10 Hostels You Need To Book While in the Balkans

When planning a trip it is difficult to know where to stay, fortunately I have compiled a list of trustworthy hostels that will make you feel at home, even if you are thousands of miles away. Having stayed at all but one of these establishments, I can guarantee that they will be of good quality. Some of the hostels such as the Pink Palace happen to be party hostels but many are just relaxing places to hang out, meet friends and read a book. The list is ranked but pay no heed, I enjoyed all of them.

Table of Contents

• 1. The Pink Palace, Corfu
• 2. Sunny Lake Hostel, Ohrid
• 3. Hostel Miran Mostar
• 4. Old Town Hostel Kotor
• 5. Stone City Hostel, Gjirokastër
• 6. City Walls Hostel, Dubrovnik
• 7. Freedom Hostel Budva
• 8. Hostel Mostel Sofia
• 9. City Break Hostel, Belgrade
• 10. Trip’en’ Hostel, Tirana
• Bonus: Berat Backpackers, Berat
• Bonus: Hairy Lemon, Saranda (Now Closed, 2023)
• Bonus: EOL 777, Constanta

1. The Pink Palace, Corfu

The granddaddy of party hostels, if you are looking for a good time, the palace is the place for you. You will be picked up at your arrival point by Pink Bus and brought to the hostel located near the beach town of Agios Gordios.

The hostel offers many amenities such as a hot tub, a 24hr bar, a beach, volleyball court, a restaurant, a night club and much more. The hostel itself is completely painted in Pink and can easily be spotted from the beach. Even the bed-sheets are a bright pink! Meals are communal and take place in the large dining room on site. Activities are organized on several different days or nights of the week, such as the Saturday night toga party, complete with pink bed sheets and plates to break. Other activities include a tour of the island, a booze cruise and four wheeler rentals. On nights where the weather is conducive an exterior patio bar is opened as well.

I am not always keen on party hostels but the Pink Palace is one for the ages. It is the granddaddy of all party hostels, yet still retains much more charm than newer facilities.

For more information on the city of Corfu click here.

2. Sunny Lake Hostel, Ohrid

This is by far the most relaxing hostel I have ever been to and well worth the time spent. The hostel is located uphill in the old town, thus you will be getting a small leg workout going up and down. The multi-story building has a small backyard with some hammocks and a balcony with one of the best views in town. Breakfast is served for free every morning on that balcony and you can usually find travellers hanging out in the common room or the backyard.

Other amenities include a laundry machine, bicycles to rent, a boat ride on the lake and a friendly host.

For more information on the city of Ohrid click here.

3. Hostel Miran Mostar

The reputation of this hostel rests on the shoulders of the legendary Miran, AKA “The Crazy Bosnian Guy”. You can look him up on google if you would like, he pops up as the first link when you search for him under those terms. The owner and his family are wonderful people and their establishment is close to the train and bus station. The hostel also offers a great tour of Herzegovina for a reasonable price. For more information see the day trips section.

Miran gives the tour himself, he is energetic and entertaining. He is an old soccer star and knows everyone about town. For lunch he will offer to stop at a local restaurant and he will help you order some local food. He participated in the Bosnian War and has many stories and things he would like to teach visitors to his country.

This tour includes an exploration of Mostar’s War Sites, the Ottoman Dervish of Blagaj, the old town of Počitelj and the Kravica Waterfall.

For more information on the city of Mostar click here.

4. Old Town Hostel Kotor

This hostel is located in a perfect setting nestled in the heart of the old town of Kotor. If you are under 40, you have to stay in the Kotor Old Town Hostel. This is by far one of my favourite hostels in Europe. It is located in an old stone building, reminiscent of the Venetian Era of occupation. It is possible to opt into group meals along with a pub crawl that runs every night.

As a bonus, you can register for guided tours through a company called 360 Monte directly from the hostel, with pickup at the door. Tours they host include; the Bay of Kotor, the Lovcen, rafting the Tara River and much more! I am not usually one for tours but these were excellent.

For more information on the city of Kotor click here.

*The only catch is that it is a youth hostel and they do enforce an age limit. Hence why I mentioned under 40 as an age*

5. Stone City Hostel, Gjirokastër

This hostel is located in a beautifully restored building in the old town. Facilities include a large outdoor terrace, modern showers and sturdy beds (much better than the average hostel). Prices are reasonable and there is breakfast served for free every morning. It is a very comfortable place to stay and I would recommend it to anyone visiting the city. The dutch owner offers many hikes and is knowledgeable of the surrounding area.

