Bonjour and welcome to our collection of the absolute best hostels in France.
It may be surprising that although France is famous for world class destinations such as Paris, there are not too many outstanding hostels.
But we’re not saying there aren’t any. Oh yes, we’ve found all of the hostels worth knowing, for sure!
If anything, having less hostels to choose from makes your planning easier, right?
Are these really the top hostels in France?!
Oui oui!
The accommodations we share are perfect for Backpackers, solo-travellers, social butterfly’s that like to meet new people.
There truly are some gorgeous design hostels in this part of Europe. Only since 2017, hostels in France became better and better. Before, that was not a big thing here.
From now on you can enjoy epic roof top terraces in Paris, beach town hostels and surf hostels.
We are Hostelgeeks and we discover the world’s greatest hostels, including the best hostels in France.
At the end of this article you’ll spot a big hostel map which is really helpful for your planning. Maps are super useful!
List of Cities in France with great hostels
Let’s waste no more time and jump right in to this great French hostel collection.
Here are all the destinations we cover in this guide:
- Paris
- Lille
- Les Alpes
- Dol-de-Bretagne
- Strasbourg
- Marseille
- Cassis
- Nice
- Sète
- Bordeaux
- Soorts-Hossegor
- UPDATE: Lyon (with a 5 Star Hostel!)
Good to know: you’ll notice that almost all of the destinations have just one hostel recommendation.
This is because we couldn’t find another hostel worth mentioning that we would want to recommend to our friends and family.
Best Hostels in Paris
Paris is certainly a must-see-destination for many travellers.
The Eiffel Tower, the many coffee shops… but did you also know it’s a city home to some truly great hostels? They are:
Find our detailed guide to the 3 best hostels in Paris here.
Also, make sure you read our tips on 27 fun things to do in Paris.
1. Generator Paris
Our #1 recommendation in the city of lights is Generator Paris, with its fresh design, top location and awesome terrace views overlooking Paris.
It’s a great choice for solo travellers – head to the bar and ground floor cafe and strike up a conversation with someone new.
There’s also a games room, shared lounge and a continental breakfast served daily.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Les Piaules Hostel (Paris)
Les Piaules is a great hostel as it offers something for an array of traveller types including digital nomads, couples and female solo travellers.
Enjoy time up on the rooftop marvelling over iconic monuments as you sip your coffee. Or get cosy in the on-site bar with a local beer.
All of the rooms have a shared bathroom and bed linen and towels can be rented.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. St. Christopher’s Inn Gare Du Nord (Paris)
Considered the #1 hostel in Paris by many, St. Christopher’s Gare Du Nord has a lot to offer their guests:
- 3 in-house bars (yes, three!)
- 9th district location, 500m from train station
- Free gym
- 24 hour reception
- Continental breakfast w/ croissants
Prices start from 30€ so you really get a lot for a reasonable price.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Lille: Gastama Hostel (5 Star Hostel)
Lille’s Gastama Hostel is hip, stylish and full of recycled furniture.
It’s certainly inviting and deserves to be our only 5 Star Hostel in this part of France!
We love Gastama because of the…
- Bar and restaurant open to guests and locals
- Central location 10 mins from the main square of Lille
- Extensive room choices (inc. female dorms)
This is THE hostel for solo travellers, couples, friends, small groups.. you name it.
The in-house bar is also very popular among locals. Join in the different events and taste the numerous beers they offer here.
After Lille, you might want to add Ghent, Bruges and Brussels to your bucket list.
Read: Best hostels in Bruges, Belgium
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Full Review
Coolest Hostels in Les Alpes: The People Hostel – Les 2 Alpes
Get ready for a brand-spanking-new hostel with 362 bed on offer. Woah, The People Hostel – Les 2 Alpes is huge!
Yet the consistently high rating shows that although a big place; it does not lack that personal touch from staff and an inclusive social atmosphere.
