Are you eager and ready to discover the best hostels in Sofia? So are we! Well not quite, because we’ve already done our part by collecting the absolute very hostels Sofia has to offer so you don’t have to. All that’s left for you to do is scroll through this guide at you leisure and find the hostel suited to you.
As the capital of the Balkan nation of Bulgaria, Sofia has lots to offer the adventurous traveller. Make sure you check out our map which is full of places to explore and marvel at.
Planning to travel around Bulgaria? We have a detailed guide to the best hostels in Bulgaria.
Your shortcut:
- Hostel Mostel – perfect for couples
- Ivory Tower Hostel – ideal for backpackers
- Vintage Central Hostel – top pick for solo travellers
You can compare all prices of these hostels on Hostelz to save some money.
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Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Overall, the hostels here are quiet, cosy and extremely well located. You definitely won’t spend a fortune and you can look forward to the usual comforts plus some added extras.
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- best hostels in Sofia for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Sofia
- hostel to be aware of
- more hostels worth a mention
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- FAQ
- Flights
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Sofia
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Sofia cost 7€ – 12€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 18€ up to 35€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). 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 Sofia
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Sofia.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Vintage Central Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Ivory Tower Hostel |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Hostel 123 |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | Hostel Mostel |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | Hostel Mostel |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | 5 Vintage Guest House |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | Ivory Tower Hostel |
1. Hostel Mostel
The cosy Hostel Mostel is a top choice if you’re looking for affordable private rooms and a relaxed atmosphere. There is a mix of shared (8-bed mixed dorm) and private rooms available here, though we recommend couples to opt for this hostel because of the lovely double rooms.
Other private room types include single, triple, quad and a four bedroom apartment which sleeps eight – ideal for groups and families.
“For artistic travelers who want make a performance at the hostel we offer a free night stay!”
It’s enticing straight away – we know there are so many travelling artists amongst you for sure!
And the freebies don’t stop there. Stay at Mostel and you’ll enjoy:
- FREE all-you-can-eat breakfast incl. WAFFLES!
- FREE vegetarian dinner & beer in the evening
- FREE Wifi (unlimited high-speed)
- FREE use of modern kitchen
No doubt the pool table will keep you and your travelling buddies entertained for hours, too!
When you need to take a load off, head to the comfy, spacious common area to relax and get a conversation going. From here the center of Sofia is a 5-minute walk, so you’ll easily find the main attractions and explore without getting too lost.
To top it off there is no curfew or lockout, so you’re free to enjoy the nightlife without having to watch the time.
This is one of the best hostels in Sofia for
- Couples
- Older travellers
- Groups
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
2. Ivory Tower Hostel
Ivory Tower Hostel is definitely a go-to if you’re a backpacker that enjoys a quiet, intimate hostel. To help with keeping the atmosphere cosy and not overcrowded, this property offers 4 rooms, one with three beds and three with four beds.
Just to clarify, there are only shared dorms here. And the best bit? Instead of bunkbeds everyone gets their own single bed!
The furniture and overall design is minimalist, allowing for more space for your belongings and so that:
“The rooms have more space to be filled by the personalities of our guests!”
Bonus: Pay a few extra coins and you can have a breakfast before you head out and explore.
Reception is open 24/7 so checking in is easier and you’ll have that added sense of security.
Luckily for you if you stay here you’ll be right above a pizzeria. That’s dinner sorted. The onsite kitchen and living area provide an opportunity to say hello to new faces and share food or a drink.
In just a few minutes by foot you can reach Sofia central and all of the must-see attractions of the city. Easy.
This is one of the best hostels in Sofia for
- Backpackers
- Female solo travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Vintage Central Hostel
The newly opened Vintage Central Hostel wins top place for design, despite being third place in this guide.
Gorgeously warm and full to the brim with vintage style, we love the vibe here, especially in the common area.
Grab your favourite drink from the mini bar and plonk yourself down on one of the retro arm chairs. Let out a big sigh of relief and reeeelax. The hostel works closely with awesome local guides, offering a free city/history tour for guests every day! Make sure you have a chat with the friendly staff as they can set you up with plenty more interesting activities whilst you’re in town.
What room types are on offer here?
- 4-bed mixed dorm
- Standard twin (shared bathroom)
- Deluxe 4-bed private (shared bathroom)
Once again, there are no bunkbeds in the dorms here, woohoo!
Breakfast is not included but it is possible to order if you don’t mind spending a few extra coins. An absolute top reason to stay here would be for the location. Right in the city centre area next to Serdika metro station, which offers direct access to the airport and main attractions within a few hundred metres. Last but not least, reception is open 24/7 and there is no curfew.
