Search San Diego Hostels

Q: Should I stay in a hostel in San Diego?

Hostels are a great way to stay for a good value, so you can save your budget for fun things to do. We've heard good things about the zoo, waterfront and other attractions in this destination.

Q: What is a hostel?

No two hostels look the same, but these dorm-style accommodations all feature shared rooms (though many hostels also have private rooms), budget prices and a social atmosphere.

Q: What are the best hostels in San Diego?

Ready to book a hostel in town? These top picks get the highest reviews from our guests and might be a good place to start looking: Stay Classy Hostel - Close to public transport, this property is within a 10-minute walk of Park and Market Trolley Station. You can take advantage of free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk, as well as an arcade/games room. Rooms come with towels, showers and lockers. HI San Diego Downtown - Hostel - Close to public transport, this property is within a 10-minute walk of Park and Market Trolley Station and Convention Center Station. Property features include free breakfast, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk. You'll find towels and linens in all rooms. Gaslamp Hostel - Close to public transport, this property is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue Station and Civic Center Station. Property features include free breakfast, free WiFi and a shared/communal kitchen. You'll find towels, showers and lockers in all rooms. ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel - Located within a 5-minute walk of Mission Beach. Guests can enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and laundry facilities. Rooms come with towels, lockers and linens. Samesun Ocean Beach - Hostel - Guests can enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk. Rooms come with towels, lockers and linens.

Q: How many hostels should I expect to find in San Diego?

If you're searching for somewhere affordable to stay in San Diego, one of Expedia's 16 hostels might be a great option.

Q: When is the best time of year to stay in a hostel in San Diego?

Good weather's definitely a plus when you're discovering new places, so here are some stats that may be helpful: The hottest months are usually August and September, with an average temperature of 22°C, while the coldest months are February and January, with an average of 14°C. Average annual precipitation for San Diego is 328 mm.

Q: What is there to see and do in San Diego?

Overall, San Diego is known for its museums, beaches and theatres. Major attractions include San Diego Zoo, Mission Bay and San Ysidro Border Crossing. Get out into nature with places such as Balboa Park, Mission Beach and Waterfront Park. Cultural attractions include San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego Air and Space Museum and Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Q: What's the best way to get to and around San Diego while staying at a hostel?

Keep this information about transit options in and around San Diego in your back pocket to make the most of your stay: You can search for flights to the closest airport, which is San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.), located 2.4 mi (3.9 km) away from the city centre. An alternative is San Diego, CA (MYF-Montgomery Field), situated 6.6 mi (10.7 km) away. Once you've arrived, you may want to use public transport during your trip. You can take advantage of metro transport at Civic Center Station, Civic Center Station and 5th Avenue Station. To check out more of the surrounding area, take a train from San Diego Santa Fe Depot, Old Town Transit Center or San Diego Coaster Sorrento Valley Station.

Plan, book, stay with confidence

Be picky

Search almost a million properties worldwide

Treat yourself

Change your mind

Book hotels with free cancellation

Featured Hostels in San Diego

Memory-foam beds, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

"My first time staying in a hostel ever. I was nervous. But this place was clean and the staff was good. I’ll be staying here again when I come back to San Diego "

includes taxes & fees

7 Nov - 8 Nov

"Great location and nice people."

includes taxes & fees

3 Nov - 4 Nov

"I found the cockroach in the room and smell "

includes taxes & fees

10 Nov - 11 Nov

"."

includes taxes & fees

21 Nov - 22 Nov

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated, soundproofing

"Muy cómodo y céntrico."

includes taxes & fees

6 Nov - 7 Nov

Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm, Shared Bathroom (2 Beds) | Shared kitchen

"Great spot"

includes taxes & fees

11 Nov - 12 Nov

"Everything was good."

