You have already made a great choice by travelling to Ljubljana, now let us give you the best hostels in Ljubljana. So you can focus on your trip rather than researching your accommodation.
We have backpacked the Slovenian capital and to Lake Bled β it was amazing!
So, let us help you to stay in a fun and cool hostel in Ljubljana. This is a handwritten guide; with all hostels tested in person!
Read: full guide to the absolute best hostels in Slovenia!
Your shortcut:
- Hostel Celica Art β 5 Star Hostel
- Hostel Vrba β best for female solo travellers
- MS Sparrow Hostel β best hostel for small groups
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
Still considered a gem, you can actually experience an authentic city, not run to death by tourism crowds. On your way from Salzburg to Zagreb or vice versa, plan a stop in here and at Lake Bled.
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- #1Β Hostel Celica Art
- #2 Hostel Vrba
- #3Β MS Sparrow Hostel
- cheapest hostels in Ljubljana
- best hostels in Ljubljana for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Ljubljana
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- Secret Tips for the city
- all hostel and sights on a map
- FAQ
- Flights
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to βBest Hostels Inβ here.
Quick Introduction to Ljubljana
The average price for a bed: Hostels in Ljubljana cost 11β¬ β 16β¬ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 21β¬ up to 48β¬ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check Hostelz.com with all hostels in Ljubljana. They compare the prices for you on Hostelworld.com or Booking.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.
Hostel Location: Ljubljana is quite small, very walk-able. Hostel Celica and Kva Hostel have the best locations in the city center and near train station.
π 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 Ljubljana
Letβs jump right into the boutique hostels in Ljubljana.
- Hostel Celica ArtΒ β Best Hostel for Solo Travelers
- Hostel Vrba β Best Hostel for Female Solo Travelers
- MS Sparrow HostelΒ β Best Hostel for Small Groups
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
| π¦Έ Solo Traveler: | Hostel Celica Art |
| πββοΈ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Hostel Vrba |
| π₯³ Party Hostel: | Tresor Hostel |
| π©ββ€οΈβπ¨Couple Hostel: | Hostel Vrba |
| π¨βπ©βπ¦ Family Hostel: | Hostel Celica Art |
| π©βπ» For Digital Nomads: | MS Sparrow Hostel |
| π§ Cozy Hostel: | MS Sparrow Hostel |
1. Hostel Celica Art β Former Prison, now 5 Star Hostel
Ever wondered what itβs like to spend a night behind bars?
Hostel Celica definitely gave their rooms a different kind of twist.
Being a former prison, rooms are uniquely designed by local and international artists to show the reflection of the cells but still exhibiting the comfort and funky style hostel.
Innovatively putting Hostel Celica to one of the most intriguing hostels in the world.
We have visited in person, here is our full review of Hostel Celica.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Full review
But in case the room cells give you goosebumps, they also offer traditional rooms that are as well designed artistically for you to appreciate and enjoy.
Just like any other βnormalβ hostels, Hostel Celica offers room from private to dorm types. Still giving you the option of the room that you prefer and suits you or your group best.
Amenities to expect at Hostel Celica:
- FREE WiFi
- Bar and CafΓ©
- Restaurant
- Bike and Car Rental
- Gift Shop
How about the food? Oh yes, letβs talk about the food.
As one of our personal favorites, Hostel Celica gives you a variety of options you can satisfy your stomach and taste buds with.
You can choose between two cafes at the hostel β one oriental and the other western.
Offering a laid back atmosphere where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you slowly kill time is the Oriental CafΓ©. Giving the cafΓ© a more oriental inspired look are the mosaics and wall designs that are created by the famous Matej BizoviΔar.
As for the Western CafΓ©, designed in a modern architectural style of glass and steel. Giving you a perfect morning view and moonlight overlooking during the night.
But wait, thereβs more!
You can also grab your snacks and delicious meal at Slovene Gostilna, the hostelβs restaurant where the east and west meet. Completing your choices to get your appetites satisfied.
And to keep you busy and give you fun during your free hours, the hostel offers numerous activities you can choose from. From musical shows to cultural events, from salsa nights to local performers, from cocktail night to beer pong games, they all have it for you.
