Bali's hostel scene splits by what kind of trip you're having that week. Canggu and Uluwatu lean towards surf and sunset bars, Ubud towards yoga and rice-terrace calm, and Sanur, Amed and the Nusa islands towards quiet evenings with a lot less choice. This guide goes area by area, so you can match the hostel to the stop rather than booking the first place that comes up. Canggu already has its own detailed hostel guide; everywhere else, the ranges and names below are the current picture.
We don't rate hostels or copy reviews here. Prices change with the season, so treat every figure as a guide and check current rates before you book.
Canggu
Canggu has the island's widest hostel choice, clustered around Batu Bolong for surf lessons and sunset, with quieter options further out towards Berawa and Pererenan. Dorm beds run from about IDR 150,000 at a simple hostel up to 300,000 to 400,000 for a social hostel with a pool, surf lessons and a bar. Several hostels here run female-only dorms alongside mixed rooms. Our dedicated Canggu hostels guide covers areas, names and current prices in full, and the Canggu travel guide covers what to do while you're there.
Uluwatu and Bingin
Uluwatu and the neighbouring surf village of Bingin sit on Bali's southern cliffs, and the hostel scene here is smaller than Canggu's but leans hard towards surfers. Dorm beds run from about IDR 180,000 at the cheapest to 300,000 to 350,000 for a social hostel closer to the breaks, rising by 20 to 30% in July and August.
- Uluwatu Mansion sits on the cliffs above Suluban Beach in a restored Balinese estate that has taken guests since 1998, and has a female dormitory.
- Karma Backpacker, in Uluwatu's Pecatu area, is a social hostel within walking distance of Bingin Beach and a short ride from Padang Padang.
Bingin itself has fewer hostels than proper guesthouses and surf camps, mostly clinging to the cliff path down to the beach, so book something you're happy to reach with a backpack on the steps.
Ubud
Ubud is Bali's other big hostel hub, with a scene built around yoga, cafes and rice-terrace views rather than beach bars. Dorm beds run from about IDR 150,000 at the simplest places up to 350,000 to 450,000 for a social hostel with a pool, and Ubud has some of Bali's best female-only options. The wellness-style hostels cost more than that: recent listings put the dearest female-only dorms at roughly IDR 600,000 and up.
- Arya Wellness is a female-only hostel in central Ubud with a pool and yoga, aimed at people who want a slower, wellness-focused stay.
- Kuna Bali, in a quiet street behind the Monkey Forest, is a pool hostel run by the same group as Arya, with a social, relaxed feel.
Seminyak and Kuta
Seminyak and Kuta sit south of Canggu, closer to the airport, with a mix of beach clubs and older backpacker haunts. Dorm beds run from about IDR 120,000 at the simplest hostels up to 300,000 at a social or boutique-style one, generally a little cheaper than Canggu for a similar bed.
- My Capsule Bali, in Petitenget, leans social and party-focused, with a pool and a bar.
- White Penny Hostel, in Seminyak, is a short walk from Petitenget Beach and has a pool.
Sanur
Sanur, on Bali's calm east coast, is a quieter, more grown-up base with far less nightlife than Canggu or Kuta, and its hostels reflect that. Dorm beds run from about IDR 100,000 to 250,000, generally lower than the south coast for a similar standard of room. The area has a handful of small hostels and guesthouse-style dorms, so check recent reviews on a booking site before you commit.
Sanur's own travel guide covers why it works well as a last-night base before a flight.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Nusa Lembongan has a proper small hostel scene, mostly a short walk from Dream Beach or Mushroom Beach, with dorm beds running from about IDR 100,000 to 250,000. Neighbouring Nusa Penida has far fewer hostels and almost no nightlife: most places to stay are simple guesthouses around Toyapakeh, Ped and Sampalan, closer to guesthouse pricing than a social hostel scene. Whichever island, book somewhere licensed and expect a quiet evening.
- Lembongan Hostel, on Nusa Lembongan, is a pool hostel with a relaxed, social feel.
Our Nusa Penida travel guide covers getting there, the rough roads, and why an overnight beats a rushed day trip.
Amed
Amed, on Bali's quiet east coast, is the cheapest area in this guide and one of the least social, since most people here are early-to-bed divers rather than a party crowd. Dorm beds run from about IDR 90,000 to 200,000, and the choice is small, mostly modest places a short walk from the beach.
Amed suits diving and quiet evenings rather than meeting a big crowd; our scuba diving in Bali guide covers the shore diving here.
Bali hostels by type
| Type | Where it's easiest to find | Typical dorm price (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Social or party-leaning | Batu Bolong (Canggu), Uluwatu and Bingin's surf hostels, My Capsule Bali (Seminyak) | 150,000 to 450,000 |
| Quiet | Sanur, Amed, Nusa Lembongan, Pererenan (Canggu) | 90,000 to 250,000 |
| Female-only dorm | Arya Wellness (Ubud), Uluwatu Mansion (Uluwatu), several Canggu hostels | 150,000 to 700,000 |
Prices checked September 2026 and will drift with the season. They also jump around festivals and the July to August peak, when Uluwatu's surf hostels alone can rise by 20 to 30%.
What to check before you book
- Distance from the beach or the boat pier. On Nusa Lembongan and Amed especially, a cheap hostel a long walk from the water can cost you more in Grab or Gojek fares than you saved on the bed.
- Fan versus air-con dorms. Fan-only rooms cost less but are hard going in the hot season, especially on the coast.
- Curtains and lockers. Most social hostels provide both, and some build the dorm beds around them. Bring your own small padlock to be sure.
- Minimum stays and price jumps in July and August. Uluwatu's surf hostels are the clearest example, but the same pattern shows up across the south coast.
- Filtering for a female-only dorm. Ubud and Uluwatu have options named above; elsewhere, filter for one directly on a booking site rather than assuming a given hostel has one.
Skip the planning and travel with a group
If you'd rather not book a string of hostels yourself, our small-group trips for solo travellers aged 18 to 40 include your accommodation for every night on the route, chosen for location and cleanliness rather than the cheapest bed going.
