Hostels in Zagreb
There are 36 hostels listed within about five miles of central Zagreb, which is 1.5% 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 Zagreb's hotels, and which are worth it if you are coming for a show.
How strong is the hostel scene in Zagreb?
Two numbers answer that, and neither means much on its own. The first is how much of Zagreb'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 | Zagreb | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Hostels listed | 36 | Dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation within roughly five miles of the centre. |
| Share of all accommodation | 1.5% | A modest but real hostel scene. Measured against all 2,397 properties listed in the same radius. |
| Average hostel guest score | 7.9/10 | Averaged across the hostels above. Supplied by our accommodation partner, not a StubOrder rating. |
| Average hotel guest score | 9.1/10 | The same measure for Zagreb’s hotels, with hostels excluded so the comparison is not partly against itself. |
The short version: hostels in Zagreb score well below the city's hotels, which is worth knowing before you book on price alone — a gap of 1.2 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 Zagreb, closest to the centre first
Distances are measured from the middle of Zagreb. 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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Hostel Arena
28 Remetinečki gaj, Zagreb
Convenient Location & Views Modern Amenities Delicious Dining Options Experience the convenience and comfort of Hostel Arena, located just steps away from Zagreb Arena and Arena S…
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Hostel Green
Nova cesta 136a, Zagreb
Convenient Amenities: Enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, television in a common area, and reception hall. Featured Amenities: Microwave and refrigerator in a common are…
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Hostel Moving
Silvija Strahimira Kranjcevica 61, Zagreb
Recreation Opportunities: Explore the city on wheels with bicycles for rent or relax in the terrace and garden for stunning views. Dining and Entertainment: Savor a delicious meal…
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Leptir
Stubička 7, Zagreb
Convenient Location Located in Zagreb, Leptir is within close proximity to popular attractions such as Technical Museum and Cvjetni Square, making it an ideal choice for travelers…
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City Walk Hostel
Experience the vibrant heart of Zagreb at City Walk Hostel, where comfort meets convenience! Dine and Unwind Wrap up your day with a refreshing drink at our cozy bar/lounge, the p…
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Whole Wide World Hostel & Bar
Ulica Andrije Kacica Miosica 3B, Zagreb
Convenient Amenities Make use of complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and a television in a common area. Unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge, and kickstar…
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Centar 2
Ulica Petra Berislavica 21, Zagreb
Convenient Amenities Offering coffee/tea, microwave, and refrigerator in a common area. Homely Accommodations Enjoy a cozy stay in one of the 5 well-appointed guestrooms with a sh…
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Stay Swanky
50 Ilica, Zagreb
Recreation Amenities: Enjoy the seasonal outdoor pool and rooftop terrace. Dining Options: Dine at the hostel's restaurant, coffee shop, bar/lounge, or poolside bar. Featured Amen…
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SubSpace Hostel
Ul. Nikole Tesle 12/1, Donji Grad, Zagreb
Central Location Stay at SubSpace Hostel in the heart of Zagreb, near popular attractions like Galerija Nova and Zrinjevac. Explore the city with ease from our convenient location…
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LOVECROATIA - Hostel
5 Mesnicka ulica, Zagreb
Convenient Amenities: Enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, tour/ticket assistance, and a reception hall for your convenience. Featured Amenities: Benefit from a 24-hour f…
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The Dots Hostel
Junija Palmotica 30, Zagreb
Convenient Amenities: Enjoy complimentary wireless internet, TV in common area, and tour/ticket assistance. Dining Options: Visit the coffee shop/cafe, snack bar/deli, and unwind …
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Hostel Poolside
2 Schlosserove stube, Zagreb
Recreational Amenities: Dive into fun with an outdoor pool, tennis court, and fitness center. Dining Options: Indulge in meals at the restaurant, coffee at the cafe, or cocktails …
Staying in a hostel for a Zagreb 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 Zagreb
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 Zagreb 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 Zagreb?
Our accommodation partner lists 36 hostels within about five miles of central Zagreb, out of 2,397 places to stay in total — 1.5% of everything listed here. That count includes both dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation.
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.
Are hostels in Zagreb any good?
Zagreb's hostels average 7.9/10 in guest scores against 9.1/10 for the city's hotels, so they score well below the city's hotels, which is worth knowing before you book on price alone. Those scores come from our accommodation partner, not from StubOrder.
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.