includes taxes & fees

3 Nov - 4 Nov

"I really liked that it had a community living room area, even though the tv (or rather the cable) wasn’t working. That area was nice and spacious. It had good size windows for natural lighting. One downside was that only one ceiling fan had a spot for a light bulb but there was no bulb and no other spots for lights in that area. I really like the community coffee pot. My friend and I donated some extra stuff that we had to the coffee area. The room that we were in was really big. It was clean...

includes taxes & fees

11 Nov - 12 Nov

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Other property types in San Diego

Deluxe Studio, 1 Queen Bed (Self Check-in with Virtual Front Desk)

"Great location and close to convention centre and local transportation networks. Was easy to get around and explore the city. Neat location and enjoyed the historic aspect of the building. Room was quiet (I specifically asked for a room on the top floor and they were able to accomodate) and clean and I felt safe. Only complaints is the bed was really hard and windows were so dirty you couldn't really see out of them (but I wasn't there for the view so not a big deal). Showers lack any water...

includes taxes & fees

3 Nov - 4 Nov

"This is a the perfect spot for two people. Beautiful views, great balcony, plenty of space and walking distance to shops, the beach and excellent local restaurants. "

2-Bedroom Condominium - 310 | Living area

"Terrific two-bedroom unit that served all our needs. We’ve stayed here multiple times; no two units are the same, so there’s something for everyone."

Find out more about San Diego

San Diego Hostels information

Number of reviews	3,344
Accommodation	15 Hostels
Lowest Price	AU$92
Highest Price	AU$240

Recent Reviews in San Diego

5/5 Excellent

"My 3rd stay here! It is always nice, except for the 20$ parking charge."

A verified traveller stayed at Wyndham Garden San Diego Near SeaWorld

Posted 2 days ago

5/5 Excellent

Quaint Historic Downtown Treasure

"Loved the super charming, historic Pali Hotel!!. Decorated beautifully with no small detail left overlooked, it transcended me into a much earlier era. I will definitely be back for the hotel and diner. I look forward to the rooftop as I did not experience this time around. "

A verified traveller stayed at Palihotel San Diego

Posted 2 days ago

5/5 Excellent

Great Bang for your Buck

"Reviewed some comments before stay.. Agreed with the positive reports regarding the breakfast. It would be what one would reasonably expect and more.. Eggs and Sausage were delicious, wide variety of other continental type items available.. Coffee was not my favorite but reasonable plus Starbucks is < 10 min walk (I drank the Comfort Inn coffee all 4 days!!!).. Room and bed very comfortable for the setting. Front Desk staff very helpful AND we needed couple extra towels one day. The lady at the front desk assured me it was not a big deal and jumped to accommodate my request.. Neighborhood— Located in a business district with some Industrial bent, but easy to moderate walk to restaurants and stores.. Easy moderate walk to Old Town San Diego for wife and I (age 60’s) and major MTS center.. Was easy to catch the train.. “Homeless” as note in other reports?. Yes- seen at a reasonable distance.. not a issue when my wife and I walked to businesses, Old Town, and MTS.. IMHO it should not affect Your decision with all the other positive things about this motel.. I never felt unsafe when walking outside the motel complex.. If you have a car then it is Not a logistical issue, you are situated away from all this concern…. How can they improve? More choices and variety of yogurt, hot chocolate to make my mocha, more variety teas. I know I am being picky… "

A verified traveller stayed at Comfort Inn Sea World Area

Posted 2 days ago

5/5 Excellent

"Nice property. They have secure parking but it costs extra 30 bucks a night which seems to be a theme of San Diego hotels. Was disappointed at the lack of included breakfast. There is a nice restaurant on property that provides good food options. Very convenient location and the beds were comfy. 4 stars overall. "

A verified traveller stayed at The Dana on Mission Bay

Posted 2 days ago

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Top Hostels destinations

More accommodation types in San Diego

All Accommodation Types

Frequently asked questions

Should I stay in a hostel in San Diego?

Hostels are a great way to stay for a good value, so you can save your budget for fun things to do. We’ve heard good things about the zoo, waterfront and other attractions in this destination.

