Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is a city of bustling life, full of architectural marvels and cultural delights. Colonial buildings and modern high-rise towers stand side-by-side, offering a unique mix of the past and present.
Temples, lush gardens, and sprawling markets make up part of the city, with plenty of hidden gems found in narrow streets and alleys.
With so much to explore, you’ll need a good base to call home, which is why we’ve put together our top 3 best hostels in Colombo.
Our favorite hostels in Colombo are:
- Colombo Beach Hostel - best for solo travelers
- Clock Inn Dehiwala - best for couples and female solo travelers
- Seconds Hostels - best for backpackers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Colombo Beach Hostel
2. Clock Inn Dehiwala
3. Seconds Hostels
Whether you’re backpacking Sri Lanka, solo traveling, or with your significant other, you’ll find your perfect Colombo hostel fit here. We also have a guide on the best hostels in Sri Lanka and other cities in the country like Mirissa and Kandy.
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
What do we cover in this article?
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Colombo
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Colombo cost $6 – $13 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $31 per night. 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 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). 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.
Transportation: The best way to get around is by hopping on one of the many tuk-tuks, although Uber is an option, too, albeit a more expensive one.
For longer distances, buses and trains are the way to go. Train rides are incredibly scenic, with three classes and exclusive intercity trains available. These offer a faster and smoother journey, with fewer stops, although their schedule is a bit more irregular.
Safety: We recommend checking out the following resources if you want to stay up to date: Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 Foreigners | Expats | Digital Nomads.
🎁 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 Colombo are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Colombo.
- Colombo Beach Hostel – best for solo travelers
- Clock Inn Dehiwala – best for couples and female solo travelers
- Seconds Hostels – best for backpackers
These are our favorite hostels in Colombo. 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. Colombo Beach Hostel
2. Clock Inn Dehiwala
3. Seconds Hostels
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Colombo Beach Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ Female Solo Traveler: | Clock Inn Dehiwala |
| 🎒 for Backpacker: | Seconds Hostels |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Colombo Beach Hostel |
| 👩❤️👨 Couple Hostel: | Clock Inn Dehiwala |
1. Colombo Beach Hostel
Colombo Beach Hostel is a great pick for solo travelers.
This Colombo hostel has the following facilities:
- A terrace
- A simply shared kitchen
- A shared lounge (with hammocks)
- A patio/garden
- An indoor common dining area
This hostel offers all the amenities you need for the perfect tropical getaway. Fans, air-conditioning, and private rooms with ensuite bathrooms are all provided, as well as lockers for storing your belongings.
The staff is friendly and helpful, and the rooftop is a great place to relax and enjoy the views. Moreover, the accommodation is conveniently located close to the beach.
Location: just 30m from the Colombo fort and a couple of minutes away from the beach. The beautiful Mount Lavinia Beach is only 500 m away. Moreover, the hostel is also near several cafes and shops.
The best choice in Colombo for
- Solo Travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Clock Inn Dehiwala
Clock Inn Dehiwala is an excellent pick for female solo travelers and couples.
On-site, you’ll find:
- A garden
- A lounge
- 24/7 Reception
- A shared kitchen
This Colombo hostel is designed to provide plenty of airy spaces throughout its property.
Travelers can choose from several Female and Mixed Dorm Rooms, each with 4 to 12 beds; all rooms include shared bathrooms with hot showers, air conditioning, private lockers, and free Wi-Fi.
The hostel provides King Size Double Beds and private bathrooms for private rooms.Clock Inn Dehiwala is known for its cleanliness, spaciousness, and great atmosphere.
The breakfast is fresh and delicious, the staff friendly and helpful, and the showers sparkling clean. Guests also have access to a workstation with free internet and other entertainment facilities.
Location: situated in Dehiwala, just a stone’s throw away from the famous Mount Lavinia beaches and nightlife. The city center of Colombo is also just 20 minutes away.
A great choice for
- Female solo travelers
- Couples
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. Seconds Hostels
Seconds Hostels is our top Colombo hostel pick for backpackers.
Here, you’ll find:
- A garden
- A shared lounge
- A terrace
- A bar and restaurant (with vegetarian and gluten-free options)
- A shared kitchen
- A jacuzzi pool
Each room is outfitted with a shared restroom featuring a bidet, with some rooms featuring a balcony and others offering pool views as well. Breakfast is served daily and can be à la carte, American or Asian.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
This place boasts artisan homegrown coffees and teas and provides a chill vibe.
The hosts, Seyan and Yanise, are lovely and are always ready to go the extra mile to make your stay extra comfortable. They also host various community evenings, which are great for chilling and getting to know other travelers.
The pool is also a great bonus during the summer days!
Location: in an ideal spot, this place offers easy access to supermarkets, with a Tuk ride to Colombo taking only 15-20 minutes
This is one of the best hostels in Colombo for
- Backpackers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Best Hostels in Colombo for Solo Travelers?
We think that the best hostel in Colombo is Colombo Beach Hostel. It has awesome facilities and super-friendly staff to ensure a great stay. They will also help you out in case you run into any issues during your trip.
Their location is also great which will make it easy for you to explore everything the city has to offer.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | 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 a mention here in the future if we feel that it could enrich your travel and hostel experience.
What about the cheapest hostels in Colombo?
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 Colombo.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Colombo
- 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 Colombo 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 Colombo?
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 Colombo put on a map + sights
We’re listing all the three best Colombo hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.
Any questions about hostels in Colombo? 🤔
Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked question:
What are the best hostels in Colombo?
The best hostels in Colombo are:
- Colombo Beach Hostel – best for solo travelers
- Clock Inn Dehiwala – best for couples and female solo travelers
- Seconds Hostels – best for backpackers
What is the best hostel in Colombo for solo travelers?
The best hostel in Colombo for solo travelers is:
Colombo Beach Hostel
How much does it cost to stay at a hostel in Colombo?
Hostels in Colombo cost $6 - $13 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $31 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on the season and holidays.
Any questions about hostels in Colombo?
🤔Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Flights to Colombo?
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
We have a dedicated guide to the best hostels in Sri Lanka that should come in handy if you’re planning on traveling throughout the country.
And here are all our Sri Lanka Guides:
- Best hostels in Mirissa
- Best hostels in Ella
- Best hostels in Weligama
- Best hostels in Kandy
- Best hostels in Hikkaduwa
- Best things to do in Kandy
- SpinDrift Hostel in Weligama – a Hostel Haven
- 13 reasons to Visit East Coast of Sri Lanka
- Yoga Retreats in Sri Lanka
- Best surf hostels in Sri Lanka
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 Colombo 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
