The Best Hostels I’ve Stayed in Throughout Italy
I’ve stayed in about twenty hostels around Italy, from the toe to the top of the boot. These are the best hostels in Italy that I have stayed at and always recommend to others travelers.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. I will only recommend products and services that I would [or currently use] myself.
I love staying in hostels. They’re a great way to save money while traveling and meet other travelers from around the world. Hostels come in all shapes and sizes, from small ones that feel like a big house with only 1 or 2 people working at a time, to big modern hostels that are like cheap hotels with a bit of flair. I’m a fan of both kinds and everything in between.
Hostels can be hit or miss. I’ve been lucky to stay at mostly great ones, and they’re the ones I tell other travelers that I meet to also stay at. Obviously everyone has different preferences, so you can filter accordingly as you’re searching. I tend to prefer Hostelworld because they are more hostel-focused, but Booking.com has a discount program if you book frequently with them.
My Criteria
There is no perfect hostel, but my general criteria for what makes a good one is as follows:
- If it’s summertime, I want air conditioning (you can take the man out of the USA, but you can’t take USA out of the man)
- An inviting common area to hang out and meet other travelers
- Clean, functional bathrooms and kitchen
- Breakfast (even at extra cost if needed), where people eat in a common area. This makes it very easy to make new friends
- Hostels that host events (walking tours, bingo night, bar hopping). I don’t really like bingo or any board games for that matter, but it’s just a way to get people together.
- On site bar. No, I’m not an alcoholic. Bars mean socializing (and in Italy, they mean good coffee in the morning)
- No more than a 20-minute walk or train/bus ride from the city center for big cities like Rome or Naples, or 10-minute walk for smaller cities like Florence or Genova.
- Comfortable beds
- Storage lockers
- Free Wi-Fi
- If I’m traveling with someone, private room options
- Grocery stores nearby
The Best Hostels in Florence
Yellowsquare Florence
YellowSquare is a small hostel chain in Italy, and one of my favorites. What I like about their Florence location is how lovely the place was and how much the staff integrated with the people staying there. They offer good breakfast for extra cost, have a nice outdoor terrace, and even a small swimming pool on the roof. It’s a little outside of the city center, but still very accessible via tram and rental bike.
🎒Book your stay at YellowSquare Florence by Clicking Here
Ostello Bello Florence
Ostello Bello is a larger hostel chain in Italy, and every time I stay at one I’m always happy. Ostello Bello Florence is in a great location, near the center of Florence but off on its own quiet street. Here, they’re all about open mics, karaoke, and other fun group events designed to make you embarass yourself in the best way and above all, meet fellow travelers.
🎒Book your stay at Ostello Bello Florence by Clicking Here
The Best Hostels in Rome
YellowSquare Rome
YellowSquare Rome is my favorite hostel in Rome. Both dorm and private rooms available, close to Termini station, and a great social atmosphere. Their property is spread to both sides of the street, including the hostel rooms, bar, and co-working space. At night the bar turns into a packed social hang with DJ sets, live music, group events, and more. It’s all-to-easy to make friends, not just other travelers but also locals, or stay in your own group.
🎒Book your stay at YellowSquare Rome by Clicking Here
Ostello Bello Rome
As my one of my favorite hostel brands in Italy, I’m confident that I’ll be happy in any Ostello Bello. The Rome location is close to Termini station, and as expected with other Ostello Bello locations, has all the amenities you need including a great social atmosphere. It’s a bit smaller than the much larger YellowSquare. By the way, I left a white outlet adapter there once, so if you see it can you let me know? Thanks.
🎒Book your stay at Ostello Bello Rome by Clicking Here
The Beehive
This is a smaller, more low-key hostel that feels a bit more like a big house. It has a great shared space and kitchen, friendly staff, and a nice, albeit small, outdoor sitting area. It’s located very close to Termini station, so right in the center of it.
