Posted: 10/26/22 | October 26th, 2022

With its picturesque canals, iconic gondolas, and winding alleyways, Venice is an incredibly beautiful, magical, and evocative city popular with honeymooners, backpackers, and cruisers alike.

Unfortunately, its romantic beauty also makes it one of the most visited destinations in the world — and also makes it expensive. Everyone wants to spend time exploring the Renaissance palaces and historic town squares while eating endless amounts of gelato, pizza, and pasta.

The Floating City’s popularity can make it a bit difficult to visit on a budget, but luckily there are a growing number of affordable hostels for the backpacker and budget traveler. While they won’t make Venice a dirt-cheap destination, they can help keep your budget intact as you explore this iconic Italian destination.

In this post, I’ll share the best hostels in Venice to help make your trip easier. But before we dive in there are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hostel. After over a decade of backpacking around the world, I’ve learned what makes a good hostel great.

The top four factors are:

1. Location – Venice is a bit spread out between the mainland and various islands, meaning that it can take some time to get around. Pick a place that is near the sites you want to see and/or the nightlife you want to experience. All the hostels listed here are centrally located.
2. Price – In Venice, you get what you pay for, so if you go with a really cheap hostel, you’re probably going to get one that is cramped and doesn’t offer great service.
3. Amenities – Most hostels offer free Wi-Fi, and some even include free breakfast, but if you want more than that, do your research to find one that best meets your needs.
4. Staff – All the hostels listed here have amazing staff! They are super friendly and knowledgeable. Even if you don’t stay at one of the places listed below, look up reviews to ensure you end up somewhere where the staff is helpful and friendly. They can make or break a hostel!

To help you plan your trip, below is my list of the best hostels in Venice. They all offer a welcome respite and a cozy and friendly place to hang out with fellow travelers — all while keeping your budget intact.

If you don’t want to read the whole list, the following are the best in each category:

Best Hostel for Budget Travelers: a&o Venezia Mestre
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: a&o Venezia Mestre
Best Hostel for Families: a&o Venezia Mestre
Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers: Generator Venice
Best Hostel for Partying: Anda Hostel
Best Overall Hostel: a&o Venezia Mestre

Want more specifics? Here’s my comprehensive list of the best hostels in Venice:

Price (per night)

• $ = Under 25 EUR
• $$ = 25-35 EUR
• $$$ = Over 35 EUR

1. Generator Venice

European chain Generator’s Venice hostel is located on Giudecca Island, just one stop on the vaporetto taxi from the famous Piazza San Marco. Originally a grain warehouse, the building has been renovated in a rustic-chic style, with tiled floors, exposed brick, and even a chandelier and stone fireplace in the common room. They have dorms with 3-16 beds (and female-only dorms) as well as private rooms too. In the dorms, each bed has its own reading light, socket, and locker (though you have to pay for the locker).

The hostel café’s outdoor terrace along the canal is one of the best features of this place, with views across the canal to Venice’s Centro Storico (historic center). It’s a great place to start the morning or wind down after a long day exploring, and it hosts a happy hour every day from 6:30-8:30pm.

The only downside is that there’s no kitchen or fridge if you want to make your own meals or store food.

And, while there are a variety of common spaces, Generator Venice has more of a hotel vibe than a hostel feel (it’s also not a super social hostel as there are no organized activities).

Generator Venice at a glance:

• $$$
• Located off the main island
• Outdoor bar/terrace with nightly happy hours
• Chic hotel feel

Beds from 55 EUR, private rooms from 125 EUR.

2. Anda Venice

This award-winning hostel is super social — and the best party hostel in Venice, with nightly events like karaoke and beer pong, and DJ sets on the weekends. Though it’s located on the mainland, it’s easy to get into the historic center, as it’s just a couple minutes’ walk from the central train station. There are both private rooms and dorms (including female-only dorms). Dorm beds have a privacy curtain, socket, locker, and reading light. The mattresses are pretty comfy, though the shower pressure leaves a little bit to be desired.

