Welcome to the land of ancient temples, endless plains, and sunsets that make you question reality – Bagan! If you’re a traveler with a penchant for exploring Myanmar’s cultural treasures without burning through your kyats, you’ve landed in the right archaeological wonderland.
In this article, we’re your guide to the best hostels in Bagan, where you can lay your head amidst the pagodas without feeling like you’ve sacrificed your wallet at the temple’s altar.
Our favorite hostels in Bagan are:
- Ostello Bello Bagan Pool - best for female solo travelers
- Lux Pillow Hostel - best for backpackers
- Eternal Lodge - best for couples
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Ostello Bello Bagan Pool
2. Lux Pillow Hostel
3. Eternal Lodge
Traveling around Myanmar? We also have a guide on the best hostels in Yangon.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Bagan
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Bagan cost around $31 per night for a bed in a dorm. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com.
Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 p.m.), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 a.m.). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Must-try Local Dishes:
- Shan Noodles: Dive into a bowl of Shan noodles, a Burmese specialty. These rice noodles are typically served with a flavorful broth, fresh herbs, and your choice of meat or tofu. A must-try budget-friendly delight.
- Nangyi Thoke: Sample Nangyi Thoke, a Burmese salad made with thick, round rice noodles mixed with chicken, fish sauce, and an array of crunchy toppings. It’s a delightful explosion of textures and flavors.
- Mohinga: Savor Mohinga, Myanmar’s national dish and breakfast staple. This hearty fish soup with rice vermicelli is garnished with fresh herbs and crispy fritters for added crunch.
Must-try Local Drinks:
- Myanmar Beer: Quench your thirst with a cold bottle of Myanmar Beer, the country’s most popular brew. It’s a great way to cool down after a day of temple-hopping.
- Burmese Tea: Taste Burmese tea, which often comes sweetened with condensed milk and served in tiny cups. It’s a soothing and affordable option, perfect for recharging during your explorations.
- Local Fruit Juices: Enjoy the vibrant flavors of fresh fruit juices like papaya, mango, or passion fruit. Street vendors and local markets offer these refreshing beverages.
Budget-Savvy Strategies:
- E-Bike Exploration: Rent an e-bike to explore Bagan’s vast temple complex. It’s an affordable and eco-friendly way to discover the area at your own pace.
- Local Eateries: Opt for dining at local eateries and street food stalls to experience authentic flavors without breaking the bank. Try samosas or fried snacks from street vendors.
- Sunset Splendor: Instead of joining expensive sunset tours, venture out early and find a quiet spot among the temples to witness the magical sunset over the plains of Bagan.
Cultural Insights:
- Temple Etiquette: When entering temples, dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees. It’s a sign of respect for the local customs and religious traditions.
- Burmese Greetings: Greet locals with a warm “Mingalabar” (hello) and a smile. Burmese people appreciate friendly interactions, and a little effort with local greetings goes a long way.
Other Insights:
- Bagan’s Temple Count: Bagan boasts over 2,000 ancient temples and pagodas scattered across its plains. While you can’t visit them all, explore a mix of well-known and lesser-known gems for a diverse experience.
- Bagan Archaeological Zone Fee: Be prepared to pay an archaeological zone fee, which allows access to many temples. Keep your ticket handy as it may be checked at various sites.
- Hot Air Balloon Rides: Consider splurging on a hot air balloon ride over Bagan’s temples. While it’s not budget-friendly, it offers a breathtaking and unforgettable view of the area.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in Bagan are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Bagan.
- Ostello Bello Bagan Pool – best for female solo travelers
- Lux Pillow Hostel – best for backpackers
- Eternal Lodge – best for couples
These are our favorite hostels in Bagan. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.
1. Ostello Bello Bagan Pool
2. Lux Pillow Hostel
3. Eternal Lodge
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Lux Pillow Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ Female Solo Traveler: | Ostello Bello Bagan Pool |
| 🎒 for Backpacker: | Lux Pillow Hostel |
| 👩❤️👨 Couple Hostel: | Eternal Lodge |
| 👯 For Groups: | Eternal Lodge |
1. Ostello Bello Bagan Pool
Ostello Bello Bagan Pool is a great option for those wanting a comfortable stay in Bagan. It’s conveniently located a few minutes from Bagan’s historical zone and walking distance from the river.
