Hostels in Kuala Lumpur
There are 79 hostels listed within about five miles of central Kuala Lumpur, which is 1.6% of everything on offer in the city — a modest but real hostel scene. This page covers what that actually means for a trip: which hostels are here, how they rate against Kuala Lumpur's hotels, and which are worth it if you are coming for a show.
How strong is the hostel scene in Kuala Lumpur?
Two numbers answer that, and neither means much on its own. The first is how much of Kuala Lumpur's accommodation is hostels rather than hotels — a city can have plenty of hostels and still be a hotel city. The second is how those hostels score against the hotels sitting next to them, which is the only fair benchmark, because guest scores drift by city and a 7.8 in one place is not a 7.8 in another.
| Measure | Kuala Lumpur | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Hostels listed | 79 | Dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation within roughly five miles of the centre. |
| Share of all accommodation | 1.6% | A modest but real hostel scene. Measured against all 4,861 properties listed in the same radius. |
| Average hostel guest score | 7.2/10 | Averaged across the hostels above. Supplied by our accommodation partner, not a StubOrder rating. |
| Average hotel guest score | 7.7/10 | The same measure for Kuala Lumpur’s hotels, with hostels excluded so the comparison is not partly against itself. |
The short version: hostels in Kuala Lumpur score a little below the city's hotels — a gap of 0.5 points. That gap is normal and mostly measures the product, not the management: a shared room with six strangers in it will rarely be scored like a private one, however well the place is run. It is worth reading the individual scores below rather than the average.
Hostels in Kuala Lumpur, closest to the centre first
Distances are measured from the middle of Kuala Lumpur. Pick your dates to see what a bed actually costs — hostel pricing moves more than hotel pricing does, because a dorm can sell out one bed at a time.
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The Freedom Club Hostel KL
11B-1 & 11B-2 , Medan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur
Convenient Location Discover Kuala Lumpur with ease as The Freedom Club Hostel KL is just 500 metres from Berjaya Times Square. Close proximity to KLCC Park and Suria KLCC. Comfor…
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Upstairs Downstairs CoLiving Kampung Pandan
37 Jalan Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur
Conveniently situated in the Pudu district of Kuala Lumpur, Upstairs Downstairs CoLiving Kampung Pandan is the perfect choice for your stay in the city. Prime Location Explore nea…
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The Bed Bukit Bintang
Fahrenheit88, Lot 506 & 502, Level 5, No 179, Jalan Gading, Bukit Bintang,, Kuala Lumpur
Convenient Location Modern Amenities Nearby Attractions To book your stay at The Bed Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, visit our website today!
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Revopackers Beds and Bunks
258 Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
Central Location Strategically located near popular shopping destinations such as Berjaya Times Square and Starhill Gallery. Comfortable Accommodation Air-conditioned rooms with p…
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Travelogue KL - Hostel
118B Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Rooftop Terrace Complimentary Shuttle Service Bar/Lounge Take in the views from a rooftop terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and a te…
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Hotel Dlima Inn Bukit Bintang
48 Tengkat Tong Shin NO-48, TENGKAT TONG SHIN. BUKIT BINTANG 50200 KUALA LUMPUR, Kuala Lumpur
Convenient Location Hotel Dlima Inn Bukit is conveniently located near Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, making it an ideal choice for travelers looking to…
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Dorms KL - Hostel
5, Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Terrace with Scenic Views Take in the views from a terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and a television in a common area. Dining and D…
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The Bed KLCC
56, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Prime Location With a central location in Kuala Lumpur's commercial district, The Bed KLCC is the ideal choice for business and leisure travelers seeking convenient accommodation.…
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Mingle Chinatown
Discover the vibrant vibes of Kuala Lumpur at Mingle Chinatown, where modern comfort meets the heart of culture. Prime Location Nestled just steps away from Petaling Street Market…
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Tropicana The Residence by KLCC
Welcome to Tropicana The Residence by KLCC, your perfect getaway in the heart of Kuala Lumpur! Recreational Delights Dive into relaxation at our captivating outdoor pool, or take …
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SCC Hotel Chinatown
74 Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
Prime Location in Bukit Bintang Experience the vibrant city life with SCC Hotel Chinatown’s unbeatable location near Berjaya Times Square and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Comfortable Ac…
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Travel Hub Highstreet
13-1, Jalan Balai Polis, Kuala Lumpur
Central Location - Situated near popular landmarks like KL Sentral and Berjaya Times Square. Comfortable Rooms - Relax in well-appointed units with cozy seating areas and shared b…
Staying in a hostel for a Kuala Lumpur event
A hostel makes most sense on exactly the kind of trip StubOrder sends people on: one or two nights, built around a fixed start time, where you are out of the building all evening. The bed is somewhere to sleep afterwards, not somewhere to spend the weekend, and the saving against a hotel on a sold-out event night is usually the largest saving available on the whole trip — event nights are when city hotel rates spike and hostel beds barely move.