This is one of the best hostels in Sofia for
- Solo travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Sofia for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Sofia for solo-travellers?
Well, we’d stick with our #3 choice and say Vintage Central Hostel is the one. They help settle you in with a free city/history tour, and the mini bar and lounge are ideal for hanging out with new friends.
As you’ll be located right in the middle of Sofia, it’s easy to explore on your own and even easier to head out in the evening for dinner and drinks. Basically, whether you’re a social solo traveller or prefer keeping yourself to yourself, Vintage is set up to support you in having an enjoyable stay.
Compare prices and check availability at: Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Sofia
Sorry folks, there isn’t really what you’d call a party hostel Sofia. But never fear, for Sofia is home to awesome nightlife with a range of diverse dance bars, clubs and pubs! What we suggest is booking yourself in to any one of our top 3 hostels in this guide.
Why? They are all centrally located and within 5 minute walk from the centre of town where the top nightlife spots can be found.
If we were to choose one, we’d go with Vintage Central Hostel mainly because they have a little mini bar onsite – the perfect place to get the night started.
However, if you prefer to head home to a quiet hostel, definitely book your stay at Ivory Tower Hostel. The small single bed dorms are an absolute lifesaver.
Check reviews: Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Hostel N1 – Rules and Fees
Update 2024: Hostel N1 was so kind to comment here on this article. We always try to keep all our articles as fresh as a coconut. Thanks to Nicolas for pointing out our older screenshots, and for going a bit into detail about what was going on and changes that have been made.
Therefore, it is only fair from our side, to take a look again. After all, OUR purpose on Hostelgeeks is it, to bring you safe, fun, cool hostels.
Below you find fresh screenshots from Hostel N1 in Sofia. As you can see, the reviews are very mixed and volatile.
🙁 Unhappy Reviews
Reviewer: Basic hostel, with required amenities and helpful staff. Was quite hot in the nights without the AC, and there was no real social aspect of the hostel at all. Easy to access from the metro and walkable to most major sights in Sofia
Reply by Hostel: When the description of a room has an air conditioner, it means that this room has an AC and will be comfortably cool. But if you still choose a room without an air conditioner, it means that this room will not have an AC and most likely it will be hot.
– – –
Review by Noah: This hostel charges you for EVERYTHING. €5 each for luggage storage (uns, late check-in, simply being at the hostel before or after check-in/out, even €5 to ask them a question 11 PM-8 AM… All the guests complain to each other about the rules! Very little social vibe since the common room is tiny and the volunteers occupy the couches all day! Bathrooms always have dirty water on the floor, location can be sketch at night, and good luck getting someone to change the A/C. Absolute joke of a hostel
Reply by Hostel: We’re glad you noticed all our rules – after all, we do like to keep things organized. 😊 As for the rules and fees, they’re all in the description, so no surprises there! We appreciate your sense of humor, though – it’s almost as cool as your upgraded room!
🤩 Super Happy Reviews
Review: I could give it eleven stars. Hostel in a home. Nina is an excellent host. Must do the Rila day trip. Lukas and his friend were great volunteers and pretty helpful. The excellent guidance by Nina and the hardwork of the volunteers keeps the hostel going ! Indeed it has many rules ! Thats what they pre warn you about !
Reply by Hostel: Wow, eleven stars! We’re over the moon! Nina will be thrilled to hear she’s an “excellent host” 🥰🤗 We’re so glad you loved the Rila day trip – it’s one of our favorites too. And Lukas and his friend will be delighted to know they’ve been recognized for their superhero skills. Yes, we have rules, but every great place needs some structure, right? Thanks for appreciating them! Can’t wait to welcome you back – maybe next time we’ll go for twelve stars! 😍
– – –
Review: amazing stay! The place had a very welcoming staff who spoke many languages and all the facilities a traveler could need. along with bed curtains and Aircon were so very appreciated 👍🏻
Reply by Hostel: Thank you so much 🥰 Your stay was the cherry on top 🍒 Come back for more good times! 🤗
This is not a usual thing for us to do, but when we’re alerted to dodgy hostel activity we feel obliged to let our readers know! When looking on the leading hostel booking portals Hostelworld and Hostelz.com, you will see Hostel N1 as #1 top rated…but, we do not agree here! Here we wish to alert you of Hostel N1 and the owner’s manipulation of guests and ratings on booking portals. We received an email from a traveller sharing with us her very negative and somewhat shocking experience here.
