Are you looking for the best hostels in Zagreb, Croatia’s fascinating capital city? While there are quite a few Zagreb hostels to pick from not all of them are worthy of your money. We’re here to help you find the very best Zagreb hostel for your visit!
No backpacking trip to Europe is complete without journeying into the wondrous lands of the Balkans. The former Yugoslavian country of Croatia is a true gem, offering hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline with crystal-clear waters, gorgeous architectural details and welcoming locals.
The capital city of Zagreb is the best starting point to kick off your Croatian adventure. It offers numerous connections to some of the largest cities across Europe, making it easy and often cheap to fly into the country.
Once you land and get to the heart of the city, you’ll soon find that there are many things to do in Zagreb. History buffs will feel right at home at the Zagreb City Museum, while art fans will enjoy a rewarding afternoon at either the Mimara Museum or the Croatian Museum of Naïve Art. Mend your heart at the Museum of Broken Relationships or enjoy a panoramic view of the Croatian capital from the Zagreb 360° observation deck.
For more ideas on things to do in Zagreb check out our handy budget guide to Croatia.
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The Best Hostels in Zagreb
Please note – Some of our selections contain affiliate links. These allow us to earn a small percentage every time you make a booking. Using our links enables us to provide all the information found on this site free of charge.
What Makes the Best Hostels in Zagreb the Best?
With all this in mind, you should be aware of the fact that sightseeing in the city is not exactly a budget-friendly activity. Plenty of attractions have entrance fees, but they’re always worth the cost, so don’t be frugal when it comes to making long-lasting memories. On the other hand, there are a few other categories where you can avoid splurging – accommodation comes to mind first. Instead of opting for lavish nights at a fancy hotel, choose to stay in lively and budget-friendly Zagreb hostel instead.
To help you out in your quest to find the perfect lodging, we’ve narrowed down the list to the six best hostels Zagreb has to offer.
Unfortunately, we could not include all the awesome hostels in Zagreb, but instead tried to incorporate half a dozen versatile and fun Zagreb hostels to choose from. Our list is based on the most important factors we ourselves look at when determining a base for our travels. Some of the aspects include (but are not limited to) cleanliness, location, safety and smaller but equally significant elements like having an equipped kitchen or an electric plug by the bed. All of those are important aspects of what makes a Zagreb hostel great.
We also built up the list of Zagreb hostels with regards to preferences of all types of travelers. Solo adventurers looking to mingle with like-minded travelers will definitely find something for their taste here. So will young couples looking for a central location or even families with children in search of a tranquil place to rest after a long and tiring day of sightseeing.
But enough with the teasers, time to get to know six of the best hostels in Zagreb.
Best Central Hostel in Zagreb – Hostel Centar
- Address: Vlaška ulica 7, Zagreb, Croatia
- Independent Reviews: Hostelworld, Booking.com
If you’re tired of over-cramped hostel rooms which you have to share with a dozen other travelers, you are not alone! That’s why we’re kicking of our list with the elegant and spacious Hostel Centar in Zagreb, offering freshly-upgraded facilities throughout.
A small, but extremely welcoming lodging, this is one of the best hostels in Zagreb, beloved among tourists looking for a quiet place to stay. Most of the rooms in the home are air-conditioned and they all offer access to shared washrooms and toilets. Guests can leisurely chill in the designated lounge area of this great Zagreb hostel or even prepare some food in the fully-equipped, modern kitchen. The beautifully-styled rooms come with new, comfortable mattresses along with multiple electric plugs by the beds.
Let’s not forget about the hostel’s fantastic location, situated right at the heart of the city. Many of the most important tourist attractions, such as the Cathedral, the Croatian Sports Museum, Dolac Market and Ban Jelacic Square, are merely an arm’s length away. The property also lies in the proximity of grocery stores and a handful of restaurants. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosts for recommendations of some lesser-known attractions, which they will gladly provide.
This is the ideal base for those looking for a familiar, calm atmosphere in their Zagreb hostel while enjoying quality services for a budget-friendly price.
For more information, reviews, or the best pricing on the Hostel Centar click here!
Best Hostels in Zagreb – Swanky Mint
- Address: Ilica 50, Zagreb, Croatia
- Independent Reviews: HostelWorld, Booking.com
If you’re looking for something more in your Zagreb hostel than merely a place to rest after a day of sightseeing, Swanky Mint Hostel in Zagreb might be calling your name. It’s difficult to imagine that this lively and inviting place was once a grey factory lying on one of the main streets of the Croatian capital.
While the dorm rooms in this Zagreb hostel are not as airy as in the previous lodging, you can still opt to stay in a private room. The latter is a bit more expensive, but still worthwhile, considering you’ll have a private bathroom at your disposal. The dorms boast generous-sized personal lockers, along with plenty of power outlets. Linen and towels are both included in the price of your stay.
Those looking for an entertaining and vibrant atmosphere will absolutely love the swimming pool area, the sun terrace and the cool lounge. The amazing bar offers great deals on drinks and snacks. This is an excellent place to meet world travelers and perhaps even mingle with locals, so it’s no wonder that solo travelers consider it to be one of the best hostels in Zagreb.
Note that you’ll need to pay separately upon arrival for the city tax of your booking, applied for all accommodation sites in Zagreb (the price is 8 Croatian Kuna/night). Pets are welcome at this Zagreb hostel, but only with advanced notice.
For more information, reviews, or the best pricing on the Swanky Mint Hostel, click here!
