Whenever you visit a new country, the charm of the smaller towns and countryside can vastly differ from the capital cities. Naturally, Sri Lanka is no exception. Today, we will take a closer look at Ella, a small town known for its unique flora, wildlife and cool climate.
Because of its relative elevation, this town has pleasant weather and provides excellent conditions for you to take a stroll and explore. Here are the best hostels in Ella, Sri Lanka.
Our favorite hostels in Ella are:
- Hangover Hostels Ella - best for solo travelers
- Bunk Station - best for female solo travelers
- Noname Hostel And Cafe - best for social butterflies
- Extra: Tomorrowland - best for party lovers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Hangover Hostels Ella
2. Bunk Station
3. Noname Hostel And Cafe
If you’re planning on backpacking throughout Sri Lanka, we have other guides that can come in handy, like our best hostels in Sri Lanka guide or the one on the best hostels in Colombo.
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 Ella
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Ella cost $3 – $13 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 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.
🎁 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 Ella are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Ella.
- Hangover Hostels Ella – best for solo travelers
- Bunk Station – best for female solo travelers
- Noname Hostel And Cafe – best for social butterflies
- Extra: Tomorrowland - best for party lovers
These are our favorite hostels in Ella. 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. Hangover Hostels Ella
2. Bunk Station
3. Noname Hostel And Cafe
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🌄For Best views: | Tomorrowland |
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Hangover Hostels Ella |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Tomorrowland |
| 🙎♀️ Female Solo Traveler: | Bunk Station |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Noname Hostel And Cafe |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Down Town Hostel Ella |
1. Hangover Hostels Ella
We are presenting one of the most iconic hostel chain in Sri Lanka: Hangover Hostels Ella! What we love most about their hostels is that they are always strategically placed in a location that is easy to find and near the city center.
The lovely surrounding greenery and their large terrace provide you with a sense of tranquility and wonder. This hostel is very comfortable, with a modern touch, and it is safe.
Their staff is incredibly accommodating and will happily provide you with anything you need.
The best choice in Ella for
- Solo Travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Bunk Station
Bunk Station opened its doors only a few years ago and quickly became a highly sought-after destination for travelers – so including it in our list of the best hostels in Ella was a must!
It provides an excellent place for backpackers to relax, enjoy, meet new people, and indulge in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The location is superb – only minutes from the key attractions in the city.
Take your pick between a mixed dormitory or a female-only dormitory room. All of them are equipped with modern bathrooms and hot water around the clock.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Getting a good night’s sleep is always important, whether you are on holiday or at home, so this hostel takes pride in providing some excellent mattresses for you to rest and get the proper sleep you need.
Whether you need a quiet nook to relax and read a book or a place to socialize and meet travelers from other countries, play board games, and have fun, this hostel can offer you everything you need for a perfect stay!
A great choice for
- Female solo travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. Noname Hostel And Cafe
Gently accommodating all your needs, Noname Hostel And Cafe goes out of its way to make your stay as nice as possible. They offer a vegetarian option for breakfast and many other amenities that you can enjoy while you are staying there.
Their rooms are fully equipped with a microwave, a kettle, a TV with satellite channels, a desk, a hairdryer, and a shower. Additionally, they include a comfortable sitting area too. There is a common kitchen for you to use, as well as evening entertainment for those who want to keep taking in the magic in the air.
The property is centrally located, allowing you to walk to the nearest attractions. Also, the property has a view of gardens, a shared lounge, and a bar. Sounds incredible, doesn’t it?
This is one of the best hostels in Ella for
- Social butterflies
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
4. Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland‘s Alpine Villa-style accommodation in Ella offers more than a place to sleep. With a restaurant, bar, shared lounge, and garden, it’s a destination in itself.
Guests can enjoy mountain and forest views while staying in comfortable, well-equipped rooms with private bathrooms and bed linen.
Backpackers, budget travelers, and digital nomads will all find themselves right at home in this Ella Hostel.
The hostel is conveniently located near popular attractions like the Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adams Peak, Angry Point, and Kombukara waterfall. Guests can also relax in the Beer Garden, complete with a fire pit and beer and smoke till late.
This is one of the best Ella hostel for:
- Party Lovers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Best Hostels in Ella for Solo Travelers?
We think that the best hostel in Ella is Hangover Hostels Ella. It has awesome facilities and amenities, with a great and friendly staff that will make you feel right at home.
The overall natural environment is stunning, and since its part of a hostel chain, you know you will be in good professional hands.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Party Hostels in Ella
The best party hostel in Ella is Tomorrowland. It is known for its party atmosphere and occasional rave. Even if you happen to come here during the low season, the owner will be more than happy to help you out in hosting your own small gatherings.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
More Hostels worth a mention
Down Town Hostel Ella
Down Town Hostel Ella is the perfect spot for travelers looking for central accommodation with great facilities and a homely atmosphere. Boasting a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, a shared kitchen, free WiFi, and rooms with a balcony, it’s the ideal place to relax after a long day of exploring.
Moreover, travelers can start the morning with a delicious American or Asian breakfast, included in the price. Sheehan, the host, and his family go above and beyond to give their guests a memorable experience.
They offer helpful tips on which attractions to visit and host experiences like cooking classes for those wanting to learn more about the local cuisine.
Check prices at: Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
What about the cheapest hostels in Ella?
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 Ella.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Ella
- 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 Ella 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 Ella?
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 Ella put on a map + sights
We’re listing all the three best Ella hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Ella as well:
Once you arrive in the town and get settled, go and take a look at the biggest attraction in Ella: the Nine Arch Bridge. It will take you about an hour to tour it, and you will love what you see. The bridge is surrounded by gorgeous greenery and incredible scenery, so bringing a camera is an absolute must.
Ravana Zipline: This is a long trail, and it goes extremely fast, so you will find your heart racing immediately upon taking off. However, during the zip line, you get to enjoy some majestic views, so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
Ella has many waterfalls: the ones we’ll mention here that we think are worth checking out include Ravana Falls and Diyaluma Falls. The tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka is the Bambarakanda, a short drive from Ella.
One of the most popular tea factories is Halpewatte Tea Factory, which is definitely worth a visit. Talk to the staff at your accommodation if you want to check this factory out, and let them help you book a tour.
Any questions about hostels in Ella? 🤔
Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked question:
Any questions about hostels in Ella?
🤔Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Flights to Ella?
Ella does not have an airport of its own, the nearest airport is the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, which is approximately 87 kilometers away. As always, you will arrive in Colombo anyway. You can take either a train or a bus to get to Ella.
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 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 hostels in Kandy
- best hostels in Colombo
- best hostels in Hikkaduwa
- best hostels in Mirissa
- best hostels in Weligama
- 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 Ella 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
