If you’re venturing through South America, chances are Bogotá is on your list of cities to visit. Nestled among the Andes peaks, Colombia’s capital is renowned for its art, parties, and colonial architecture.
The city’s urban charm has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, catering to travelers seeking a modern and historical blend of Colombian life. We’ve narrowed down a list of the best hostels for backpackers to stay in Bogotá.
**Prices are shown for weekdays in mid-season (August)
Set in the heart of the trendy Zona Rosa, Selina Chapinero is a hip community-like hostel featuring modern rooms and a plethora of facilities. Have a bite at the restaurant, respond to your emails in the co-work, relax over a cup of coffee in the coffee shop or see the newest blockbuster in the movie room.
Selina also offers a variety of activities on a daily basis, including yoga and salsa lessons, live music, and theater performances. Would you rather explore the surroundings? It has never been easier. You are right in the center of the city!
Try some of the best local eateries, such as Club Colombia, Criterion, or Harry Sasson. Whereas party animals will appreciate the famous club Theatron.
Stay in either a dorm or a private room. Family and deluxe rooms are also available. Whether you come on your own, as a backpacker, digital nomad, or in a couple, Selina Chapinero will become your home away home in Bogotá.
**Prices are shown for weekdays in the high season (March)
You’ve surely heard of the Viajero chain of hostels – they are simply amazing. Now hold on to your seats – the one in Bogota is the first one to have a spa included.
It features a sauna, steam bath, and a hydromassage circuit. You can also book a massage with one of their qualified masseuses.
On the other hand, the newly remodeled rooms feature soundproof windows. So even though the hostel is set just a few steps from downtown Bogota, you would always have a good night’s rest. And of course, you can choose from both shared dorms and privates.
Viajero also has its own restaurant with a bar, where you can grab breakfast in the morning and a drink in the evening before you go out to explore the city.
Pet owners, alert! Small dogs are allowed in private rooms, so you can take your four-legged friend with you.
**Prices are shown for weekdays in mid-season (August)
Known for its abundance of plants and tropical gardens, Botanico Hostel is ideal for travelers looking for a little green in the busy metropolitan city of Bogotá. Boasting stunning views across the La Candelaria Centro neighborhood, guests can unwind with a book in the garden hammocks (or take a nap to recover from the night before).
The hostel has private rooms or dorms, where each bed has an individual curtain for privacy. A locker and power outlet also come with the beds, and towels and breakfast are included in the booking. There’s even free coffee available throughout the day, so caffeine lovers can sample a true taste of Colombia. Plenty of restaurants are within walking distance, as well as artisan and fruit and vegetable markets which are great for picking up presents for friends.
Nicknamed ‘la nevera’ (meaning ‘the fridge’ in Spanish) Bogotá’s temperatures can fluctuate rapidly. Botanico has a fireplace for the chillier nights, where guests can gather to talk in a cozy setting. Reception is open 24 hours a day and the staff speaks English.
**Prices are shown for weekdays in mid-season (August)
Immerse yourself in the Colombian lifestyle at Masaya Hostel, a spacious house set in La Candelaria, treating guests to a real South American experience. Three large patios line the hostel, offering space to stretch out and sip on a cool drink. Three common areas — complete with a pool table, ping pong table, and board games — make the hostel a great place to meet other travelers and start a little friendly competition.
The hostel also has a packed agenda, offering weekly events celebrating Colombian culture in the form of music, cooking classes, and salsa. A big promoter of international talent, be sure to check out the talent exchange at Masaya Hostel, where backpacking musicians and performers can stay free for a night by playing for hostel guests.
Breakfast is included in the price for private rooms and serves eggs, arepas (traditional Colombian maize snacks), cereal, fresh juice, and of course, Colombian coffee. A vegetarian restaurant is located next door to the hostel, offering a tasty menu for non-meat eaters.
**Prices are shown for weekdays in mid-season (August)
Found in the historic Old Town of Bogotá, The Cranky Croc Hostel is close to cultural attractions, restaurants, and nightlife. The stunning remodeled colonial house is a blend of traditional Colombian colors and modern touches, like the large screen TV, WiFi, and multiple electric sockets for recharging your items.
Relax in the sun on the patio or grab a drink at the bar and get chatting with other guests — the hostel is open-plan to encourage socializing. If you prefer quiet accommodations, the Cranky Croc is great for both a chilled stay and a fiesta. Many guests head to Zona Rosa (the club and bar region) in the evening, so the building is calm and easy to nod off in.