All of the 43 dorms come with an en-suite and a lockable safe accessed by your very own wristband. Snazzy.
As for amenities, get excited for a big restaurant, bar, sunny terrace and large chill-out area with deep couches.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Dol-de-Bretagne: Edd Hostel
If visiting the fantastic Mont-Saint-Michel is on your radar, you couldn’t be better located than at Edd Hostel.
It’s the closest hostel and just 900 meters from the Main Street!
Solo female travellers have a wonderful 6-bed female dorm option here. It’s private, clean, safe and comfortable.
Best way to explore the region is by car. Seriously, a road trip in this area is a life-time adventure!
Make it your home base and go out there.
Note: the maximum period of stay is 5 days.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Strasbourg: Ciarus
Ciarus is more like a hotel than a hostel when it comes to cleanliness and order.
For that reason, it might not be the best choice for solo travellers looking to meet people.
Facilities include a self-service restaurant and games room. In the dorms you’ll find a complimentary towel and toiletries in the bathrooms.
Ciarus is located in the centre of the city, close by to all the main interests of Strasbourg.
In Strasbourg, we love the old town area and the neighborhood of “La Petite France”.
Get list here and enjoy the non-touristy city! Here is a guide on things to do in Strasbourg.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Marseille: Vertigo Vieux-Port
Vertigo Vieux-Port is a modernised Marseillean house, with each room carefully designed by a local artist according to the unique character of the space.
Staff are at hand 24/7 and there is a bunch of free amenities including breakfast and fully-equipped kitchen with spices.
Both the shared rooms and common areas are spacious and great places to get the conversation rolling.
For even more options in this beautiful city, have a look at our best hostels in Marseille guide.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Cassis: Cassis Hostel
Opt for Cassis Hostel if you like the sound of
- Relaxing in an outdoor pool
- Listening to cicadas in the garden
- Enjoying a free breakfast on the terrace
Inside there is a large living room with books, plus a fully-fitted kitchen at your disposal.
From here you can enjoy sea views and a 5-minute walk to the port of Cassis.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Great Hostels in Nice
Luckily for you, the French Riviera has not 1 but 3 wonderful hostels in store for you.
Read our full guide to the 3 best hostels in Nice here.
1. La Maïoun Guesthouse (Nice)
This ancient temple from 1855 now boasts modern comforts in a great city spot just 500m from the beach.
It’s a basic design that female solo travellers and backpackers will appreciate. The free tea and coffee and balcony with garden views are a real highlight.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Hôtel Ozz by Happyculture (Nice)
If you prefer an artsy music scene that’s Instagram friendly, opt for Hôtel Ozz by Happyculture.
There’s a pretty cool rooftop suite for cute couples, and cosy dorms of 3-6 people with ready-made beds and large windows.
It’s a short walk to the Promenade des Anglais and train access is easy from here.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Villa Saint Exupery Beach Hostel (Nice)
Looking for fun, social vibes?
Villa Saint is the place to be if you enjoy organised activities, local tours and a drink or two to end the day.
Alongside the bar, there is a 24/7 gym and sauna on-site. Cool!
Rooms vary in size over shared dorm and private options.
Just be aware that you may think you’ve booked a hotel room by accident once you see the amenities.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Bordeaux: Central Hostel Bordeaux Center
Sorry to point out the obvious, but Central Hostel Bordeaux Center is, well, central!
That means 20-minutes from the train station and just two steps from the longest pedestrian street in Europe.
What makes this hostel special is the custom made dorm beds.
Enjoy a luxury mattress, night light, individual storage, USB plug and privacy blind.
There will be zero rocking and creaking in these bunk beds.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Sète: Georges Hostel & Cafe
Let’s kick off this list in South France. In a tiny village, called “French Venice”, but actually named Sète. We love it here!
Our one and only hostel recommendation in Sète, Georges Hostel & Cafe, is great for all traveller types from backpackers to families.
The coffee shop is open to guests and locals alike – a great place to exchange stories and culture.