Basically, the owner bribes travellers to give 10 point reviews in exchange for free services and perks like a free drink. We found many Hostelworld reviews that clearly show this. And when you upset them with honesty, it’s likely you may receive verbal abuse in return… please see screenshots below. Obviously this is nothing a backpacker feels comfortable with. It is totally unaligned with what is means to be a welcoming, honest and safe hostel. The fact that reviews are bribed also does not give an honest and clear overview of the hostel itself. It’s impossible to know if it is actually any good until you get there!
Update 2024: It is true that there is no longer evidence of this hostel bribing guests for excellent reviews, therefore we scraped the information above as outdated. We had a friend from Canada staying at this very hostel this spring 2024. And basically, this was his conclusion:
Lots of rules. If you are OK with it, it is a great hostel. Simple as that!
It is really up to you, at this point. Fact is, N1 Hostel has a great location. Fact is, N1 Hostel has a lot of rules – which they are super transparent about. Fact is, they offer cool tours.
Fact is also, that their communication and public replies sound very harsh, and could even be interpreted as condescending.
Our Final Conclusion: If all these rules are OK for you, it is a solid hostel option!
Below a screenshot from Hostelz.com. You can’t claim, Hostel N1 is hiding their rules!
More Hostels worth a mention
You know us; we can’t help ourselves when we find yet more cool accommodation!
Hostel 123
Hostel 123 is an excellent hostel for many reasons, including:
“Our passion is : to make our house full with friends; to make our city one that you will fill at home; to make our country one that you will love.”
Some of the perks to staying here include:
- Garden & common area
- 5-10 min walk from the nightlife
- 4 and 6-bed cosy dorms with single beds
- Reliable high-speed Wifi
You’ll be staying on a quiet street and because the common areas are closed at 11pm, you’re in for good sleep during your stay.
Compare prices and reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about the cheapest hostels in Sofia?
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 Sofia.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Sofia
- 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 Sofia 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!
Our Favorite Hostels in Sofia put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Sofia hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Boyana Church
- National Palace of Culture
- Church St. George Rotunda
- Sofia History Museum
- Borisova Gradina Park
- South Park
- Sofia’s Central Market Hall
- Banya Bashi Mosque
Any questions about hostels in Sofia? 🤔
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Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
FAQ
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
What are the best neighborhoods to stay in Sofia for hostels?
The best neighborhoods to stay in Sofia for hostels depend on your priorities. Here's a quick breakdown:
- **City Center:** If you want to be in the heart of the action, close to major sights and nightlife, the city center is ideal. Hostels like Vintage Central Hostel and Hostel Mostel are centrally located.
- **Tranquil Area:** For a quieter stay but still within walking distance of attractions, consider areas like St. Nicholas or Studentski Grad. Ivory Tower Hostel is a good option in a tranquil area.
- **Party Atmosphere:** If you're looking for a lively hostel scene close to bars and clubs, consider staying near Studentski Grad. However, the article mentions that Sofia doesn't have dedicated party hostels, so the focus might be on the general nightlife area.
What is the average price for a hostel bed in Sofia?
The average price for a bed in a shared dorm room in Sofia ranges from €7 to €12 per night. Private rooms start from €18 and go up to €35 per night. These are general guidelines, and prices can fluctuate depending on the season and holidays.
Are there any safety concerns I should be aware of when staying in hostels in Sofia?
Sofia is generally considered a safe city for travelers. However, as with any destination, it's always wise to be cautious. Here are some safety tips:
- Choose a reputable hostel: Read reviews and recommendations before booking.
- Keep your belongings secure: Use lockers provided by the hostel and don't leave valuables unattended in dorm rooms.
- Be aware of your surroundings: Especially at night, stick to well-lit areas and let someone know where you're going.
- Trust your gut: If something feels off about a situation, it probably is.
Is it easy to get around Sofia using public transportation?
Yes, Sofia has a good public transportation system with buses, trams, and a metro. Many hostels mentioned in the article are centrally located and easily accessible by public transport.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Sofia Bulgaria.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Bulgaria
- best hostels in Plovdiv
- best hostels in Skopje, Macedonia
- best hostels in Bucharest
- best hostels in Tirana, Albania
- best hostels in Belgrade
- coolest party hostels in Belgrade
- best hostels in Macedonia
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in 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 Sofia 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
– – –
pin it for later
FYI: Unfortunately, Canape Connection Hostel has permanently closed.
5 Vintage Guest House
We’d like to add 5 Vintage Guest House in to the mix even though it technically isn’t a hostel.
Why do we love it?
- Stunning design
- Gorgeous array of private rooms
- Homely communal areas
This is an ideal stay for digital nomads as well as couples and solo travellers that enjoy their own space.
There’s no doubt some of you just will not be able to resist just as we couldn’t!
Compare prices and reviews at: Booking.com