The two things to check before you book are the ones that catch people out. First, front-desk hours: a support act running long can put you back at 23:45, which is no use if reception closes at 23:00 and there is no night code. Second, whether the rate is per bed or per room — a private twin at £70 and a dorm bed at £35 each are the same money for two people, and the private room is the better buy.
What is on in Kuala Lumpur
- From about $443.00View Tickets
- From about $321.00View Tickets
- From about $2.00View Tickets
Dorm bed or private room?
This is the decision that actually determines what your stay is like, and it is not the same decision as hostel-or-hotel. Almost every hostel in Kuala Lumpur sells both, at prices that overlap with the cheaper end of the city's hotels.
| Dorm bed | Hostel private room | |
|---|---|---|
| Priced by | The bed. Two people pay twice. | The room, like a hotel. |
| Best for | Solo travel, and meeting people. | Two people, or anyone who wants a door that locks. |
| Bathroom | Usually shared down the hall. | Often private, but check — many are not. |
| Getting in late | Fine, but you will wake people. | No issue. |
| Luggage | A locker, usually needing your own padlock. | In the room. |
| Versus a cheap hotel | Much cheaper, especially on event nights. | Often similar money — compare properly. |
The rule of thumb that holds nearly everywhere: travelling alone, take the dorm; travelling as two, price the private room against a budget hotel before assuming the hostel wins. On an ordinary weeknight the hotel sometimes does. On the night of a sold-out event, the hostel almost always does.
What to check before booking a hostel
Hostels vary in ways hotels mostly do not, and the variation is in the policies rather than the rooms. None of the following is unusual, and all of it is easier to find out now than at 1am.
- Age limits. Some hostels are 18–35 only, some refuse under-18s without an adult, and a few are over-18 with no upper bound. This is a property-by-property rule, not a city rule.
- Reception hours and curfews. A genuine curfew is rare now, but limited front-desk hours are common. If your event finishes late, confirm there is a night entry code.
- Whether the rate includes linen. Mostly yes; occasionally a few pounds or dollars extra at check-in, which quietly changes the comparison against a hotel.
- Lockers and padlocks. Nearly every dorm has lockers. A good number expect you to bring your own padlock, and the ones sold at the desk cost more than one from home.
- Deposits. Some hostels take a key or damage deposit in cash at arrival and return it on checkout — worth knowing if you are travelling cardless.
- Cancellation terms. The cheapest hostel rates are frequently non-refundable, which matters more than usual when the trip depends on an event that could be postponed.
Two of these — cancellation terms and what the rate actually includes — are shown on the booking screen once you pick dates, so check them there rather than assuming.
Plan the rest of the trip
Frequently asked questions
Is a hostel a sensible place to stay for a concert or a game?
For a one- or two-night trip built around an event, often yes — you are out of the building most of the evening anyway. The things to check are the front-desk hours and whether there is a curfew, because a show that ends at 23:30 is no use if reception shut at 23:00.
How many hostels are there in Kuala Lumpur?
Our accommodation partner lists 79 hostels within about five miles of central Kuala Lumpur, out of 4,861 places to stay in total — 1.6% of everything listed here. That count includes both dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation.
Are hostels in Kuala Lumpur any good?
Kuala Lumpur's hostels average 7.2/10 in guest scores against 7.7/10 for the city's hotels, so they score a little below the city's hotels. Those scores come from our accommodation partner, not from StubOrder.
Can I book a private room in a hostel?
Most hostels sell private rooms alongside dorm beds, and they are usually cheaper than a hotel room of the same size. Whether a given property has one is shown when you pick your dates — if only dorm beds come back, that hostel has no privates free for that stay.
Does StubOrder sell hostel beds and tickets together?
No. Tickets come from our resale marketplace and accommodation from our booking partner. They are two separate bookings with separate confirmations, and neither depends on the other.