What is a hostel?

No two hostels look the same, but these dorm-style accommodations all feature shared rooms (though many hostels also have private rooms), budget prices and a social atmosphere.

What are the best hostels in San Diego?

Ready to book a hostel in town? These top picks get the highest reviews from our guests and might be a good place to start looking: Stay Classy Hostel - Close to public transport, this property is within a 10-minute walk of Park and Market Trolley Station. You can take advantage of free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk, as well as an arcade/games room. Rooms come with towels, showers and lockers. HI San Diego Downtown - Hostel - Close to public transport, this property is within a 10-minute walk of Park and Market Trolley Station and Convention Center Station. Property features include free breakfast, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk. You’ll find towels and linens in all rooms. Gaslamp Hostel - Close to public transport, this property is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue Station and Civic Center Station. Property features include free breakfast, free WiFi and a shared/communal kitchen. You’ll find towels, showers and lockers in all rooms. ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel - Located within a 5-minute walk of Mission Beach. Guests can enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and laundry facilities. Rooms come with towels, lockers and linens. Samesun Ocean Beach - Hostel - Guests can enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk. Rooms come with towels, lockers and linens.

How many hostels should I expect to find in San Diego?

If you’re searching for somewhere affordable to stay in San Diego, one of Expedia’s 16 hostels might be a great option.

When is the best time of year to stay in a hostel in San Diego?

Good weather’s definitely a plus when you’re discovering new places, so here are some stats that may be helpful: The hottest months are usually August and September, with an average temperature of 22°C, while the coldest months are February and January, with an average of 14°C. Average annual precipitation for San Diego is 328 mm.

What is there to see and do in San Diego?

Overall, San Diego is known for its museums, beaches and theatres. Major attractions include San Diego Zoo, Mission Bay and San Ysidro Border Crossing. Get out into nature with places such as Balboa Park, Mission Beach and Waterfront Park. Cultural attractions include San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego Air and Space Museum and Maritime Museum of San Diego.

What's the best way to get to and around San Diego while staying at a hostel?

Keep this information about transit options in and around San Diego in your back pocket to make the most of your stay: You can search for flights to the closest airport, which is San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.), located 2.4 mi (3.9 km) away from the city centre. An alternative is San Diego, CA (MYF-Montgomery Field), situated 6.6 mi (10.7 km) away. Once you’ve arrived, you may want to use public transport during your trip. You can take advantage of metro transport at Civic Center Station, Civic Center Station and 5th Avenue Station. To check out more of the surrounding area, take a train from San Diego Santa Fe Depot, Old Town Transit Center or San Diego Coaster Sorrento Valley Station.

Members save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide when you’re signed in

Search San Diego Hostels

Check availability on Hostels in San Diego

Featured Hostels in San Diego

Stay Classy Hostel

Gaslamp Hostel

ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel

HI San Diego Downtown - Hostel

International Travelers House Adventure Hostel

Lucky D's Hostel

Hostel on 3rd

RK Hostel San Diego

Samesun Ocean Beach - Hostel

California Dreams Hostel - Ocean Beach

ITH Beach Bungalow Surf Hostel

California Dreams Hostel - Pacific Beach

PodShare San Diego - Hostel

ITH CoLive Little Italy

Other property types in San Diego

Kasa Gaslamp Quarter San Diego

WaterFront * Exclusive View Patio * Top Level * A/C

Capri by the Sea by All Seasons Resort Lodging

Find out more about San Diego

Find out more about San Diego

San Diego Hostels information

Recent Reviews in San Diego

Recent Reviews in San Diego

Wyndham Garden San Diego Near SeaWorld

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Top Hostels destinations

More accommodation types in San Diego

All Accommodation Types

Be inspired: Top Hostels destinations in 2024

Most searched themes and destinations in 2024

Frequently asked questions

Expedia's Latest Trends