When I arrived at the hostel, I explained my money situation to the owner. I had my wallet stolen a day earlier and not yet able to pay for my accommodation immediately. I asked him where the nearest Western Union was so I could get my parents to wire me my own money from back home. He took pity on me and checked me in anyway. He told me not to worry about getting my money right away and offered to lend me some Lek until the afternoon when he would be able to take me to the Western Union himself. Then he asked me if I was hungry, famished I answered yes. He made me lunch for free and in the afternoon walked me to the Western Union, located all the way down the hill in the New Town. Point being, I would recommend this hostel to anyone.

For more information on the city of Gjirokaster click here.

6. City Walls Hostel, Dubrovnik

I have included this hostel on the recommendation of a friend and is the only hostel on this list that I did not stay at. I had intended to stay here but unfortunately rooms were sold out. The main feature of this funky hostel is that it is built directly into the city walls of Dubrovnik and offers unparalleled views of the Adriatic sea!

For more information on the city of Dubrovnik click here.

7. Freedom Hostel Budva

I strongly recommend staying in this hostel while in Budva. This cozy stone dwelling is located right inside the old town walls. It offers a courtyard that is a great place for social gatherings and beds at a reasonable price. There are plenty of little pubs and eateries in the old town, all within walking distance. As a matter of fact the old town is so small that a group of us were out partying and came across my dad (who was traveling with me at the time). He was walking back from the pub and our rowdy group shouted,he simply had to follow the echoing noise through the old cobblestone streets to locate us. For those looking to stay out late you can easily walk to the clubs located in the new town from the hostel.

For more information on the city of Budva click here.

8. Hostel Mostel Sofia

Located in an old Ottoman caravansary, the equivalent of a medieval travelers inn, Hostel Moster makes for a unique hosteling experience. The hostel is gated off from the main street and the life of the place revolves around a central courtyard, with most of the rooms built around it (other rooms are located in a building across the street). Breakfast takes place in a large common room and the hostel offers day trips to places such as the Rila Monastery, one of the Wonders of Bulgaria!

The hostel is situated directly in the heart of downtown Sofia. It is a ten minute walk from the Serdika metro station and even closer to the extensive Sophia streetcar system.

For more information on the city of Sofia click here.

9. City Break Hostel, Belgrade

City break hostel is a lesser known hostel in comparison to some of the titans I have on this list, but it is a fantastic place to stay. The location is a comfortable walk from most attractions, the host is fantastic and the hostel spotless. Furthermore The Nicholas Tesla museum is around the corner from the hostel, a must visit in Belgrade!

For more information on the city of Belgrade click here.

10. Trip’en’ Hostel, Tirana

When I first arrived in Tirana it took me a long time to find the hostel. Luckily I found it! This place caters to a more alternative crowd. It has a great little courtyard, with hammocks and lots of social space. You will easily make friends at the hostel bar located on premises. Once of the neatest features is that it serves a tasty local beer that cannot be purchased elsewhere. 

For more information on the city of Tirana click here.

Bonus: Berat Backpackers, Berat

I stayed in this lovely old stone hostel in the Gorica district of Berat during a particularly cold stretch of April. The hostel is located at the top of the Gorica historic neighborhood, down a narrow cobblestone street and is very picturesque. Facilities at the hostel include beautiful a terrace, which a group of us wrapped in blankets sipped beers at. I remember the beds being particularly comfortable for a hostel. It is a solid choice for any traveler!

For more information on the city of Berat click here.

Bonus: Hairy Lemon, Saranda (Now Closed, 2023)

The Hairy Lemon is an oddity. Located in an apartment complex not far from the ferry terminal it offers a commanding view of the Adriatic. The hostel has its own stretch of beach and is a staple of those traveling to Albania.

For more information on the city of Saranda click here.

Bonus: EOL 777, Constanta

Located near the beach this hostel was exactly what I needed to relax after a hectic few days in Bucharest, the sprawling capital city of Romania. Although simple, this quiet hostel has everything you need for a weekend getaway, including a stash of games and puzzles if you are partied out!

For more information on the city of Constanta click here.