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The 5 Best Hostels in Medellin, Colombia

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Medellin is quickly becoming a haven for international entrepreneurs and a hipster’s paradise. This safe and clean Columbian city boasts such a vibrant nightlife that you’ll definitely want to secure a place to lay down your head the moment that you touch down. To give you the maximum amount of time to explore and chill out with all of your new friends, we’ve identified five of the best hostels in Medellin to help you get the most out of Columbia’s hottest tourist destination.

In a hurry?  Here are our top 3:

• Best Hostel Overall in Medellin: Hostel Rango
• Best Party Hostel in Medellin: Paisa City Hostel
• Best Hostel in Medellin for Budget Travelers: The Wandering Paisa

Chillin’ District Hostel

As the name implies, Chillin’ District Hostel is the perfect place to chill out after a day or a night out on the town. It is in the middle of the Poblado neighborhood, which is well known as being one of the safest and most accommodating areas in Medellin. The decor in this hostel is bright and contemporary, and small touches like tiny plants next to the countertop basin sinks in Chillin’ District Hostel’s bathrooms create the ambiance of an upscale NYC hotel.

There are vending machines in the lobby, and you can use the computers at Chillin’ District Hostel for free. Big, comfy beanbag chairs dot the halls and common areas of this hostel, which invite guests to huddle together for light conversation about their travels. This large converted house is the perfect place to call home if you’re traveling solo, but it’s also set up to accommodate large groups of traveling friends.

What We Like

• Clean and modern accommodations
• Communal kitchen
• Five minutes away from main Poblado area

What We Don’t Like

• Weak Wi-Fi signal
• No lockers or shelves in rooms

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Paisa City Hostel

Let’s dispense with the pretenses: Paisa City Hostel is a party hostel through and through. This hostel features a fully stocked bar, the latest gaming systems, and welcome club-style standards like black lights, ping pong, and a pool table. If you’re looking for a place to get a relaxing night of sleep with your family, Paisa City Hostel probably isn’t the right choice for you, but this hostel’s salsa lessons and free welcome drinks make it an ideal location for getting to know all of your fellow travelers.

While this hostel’s main emphasis is getting down and having a good time, convenient features like separate smoking and non-smoking patios allow you to relax and socialize in whichever way is most comfortable for you. Plus, since Paisa City Hostel features free lockers where you can store all of your most important belongings, you can let loose and enjoy yourself without having to worry about waking up minus a backpack. Housekeeping services make their rounds from room to room every day, and this hostel facilitates language exchange by helping people with different national backgrounds get together for a little bit of light conversation. Best of all, this highly urban and artfully graffitied hostel features comfy hammocks just where you’d least expect them.

What We Like

• Vibrant party atmosphere
• Two blocks away from La 70 area
• Bilingual staff

What We Don’t Like

• Loud, squeaky beds
• Bathrooms could use some work

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The Wandering Paisa

The goal of the staff at The Wandering Paisa is to prevent you from ever forgetting that you’re visiting Columbia. While other hostels might seem like they could be in any city anywhere in the world, The Wandering Paisa is filled with artifacts and artworks that have a particularly South American feel. This hostel is located in the Laureles neighborhood, which is known to be relatively upscale, but it is also only a few blocks away from the downtown area, and attractions like the Museo Taurino are within walking distance. There’s a lively bar at The Wandering Paisa, so don’t stay there expecting to get a full night of restful sleep.

What We Like

• Authentic cultural decor in every room
• Fully stocked bar and plenty of social spaces
• Laid back, youth-centered appeal

What We Don’t Like

• Some guests complain of dirty beds and messy floors
• Occasional logistical errors in the reservation process

Purple Monkey

From the moment you see the giant monkey face towering above Purple Monkey’s front door, you’ll know that you’re in for a South American hostel experience like no other. In fact, huge, purple monkey faces will confront you everywhere you go in this hostel, and the staff at Purple Monkey have no interest in doing things by the books. It’s a little bit amazing that proprietors who are so laid back can actually successfully run a business, and Purple Monkey is admittedly a little bit bare bones. But if chilling out on banana-shaped bean bags perched precariously on astroturf while sipping a daiquiri is the thing for you, you’ll love this quirky and youth-friendly hostel.

What We Like

• Monkeys… Monkeys everywhere!
• Bright colors and plenty of social spaces
• Within walking distance of a metro station

What We Don’t Like

• Some guests complain about a lack of amenities
• Staff can be rude and logistically unaware

Hostel Rango

While we wouldn’t go so far as to accuse Hostel Rango of being pretentious, it’s certainly more cosmopolitan-themed than other hostels in Medellin. This hostel reminds us exactly why Medellin is now considered a hipster’s paradise; Hostel Rango is filled with postmodern decor and ambient mood lighting, but it still manages to retain a degree of authentic South American charm. This hostel is in the Poblado neighborhood, which is a popular area with yuppies and entrepreneurs, and it’s close to beautiful city parks like Parque Lineal La Presidentia and Parque Lleras. The owners of Hostel Rango have obviously pulled out all of the stops to make their accommodations appealing to a more metropolitan crowd; the rooms at this hostel are equipped with more amenities than you’ll find in most Medellin hostels, and the furniture in the common areas is clean and tastefully selected.

What We Like

• Clean, spacious, and modern environment
• Every room has its own mini fridge
• Individual reading lights equipped with each bed

What We Don’t Like

• Despite the boutique atmosphere, cleanliness can sometimes be an issue
• The party atmosphere might not be for everyone