Dublin Hostels

If you're keen to leave as many euros for those Guinness-tasting sessions and Irish stews as you can, a hostel in Dublin might just be the way to go. These are the often the cheapest stays in the whole fiddle-playing, pint-sloshing city, with budget-bolstering rates to rival any traditional hotel. But that doesn't necessarily mean compromising on quality. Some travellers will love the melting pot of people you can meet in the common rooms and on-site bars – perhaps over an Irish whiskey or two. Others will enjoy the vibes of the multi-bed dorm rooms, which mean sharing sleeping space with your new sightseeing pals. And then there's the colourful and quirky side to hostels in Dublin. So, look forward to mural-strewn walls and graffiti-scrawled lounges, brick-fronted Georgian architecture and foot-stomping music evenings.

What makes hostels in Dublin so fun?

One of the great draws of hostels in Dublin is just how many different sorts of travellers they can cater to. Solo folk can pick a vibrant, tavern-style inn, where Gaelic music rocks the floorboards until the early hours and stouts slosh behind the bars. Couples might find a cool, boutique stay that's got private rooms and on-site ticketing services. Larger groups can rent out whole dorms to bed down together, all while putting the famous pubs of Temple Bar or the roaring rugby terraces of the Aviva Stadium right next door. Anyone who's eager for a classic Irish stay won't be disappointed, either. Cosy terraces and brick-clad industrial depots are just some of the immersive settings in which you can find a hostel in Dublin these days.

Delve inside and you'll see what makes these places such a draw for lovers of more off-beat accommodation. Celtic art might adorn the walls of big breakfast rooms, communal kitchens could be bustling with cooks of different nationalities and the dorms may have quirky murals and furniture pieces. Other features like bike rentals and free walking tours should help you plan your travels through the iconic Irish capital, while free morning buffets can provide the fuel for trips along the Liffey and beyond. Night owls will also be pleased to hear that some of Dublin's hostels are a hotbed of hedonism, offering everything from pub crawls through Temple Bar to whiskey tasting all in the distilleries.

Things to do near hostels in Dublin

The vast majority of hostels in Dublin promise a low-cost bed in the very heart of the city. That's great news for anyone keen on checking off the main sights. A short walk from the reception and you could be unearthing the secrets of James Joyce, literary maestro. Or, you could be unravelling tales of Vikings and Norman invaders between the flying buttresses of Dublin Castle. For that, pick somewhere like immersive Sky Backpackers, though you might be distracted by its wine and cheese evenings and weekend happy hours. There's tour and ticketing assistance on offer at the terraced Times Hostel on Camden Place. It's a charming little escape with a graffitied exterior – the perfect spot to plan tasting sessions through the iconic Guinness Storehouse or the 1780 Jameson Distillery on Bow Street, perhaps.