The Best Hostels In Boston Massachusetts

Boston has some pricey hotels and Airbnbs, but its hostels are a great lesser-known option for those looking to save money or have a more social experience.

With a choice of private rooms or dorms, many of Boston‘s hostels offer activities to help you engage with the surrounding city. With more than 50 colleges in the greater metropolitan area, Massachusetts’s capital is th dbe perfect spot for nightlife and numerous communal activities, while its compactness means visitors can easily backpack around from any of these hostels.

1. HI Boston Hostel

Hostel

HI Boston is the top budget-friendly stay for travelers exploring the historic city. The hostel offers free daily tours, a free continental breakfast, a 24-hour reception desk, luggage storage before check-in or after check-out, laundry service and bike storage. Centrally located Downtown, on the edge of the city’s Chinatown neighborhood and just steps away from Boston Common, HI Boston opened in 2012 and is designed for the modern hosteler. Male, female and mixed dorms with four or eight bunks are available, as well as private rooms decked out in simple furnishings with a pop of color, and featuring their own private bath. You can socialize with fellow guests in the kitchen and common areas, including a pool table and café.

2. STRB Quarters on Broadway

Hostel

What was once a local hangout for Boston’s most notorious gangster, Whitey Bulger, is now a newly renovated hostel in South Boston (locally referred to simply as Southie). Opened in 2015, STRB Quarters on Broadway offers private rooms at an affordable rate. Updated furnishings and a minimalist aesthetic make this budget stay feel like a homey apartment rental, but with the luxury of a daily cleaning service. Stroll toward the nearby Seaport District, where rooftop bars and Boston’s best breweries await you. The close proximity to everything that Beantown has to offer means you’ll have plenty of places to explore, no matter how long your stay.

4. Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships

Hotel Barge, Hostel

All aboard! For something a little out of the ordinary, stay in Liberty Clipper, a tall ship docked in Boston Harbor. It’s a seasonal option for travelers visiting between June and mid-September, while the tall ships are in town for the summer. Central to Boston’s North End and Faneuil Hall, you’ll get the best views of the city’s beautiful sunsets, either aboard the ship or onshore at one of the incredible restaurants along the wharf. The schooner houses six cabins that feature bunk beds, a skylight and a private sink area, as well three shared bathrooms.

5. Boston Homestel

Homestay, Hostel

Classic hostel meets Airbnb in this cozy stay located in Southie. Featuring both private rooms and dorms for two to four people in mixed or female-only spaces, Boston Homestel takes great pride in the personal touches it provides guests. Perfect for solo travelers looking to meet people and explore the city, Boston Homestel is a home, hostel and community hub all in one, and is situated on a residential street with easy access to the Red Line T. If it’s particularly warm, grab your bathing suit and make your way to the beach just down the street. If you’re looking to stay a month or longer, the hostel offers a work exchange program for reduced or free rent.

6. Backpackers Hostel and Pub

Hostel

Although situated just outside the city limits, Backpackers is a quick subway ride away from all that Downtown has to offer. If you’re driving from out of town, parking here is cheap compared to the garages in the city center, so you can avoid the worst traffic in the USA and just hop on the daily shuttle when you want to see the sights. With newly designed rooms, a pub, a computer room and superb marks for cleanliness and customer service, this family-owned hostel is the perfect place for travelers looking to save money during their visit.

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