Best Party Hostels in Zagreb – Whole Wide World Hostel
- Address: Fra Andrije Kačiceva Miošića 3b, Zagreb, Croatia
- Independent Reviews: HostelWorld, Booking.com
If you’re looking for the ultimate party hostel in Zagreb, search no further because you’ve found it! The energetic Whole Wide World Hostel boasts the widest selection of entertainment in the Croatian capital, ranging from pub crawls to game shows and beer pong competitions. And all this while not disturbing those who wish to sleep at night! This is the ideal place if you want to rest one evening and let loose a bit the next.
Run by experienced backpackers with more than a decade of travel experience, you can see the well-thought-out details of the place aimed to make your stay at one of the best hostels in Zagreb as awesome as possible. The fully-equipped kitchen, the welcoming lounge, the electric plugs by the bed and the bar stacked with cost-effective offers all support this goal.
Another great advantage to this Zagreb hostel is its proximity to supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants, bike rentals and the tram station. Some major sites are also close-by, like the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Cathedral and Tkalciceva Street with its cozy little terraces.
There are many cool complimentary services offered to guests, such as a sumptuous breakfast, access to safety lockers, free city maps, ticket printing and various other freebies. This Zagreb hostel doesn’t have any designated parking spots, but you can leave your car safely in the street in return for a modest fee.
For more information, reviews, or the best pricing on the Whole Wide World Hostel click here!
Best Hostels in Zagreb – Hostel Mali Mrak
- Address: Dubicka 8, Zagreb, Croatia
- Independent Reviews: HostelWorld, Booking.com
Interested in staying in a chill environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Hostel Mali Mrak in Zagreb has your back! With a forest and a mountain in its back yard, it’s not a surprise that many regard it as one of the best hostels in Zagreb. But even if it’s not located in the center, this wonderful hostel offers easy access to the heart of Zagreb through direct bus and tram lines within 15 minutes.
The interior of this Zagreb hostel is a work of art, featuring all sorts of wonderful murals and paintings. It’s also guest friendly, with all beds boasting not only individual reading lamps and power sockets, but also curtains which offer extra privacy. The safety lockers are complimentary, but don’t forget to bring your own padlocks. A spacious common room, two equipped kitchens and a computer room can also be found in the building.
The warm ambiance of the courtyard is an additional highlight, offering tables and generous benches under the lush vine which ensures plenty of shade, so you can enjoy the outdoors even during hot days. The third kitchen(!) in this Zagreb hostel can also be found in the garden area, where you can leisurely prep a nice meal for yourself while enjoying the fun social atmosphere.
The extremely friendly host regularly organizes biking and hiking tours, which you are encouraged to join, because they’re awesome. This Zagreb hostel is bike and pet-friendly, but even if you come by car, you can leisurely park in the safe parking lot outside the property free of charge.
For more information, reviews, or the best pricing on Hostel Mali Mrak click here!
Best Hostels in Zagreb – Hostel Shappy
- Address: Varsavska 8, Zagreb, Croatia
- Independent Reviews: HostelWorld, Booking.com
Hostel Shappy might be fresh to the scene, but it’s already earned its reputation as one of the best hostels in Zagreb. If you’re looking for a charming little escape right in the hub of the Croatian capital, you’ve found it! Boasting only six, extremely tastefully-designed rooms, this cozy nook is the perfect base for your city exploration.
The interior of this Zagreb hostel is impeccable and you can see that the entire design of each room has been well thought out. All beds come with their own power outlets and reading lamps. Booking a room ensures you free city maps, Wi-Fi, complementary linen and towels, as well as free parking in a parking lot nearby. Although it doesn’t have a kitchen, which is a huge bummer, this Zagreb hostel compensates by having a myriad of grocery stores, restaurants and pastry shops in the vicinity.
Plenty of tourist attractions can also be found in the hostel’s proximity, the Art Museum, the Zagreb 360 observation deck, the Gric Tunnel and the Museum of Broken Relationships are only a few that come to mind. The young, knowledgeable staff will be happy to let you in on the most overlooked sites the Croatian capital has to offer, and are eager to help you with all your requirements, so don’t hesitate to ask!
For more information, reviews, or the best pricing on the Hostel Shappy click here!
Best Party Hostel in Zagreb – The Wallaby House Hostel – [NOW CLOSED]
- Address: Peljeska 5, Zagreb, Croatia
- Independent Reviews: HostelWorld
Another place aiming to entertain its guests at all costs, the Wallaby House Hostel in Zagreb does not disappoint. With a fine social vibe year-round, ensured by fun activities like game night, baking pancakes together and pub crawls, this is a great lodging to not only enjoy yourself, but to hang out with like-minded adventurers as well.
Despite not being located right in the heart of the city, you can still reach Zagreb Center under 10 minutes via tram. The station is merely steps away from this Zagreb hostel. Lake Bundek, Katran (one of the biggest nightclubs in the capital), and a few restaurants and shops can also be found nearby.
The 24-hour reception, the many freebies (towels, linen, tea, coffee, Vegemite) and the Wi-Fi accessible in every room are all designed to make your stay as comfortable as possible. On-site parking is similarly free of charge. You can store your food in one of the many fridges available to guests and you can actually use not only all the utensils in the fully-equipped kitchen, but also season your dishes with some nice local herbs provided by the hosts.
The rooms in this Zagreb hostel are spacious and bright, offering quite a few electric outlets to charge your electronics and a private locker for each bed in which you can safely store your valuables. With so many cool features and such a wonderful atmosphere, it’s easy to see why The Wallaby House is ranked among the best hostels in Zagreb.
For more information, reviews, or the best pricing on the Wallaby House Hostel click here!
And there you have it folks, 6 great Zagreb hostels that will surely treat you well during your visit to Croatia’s capital. As always, travel well, and we’ll see you on the road!
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