have to pay a service charge automatically added to your bill. Keeping a tip of around 10% is more than enough if you insist on leaving it.

Another thing that most people in Barcelona love to do is to eat late and party even later, just like the rest of Spain. Most restaurants open for diners during lunch from around 1 pm to 4 pm, while dinnertime is around 8 pm to 11 pm. But some restaurants don’t follow these regular hours, so you can still find some restaurants that don’t close after lunch and before dinner.

 In the case of locals, most people eat dinner at around 9 pm, while they go out at midnight at the earliest. Most clubs also stay open until 5 or 6 am.

 Also, if you have a chance to interact with a Catalan, don’t be shocked if they reach out and attempt to kiss your cheek. Dos Besos, or one kiss on each cheek, is the locals’ way of welcoming guests and friends (their equivalent of a handshake or hug). But if you feel uncomfortable doing so with strangers, you can still reach out your hand and settle for a handshake instead.

What to Eat

In the city of Barcelona, don’t be surprised to find a fusion between quintessentially Spanish dishes and the Mediterranean-influenced Catalonian dishes. While you’re in here, be sure to try Spanish classics like jamón ibérico, tortilla española (potato omelet), manchego cheese, gazpacho (cold soup), and patatas bravas (sautéed potatoes that often come with spicy aioli).

 But one of the arguably most iconic dishes in Barcelona is the Catalonian version of paella. It’s called arròs a la Catalana, which has most of the ingredients of a standard paella except for saffron. You should also try the lesser-known, albeit still delicious, fideuà. It is a dish quite similar to a paella, but with a Catalan twist, as its main ingredient is noodles instead of rice.

Safety

Since Barcelona is a major tourist hotspot, there are also a lot of unscrupulous individuals that exploit the hectic tourist spots. So, you need to be mindful of your environment, especially if you’re exploring the city’s most famous landmarks. Aside from the more touristy areas, you also need to look out when taking the metro.

 Men should always keep their wallets in their front pockets and carry bags and backpacks in front when traveling, while women should make sure that their purses are zipped or secured as much as possible.

 Aside from your belongings, you should also be careful of your body. The city’s rich cuisine and overflowing wine can make most tourists sick. So, make sure to eat and drink moderately. You should also apply sunblock to deal with the intense sunshine and cool down. This is especially true during the summertime when the cases of heatstroke often skyrocket.

Exploring Around Barcelona

The best way of getting to most of Barcelona’s best spots is through the metro. A handful of color-coded lines make their way through the city, with stops close to some of the most popular tourist attractions and the Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

 You can also take the bus when you’re exploring the city, but consider the infamous traffic jams that make this mode of transport more time-consuming. So, driving around also is not a great idea. You can also ride taxis weaving through the streets, but the fastest way of getting around is still through walking or biking. Besides Barcelona you could also visit to Melbourne and Sydney.

Types of Rooms You Can Expect From A Mediterranean Youth Hostel in Barcelona

There are many reasons why you should choose to book a hostel in Barcelona instead of a hotel. One of the most important reasons is the excellent hospitality you will experience, as locals own most hostel Barcelona backpackers prefer.

 They also have an extensive list of great amenities. These come with a super affordable price tag that allows you to spend more on experiencing the local cuisine and exploring the city’s sights.

 Another benefit to staying in a hostel is meeting travelers who share the same interests as you – backpacking and wanderlust. This is the best time to share stories, get travel tips, and make new friends!

 There are a lot of different hostels in Barcelona. You can find a super cheap hostel to one that caters to people who have premium tastes. This is a breakdown of the average prices of different hostel room types:

• Dorms (female-only dorms and co-ed):  $13 – $26
• Private rooms: $35 – $70

Things You Should Consider To Find The Best Youth or Party Hostel in Barcelona

The types of rooms that you’ll be staying in are essential, but keeping in mind these points will lead you to the perfect hostel in Barcelona that has all that you need:

• Amenities: All hostel Barcelona offers have free WiFi, while most also offer free breakfast. However, if you want a more extensive list of perks, you need to do some research and compare them to see which Mediterranean youth hostel or party hostels in Barcelona is the best in terms of amenities.
• Price: Every Barcelona hostel will give you your money’s worth. So, if you go for cheap hostels, you’ll likely stay in a cramped room that doesn’t offer all of the nice-to-have amenities.
• Location: Barcelona is a big city, and it can be overwhelming for a newbie to get around. So, pick a place with a central location or the nightlife district if you want to party.
• Staff: The trademark of a Barcelona hostel is its fantastic staff, who are very knowledgeable about the city’s sights and directions and friendly. Getting to stay in youth or party hostel where you get to interact with surly staff would surely take a toll on your high spirits when traveling. Even if you don’t find the right hostel for you on this list, make this one a priority when you look for a hostel.

