The 8 Best Hostels in Gran Canaria

Looking out over Las Canteras Beach, La Ventana Azul, loosely translated as The Blue Window, is a light and airy hostel on the northwestern tip of the island. A great location for surf fans, it’s within walking distance of several schools and centres and is also close to some of the best beaches on the island. The hostel offers five dorm rooms – four sleeping six and one sleeping four, with surf imagery on the walls, wooden bunks, lockers and lots of plants. Some of the rooms even enjoy a sea view. There’s also a fully equipped shared kitchen, bright living space and huge roof terrace with a bar.

Just a short walk to the beach, Lua Lua Hostel is situated in Las Palmas city centre, surrounded by an array of bars and restaurants. It offers spacious dorms decorated in pastel shades with wooden bunk beds and colourful floor tiles. The hostel comes complete with a TV room and large communal kitchen for cooking and socialising, but the highlight is the chilled roof terrace, which is decorated in murals and features comfy day beds.

This fun, colourful hostel is also located on Las Canteras Beach. It offers both dorms and private rooms, with each one featuring a nautical-themed mural. Facilities include a modern shared kitchen, common room, outdoor terrace and lockers. It’s great for lovers of the beach, surfing and other water sports, offering cheap rental of kayaks, bodyboards, surfboards, snorkel sets and mountain bikes.

Another Las Canteras Beach hostel, HiTide Surf House is laid-back and ideal for backpackers. It’s clean and light, and its modern dorms are filled with lots of natural wood, framed photographs and books to read. There’s also the added touch of driftwood shelves and ceiling lamps, as well as swing seats, so you can gently rock back and forth as you look out across the ocean. Staff will help you organise activities, including surfing, bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, diving, paragliding, climbing, hiking and mountain biking. There’s even space for you to store your own surfboard.

Situated on the northwestern coast in the town of Agaete, this chic eco-hostel is located in a traditional 200-year-old Canarian house, overlooking the Tamadaba Mountain Range. It’s been renovated using sustainable materials and is furnished with recycled materials. Here, it’s all about getting out in nature and enjoying the planet while trying to make as little impact on it as possible. The hostel supports local farmers by selling organic products and is involved in several eco-projects, too. It offers both private and dorm rooms, as well as communal spaces and a terrace. Nearby, you’ll find beaches, a natural swimming hole, and hiking and biking trails. The hostel even offers free bike rental.

Located 800 metres (2,625 feet) up in the mountains, surrounded by mist-clad verdant peaks and man-high cacti, the Camino Art Hostel is a funky and bohemian hostel in the centre of the island, near the village of San Mateo. With an eclectic mix of decor – think Indian prints, vintage furniture and lots of artworks – the hostel feels like a family home and offers two shared rooms with bunks, two private rooms and one family room. Facilities include a shared kitchen, Wi-Fi and large terrace with amazing views. The hostel also has an artist-in-residence programme.

As the name suggests, this hostel is situated underground, on the edge of the crater of Tejeda. El Warung Cave Hostel comes with no frills and sleeps just eight guests, but offers the most incredible mountain views. There’s a simple shared kitchen, terrace and shared bathroom, but no Wi-Fi or other high-tech facilities. You’ll hardly notice though, as you’ll find amazing hiking trails and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve right outside the front door.

Located in the centre of the historic capital of Las Palmas, Tropical House is full of bright colours and boasts a whole array of facilities, from yoga and meditation rooms to massage workshops, an urban garden and even a co-working space. Not just a hostel, this place acts as a community hub, where local residents are encouraged to join in and share their skills with travellers. It features simple dorms with wooden bunks and polished floors, a communal kitchen, and a light and airy lounge with recycled furniture.