This Bagan hostel is known for its low prices, clean facilities, and friendly staff. On top of that, travelers are treated to a swimming pool, bar, and relaxing area – perfect for taking in the stunning sunset views.
Dorms come equipped with private lockers, USB ports, and power sockets. Plus, the hostel has a travel desk for bus ticket arrangements and e-bike rentals. Are you also screaming ‘convenient’ as you wave your hands in the air or is it just me?
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Facilities & Amenities:
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Terrace
- Bar
- Travel desk for arranging bus tickets and e-bike rentals
- Staff available 24/7
- Common room with board games
- Free breakfast
Location: Within a few minutes drive from Bagan’s historical zone, a walking distance to the river with sunset views. Close to various temples and pagodas, including Shwesandaw Pagoda, Manuha Temple, Gubyaukgyi Temple, and Dhammayazika Pagoda.
The best choice in Bagan for
- Female solo travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Lux Pillow Hostel
Lux Pillow Hostel opened its doors in the summer of 2017, quickly becoming a favorite among budget travelers. It’s situated in the heart of Old Bagan, near the magnificent temples in the area.
Their rooms are air-conditioned (thank god) and their furniture and mattresses are brand-new and extra comfortable, ensuring a good night’s sleep.
The kitchen, garden, and balcony add to the overall tranquil atmosphere. Unfortunately, the hostel doesn’t offer towels or an extensive breakfast menu (a bit odd in Southeast Asia but not unheard of), but it more than makes up for that with its friendly service and great location.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Facilities & Amenities:
- Free pick-up from New Bagan
- Day trips and trekking trip bookings available
- Kitchen
- High-speed and reliable WiFi
- Green garden in front
- Beautiful second-floor balcony
- Free plum and tamarind juice offered
Location: In the heart of Old Bagan in a quiet area close to excellent restaurants offering Myanmar, Western, and vegetarian food at reasonable prices
A great choice for
- Backpackers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
3. Eternal Lodge
Eternal Lodge, located in the New Bagan district of Bagan, is a popular and charming hostel. With a welcoming atmosphere, excellent location, and a wide range of amenities, it truly stands out among others.
Travelers can enjoy the convenience of a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage. The rooms are comfortable and equipped with a seating area, flat-screen TV, and free WiFi.
In the morning, a continental breakfast is served and the staff is always available at the reception to help with any advice you may need.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Facilities & Amenities:
- 24-hour front desk
- Free toiletries
- Free WiFi
- Continental breakfast available
- Restaurant on-site
- Car, bus tickets, electric bike, and bicycle hire available
Location: In the New Bagan district of Bagan, close to major tourist attractions.
This is one of the best hostels in Bagan for
- Couples
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Best Hostels in Bagan for Solo Travelers?
We think that the best hostel in Bagan is Lux Pillow Hostel. It has great facilities and amenities, a good location and helpful staff.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
More Hostels worth a mention
At the moment, we think you are all set with the hostels we just shared with you. We always try to keep our guides super fresh and up to date. We might add more hostels worth mentioning here in the future if we feel that it could enrich your travel and hostel experience.
What about the cheapest hostels in Bagan?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Bagan.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Bagan
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Bagan best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Need an eSIM Card for Bagan?
Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here.
No more searching for mobile stores. Get your eSIM Card for now and enjoy it instantly after landing in your new destination.
Our Favorite Hostels in Bagan put on a map + sights
We’re listing all the three best Bagan hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.
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FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked question:
Any questions about hostels in Bagan?
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Flights to Bagan?
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
More handmade Guides for you
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Bagan and all of the best hostels in Bagan.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Luang Prabang, Laos
- best hostels in Vang Vieng, Laos
- best hostels in Vientiane, Laos
- best hostels in Pai, Thailand
- best hostels in Chiang Mai, Thailand
- best hostels in Chiang Rai, Thailand
- best hostels in Kathmandu, Nepal
- best hostels in Pokhara, Nepal
- best hostels in Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Best Hostels in Yangon
You can find all our new and updated articles for Best Hostels here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list, and more.
Over to you
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this Bagan guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
