The Best Backpacker Hostels in Banja Luka, Bosnia

Hostel Room aims to create a comfortable and homely place to stay in Banja Luka. Located four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the city centre in Budzak District, the hostel has 10 rooms including doubles, triples, and quadruples with shared bathrooms and kitchens. The cheapest bed in the six-bed dormitory costs less than $10. If you stay here, you’ll have access to free Wi-Fi, a 24/7 help desk and on-site grocery shop. The highlight of this hostel in Banja Luka is the tourist-friendly nature of the owner and staff, who offer discounts for longer stays. Remember to bring a souvenir from your home country and you might get a special deal. Staff are always willing to give travel tips and suggestions on the best things to do in Banja Luka. You’ll also find restaurants and a bakery nearby selling pastries and Bosnian bread for a budget meal.

Hostel Centar is one of the most centrally located hostels/hotels in Banja Luka, a few minutes from the main square and opposite the Museum of Republika Srpska. Guests can stay in singles to quadruples or family rooms with air conditioning, satellite TV, a private bathroom and a balcony. The hostel provides towels, linen, toiletries, and slippers to wear inside. The comfort makes it feel more like a hotel while still retaining the hostel’s atmosphere and social element. The English-speaking staff are always happy to offer suggestions on the best places to see and things to do. Nightly prices are slightly higher compared to others hostels in Banja Luka.

If you’re going to visit Banja Luka and want a cheap bed in a prime location less than a kilometre from the centre, check out Hostel Havana. The modern hostel has a mixture of private rooms and dorms with shared bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. All rooms have air-conditioning and heating with complimentary towels, linen, and toiletries. The cheapest bed costs approximately $15 per night. Traditional restaurants and some of the best bars in Banja Luka are within a few minutes of Hostel Havana.

Visitors can find both a budget bed in a dormitory or private triple rooms at Hostel Balkan near Ferhat Pasha Mosque and Kastel Fortress. The rooms are clean with a fully-equipped kitchen and a shared common area with private bathrooms in the triple room. Guests have air-conditioning, heating and access to Wi-Fi throughout the property. Hostel Balkan stretches across the bottom floor without the need for climbing stairs, making it easily accessible for travellers of all ages and abilities. The multilingual staff are always on standby to offer assistance as well as laundry services and breakfast for an additional fee. If you’re on a shoestring, buy food from the nearby convenience stores and cook in the kitchen. Bars and cafés in Banja Luka are near the hostel serving Bosnian coffee, cevapi (Bosnian kebab), and make for comfortable places to hang out. For around $15 per night, you can sleep in a six-bed dorm.

The modern hostel in Banja Luka is a stone’s throw from Kastel Fortress and comes with a total of 58 beds in both dormitories (maximum six people) and single or double rooms. Hostel Herz has modern furniture, strong Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and heating, along with cable TV, a mini-bar, and free parking. Each room has a balcony, which makes for a perfect spot to enjoy a drink in the summer and share stories with other travellers. Guests can use the kitchens on each floor to cook light meals and grab a Bosnian burek from the nearby bakeries. The hostel also provides free coffee whenever you need a caffeine fix. Tour guides are available on demand, too. If you’re travelling with friends, Hostel Herz sometimes offers discounts for large groups when you contact them beforehand.

Hostel Zeleni Most, a short distance to the southwest of Kastel Fortress, sits on the banks of the River Vrbas. Rooms include doubles, triples, and a 10-bed dormitory with shared bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen and strong Wi-Fi. Getting to the city centre takes less than 10 minutes on foot, and Bosnian bakeries are nearby serving a variety of Balkan treats. Many guests take advantage of their affordable bicycle rentals to explore the city from the saddle.