The Best Location For Hostels in Barcelona

As mentioned earlier, it’s best to find a hostel close to the Barcelona city centre. You’ll get to be close to all of the action and the city’s landmarks. Some of the best areas that you should consider are:

• Barrio Gotico: the city center
• Montjuic: the best place to find the cheapest hostels Barcelona can offer
• El Born: this is where the best clubs, bars, and party hostels in Barcelona are located

 The closer a hostel is to Barcelona’s center and Las Ramblas (also known as La Rambla), the more premium their room rates are. If you can consider areas a bit further away from the city center, you’ll find some fantastic Barcelona hostels that offer the best bang for the buck.

The Best Hostels in Barcelona

After reading about everything you need to know about the city, the best neighborhoods, and the average room rates, your search for the best hostel Barcelona can offer will be straightforward. But we have decided to make it a lot easier for you. Here are some of the best hostels in Barcelona:

The Runners-up: Boutique Hostels in Barcelona that Offer Free Walking Tours and more!

Picking only ten out of the hundreds of Barcelona hostel that offer free breakfast, free dinner, free walking tour, free pub crawls, and all of the amenities a fun hostel can offer is quite tricky. Most hostels in Barcelona are hailed as some of the best in the world, so they deserve a closer look. 

But since there are a lot of good options if you want to stay in the best hostel in Barcelona, here are some of our favorites that didn’t make it to the main list: 

2nd Best Hostels in Barcelona for Solo Travellers: Meeting Point Hostels

Hailed as one of the top Barcelona hostels for the past two years since 2020, Meeting Point Hostels offers a fresh, modern, and warm place to stay in the city. They offer a variety of rooms, from co-ed and female-only dorms to private rooms. You also have access to secure lockers regardless of your choice of lodgings.

They also have free wireless internet access and several free-to-use computers, which is perfect for digital nomads who’d like to work while exploring the beauty of Barcelona. It’s also effortless to make new friends in the TV room and offer your favorite dishes to other guests that you can cook from the kitchen. 

2nd Best Party Hostel in Barcelona: Toc Hostel Barcelona

Unlike other party hostels found in the city, Toc Hostel Barcelona is a unique hostel that features incredible interior design. They also have state-of-the-art amenities such as fingerprint door locks and CCTV cameras for your safety and convenience. 

They also have spacious common rooms, an outdoor pool, an on-site chill bar, a delicious free breakfast, and a great location. It’s situated within a few minutes’ walk from Plaza Catalunya and only 25 minutes away by metro from the famous Barceloneta beach.

2nd Best Youth Hostel in Barcelona: Itaca Hostel

Itaca Hostel is a small youth hostel near the Barcelona Cathedral Square that offers a big heart and lots of charm. It’s also a tranquil escape from the noise and activity of the city, so it’s a perfect sanctuary where you can recharge after a wild night of partying.

The spacious hostel also perfectly balances a great social vibe and privacy. Some of their best activities include free sangria nights every Thursday, where you can converse with fellow guests and make new friends. You can also try to prepare an authentic Spanish or Catalan dish in the hostel’s kitchen. 

About Barcelona: Things You Need To Know

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and Catalonia’s capital and largest city, an autonomous region. It has over 1.5 million people (making up most of the above five million people living in the whole Catalan area).

 The city is notable for the football club FC Barcelona and is located directly on the northeastern part of Spain’s Mediterranean coast. It also possesses a rich and diverse history as the Romans controlled it and then the Franks before declaring its independence.

 In 1992, the city gained international renown as it hosted the Olympics during the year, which brought a significant uptick in its tourism sector.

 This event has had a significant consequence on the lives of the people living in the city that can still be seen today. Multiple neighborhoods saw restoration (while a few also got demolished). The increase in popularity of modern design philosophy spread throughout all aspects of Barcelona, ranging from public buildings to its posters and park benches.

 This phenomenon has been a significant draw for more visitors as it presented Barcelona as an incredibly ancient yet modern 21st-century city.

 The beautiful city of Barcelona possesses most of what other European remarkable towns are known for, such as outdoor markets, restaurants, shops, churches, and museums, and it is an ideal city for walking. It also has a tremendous and reliable Metro system that you can take if you want to reach more far-flung areas.

 The city’s center is called Ciutat Vella (Old City), and it can be a bit difficult to explore in just a few days. On the other hand, the city’s beaches can give you enough sunshine and relaxation due to the region’s balmy weather.