Best Backpacker Hostels In Sydney, Australia

We’ve lived in Sydney for 3 years from 2015 to the start of 2018 due to University. It’s without a doubt one of our favourite cities around the world. Not only is it iconic due to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House but it’s vibrant, historical and a tonne of things to see and do. If you’re travelling to Australia as a backpacker, the likelihood is you’ll be wanting some sort of accommodation in Sydney. It goes without saying, that Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Therefore being a backpacker, it can quickly eat away your budget. As a result, we’ve complied a list of the best backpacker hostels in Sydney that are great for partying, meeting people, have a great location and are also good value for money.

The Best Backpacker Hostels In Sydney, Australia

Mad Monkey Hostel Coogee Beach

The brand new Mad Monkey Coogee Beach is everything you dream of for a hostel. Steps from the beach, close to restaurants & bars, friendly staff, modern & clean rooms and a great atmosphere to meet like minded travellers. The Mad Monkey hostels in Cambodia are without a doubt our favourite in the world, so we are so excited that they are expanding into Australia and we’re sure the Mad Monkey Coogee Beach will live up to all expectations in the social and party atmosphere field, which they are famous for.
There are many room types to suit your needs, from a 12 bed mixed dorms, 10 bed female only dorms and 3 bed private rooms to name a few. All guests have access to free wifi, air con in all rooms and even boogie boards & surf boards to hire!
As Mad Monkey is all about connecting others and having an epic time, they can also arrange many tours straight from their hostel, including: Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley and the Sydney Harbour.

Pros: 

• Famous Mad Monkey hospitality and party atmosphere
• Air conditioned rooms
• Steps from the famous Coogee Beach
• Buses direct into the city near hostel
• Modern and clean rooms
• Many rooms options to choose from
• Tours can be booked through their hostel

Cons:

• Fairly expensive: prices start at around AU$36 per person per night for a 12 bed mixed dorm and AU$130 per room for a 3 bed private room/shared bathroom.

Bounce Hostel

Image Courtesy of Bounce Hostel.

Bounce Hostel was voted the best backpacker hostel in Australia back in 2014, the best backpacker hostel in Sydney and the most popular. It’s no wonder we’ve made it the first on our list, other hostels should take note. Located in Surry Hills, a trendy area with bars, nightclubs and pubs it’s a great place to base yourself whilst in Sydney. It’s also opposite Central Railway Station too.
Whenever we’ve walked past Bounce, it’s always buzzing with backpackers and travellers chatting to one another, laughing and just have a great time, which is what all hostels should be like. There are a number of room types ranging from 10, 8, 7, 6 or 4 bed mixed and female dorms to private rooms.
The best part of the hostel in our opinion is their epic and spacious roof top bar and deck. You won’t find anything else like this is Sydney. With magnificent views over the Sydney city skyline you can relax or party in style with hammocks, sun lounges, and sunset BBQ’s.

Pros: 

• Personal lockers in every room
• Air conditioned rooms
• Roof top deck overlooking the city
• Regular organised activities
• Free continental breakfast (basic)
• Close to the city and central station
• CCTV cameras throughout the hostel

Cons:

• Fairly expensive compared to other hostels: prices start at around AU$43 per person per night for a 10 bed mixed dorm and AU$165 per room for a deluxe double bed private.

Wake Up! Sydney Central

Image Courtesy of Wake Up! Sydney Central

Like Bounce Hostel, Wake Up! is located opposite Central Station, with great access to trains and buses throughout Sydney and beyond. It’s one of the more modern looking hostels throughout Sydney, and was voted the most popular hostel in Sydney in 2017. It’s also one of the liveliest hostels too, with a popular backpacker club literally right underneath it: SideBar, which is always jam packed especially on Mondays.
We absolutely love their attention to detail, with onsite ATMs, hooks and shelves in the showers and a modern design throughout the whole hostel.

Pros:

• Great location
• Clean and modern
• Great nightclub/bar underneath the hostel
• Girls only floor
• Cafe and Bar onsite
• Free beach and city tour
• Free high speed wifi
• 24 hour check in

Cons:

• Can get quite loud due to the party atmosphere
• Not available to under 18s
• Fairly expensive: 10 bed mixed dorm around AU$41 per person per night and AU$159 for a standard twin with private bathroom per night.

Sydney Harbour YHA

Image Courtesy of Booking.com

Without a doubt the best backpacker hostel in Sydney if you’re wanting a view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge right from your hostel. The YHA is also perfectly located in the Rocks, and is the only hostel located here in the trendy and upper class area, it is also only a short walk down to Circular Quay. This hostel has a lower party vibe than other hostels on this list, so if you’re wanting to party less, but still meet travellers this might be the one for you.
Unique to any other hostel, it is built above archaeological remnants of colonial Sydney, thus combines state-of-the-art facilities with a unique heritage experience of Sydney.

Pros:

• Million dollar views from the roof top terrace
• Free wifi
• On-site grocery store
• Great location to all the attractions
• Free city maps
• Security lockers
• Quiet and great for any age

Cons:

• Not a lively hostel if you want to party
• Expensive. Prices are around AU$57 per person per night in a 6 bed mixed dorm and AU$197 per room in a deluxe double bed private.

Bondi Backpackers

Image Courtesy of BondiBackpackers.com

If you’re wanting a hostel outside of the city and more so near the beach, Bondi Backpackers is not only seconds from the sand and surf but also seconds from the worlds most famous beach. With incredible views over Bondi Beach, it’s the best backpacker hostel in Sydney for those wanting to experience the amazing culture of Bondi and surrounding suburbs.
It’s also been recently refurbished, with a modern and clean design and a rooftop terrace to admire the views whilst soaking up the sun. If you’re wondering how far out of the city you’ll be, there are direct buses straight to Circular Quay and Bondi Junction for all trains is a short bus ride away too.

Pros:

• Seconds from the world famous Bondi Beach
• Recently refurbished
• Clean and Modern
• Free wifi
• Free city maps
• Security lockers
• Buses straight into the city

Cons:

• Breakfast is not included
• Under 18s not allowed
• Fairly expensive: start at AU$38 for a standard 6 bed mixed dorm per person per night and $99 for a standard twin private with a shared bathroom per night.

 The Pod Sydney

Image Courtesy of Expedia.com

This is the newest hostel to be opened in Sydney, previously a popular bar in the CBD. Taking on the contemporary and in design of pods, the Pod Sydney features capsule bedding with personal lockers and free wifi throughout the whole hostel. Centrally located, only a short walk away from the big sights and Central Station.
In each roomy pod there is a comfortable mattress, power outlets, hanger, reading light, locker, free toiletaries and a curtain for privacy. It is less of a party hostel than others in the area, and one that offers more privacy, so if this is what you’re looking for then it’s the perfect one for you!

Pros:

• Centrally located
• Can be as open or as private as you want
• Free Wifi
• Free toiletaries
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Clean separate male and female bathrooms
• Free city maps
• Family rooms

Cons: 

• Not as social as other hostels
• Limited room types
• No private rooms for couples
• Fairly expensive: From AU$49 per person per night in an 8 bed mixed/female dorm and AU$219 in a deluxe 4 bed family room.

Where did you stay whilst in Sydney? Which is your favourite and best backpacker hostel in Sydney out of these?

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