The hostel regularly hosts social events, ranging from bar crawls to board games to book exchanges. Breakfast isn’t included but there are great cafes worth visiting; there’s also a fully-equipped kitchen for visitors to cook their own meals. Other facilities include hot showers, free towels, lockers for securing bags, hooks in the dormitories, laundry, and tourist information.
**Prices are shown for weekdays in mid-season (August)
Located right in the heart of La Candelaria, the city’s Old Town, Fatima Hostel (formerly known as Graffiti Hostel) is a funky retro space offering a games room, spacious common areas, and a welcoming bar. Featuring vibrant colors and quirky designs characterized by its graffiti decor, the hostel is full of character and creative vibes that make it an exciting place to hang out with other travelers.
Contrasting the lively splashes of color in the shared spaces, the rooms reflect a more simplistic, zen style. Fatima Hostel offers comfortable private rooms or dorm rooms with well-equipped shared bathrooms and spacious storage lockers. To make sure you have everything you need, there is also a laundry and ironing service, a tour information desk with free maps, and staff available 24 hours.
Fatima Hostel features optimal social areas, from a shared lounge and kitchen to an alluring games room and bar area. Have some fun getting to know other travelers by challenging them to a board game over a pint of beer from the bar, or join one of the fun activities that the staff organizes, like salsa lessons. The hostel’s friendly staff are also more than happy to help organize other unique activities around the city, like walking, biking, or graffiti tours.
When you’re ready to venture out into the city, you won’t need to wander far from the hostel. Fatima Hostel is only 500 meters away from Plaza Bolívar, Bogotá’s main square, from where you can explore all of the capital city’s rich culture and history.
Anandamayi Hostel & Hotel
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
With the mantra “love all, serve all”, Anandamayi is a low-cost, tranquil, hippie-esque hostel, best-suited to nature lovers and backpackers looking to rest in Bogotá. Hammocks fill the patio, while the garden has a small waterfall and fish ponds, visited by hummingbirds from time to time.
The decor is welcoming and the staff is friendly; the hostel typically attracts creatives: writers, painters, and photographers looking for inspiration in Colombia’s capital. On weekends, guests can sign up for ecological treks to explore ancient roads and lavish scenery outside the city. Alternatively, head up to the attic room to watch the sunrise from behind Monserrate and listen to the church bells ring out from the Cathedral.
Found in the bustling La Candelaria neighborhood, Anandamayi is close to cafes, restaurants, and bars. Linens and towels are complimentary, along with luggage storage.
El Pit Hostel
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
In the old Macarena neighborhood, El Pit Hostel’s bohemian atmosphere makes it a favorite with backpackers, who welcome the chilled ambiance and delicious food options. The hostel has seven sleek, clean dorm rooms, a restaurant with dishes from Colombia and other countries, and a snazzy bar with an impressive collection of liquor.
There’s a TV room for watching movies or playing video games, and a computer room to keep in contact with everyone back home. There’s even an adorable dog to welcome visitors as they arrive. Get stuck into one of the hostel’s varieties of activities: stretch your legs on a bike tour, enhance your culinary skills with a cooking class, or recenter with a yoga class. And when you need to be still, curl up in one of the reading spaces.
Guests at the hostel automatically get a 10 percent discount off food and drinks at the bar and restaurant and some local shops. Extra bits like electrical adaptors are available at reception, as well as hairdryers and ironing equipment too.
Fernweh Photography Hostel
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Dedicated to celebrating travel and photography, this hostel aims to create a space where people can share travel stories and tips while learning more about the art of photography. The hostel is so committed to the cause that there’s a photo gallery in the building where guests can browse and purchase amazing shots of the world. Fernweh Photography Hostel is located in downtown Bogotá, three minutes away from El Chorro de Quevedo where Bogotá was founded, and only 10 minutes away from museums like Museo Botero and Museo del Oro.
The hostel has a particularly calm vibe to recuperate in but when you’re ready to be active again, the central mountain Monserrate is easily accessible and has breathtaking views of the busy landscape below.
Complete with three dorms and two private bedrooms, the feather beds and thick blankets guarantee a good night’s sleep for any backpacker. Travelers can pay by card or with cash on arrival, and there is no curfew.
Alegria’s Hostel Bogotá
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Boasting a sunny patio area, inviting hammocks, and lush green gardens, Alegria’s Hostel offers a tasteful and laid-back ambiance to socialize and relax. With a homey feel and cozy vibes, Alegria’s Hostel is your home away from home, featuring a delicious homemade breakfast each morning and fresh Colombian coffee and tea all day. There is also a kitchen, a bar, and a BBQ, providing various opportunities to get to know fellow travelers over food and drinks.
