{"id":146972,"date":"2018-11-07T11:27:28","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T16:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=146972"},"modified":"2025-05-25T10:29:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-25T14:29:49","slug":"best-hostels-nyc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/best-hostels-nyc\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Best Hostels in New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
New York City<\/a> may be the city that never sleeps, but it’s definitely hard to find a (cheap) place to sleep here. <\/p>\n Accommodation in NYC is not cheap \u2014 and it\u2019s often hard to find deals. <\/p>\n That\u2019s (in part) by design. <\/p>\n There used to be a lot of hostels in NYC, but the hotel lobby got the city to use an old law meant to block tenements and limit the number of people that could stay in a single room. This effectively shut down most of the hostels in town, except for a few that were grandfathered in. <\/p>\n Now you’re only going to find a few hostels left.<\/p>\n To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the hostels in New York City. If you don\u2019t want to read the longer list below, the following hostels are the best in each category:<\/p>\n Want the specifics of each hostel? Here\u2019s my comprehensive list of the best hostels in New York City:<\/p>\n Q4 Hotel at a glance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The Local NYC at a glance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n NY Moore at a glance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Chelsea International Hostel at a glance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HI NYC at a glance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The beds here have decent mattresses and the rooms are actually a pretty good size too. But the main selling points are the location and the breakfast (the waffles are amazing). <\/p>\n American Dream B&B at a glance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nap York\u2019s focus is on providing a peaceful environment for your best sleep ever, with noise machines to dampen sound, light-blocking dividers at every bed, starlit ceilings, and a 24\/7 quiet policy in sleeping areas. This is a great place to stay if you\u2019d like to be in the center of Manhattan but still have a quiet place to come back to get a good night\u2019s sleep. <\/p>\n Nap York at a glance<\/strong><\/p>\n Beds from $101 USD.<\/em> <\/p>\n After living in New York for so many years, I\u2019ve experienced a huge variety of accommodations there. There are a lot of awesome places to stay, but these have become my favorites because of their relatively low prices, stellar locations, and general cleanliness. Check them out and save your money for all the other things NYC has to offer!<\/p>\n For more in-depth tips on NYC, check out my 100+ page guidebook written for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel in the city that never sleeps. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on- and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Additionally, if you\u2019re wondering what part of town to stay in, here\u2019s my neighborhood guide to NYC!<\/a><\/p>\n Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?<\/strong> Need a Guide?<\/strong> Want More Information on NYC?<\/strong> New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but it’s definitely hard to find a (cheap) place to sleep here. Accommodation in NYC is not cheap \u2014 and it\u2019s often hard to find deals. That\u2019s (in part) by design. There used to be a lot of hostels in NYC, but the hotel lobby…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":268465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[745,3174,2008],"class_list":["post-146972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-america","tag-hostels","tag-nahostels","tag-nyc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n1. Q4 Hotel<\/a><\/h3>\n

\nQ4 Hotel is a recently renovated hotel\/hostel property with pretty basic rooms, but the beds are comfy and there’s plenty of light. The common room has a pool table and table tennis, and there’s a small kitchen for cooking. Located in Queens, this hostel is a great launching pad to exploring one of the best food neighborhoods in town! It’s a stone’s throw from the Queens Plaza station, where you can take the E line into Manhattan. It’s one of the more affordable options in town too.<\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\n2. The Local NYC<\/a><\/h3>\n

\nThis hostel is known for having one of the friendliest staffs in town. They really make it their mission to get people socializing, and the common area is regularly used for hosting events, screening movies, or showcasing artwork. I especially love the roof terrace overlooking NYC’s skyline and that they have a bar on-site with great cocktails (the bartenders are generous pourers). The rooms are clean and comfortable too. It’s a good choice for people who want to socialize.<\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\n3. NY Moore Hostel<\/a><\/h3>\n

\nLocated in the trendy, hipster neighborhood of East Williamsburg, this hostel has a central location as well as a host of nice amenities, including free street parking (which is rare in NYC). I also love how it’s covered in artwork and graffiti, which makes it extremely beautiful. The beds are average, but it’s a cozy hostel to stay at and the best choice for travelers who plan to spend a lot of time in Williamsburg (and Brooklyn at large).<\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\n4. Chelsea International Hostel<\/a><\/h3>\n

\nThis is one of the largest (and most centrally located!) hostels in town. One of NYC’s first, it has an outdoor courtyard, a dining area, and two kitchens. As an added bonus, all the dorms are single beds, so no top bunks here. The hostel has a bit of a bland look, and definitely feels like a no-frills choice, but there are lockers in the rooms and the location really can’t be beat for the price.<\/p>\n\n
5. HI New York City Hostel<\/a><\/h3>\n

\nThis is one of the biggest and most popular hostels in NYC. Located on the Upper West Side, there is a ton of space, an outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi, events and activities, and a huge kitchen. Lots of school groups and families stay here, too. It also hosts comedy, improv, and variety shows in the theater room. It’s the best hostel in town! <\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\n6. American Dream Bed and Breakfast<\/a><\/h3>\n

\nThis cute, family-owned hostel considers itself a bed and breakfast: all rooms are private, and breakfast is free (including the fabulous homemade waffles). Plus, it has a great location near the Empire State Building, Union Station, and the Flatiron Building. The staff is very responsive and helpful. <\/p>\n\n
7. Nap York Youth Hostel<\/a><\/h5>\n

\nThis new and stylish hostel is conveniently located in Midtown, near many museums and just a few blocks away from Central Park. The pod-style rooms and bunk beds offer privacy as well as their own charging stations, so you never have to fight over an outlet here. Every room also has its own en-suite bathroom, meaning you\u2019ll only be sharing with a maximum of six people (the biggest dorm room here). <\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\nGet the In-Depth Budget Guide to New York City!<\/span><\/h3>
<\/div>Book Your Trip to NYC: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nUse Skyscanner<\/a> to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!<\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nCheck out my resource page<\/a> for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too. <\/p>\n
\nNew York has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks<\/a>. They have expert guides and can get you behind the scenes at the city’s best attractions. They’re my go-to walking tour company!<\/p>\n
\nBe sure to visit my robust destination guide to NYC<\/a> for even more planning tips!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n