Best Party Hostels
1 February 2026 · 7 min read
Hostelworld rating, bar on-site, organised events, location. The 9 things that separate a great party hostel from a noisy dorm with bad vibes.
1. Check the Hostelworld Rating (and Read the Bad Reviews)
Hostelworld ratings above 8.5 are a strong signal. Above 9.0 is exceptional. Below 7.5, something is usually wrong. But the overall score is only part of the picture. Check the sub-ratings: atmosphere, security, location, and cleanliness each tell you different things.
Read the 1-star and 2-star reviews first. If complaints are about noise, parties going too late, or too much drinking, that is actually a good sign for a party hostel. If complaints are about dirty bathrooms, rude staff, broken lockers, or bed bugs, stay away. A party hostel can be loud and still be clean and well-managed.
Look at review dates. A hostel rated 9.2 three years ago may have changed management since. Recent reviews (last 3 months) are the most reliable indicator of current quality.
2. On-Site Bar and Common Areas
A bar inside the hostel is the single best indicator that it is a party hostel. On-site bars create a natural gathering point where guests meet, pre-game, and form groups before going out. Hostels without bars rely on common rooms or kitchens, which work but with less energy.
Look for: pool tables, beer pong tables, outdoor terraces, rooftop bars, swimming pools. These are the social catalysts. A hostel with a pool and a bar will have more social activity than one with just a common room and a Netflix screen.
Check if the bar has happy hours and whether the hostel runs pre-drink events before pub crawls. The best party hostels (Mad Monkey, Carpe Noctem, The Flying Pig) build their whole social programme around the bar.
3. Organised Events and Pub Crawls
The difference between a party hostel and a noisy hostel is organisation. Party hostels run scheduled events: pub crawls, bar games, quiz nights, day trips, cooking classes, pool parties. These events give solo travellers a way in and create shared experiences that build friendships.
Check the hostel's website, Instagram, or Hostelworld listing for an events calendar. Most party hostels publish a weekly schedule. If the only mention of nightlife is 'close to bars and clubs,' it is a regular hostel near a bar street, not a party hostel.
The gold standard: nightly events that rotate (Monday quiz night, Tuesday pub crawl, Wednesday beer pong tournament, etc.). This means there is something every night regardless of when you arrive, and the social atmosphere does not depend on one specific evening.
4-6: Location, Dorm Size, and Security
Location: walking distance to the main nightlife district is essential. Taxi rides home at 3am add up fast and reduce the number of people from your hostel who actually go out. Check Google Maps: is the hostel within 10 minutes' walk of the city's main bar area?
Dorm size: 6-8 bed dorms are the sweet spot for party hostels. Big enough to meet people, small enough that not everyone has a different sleep schedule. Avoid 20+ bed dorms unless you genuinely do not care about sleep. Some party hostels offer separate 'quiet floors' for people who want the social scene but also want to sleep before 2am.
Security: lockers with your own padlock, key-card room access, and 24-hour reception are non-negotiable. Party hostels attract opportunistic theft because guests are out late and sometimes leave valuables unattended. Check reviews for theft mentions. No locker = no stay, regardless of how good the bar looks.
7-9: Staff Vibe, Social Media, and Price
Staff make or break a party hostel. The best party hostels hire travellers and backpackers as staff (often through work-exchange programmes). They know the nightlife, speak your language, and actively encourage guests to socialise. Check reviews for staff mentions: 'the staff took us out,' 'front desk recommended an amazing bar' are green flags.
Check the hostel's Instagram before booking. Active social media with recent posts of events, guests, and nights out confirms the party reputation is current. A dormant Instagram (last post 6 months ago) might mean the hostel has changed direction.
Price is the final factor. Party hostels cost 10-30% more than basic hostels in the same city. That premium pays for the bar, the events, and the social programme. It is worth it for your first 2-3 nights in a new city. After that, you know the nightlife and have a social group, so you can switch to a cheaper hostel if budget is tight.