Aside from all these, Hostel Celica also features the Museum of Confinement, Art Gallery and Point of Peace spiritual room that makes it not your ordinary hostel.
What about the location: PERFECT!!!
Hostel Celica is situated in Metelkova City, the autonomous culture zone of Ljubljana. You are just a 5-10 minutes walk from the train station and downtown, but you can stay directly at the sight of Metelkova.
That part of Ljubljana is a must-visit!
Tivoli Park, Metelkova, Ljubljanaβs Dragon Bridge, Puppet Theater, House of Experiments and Cathedral are just one of the few famous landmarks you can easily reach from the hostel.
Local buses and trains are available just a few walks away from the hostel. Enabling you to travel the city in an easier way. Anyways, we have always walked. It is a pretty walk along the river!
Parking: Another perk is the parking space in front of the hostel!
When traveling with a car or a camper van, you can park here.
In a nutshell, Hostel Celica is the absolute best hostel in Ljubljana. A perfect location, a unique building, fun events and real backpacker vibes.
The coolest place for:
- Solo Travelers (both male and female!)
- Backpacker
- Families (private rooms)
- Groups
- Adults
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Full review
2. Hostel Vrba
Rolling in at number 2 is the delightfully quaint Hostel Vrba.
Itβs a very personable hostel thanks to the super friendly staff that work here. Youβll feel right at home as soon as you walk in the door!
βWe will help you exploring the city and Slovenia :)β
Though the property is quite basic, we enjoy the bright decor and comfortable spaces here.
Letβs have a brief look at the room choices:
- 4, 6 and 8-bed mixed dorms
- 4 and 6-bed female only dorms
- Family rooms (for 6 and 8 people)
- Twin, double, triple & quadruple privates
As you can see, pretty much all traveller types are covered! To top it off, bunkbeds each have a shelf and reading light.
If youβre in a sociable mood definitely make use of the shared kitchen and outside dining area.
Delicious Slovenian dishes are available to try at the onsite restaurant called Pod Vrbo. Hint: Itβs under the willow tree!
Good to know: This is not a party hostel.
Other perks about staying here include no curfew, free Wifi and the option to bring your dog (just let the hostel know in advance).
Location: Great!! Hostel Vrba is just a 4 minutes walk from the popular Ljubljana castle. This is basically as well the city center. Therefore, a great location to go out a night, too. It is a 20 minutes walk to the Ljubljana Railway Station.
This is one of the best hostels in Ljubljana for:
- Female solo travellers
- Couples
- Older travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. MS Sparrow Hostel (Minimal design hostel)
A newly opened hostel in 2018, MS Sparrow Hostel features all hand designed pieces that creates a modern and minimalist vibe.
We personally love the monochromic colors of the hostel that gives it a very clean and cozy atmosphere.
Guest rooms are equipped with all the basic things you need like microwave, fridge, kettle, bidet, a desk and of course, one important thing to girls β hairdryer. Plus you are also entitled to your own locker for the safety of your personal belongings.
The same street as the hostel you will find bars, restaurants and grocery shops. So you donβt have to worry about looking further.
Since the hostel is very near to shops, MS Sparrow Hostel gives you the perfect chance to prepare your own meals at the shared kitchen. If by chance you donβt want to eat out.
Amenities to look forward to in MS Sparrow Hostel:
- FREE WiFi
- Kitchen
- Bike Rentals
And of course, the girls would definitely want to visit the biggest shopping center, the BTC, which is just a 10-minute walk away from the hostel.
Location: Just a few meters away from the hostel is the main bus station to take you to the parts of the city. Making it easier for you to tour around and explore Ljubljana.
But if you feel like taking your own phase and timing to go around the city, you can just rent a bike at the hostel or at the bus station. Any of which you prefer.
Personally, we prefer the location of Hostel Celica!
A great hostel for:
- Small Groups
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com
What about the cheapest hostels in Ljubljana ?
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 Ljubljana .
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Ljubljana
- 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.
Best Hostels in Ljubljana for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Ljubljana for solo travelers?
