Paris has scores of hostels aimed primarily at students and other young travelers, but not all of these are clean and friendly on top of being cheap. Some even verge on dodgy, to borrow a favorite British adjective. Before your next trip, consult our list of the city's best hostels to ensure your sojourn is a safe and pleasant one. I've compiled the list with the help of user-rated travel sites such as TripAdvisor, but please post your own best and worst hostels list here!
Also See:
Kathleen Crislip of About.com Student Travel has her own useful and well-informed article on Paris hostels and cheap accomodations.
1. St. Christopher's Paris Hostel
Courtesy of the St. Christopher's Paris Hostel.
This newly built Paris hostel, located on the picturesque yet edgy Bassin de la Villette in one of Paris' off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods, has gotten rave reviews from travelers on Trip Advisor and elsewhere for its friendly service, brand-new, clean rooms and entertaining atmosphere. It's a bit out of the way from central Paris, but I recommend it if you're looking for a more authentic sojourn in the city of light.
Location: 159 rue de Crimée, 19th arrondissement
Metro: Crimee or Laumiere
Services and Amenities: Free breakfast, free wi-fi, full bar and restaurant (Belushi's), bike rental service, tour booking services, pub crawls
2. Le Village Hostel
Courtesy of Le Village hostel.
Nestled in the heart of the historic Montmartre district in the heights of the city, Le Village Hostel has been postively reviewed by lodgers for its affable and helpful staff members, cleanliness and proximity to some of Paris' top attractions, including the Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. The hostel's rustic decoration is a nod to Montmartre's artistic golden age. Art and culture fans will appreciate this hostel.
Location: 20, Rue d’Orsel, 18th arrondissement
Metro: Anvers
Services and Amenities: Free breakfast, internet connection, cafes and reading areas, luggage storage, souvenir shop, kitchen
3. Bastille Hostel
Courtesy of the Bastille Hostel.
This hostel has earned a solid reputation for its central location-- in close reach of most major tourist attractions and ideally situated between the lively Oberkampf and Bastille nightlife districts. This is a popular hostel among travelers, judging from recent reviews, although some have complained about overly stringent room use rules. This is probably not the best choice if you're looking for a party atmosphere at the hostel itself, but it's a good value given the 1-2 person rooms and private showers.
Location: 6, rue Trousseau, 11th arrondissement
Metro: Ledru-Rollin, Faidherbe-Chaligny
Services and Amenities: Air-conditioning, 1-2 person rooms, 24-hour reception, in-room showers
4. Oops! Hostel
Courtesy of the Oops! Hostel
Opened in 2007, this newcomer to the Paris hostel scene has been praised for its colorful, quirky design, clean and spacious rooms and overall value. It's located near the southern tip of Paris, close to lesser-known neighborhoods including the Butte aux Cailles and one of Paris' lively Chinatowns.
Location: 50 Avenue des Gobelins, 13th arrondissement
Metro: Les Gobelins, Campo-Formio
Services and Amenities: Free internet/wifi, free breakfast, in-room bathrooms, luggage storage, air-conditioning
5. Vintage Hostel
This hostel, situated in Paris' ultra-urban Gare du Nord district in the northeast of the city, has received mixed reviews from travelers, but the overall rating is positive. Travelers have commended warm service from staff, overall friendly and laid-back atmosphere in the common rooms, and quality breakfast, while others have complained of small rooms, noise and unmade beds. The area is safe but on the gritty side-- if you want to stay in postcard Paris, I suggest you book elsewhere.
Location: 73 rue de Dunquerke, 9th arrondissement
Metro: Gare du Nord, Barbes
Services and Amenities: Free wifi (lobby only), air-conditioning, bathrooms in every room, luggage storage.
6. Young & Happy Hostel
Courtesy of the Young & Happy Hostel
Claiming to be the first independent hostel to open in Paris two decades ago, the Young and Happy Hostel is situated in the smack-center of one of the city's most touristy districts, on the famed Rue Mouffetard in the Latin Quarter. The hostel has been recommended for its friendly staff, ideal location and good value for money. Travelers who like shopping for fresh food will appreciate the open-air markets on the same street, renowned for their quality. This is a good choice if you want to see Paris in an idyllic, postcard friendly light.
Location: 80 rue Mouffetard, 5th arrondissement
Metro: Censier-Daubenton
Services and Amenities: Free breakfast, kitchen access, lobby with TV, luggage storage
7. Peace & Love Hostel
The consummate Paris party hostel (as the name would suggest), the Peace & Love Hostel is not for everyone, and it shows in the highly divided reviews found on TripAdvisor and elsewhere. It appears to be a love-or-hate feeling. Travelers looking to land friends or love interests and stay up into the night will appreciate this laid-back hostel, situated off the lively Saint-Martin Canal. If you're noise-averse and want a squeaky-clean experience, however, I'd choose elsewhere.
Location: 245 rue La Fayette, 10th arrondissement
Metro: Jaures, Louis Blanc, Stalingrad
Services and Amenities: Internet, full bar (open until 2 am), free sheets and pillows, no curfew or lockout
8. Woodstock Hostel
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Located just a stone's throw from Montmartre and within reasonable walking distance of central Paris, the Woodstock Hostel has gotten positive reviews for its low rates, helpful staff and opportunities to make social contacts with other travelers. However, scattered reports of uncleanliness and surly staff members make me think it might be best to reserve this one as a backup option. This hostel enforces a 2:00 am curfew.
Location: 48, rue Rodier, 9th arrondissement
Metro: Anvers
Services and Amenities: Free breakfast, internet access, kitchen access, luggage storage, bar open until 2:00 am.
9. Aloha Hostel
Claiming to be the "friendliest hostel in town", the Aloha hostel opened in 1989-- making it one of the oldest independent hostels in Paris. It's in a sleepy, relatively unknown part of southwest Paris, but within close reach of attractions including the Eiffel Tower. Travelers have given overall mediocre ratings to this hostel, making it a backup choice rather than a first one, in an ideal situation.
Location: 1, rue Borromée, 15th arrondissement
Metro: Volontaires
Services and Amenities: Free breakfast, kitchen access, drinks and other hostel-sponsored evening events
10. Caulaincourt Square Hostel
A no-frills option in a particularly picturesque corner of Montmartre, this hostel offers some of the cheapest rates around, but don't expect any extras.
Location: 2 Square Caulaincourt, 18th arrondissement
Metro: Lamarck-Caulaincourt
Services and Amenities: Free wi-fi access, bike rentals