There’s high-speed wifi and an intimacy in the dorm rooms that’s worthy of a private room (almost!).
It’s also the location that caught our attention. The main train station is 10-minutes away and it’s just a few steps to the famous cover market full of delicious local food.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Soorts-Hossegor: Jo&Joe
Here we have a cool hostel that has a unique partnership with Quiksilver & Roxy surf school. Stay here and enjoy 10% off surf lessons!
Dorm beds come with individual lamps, USB port and linen. We highly recommend this hostel for surfing enthusiasts and backpackers.
Some of the dorms come with double beds – perfect for sociable couples!
There’s also a bar, bikes for rent and a Happy House common area that includes a living room and kitchen space.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Lyon: Away Hostel & Coffee Shop
Brand new on the block is the wonderful 5 star Away Hostel & Coffee Shop.
This beautiful chic hostel is ideal for sociable travellers that like to meet people by day, and enjoy a private rest by night.
Just look at those amazing dorms and hand-crafted beds!
Alongside an onsite coffee shop, there is also a bar (with nightly Happy Hour) and super fun activities for a range of traveller types.
From yoga and brunch, to movie nights and free walking yours. Just speak to friendly staff and find out what’s going on during your stay.
Read: 8 cool things to do in Lyon, France
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Full Review
All Hostels on a Map
Now you have all the information you need to decide on where to stay in France in style and on a budget.
Why not plan an epic road trip designed to visit your favorite hostels in this list?
On the map below you find all mentioned hostels to make your planning even easier. We’ve marked them as follows:
5 Star Hostels: Black with White Star
Stunning Design Hostels: Blue
Other TOP recommendations: Orange
(You can open the sidebar in the map to activate and deactivate groups. Open the map here.)
Discounts & Promo Codes
Do you fancy a discount? C’mon, who doesn’t?!
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive exclusive promo codes we only share via email.
This list of the best Backpacker and Luxury Hostels, the 5 Star Hostels, will always stay up to date.
We will keep adding all the greatest budget accommodations. Whether it is a Design Hostel, Boutique Hostel, Eco or Green Hostel – we will have a close look on these backpacker accommodations.
More Guides for your Europe Trip
Besides the coolest hostels in France, we visited more great backpacker hostels in Europe.
Make sure you read these guides. You will safe money and you will stay in safe, clean and fun hostels.
- best hostels in Spain + complete itinerary
- the best hostels in Italy (with a map for planning)
- best hostels in Switzerland (expensive, but with this guide you save money)
Find all our hostel guides here.
Other 5 Star Hostels
Besides the listed accommodation, we also put together the best hostels in the world; the 5 Star Hostels.
We stayed in a former winery in Santorini, in a former jail-now 5 Star Hostel and many more. And we share all of those unique budget accommodations with you.
We unbox the hostels and check all their pros and cons. For each destination, there can be only 1 hostel be chosen to be a 5 Star-Awarded Hostel.
This is your shortcut to your hostel-picks, saving you lots of time in your accommodation research.
And for sure, it gives you the security of a top-hostel choice without any bad surprises.
Update: We now cover as well curated 3-best hostels guide to cities with no 5 Star Hostels such as Oslo, Seoul and Sydney.
Any questions?
Please please leave us a comment. We would be thrilled to help you. With your question you also help us to improve this article.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
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Your Smart Packing List
It is time to see what you should pack in your backpack or suitcase. Make sure you always pick a quality hostel, it totally reduces the things you need to pack. Here is our ultimate hostel packing list. It features 23 items you should really throw in your backpack.
The most important things to pack are:- earplugs
- eye mask
- key chain flashlight
- the right backpack, the Nomatic (our review of Nomatic here) or Lowe Alpine Lightflite 45 Pack
- packing cubes
- generic padlock (fitting all locker types)
- quick-dry travel towel
- universal power adapter
- travel-sized toiletries