Aside from having two cafes you can choose from, Hostel Celica gives their guests a great variety of activities you can engage in.
Making sure that everybody, including the solo travelers, will definitely enjoy their stay and have an amazing adventure in Ljubljana.
Here are only some of the long lists of activities you can try.
- Live music / performance
- Bike Tours
- Pub Crawls
- Art Galleries
- Evening Entertainment
Hostel Celica also offers three wonderful facilities you should check and experience. They feature a Museum of Confinement, Point of Peace Spiritual Room and Art Gallery. Individually adding you a more unique quality stay.
Rooms are uniquely designed as prison cells which gives people more curiosity to try. But if your not comfortable with this set up, you can always go for the regular rooms.
You can also make your own meals at the hostel kitchen though the hostel has two cafes you can choose from and a bar, too.
But if you still want a taste of Ljubljana from the other restaurants, there are plenty around the hostel you can choose from.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Full review
Party Hostels in Ljubljana: Tresor Hostel
The former home of bankers, who would have thought that a very urban and unique hostel would emerge?
Tresor Hostel has continually rebuilt the old building into a perfect combination of architectural elements with the urban spirit.
Tresor is a super fun backpacker hostel in Ljubljana.
It is not a hardcore party hostel, no no. It is a fun, social backpacker hostel like itβs supposed to be. Have a drink at the bar and meet fellow hostel mates from all over the globe.
Aside from the modern and lively atmosphere in the hostel, we personally loved the wonderful quotations printed and designed across the walls. Just a beautiful way to remind people of the things that matter most.
There are two common areas which the hostel considers as their heart.
We are sure that you will love the high atrium area. Featuring a high ceiling that gives a bright and vibrant vibe to the room during the day and a fun-filled party room in late evenings. While the other area is a former basement bank vault that comes to its own in the evening.
You can have your beers and cocktails at the hostel bar when the night arrives. Party with other hostel guests and win new friends.
But if you wish to try more bars and get more beers, there are plenty you can choose from just ooutside the hostel.
The perks at Tresor Hostel:
- FREE WiFi
- Bar
- Grocery Shop
- Beauty Parlor
- Eventβs Place
The hostel also has a common area where you can work on your computer or just lay back and perfectly relax while having chats with other hostel guests.
And to keep you busy in your free hours, you can engage yourself with the amazing activities that the hostel hosts. Such as music nights, workshops, movie nights, and lectures at lower prices.
You can also check out the Beauty Parlor located within the hostel during the weekdays. Guests can also grab a snack or a few beers at the hostel bar.
Wanna stay for free? If by chance you are a traveling artist, the hostel gives free accommodation stay on the night of your performance in exchange for a concert, workshop or exhibition.
The location is excellent. You are literally in the heart of the city.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
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 Ljubljana 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!
Secret Tips for the city
We told you, this is your ultimate backpacking Ljubljana guide. Of course we also prepare more than just your best place to stay in Ljubljana.
Together with our friend and blogger Duncan Rhodes, editor-in-chief of Urban Travel Blog, we are proud to share with you 5 insider tips Ljubljana.
- A cultural classic that turns out very lively with concerts and all-night long clubs
- A hip riverside cafe with home-roasted and cold brew coffee
- Concerts and events at fresco
- An awesome street terrace for sipping cocktails in the sun
- Willing to try some street food? We got you covered!
1. A Cultural Classic: Metelkova
We mentioned this already, you really canβt miss Metelkova.
The former military barracks was squatted by artists in the 1990s and now forms the alternative culture and nightlife centre of the city.
As mentioned before, Hostel Celica is located directly at Metelkova.
Every building in the complex is covered floor to gables with street art, graffiti, and grotesque decorations, making it an outdoor museum of modern art β be sure to go by day to take photos!
Then return by night, because this is when this autonomous zone comes alive with rowdy bars and all-night clubs and concerts. The vibe is laidback and grungy so no need to get dressed up. Just order a shot of Bearβs Blood and join in!
