The best way to meet like-minded travelers in Paris is to stay in a hostel, which also helps you dramatically cut down on expenses. From the quaint cobblestone streets of Montmartre to the cool street art hotspot of Belleville, replete with its rooftop terraces and trendy bars, here’s our pick of the seven best hostels in Paris.
Les Piaules
Hostel
Les Piaules is situated in Belleville | Courtesy of Les Piaules / Hotels.com
Les Piaules is a lively hostel and bar located in the cool 11th arrondissement of Paris. The general surroundings might seem a little rough around the edges at first glance, but it’s one of the friendliest, most open-minded spots in town. The vibrant street art and graffiti adds an unexpected dimension to the metro station name called ‘Belleville’ (beautiful city) too. There are regular live music events, downstairs parties, and easy links to a range of attractions that includes the Picasso Museum, Place des Vosges, Opera Bastille, Museum Georges Pompidou and Forum des Halles, which is great for shopping. Because of the diversity of this eclectic neighbourhood, Les Piaules is one of the best places in Paris to enjoy world food with a variety of Thai, Chinese, and Japanese food options on its doorstep.
Generator Paris is a spacious and modern hostel in the centre of Paris – it’s also one of the biggest. With nearly 200 guest rooms on offer, this immense hostel is never a lonely place to stay. You’ll be welcomed by cheap prices and a friendly space to chill and mingle with like-minded travelers up on the hidden rooftop terrace, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over Parisian rooftops. Whilst it’s centrally located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, you’re never too far away from nature, which is great if you’re staying during the summer. The relaxing green expanse of Parc des Buttes Chaumont is a quiet haven of calm; it’s especially popular with picnickers and is less than a 15-minute walk away. There’s lots of lockable storage space, a laundry service, and fun events program too.
St Christopher’s Inn – The Canal Hostel might be slightly more expensive than some of the other places on this list, but that’s because this hostel has so much more to offer than just accommodation. Here, you’ll experience the quintessential backpacking experience – and that includes guests who like to party hard. All you have to do is head downstairs to find yourself in one of the busiest Expat bars in Paris, Belushi’s. As well as enjoying rowdy live music concerts in the company of other international guests, you’ll be entitled to the hostel’s exclusive offers like 25% off food and drinks, or two-for-one drinks. If you fancy exploring the local neighbourhood, the hostel is nestled right on the banks of the very pretty Canal Saint-Martin, where you can enjoy a cocktail in one of the bustling terrace cafes.
The Loft Boutique Hostel & Hotel is located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, just a 10-minute walk away from the famous Grands Boulevards. There’s an outside terrace tucked away in a quiet, cute courtyard where you can tuck into a croissant and coffee every morning like a true Parisian. It’s a great place to mingle and meet with other travelers in a calmer setting compared to some of the other more party-loving hostels on this list. There might not be many parties here, as it doubles up as a hotel too, but the nearby Grands Boulevards offers a lively stretch of bars and nightlife in case you find yourself wanting a wilder evening of fun.
The quaint district of Montmartre is one of the most beautiful places to stay in Paris, and Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels makes a great base to explore all that the neighborhood has to offer. As soon as you step out of this hostel, the area greets you as authentically Parisian, with artists setting up their canvases on every street corner. It feels as though you’ve walked straight into the famous French romantic film Amélie, which was filmed in these very cobblestone streets. The highlight of this adults-only hostel is how close it’s located to the legendary Sacré-Coeur, which looms in the background just a seven-minute walk away.
Arty Paris Porte de Versailles is rather sumptuous as far as hostels usually go, and is one of the more sophisticated places on this list. The clue’s in the name, ‘Arty Paris’, as it’s largely decorated in the style of the Art Deco era. In fact, between the rustic wooden floors, the sensuous velvet fabric, the mosaics or the draping floral curtains, it feels more like a hotel, albeit maintaining the friendly convivial atmosphere of a hostel. It’s conveniently located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, not too far away from sights like the creepy Parisian catacombs or Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (18-minute walk). There’s always plenty of young foreign traveler bustle here.
Paris can be a pricey destination when you count up the metro, must-see attractions and meals you’ll be dying to enjoy. With this in mind, some people prefer to spend less on accommodation, and more on sight-seeing, which is ultimately more memorable. If that sounds like the sort of sensible plan you’d like to choose, then St Christopher’s Budget Hotel Paris is a good option. As the name suggests, it’s perfect for people traveling on a small budget, while still wanting quality. There are 40 comfortable guest rooms on offer with laundry facilities available if you need them, and another lively Belushi’s bar downstairs.
