The Best Hostels in Milan, Italy

Situated in an 1896 building that once housed a Catholic school, Babila opened in 2017. With an enviable location in the heart of Milan’s Fashion District, the lodging is the perfect base to explore the city’s sartorial legacy, including Piazza San Babila, a city square that dates back to Roman times. The rooms, which have an all-white aesthetic and feature Pop Art paintings, come with an en-suite bathroom. The hostel’s bar and bistro serves modern interpretations of traditional Italian fare and hosts art shows, concerts and more. The third-floor terrace comes with views of Milanese architecture and makes for the perfect place to share a drink and laughs.

Combo Milano is perfect for solo and experienced travellers who value convenience. Located in Navigli, one of the city’s most buzzing neighbourhoods, the hostel has a self-check-in service available 24 hours a day, as well as a luggage deposit on the ground floor for anyone who wants to explore a bit more before leaving the city. The bright and spacious rooms are on the leaner side, sleeping three, four or six guests. The hostel also offers a breakfast buffet and has a bar, art gallery and radio station that spins tracks into the evening.

Located in a former police station, Madama Hostel and Bistrot provides a quirky and inviting atmosphere. It has private rooms with one or two beds, along with mixed-sex dorms and female-only spaces with four or six beds. Vegan and veggie options are available in the restaurant, which transforms into a cocktail bar after 6pm, and those looking to dance the night away can visit the club situated just beneath Madama. Anyone who does venture out, however, will have a range of fun bars to choose from all within a 10-minute walk in the surrounding Porta Romana neighbourhood.

Located in the heart of Milan, within walking distance of the city’s main attractions in Porta Ticinese, Ostello Bello is a fun and easy-going place with a genuine and open-minded mentality often found in traditional Milanese hostels. Ostello Bello serves brunch on the weekends, but it really comes into its own after dark when plenty of Milan’s revellers go out of their way to socialise in the hostel’s bar. A well-known hotspot for the young and hip in Milan, the bar can get quite crowded in the evening, with patrons spilling out onto the streets in the warm weather.

Ostello Bello Grande offers a high-end experience at a budget-friendly price. Nestled in the heart of Milan, attractions such as the Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala are at the hostel’s doorstep. A 24-hour reception is available seven days a week, as is the hostel’s restaurant (which hosts a buffet-style dinner until 9pm), café and bar. Guests receive a free drink upon arrival, which they can enjoy on the hostel’s three furnished terraces, complete with hammocks. Private bedrooms for up to two people are available, while dorms can take up to eight people.

Private rooms can make the hostel experience seem so expensive that a hotel becomes a more enticing option. Mio Hostel, however, offers one of the best prices in Milan – about half of what its competitors charge. The inviting interior features colourful rooms that can sleep up to six people and come with a shared bathroom and convenient amenities. While a continental breakfast is available, there’s no restaurant on the premises. The hostel is suitable for travellers looking to stay close to public transport as the Lambrate metro station is found nearby, along with many restaurants and cafés.

For a hostel that’s blissfully simple, comfortable and friendly, stay at Atmos Luxe Navigli. Located just off the beautiful Naviglio Grande canal, in a buzzing district with great bars and happy hours, the hostel is a quiet lodging suitable for those looking for something close to the city centre. While the colourful dorms can take up to six people, Atmos Luxe Navigli also offers private rooms. Complimentary continental and Italian breakfasts are also provided.

Road-tripping through Italy offers the chance to experience adventures far off the beaten path. Stopping in cities like Milan can be a hassle as tourists are often forbidden from bringing cars into certain parts of the peninsula’s ancient metropolises due to limited parking. However, MEININGER solves that problem with parking available at just €10 (£8.50) per day. Known for catering to an independent, youthful crowd, this hostel has brightly coloured rooms, each with a private bathroom and a flat-screen TV. Located near the Milano Porta Garibaldi train station, it’s also within proximity to the Porta Nuova district and Sforzesco Castle, a 15th-century fortress.

There are a number of hostels throughout Milan under the New Generation brand. The Urban Brera, however, is easily the best looking of the bunch and one of the trendiest hostels in the whole city. While the rooms are modest yet stylish, toilets and bathrooms feature a striking black-and-white design. Centrally located within the city’s coveted Fashion District, the hostel is two metro stops away from the Duomo di Milano and is perfect for travellers interested in food and high-end shopping.

The clean and comfortable Queen Hostel has a friendly staff and all the conveniences you would expect. Located in Milan’s Niguarda district, about a 20-minute walk from Porta Romana, it’s not the most centrally located hostel, but it’s more than pleasant and a good value to boot. With breakfast and bed linen included, there are various rooms, female-only dorms and private options for your stay.