2. A Hip Riverside Cafe: Tozd
Stopping for a drink by the river is one of Ljubljanaβs great pleasures, but take our advice and wander a little further down from the touristic spots near the main square and check out this cool cafe instead.
Here they serve home-roasted and cold brew coffee, around 16 craft beers (several from Slovenia itself!) and some great snacks, like strawberry and mascarpone tart. If itβs rainy you can go for the riverside seats and pick up a book from their library.
Here is the Facebook page to check out!
3. A lot of leafy Libraries (Under The Treetops)
Talking about libraries, they donβt get much more fun than Ljubljanaβs Libraries Under The Treetops.
A series of pop-up outdoor library that offer deckchairs and reading material to locals and travellers alike in cool locations like the castle, Tivoli park and along the river banks of the Ljubljanica throughout summer.
This cool concept started about ten years ago and has been so popular with the locals that they add new locations every year.
Check out their website for the latest infoβ¦ Sometimes youβll find a concert or event happening at one of these al fresco libraries!
4.Β A Sleek Backstreet Bar: Centralna Postaja
Found on the back street cobbles of Trubarjeva street βCentral Stationβ is a sleek modern bar / restaurant / nightspot with an awesome street terrace for sipping cocktails in the sun, and three distinct spaces inside (including a dance floor).
This is where the hip and good looking gather day and night and just a great place to hang out and meet people if youβre new in town (and thereβs almost zero tourists!).
5. All the cityβs cuisine served up in an Open Kitchen
Summer only!
Thereβs a festival atmosphere at the weekly Open Kitchen street food event (every Friday 10am to 9pm from mid-March until October).
Slovenes gather to taste dishes from over 50 different food stalls representing all of the cityβs best chefs and restaurants.
The action takes place in the attractive Pogacarjev Square, and is a great chance to try some classic Slovenian cuisine, like flying Zganci and cottage cheese pancakes.
Even if you are not into food so much, come here for the vibes and have a drink.
This is the kind of festival/ event you want to experience with your hostel mates.
Our Favorite Hostels in Ljubljana put on a map + sights
Let us have a look at the map. Below we list all three best Ljubljana 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 youβve to know on this list:
- Ljubljana Castle
- PreΕ‘eren Square
- Dragon Bridge
- Ljubljana Cathedral
- Town Square
- National Gallery
- StoΕΎice Stadium
(You can activate and deactivate the layers in the left sidebar. Open the map in a new tab here.)
Any questions about hostels in Ljubljana ? π€
Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers π₯
FAQ
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
Flights to Ljubljana ?
Turth be told, Ljubljana does not have a real cheap airport like Zagreb or Zadar in Croatia. The best way might be to take a train or bus to go to Ljubljana and Lake Bled afterwards.
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 guides in the area
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Ljubljana.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Slovenia
- best hostels in Bled
- best hostels in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- best hostels in Munich, Bavaria
- best hostels in Salzburg, Austria
- best hostels in Innsbruck
- best hostels in Vienna + party hostels in Vienna
- best hostels in Zagreb + party hostels in Zagreb
- best hostels in Budapest
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 Ljubljana 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 havenβt 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
Β β β β
pin it for later
CLOSED: KVA Hostel β Culture and Art
Update: Our former #2 hostel KVA Hostel has permanently closed its doors.
KVA Hostel coined its name rooted from the word βkajβ which means βwhatβ, where most Slovenians pronounce as βkvaβ.
It also represents Culture (KV) and Art (A) which resembles in the hostel room that promotes local designs and art.
Hostel Staff are very friendly and accommodating, we promise you that. They will surely make you feel at home instantly when you walk through the door upon your arrival. Just like the ambiance in the hostel.
Directly outside the hostel are opportunities for bike rentals or boat trips on Ljubljana just like the locals. Taking you to the beginning of the pedestrian zone overlooking the river.
KVA Hostel also gives you great access to bars, restaurants and street markets just across the hostel.
Every Sunday, the market hosts an antique flea market while on Saturdays during summer it turns to an art market.
Rooms are uniquely designed by local artists giving it a more romantic and artistic vibe. Each room is equipped with personal lockers and electronic access to make you feel safer and secure.
