3 Best Hostels in Gothenburg – Relaxing Sauna and Unique Fish Church

Gothenburg is part of the off-the-beaten-track gems of Sweden. 

This waterfront city is laid-back but has as much intercultural history and charm as its big sister capital. Travelers can visit Gothenburg’s granite archipelago and sample local delicacies at the fish and shellfish market (also nicknamed the ‘fish church’) or check out the many historical buildings in the area, such as the Masthugg Church – an actual church this time.

Although less frequent, the city is still expensive, so we’ve listed some budget tips for your trip, in addition to the best hostels in Gothenburg, below.

Your Shortcut:

1. Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel - best for Female Solo Travelers
2. Backpackers Göteborg - best for Backpackers
3. Slottsskogens Youth Hostel - best for Solo Travelers

Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.

Here’s a little fact before you refer to the city out loud: Gothenburg isn’t called Gothenburg in Swedish.

To add to the confusion of Scandinavian pronunciation – especially for us mere mortals that do not hold any Viking blood – the city is actually named ‘Göteborg.’ This is pronounced as ‘Yaw-Ta-Bore(g)’ with the g being semi-silent.

Chances are that you might be coming from Stockholm if you plan on visiting Gothenburg, so check out our guide on the Best hostels in Stockholm if you need help!

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 we cover in this article?

• Introduction
• 3 best hostels in detail
  • #1 Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel
  • #2 Backpackers Göteborg
  • #3 Slottsskogens Youth Hostel
• cheapest hostels in Gothenburg
• best hostels in Gothenburg for solo traveler
• discounts and promo codes
• How to book?
• All hostel and sights on a map
• Flights

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Gothenburg

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Gothenburg cost €23 – €40 per night for a bed in a dorm. The average price for a private room is around €105. 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.

How to get around: Some buses in Gothenburg run till 2:30 am, with weekend buses running even later, so we recommend skipping taxis if possible as they are much more expensive. Alternatively, if it’s not snowing, the city is very walkable.

Something to keep in mind: It’s common for hostels in Gothenburg and Sweden to charge for renting bed linen, so consider bringing your own if you don’t want to rent any.

Budget Tip: If you want to save money during your trip to Gothenburg, consider opting for lunch buffets instead of regular meals. They are popular with locals because they are cheaper and still delicious!

Also, avoid eating in Avenyn and Haga; their popularity with tourists translates to higher prices in restaurants.

As for having breakfast in hostels in Gothenburg, it is often not worth it as they are quite expensive and rarely included in the price.

You’ll also be happy to note that water is free for everyone in Sweden, so you won’t need to pay for it in restaurants and bars.

Budget Tip for party-lovers: Alcohol consumers looking for budget-friendly options in Gothenburg should try to stick to beer or buy their drinks at the government-run Systembolaget (a government-owned chain of liquor stores that sells alcoholic beverages up to 50% cheaper).

Some Gothenburg hostels also offer discounted drinks for their guests.

Toilets: To simplify complications, Sweden has kissed most gender-toilets goodbye and opted for unisex-style restrooms. As such, you’ll mostly find shared toiled within the majority of establishments you visit, from restaurants to bars and airport lounges.

Expect one single door for everyone, even in most Gothenburg hostels.

Whether you think it’s a good, bad, or lukewarm idea, we thought we’d give you a heads-up.

Sustainability: This city is a sustainability leader! As such, most hostels in Gothenburg are eco-certified. Sustainability is part of everyday life here, and they even plan on developing a zero-emission transport zone, something we can definitely get behind.

🎁 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 Gothenburg are …

Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Gothenburg.

1. Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel – best for Female Solo Travelers
2. Backpackers Göteborg – best for Backpackers
3. Slottsskogens Youth Hostel – best for Solo Travelers

These are our favorite hostels in Gothenburg. 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.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler:	Slottsskogens Youth Hostel
🙎‍♀️Female Solo Traveler:	Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel:	Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel
🎒 for Backpacker	Backpackers Göteborg
🧘 Cozy Hostel:	Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel

1. Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel

Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel is one of the best hostels in Gothenburg and our favorite pick from the lot. We think you’ll especially like it if you prefer a more laid-back atmosphere, far from the sound of trickling beer and football cheers. 

First, let’s talk about the beds: they provide you with all the privacy you’d need and act more like cozy cocoons thanks to their curtain and private lights.

Second, let’s talk about diversity: although this isn’t a party hostel, it is still social. There are private rooms available, which guarantee a broader type of traveler you can expect to meet, from younger adults to older visitors, solo travelers to families.

On-site, you’ll find a guest kitchen you can use from 6 am to 10 pm and a shared lounge area for socializing (or book-reading, you do you). 

Breakfast is at an additional cost and can be enjoyed in their restaurant or – if the weather permits it or if you’re crazy enough to endure cold temperatures – on their balcony.  