🎒Book your stay at The Beehive by Clicking Here
The Best Hostels in Naples
Ostello Bello
Ostello Bello has several locations throughout Italy, and is definitely more of a modern hostel but still with some of the small hostel feel. This was the first one that I stayed at, and I was more than happy with it. Clean spaces, comfortable rooms, and a large common space with both indoor and outdoor areas. Not to mention the fully-stocked kitchen, so in theory you don’t even have to buy groceries. It’s also in a great location, positioned between the historic center of Naples and the Quartieri Spagnoli. This hostel is on the larger side.
🎒Book your stay at Ostello Bello Naples by Clicking Here
Check out my Naples Recommendations and 1-Day Itinerary.
The Best Hostels in Venice
Anda Venice
Anda is located in Mestre, which is off the main “island” of Venice. Unfortunately, there are very few hostel options in the Venice city center. However, I’ve stayed in Mestre 3 or 4 times now and the train station makes it so easy to get to Venice. The trains run frequently and until just past midnight.
Anda itself is great. It’s on the big side, so there’s lots of people. But it has most of what I like. A big communal space, an on-site bar, events, public transport nearby, and a great shared kitchen.
They don’t have an on-site barista, so you’re stuck making your own coffee or buying from the espresso vending machine. Also the bottom floor turns into a public club on some nights of the week, which is great if you like DJs and dancing and that sort of thing. Bring earplugs, as you will hear this if you’re on the lower floors (but you should bring earplugs to any hostel).
🎒Book your stay at Anda Venice by Clicking Here
The Best Hostel in Trieste
ControVento Hostel
This hostel felt more like a big house. The staff was very friendly, there’s a big shared lounge area, and it’s within walking distance to some great restaurants and the city center. Being on the smaller side, it was easy to make friends.
While staying here, I became fast friends with a cool guy from Argentina because we had a shared interest in gypsy jazz. We ended up having a jam session with a small audience in the kitchen (as to not interrupt the guys watching the World Cup in the lounge). What a great time. Also, Trieste was a great city.
🎒Book your stay at ControVento Hostel by Clicking Here
My Favorite Hostel in Bologna
Il Nosadillo Hostel
This is my go-to hostel in Bologna. It’s a smaller hostel and also feels like a big house. It has a great shared kitchen / common room, and a great free breakfast. The dorm rooms consist of both stand-alone beds as well as bunk beds, but no private rooms. It’s in a great location, being a short walk from the city center.
🎒Book your stay at Il Nosadillo Hostel by Clicking Here
My Favorite Hostel in Genoa
Ostello Bello Genova
I absolutely love this hostel. It’s in a central location, about 2 minutes from the main train station. It has multiple common areas and a rooftop terrace. The shared kitchen is big and well equipped. To make it even better, the kitchen was stocked with ingredients like dry pasta, beans, fruit, and vegetables. So in theory, one could not need to spend any money on food while here. The ingredients were a nice touch too, considering the nearest grocery store was at least a 15 minute walk.
The hostel has a great social scene too, with a bar and lots of group events.
🎒Book your stay at Ostello Bello Genova by Clicking Here
My Favorite Hostels in Palermo
A Casa di Amici
I had a blast in Palermo, and 80% of the experience was because of the people I was with. I went solo and immediately found myself in good company. Not just the other travelers, but the staff, as well as the owners of Casa di Amici were all so friendly, and there was such a familial vibe. The night I arrived, there was a birthday party for a staff member and going-away-party for a long-term guest, and it was the first time I had been at a hostel with such a strong social vibe but also a friendly, non-corporate feel. This hostel is unique because their whole staff is composed of employees, not volunteers, so it really does feel like a family.
🎒Book your stay at A Casa di Amici by Clicking Here
Ostello Bello Palermo
Disclaimer: I have not stayed at Ostello Bello Palermo. But I’ve stayed at 3 other Ostello Bello locations in Italy and have loved all of them. This location is new, and I’m very excited to stay when I return to Palermo (I absolutely love Palermo). It’s in a great location, and all the reviews are great. Like other Ostello Bello’s, it’s got a fully-stocked kitchen, friendly staff, and great social scene.
🎒Book your stay at Ostello Bello Palermo by Clicking Here