For many people, staying in a hostel can be the best way to experience Medellín. Staying in a shared dorm can free up some funds to spend on exploring this amazing city, having fun, and making the most of your time here. Hostels can also be the best place to make friends with like-minded people during your travels.
Most hostels can save you money and help you meet people, but if you select carefully, it can be so much more than that. The best hostels in Medellín have pools, workspaces, jacuzzis, laundry services, fully stocked kitchens, and restaurants. You can learn to dance salsa on Monday, learn to cook Colombian food on Tuesday, sing karaoke on Wednesday, borrow a bike on Thursday, and then take a yoga class on Friday.
The right hostel will really look after you with staff keen to help you experience all of the best things their city has to offer. In this article, I will share details of some of the best hostels in Medellín.
Los Patios
This is one of the most stylish, comfortable, and complete hostel experiences you can expect in Medellín. They offer exceptional amenities, including co-working space, rooftop bar, Spanish school, pool, kitchens, gym, organic garden, and regular activities.
Los Patios has one location in Manila, Poblado, and another on La 33 in Laureles. Manila is just south of Parque Poblado, Parque Lleras, and a short walk down the road from Provenza. It has more of a community feel than elsewhere in Poblado, with cafes, restaurants, and small bars. La 33 also has bars, restaurants, and is just across the road from La Nutibarra and all the charm of Laureles.
Both are very conveniently located for exploring the city.
Each dorm room has privacy curtains, storage, and plenty of charging points. You can also find private rooms at both locations. Staff are friendly, and they have free tea and coffee, happy hour discounts on drinks, parties, free bike rental, salsa classes, and tours.
Prices are above average for the city, but you get a lot for your money, and you will feel very well taken care of as part of a friendly community.
Black Sheep
This hostel has been a popular option for over twenty years and continues to be one of the best hostels in Medellín. Located in Patio Bonito, Black Sheep is in a fairly quiet part of Poblado but a short walk to Poblado metro station and a slightly longer walk to Parque Poblado and Lleras. An Uber or taxi to the main party areas will cost not much more than US$1.50.
This hostel doesn’t overcomplicate things, but it gets the most important things right. Rooms are simple but very clean with nice beds, prices are reasonable, they have cheap beer, laundry, and nice shared spaces. With owners from Colombia and New Zealand, the staff are mostly local students who know their city and are keen for visitors to have a great time.
They have dorms for 4, 6, and 12 people, plus private single or double rooms. This is a hostel that is a good place to get some drinks and start your evening, but you can also relax on the terrace and the large balcony.
Casa Kiwi
This is one of the best hostels in Medellín if you are looking to enjoy the bars, restaurants, and clubs of Poblado, but it is also a great place to rest and relax.
Casa Kiwi is a short walk from Parque Lleras and Provenza with the famous Perro Negro one block away. While it is definitely in the middle of all the action, it is just far enough away to have some peace and quiet on a street that isn’t a main thoroughfare.
The hostel has a rooftop plunge pool, a bar, hammocks, and a mini-theatre. There is a kitchen with free coffee available, but they also have a restaurant which offers very good, affordable food.
Casa Kiwi is almost always full and is a nice place to meet people. Dorms have lockers, and it is generally very clean and tidy. They don’t offer anything exceptional, but prices are fair, the location is great, and this is rightfully a very popular option.
Masaya Medellin
Masaya has hostels across Colombia and is always an excellent option for your stay. The style, design, and finish are excellent, with all the quality of a very nice hotel. Masaya in Medellín has 33 private rooms, including high-end suites with balconies, plus 98 dorm beds.
The dorm beds are set within sturdy wooden structures with privacy blinds similar to Japanese-style capsule hotels. This means you really have your own space, plus a locker for storage, and very nice bathrooms. The rooftop pool has an excellent 360-degree view of the Poblado skyline, plus they have a jacuzzi, bar, coffee shop, shared kitchen, restaurant, and coworking space.
Masaya organizes activities such as salsa and bachata dance classes, yoga, cooking classes, language exchanges, and karaoke every week. There is always something going on, and given how big and well-designed the hostel is, you will still always find a place to relax when you need a break. They organize excursions, have a laundry service, and really provide everything you could want.
This is an excellent option, and with Masaya, you definitely get your money’s worth even if it stretches your budget a little.
The Wandering Paisa
This is a very popular hostel in Laureles, which has established a very good reputation over the years. The hostel is conveniently located just off La 70, a fun street with lots of bars and restaurants. La 70 runs from Estadio metro station, just next to the main football stadium, up to the UPB university. It is a very convenient spot and lots of fun, with cheaper prices than Poblado and fewer tourists.
The hostel has lots of regular activities, and there is a community of locals who mix with the international visitors. Every Thursday, they have language exchanges from 8 pm to 11 pm and on Tuesday,s from 8 pm they host salsa classes before everyone heads to El Eslabón Prendido, one of the top salsa bars in the city. Twice a month on Friday, they have karaoke night, and twice a month, they have comedy nights on Saturdays.
They have 4 dorms with a maximum of 8 beds per room and 3 private rooms. They have lockers, and there are 6 bathrooms which have been recently updated. The WIFI is good, they have a fully equipped kitchen, and laundry service.
Hostel World voted Wandering Paisa as the top in Colombia, and it definitely deserves its spot on this best hostels in Medellin.
Baku
This is a very nice hostel in the heart of Laureles in a residential area between La 70 party street, the central park, and the Nutibara main street, which has some restaurants. The building sits on the corner of a residential street, combining traditional architecture with bright, modern style.
The staff are very friendly and it is a very comfortable place to space time. There is a nice outdoor area with a terrace and balcony, while the dorms are well set out. Beds have good privacy and are kept very clean. They have a kitchen plus an affordable laundry service.
It is not a big party hostel, but you are close to some of the best bars, and it is a really relaxing spot that has everything you need.