Location: Central hostel in Gothenburg, in historic and green Linnéstaden. It’s very close to the park and botanical gardens, on the edge of the university district, which guarantees diverse options of nearby bars, restaurants, and pubs to pick from. There are a couple of walkable trams and bus stops nearby, which are well-connected to the rest of the city.

This is one of the best hostels in Gothenburg for:

• Female Solo Travelers
• Older Travelers
• Families

Book Linnéplatsens Hotel & Hostel here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

2. Backpackers Göteborg

A particularity of this hostel in Gothenburg is the presence of a sauna on-site that is free of charge for guests every day from 4 pm to 7 pm. This will come in handy if you’re not used to cold Swedish weather and find yourself slowly turning majestic blue as the sun sets.

Following the city’s dedication to sustainability, Backpackers Göteborg prides itself on its eco-friendly management and facilities. 

The overall atmosphere is quite social as staff often organizes events like walking tours, on-site movie screenings, quiz nights, karaoke, bar hopping tours, and even more active events like football matches in Gothenburg’s park, Slottsskogen.

Your wallet will be glad to know these are all free, and you’ll only have to pay for the food or drink you consume.

Location: In Linnéstaden, one of Gothenburg’s most attractive neighborhoods. The Olivedalsgatan Tram Stop is a 5-minute walk away from Gothenburg’s hostel. A wide variety of cafes, restaurants, and boutiques are nearby as well as The Museum of Natural History.

This is one of the best hostels in Gothenburg for:

• Backpackers

Book Backpackers Göteborg here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

3. Slottsskogens Youth Hostel

Slottsskogens Youth Hostel is eco-friendly on a famous large street in Linnéstaden, but thankfully, rooms remain quiet thanks to effective soundproofing. 

This hostel consists of a fully equipped kitchen where travelers can cook their meals and a lounge where they can partake in board games or pool and mini-golf tournaments. 

If you’re looking for accommodation that offers many different activities, this is probably one of the best hostels in Gothenburg you could pick. This is because they organize a lot of social events almost every day. 

In fact, this is the sister hostel of the one we mentioned above, and both are located within minutes of each other and share some of their facilities – yes, like the sauna. The social events are also shared since guests from both hostels are welcome to join each time.

Book Slottsskogens Youth Hostel here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

The main difference in this hostel is that it offers private single-bed rooms, making it popular with solo travelers who want a social hostel atmosphere but prefer the peace and quiet of a private room.

If you have the chance to sleep here, we recommend checking out the breakfast offered at the on-site café: although it is expensive, it’s buffet-style with a lot of delicious organic options!

Location: Also in the Linnéstaden district, which is home to the main hostel scene since it’s well-connected to the rest of Gothenburg and has plenty of budget-friendly restaurants, pubs, and bars.

This is one of the best hostels in Gothenburg for:

• Solo Travelers

Book Slottsskogens Youth Hostel here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Best Hostels in Gothenburg for Solo Travelers? 

The best hostel in Gothenburg for solo travelers is Slottsskogens Youth Hostel, thanks to the diversity of social activities it organizes, which allows for plenty of socializing opportunities. 

We also like it because sometimes, people travel alone because they like being alone from time to time, so this hostel’s private rooms might also be what you’re looking for. We think it has the perfect balance of socialization and private time.

Book Slottsskogens Youth Hostel here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

What about the cheapest hostels in Gothenburg?

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 Gothenburg.

1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Gothenburg
2. add your dates
3. 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. There are even special discount codes that we only share in our 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 Gothenburg 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 and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app

Download the Hostelworld App here

Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!

Our Favorite Hostels in Gothenburg put on a map + sights

Organizing a trip with a map gives you the flexibility of a free schedule if you don’t like day-to-day planning while still equipping you with the knowledge of what you’d possibly like to do and see in a city – in the palm of your hand. 

To help you get started, we’re listing all the three best Gothenburg hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them. We also added a few notable landmarks and attractions we think you should check out.

FAQs

Here we share with you the most asked question:

Flights to Gothenburg?

We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.

More handmade Guides for you

So this was your answer to where to stay in Gothenburg.

Here is another hostel guide if you’re planning on staying in Stockholm as well:

• Best Hostels in Stockholm
• Coolest party hostels in Stockholm

We did the leg work for you and brought you more hostel guides to destinations outside of Sweden:

• best hostels in Oslo, Norway
• best hostels in Denmark
• best hostels in Copenhagen + coolest party hostels in Copenhagen
• best hostels in Aarhus, Denmark
• best hostels in Reykjavik – part of the best hostels in Iceland guide
• best hostels in Helsinki, Finland
• best hostels in Tallinn, Estonia + coolest party hostels in Tallinn
• best hostels in Vilnius, Lithuania
• best hostels in Sweden

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 Gothenburg 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