With tranquil garden views, Alegria’s Hostel features refined private and dorm rooms adorned in a boutique style, with new mattresses and cozy duvets to ensure a good night’s sleep. Some rooms even include a fireplace, the perfect way to unwind after a long day out and about in the bustling city. Or, if you’re looking to let loose with a fun night out, stop by Alegria’s sister hostel which has more of a “party hostel” vibe before returning for a quiet night’s sleep back at Alegria’s Hostel.
Located in the popular La Candelaria neighborhood, Alegria’s Hostel is just steps away from Bogotá’s Old Town and its most popular historical and cultural spots, including museums, restaurants, clubs, and bars. For travelers looking to try their hand at some cultural activities, the hostel organizes fun events from rooftop yoga and kickboxing, to Spanish classes and salsa dancing classes. Additional services include laundry service, airport shuttle, lockers, and luggage storage to make your stay and travel even easier.
Hostel Sue Candelaria
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
‘Sue’ means ‘traveler’ in Chibcha, an indigenous Colombian language, and the hostel certainly understands the needs of travelers. The clean and organized accommodation is perfect for solo or group backpackers. The staff speaks multiple languages and is able to give detailed local advice and recommendations about Bogotá. Guests can use the printer, make free calls to local numbers, laze around with a cocktail, and take part in various day excursions. T
Take a tour of different flea markets in Bogotá or climb aboard for the Sue Bus Party which takes you to La Calera mirador for fantastic views of the city, then into Zona Rosa and two of the best nightclubs in Colombia. Guests can also check out the famous sport of tejo, which consists of throwing rocks at gunpowder!
Hostel Sue Candelaria claims to have the hottest showers in South America — a luxury for any backpacker — and enables guests to practice their linguistic and Latino skills at Spanish and salsa classes every Thursday.
12:12 Hostels
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
An effortlessly cool hostel, 12:12 is a safe and sociable place to stay, found in the G Zone — best known for its cuisine and liberal attitudes (it’s home to the largest population of LGBT residents). The hostel has eight rooms, identifiable by their unique color, illuminated by natural light during the day, and transformed into a snug den with blackout curtains at night. Elsewhere, a selection of communal spaces provides guests with the opportunity to strike up a conversation with one another.
The chic terrace has an extendable marquee to ensure travelers can continue mingling whatever the weather. The reception area walls are lined with bicycle frames and the covers of famous books, creating an artistic aesthetic that immediately makes anyone feel at home. 12:12 also encourages the sharing of experience with a book exchange, allowing guests to trade in their novel for someone else’s.
A black-and-white striped kitchen and spacious dining room allow guests to eat together, study, or simply soak up the hostel’s energy. Additional perks are free computer use, laundry services, and a travel desk.
Find all these hostels and more accommodations in Bogotá on AllTheRooms.
FAQs about hostels in Bogotá
What’s the best hostel in Bogotá for solo travelers?
Are you coming to Bogotá on your own but want to get together with like-minded people? Then, consider staying at Selina Chapinero. Not only does this hostel boasts a very friendly atmosphere, but it also has a multitude of fantastic amenities and activities, including live music, yoga, and salsa classes. There is also an excellent on-site bar and restaurant. This hostel has simply got everything one could need.
What’s the best party hostel in Bogotá?
Surrounded by a number of eateries and excellent bars, Botanico Hostel is the best place to stay for party people in Bogotá. Meet your party crew at the hostel’s tandoori BBQ before heading out. In the morning, cure the hangover with Botanico’s delicious breakfast or rest in the hammock area. This hostel is also a great option for solo travelers and backpackers for its very social atmosphere.
How much are hostels in Bogotá?
Bogotá can be more expensive than other areas in Colombia. Nevertheless, it’s still a very affordable travel destination. Accommodation there is pretty cheap, too. You can usually expect rates no higher than USD$ 10 per bed in a dorm, while private rooms in hostels are, on average, around USD$ 20 per night.
Are hostels in Bogotá safe?
Despite its infamous past full of drug wars, violence, and crime, Bogotá is pretty safe for tourists if you use common sense. Hostels there are rather safe, too. Most of them feature a 24-hour reception or security, and safety boxes to keep your valuables. You definitely shouldn’t be worried about visiting this beautiful Andean city but always stay alert, especially at night.
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