There’s a 24-hour reception, a bar/club, and lots of common areas too, including a private courtyard with an urban garden and a co-working area, which has workstations with Macs in case you don’t have a computer with you. This is a nice and uncommon perk if you’re working remotely and want to use a desktop, or if you’re not traveling with your laptop and want to use something other than your phone. There’s also a (small) guest kitchen and laundry on-site.

Visitors also get 10% off, a free welcome drink, and free city map if you’re a member of HostelPass.

Anda Hostel at a glance:

• $$
• Located on the mainland
• Social atmosphere with nightly events and a hostel bar/club
• Lots of common areas

Beds from 29 EUR, private rooms from 100 EUR.

3. Ostello S. Fosca

Arguably the most centrally located hostel in Venice, Ostello S. Fosca is within walking distance to all the city’s main sights, yet it’s also tucked away on a quiet canal so you can still get a good night’s rest. While there isn’t a big social vibe here, the staff are super kind and eager to help with anything that you need.

The location and affordable price point are the main reasons to stay here as the dorms are pretty basic with squeaky (but clean) metal beds. Also, there’s AC only in some of the rooms, so if you stay here in the hotter months, it can get pretty stuffy.

However, this hostel is pretty great if you’re looking for a quiet, centrally located stay. It’s in a lovely historic building with a huge, enclosed outdoor patio and yard to relax in on nice days. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen and female-only dorms, and you can leave your luggage here for free for the rest of the day after you check out.

One thing to note is that there’s a 15 EUR check-in fee if you arrive after 8pm, and you’re out of luck if you arrive after 10pm. If you know you’ll be arriving late, it might be better to choose another hostel.

Ostello S. Fosca at a glance:

• $$$
• Great central location
• Fully equipped guest kitchen
• Quiet atmosphere

Beds from 48 EUR.

4. A&O Venezia Mestre

A&O is another big European hostel chain. There are actually two connected a&o hostels here, but the facilities are more or less the same no matter which one you stay in (though there is only one communal kitchen, so you might have to go next door to use it). They are located next to the main train station, making it easy to get into Venice’s historic center.

Given that the building is an entire city block, there are a lot of amenities here, including a 24-hour reception and a ton of common areas, including co-working space, a kid’s play area, and a kitchen with a daily all-you-can-eat breakfast for 8.90 EUR. If you’re road-tripping Italy, there’s even parking available, and if you’re traveling with a pet, you can bring it (if you get a private room). There are female-only dorms as well. In short: no matter what you’re looking for, a&o probably has it (except a party — this is a fairly quiet hostel).

a&o Venezia Mestre at a glance:

• $
• Many common areas, including a co-working space
• Huge hostel with a hotel-like atmosphere
• Guest kitchen and café with buffet breakfast (8.90 EUR)

Beds from 21 EUR, private rooms from 67 EUR.

5. Combo Venezia

While it bills itself as a hostel, Combo Venezia is more like a boutique hotel than your traditional backpacker hostel. There are no dorm rooms here, but instead affordable private rooms and fully furnished apartments in a beautifully restored historic convent. It’s a good option if you’re looking for more privacy than a traditional hostel and are willing to pay a bit more.

There’s a bar-restaurant on-site with an outdoor terrace right along the canal, 24-hour reception, a huge cloistered courtyard, a communal guest kitchen (as well as kitchens in the apartment-style rooms), laundry facilities, and clean, comfy, modern rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms (with good water pressure!). Considering the central location in Centro Storico, range of amenities, and modern rooms, you get a lot for what you pay here.

Combo Venezia at a glance:

• $$$
• Centrally located in Centro Storico
• Boutique-hotel atmosphere in a huge, restored convent
• Many common areas, including a canalside terrace, courtyard, library, and lounge

Private rooms from 108 EUR.

While there aren’t a ton of hostels in Venice — it’s a city known for luxury, after all — there’s a great variety in the ones that do exist. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs.

Whether you’re looking for a centrally located and quiet stay or a buzzing party place, there’s something for every type of budget traveler in the City of Canals. Use this list to help you find your perfect fit so that you can save money, have fun, and make the most of your time in Italy!