Heading to the West coast and looking for a cheap yet comfy bed? We have found the five best hostels in Galway for you!
A picture-perfect city centre full of colourful shop fronts, talented musicians on every corner, tons of pubs and bars to party the night away and endless options for day trips including to the famous Cliffs of Moher – there’s about a thousand reasons why you should put Galway on your bucket list for Ireland.
However, with our second largest city extremely popular among travellers and local visitors alike, finding affordable accommodation can sometimes be a bit of a pain. To save you from spending a fortune on a tourist trap, we’ve had a look around – take a look at the five best hostels in Galway below.
5. Kinlay Hostel – Galway’s first POD hostel
This place isn’t only Galway’s highest-rated hostel on TripAdvisor but also the city’s first full POD hostel, meaning your dorm bed comes with all-round privacy curtains, basically turning it into your own little room in a room.
It’s a lively hostel with an extensive lobby and common room that reminds us rather of a hotel than a classic backpackers’ hub.
While we personally love the flair, it might be a bit trickier to meet people in this kind of setting, so we recommend Kinlay Hostel to couples or groups of friends rather than solo adventurers.
A big plus to mention are the free iMacs to use, which come in handy when your MacBook runs out of battery or happens to be locked away in your room. Perfect for finding out all about What’s On in Galway.
Address: Merchants Road, Eyre Square, Galway, H91 F2 KT, Ireland
Prices: From €28
4. Sleepzone – for the best deals in town
If you are out and about all day long and budget is of more of a concern than fancy interiors, Sleepzone is one of the best Galway hostels you can book yourself into.
Just a short walk from both the train station and the city centre, this is where you can rest your legs without breaking the bank.
Sleepzone has the usual hostel amenities such as a living room and a lounge, a great selection of travel books, complimentary breakfast and a backyard for BBQ nights.
On top, they offer a jump-off/jump-on facility with their sisters’ hostels in Connemara and The Burren (near Cliffs of Moher) which comes in really handy should you plan a few overnight stays outside the city.
Thanks to its great rates, this hostel tends to fill up quickly, so make sure to book ahead.
Address: Bóthar Na mBan, Galway, H91 TD66, Ireland
Prices: From €48
3. The Nest Boutique Hostel – a couple getaway at the seafront
Compared to the other options on our list, this place is a bit of a walk from the city centre. However, given its super cosy atmosphere, stylish interiors, and proximity to the beach (you can literally smell the sea from your doorstep!), we just had to include it on our list of the best hostels in Galway.
The Nest Boutique Hostel offers mainly doubles and suites, making it especially appealing for couples looking for a little extra privacy in a hostel setting. We totally love their minimalist decor, the good vibes all around – and have we mentioned the beach?
We recommend this hostel to everyone but especially lovebirds on a budget, flashpackers and visitors looking for a beach break.
Address: 107-109 Upper Salthill, Galway, H91 R868, Ireland
Prices: From €66
2. Snoozles Hostel – ideal for solo travellers
Snoozles has two hostels in Galway, one on Forster Street just around the corner from the train station (very handy for late arrivals and early departures!) and the other one in the heart of the Latin Quarter (ideal for late nights at the pub).
Whichever you choose, we are positive you will have a blast, especially if you are traveling by yourself. Snoozles always seems to attract an especially friendly and welcoming bunch, which is why, for us, this is one of the best hostels in Galway for solo travellers.
We also want to give a big shout out to the friendly reception staff that pointed us to their personal pub favourites!
Address: Forster St, Galway, Ireland / 10 Quay St, The Latin Quarter, Galway, Ireland
Prices: From €18
1. Galway City Hostel – our top-pick of all hostels in Galway
This funky place was named “Best Hostel in Ireland 2020” by Hostelworld and we totally get the hype. Galway City Hostel is located at Eyre Square, a stone’s throw from all main attractions including some of the best pubs in town as well as the train and bus station.
There’s free breakfast and free tea all day long, live music seven days a week at their very own hostel bar, a welcoming lounge to hang out with fellow travellers and super comfy beds, too.
And if you want to get out of Galway for a day, you can book tours to the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, the Arran Islands and many more attractions at a discounted rate.
Galway City Hostel is everything backpackers and flashpackers of all ages might wish for, making it the overall winner of our list of the best hostels in Galway.
Address: Frenchville Ln, Eyre Square, Galway, Ireland
Prices: From €27
