The Best Hostels in Thessaloniki

STAY Hybrid Youth Hostel is conveniently located in downtown Thessaloniki, close to the fashionable districts of Valaoritou and Ladadika. Set up by a team of travellers, the hostel is a cool and welcoming place where you can feel at home, mingle with other urban explorers or unwind after a day of sightseeing in a cosy bedroom before heading for drinks on the rooftop terrace, with fantastic views over the city.

Little Big House is a laid-back hostel in picturesque Ano Poli. It’s homely and serves a delicious Greek breakfast buffet, best enjoyed on the sunny rooftop café. There’s a colourful selection of dorms, mostly mixed, but there’s female-only, too, plus three private rooms with either a garden or a balcony. It’s all conveniently located about 15 minutes from Aristotelous Square and the main city attractions.

Crossroads can be found in the suburban area of Agios Pavlos, next to the Byzantine Walls. A quiet refuge from the city, it features a beautiful courtyard shaded by tall trees and a terrace offering views over the city. It’s a small guesthouse with a homely feel, with just two dorms (a four- and a six-bedder) and a private room with a twin bed and a floating single above.

A stay at Thess Hostel comes with free-to-use towels, in-room lockers and a free map of the area. There are no dorm-style rooms; instead, you’ll stay in private singles, doubles or triples. When you do want to mix, head to the rooftop – the standout space – for barbecues, parties and a come-together vibe. A quieter time is found in the lounge area, where you can make use of the coffee bar.

Studios Arabas, in the Old Town, offers five-bed dorms and private rooms in a traditional mansion. There’s a courtyard patio area smattered with a mish-mash of garden furniture and watched over by a street art-style wall mural. And, if you want to explore Thessaloniki, there’s a selection of beach and city tours.

While the option to stay in a bunk bed-style dorm is available, Center Travelers also has private double and twin rooms available for when you want solitude. Each of the rooms offers a balcony with panoramas of Thessaloniki, and rooms also have air conditioning for when you need respite from that sweltering inner-city Greek heat.

Billed as a home for digital nomads and long-term travellers, JETpak Alternative is great for shorter stays, too. Set inside a former department store, the utilitarian-style rooms offer spacious bunks, but you’ll spend most of your time exploring the area (known for a techno scene) or simply perching on the rooftop for a glorious sunset.