I‘ve slept in a lot of different hostels in Galway over the years. Some have been great. And others have been absolutely sh*te.
In this guide, I’m going to show you the best hostels in Galway, based on my own personal experiences, most of which have been pretty good.
You’ll find review scores, prices and everything else you need to know about each hostel, each of which is accurate at the time of typing.
Right – I’ll stop yammering away. The final thing I’ll say is that if you book a stay through one of the links below we’ll make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going.
The best hostels in Galway, Ireland
- Kinlay House (best for groups)
- Snoozles (best for couples)
- Sleepzone (best cheap hostel in Galway)
- Nest Boutique Hostel (most stylish)
- Bunk Boutique Hostel (best location)
- Galway City Hostel (recent award winner)
- Savoy Hostel Galway (Galway’s newest hostel)
1. Kinlay House (My favourite of the many hostels in Galway)
Photo via Kinlay House Galway
In my opinion, the best of the many hostels in Galway City is Kinlay House. It’s located right on Eyre Square, a stone’s throw from some of the liveliest pubs in Galway.
I’ve visited Kinlay House in Galway twice. On both occasions, we had groups with 15+ people, all of whom were looking to save money and head out on the town.
We rented out two dorms (one for the lads and one for the girls) and made it our base for our cheap and cheerful Galway Road Trip.
Why we liked this Galway hostel
We bought noodles from Dunnes Stores (a supermarket) and cooked them (badly) in the kitchen, and drank cheap cans of beer in the communal area.
I’ve nothing but fond memories of our time in Kinlay House (aside from the thunderous hangovers!). The service was great and the location couldn’t be better.
The rooms were clean (but pokey), the communal area was perfect for chilling with a big group of friends and the location was cracking.
Some need to knows
- Location: Galway City Centre
- Hostelworld review score: Superb (9.5 out of 7,395 reviews)
- Private rooms available: No
- Breakfast: Continental breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
2. Snoozles (one of the best hostels in Galway for couples)
Photo via Snoozles Hostel
Actually, this should really be titled the ‘Best Hostel in Galway for Couples and Friends’, but that sounds a bit arsey though, doesn’t it?!
I stayed in this hostel 2 years ago with a friend, when I was 29. When I stayed here, it had been 6/7 years since I last stayed in a hostel and I was wary.
However, it was peak season in Galway and this was the best place on offer price was (the many hotels in Galway or B&Bs in Galway were well out of our price range).
Why we liked this Galway hostel
We stayed the night in a private room with two beds, a private bathroom (clean with a decent shower). The location was also perfect for walking into centre of town.
The room was small, but it was clean, had a big shower and, randomly enough, it also had a balcony, similar to the one in the photo above, actually.
It was also nice and close to the train station and we managed to park the car nearby. A great spot that I’d happily recommend.
The need to knows
- Location: Galway City Centre
- Hostelworld review score: Superb (8.9 out of 4,205 reviews)
- Private rooms available: Yes
- Breakfast: Free breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
3. Sleepzone (The Best Cheap Hostel in Galway City)
Photo via Sleepzone Hostel
Next up is one of the best hostels in Galway for those of you in search of a cheap and reasonably central places to stay in Galway.
This is another of the Galway hostels that we used to stay in when we were younger. It’s central and pretty damn cheap, also.
When we were here last (probably 7 years ago, now), I vividly remember a group of us returning after a night out to find that the lock in the door was broken.
A bloke on reception came up and did a James-Bond-style trick by slipping a card down through the gap in the door. The door clicked open and I’ve requested a safe in every room that I’ve stayed in since.
Why we liked this Galway hostel
This is a cheep and cheerful spot that has a decent sized kitchen and communal area if you fancy keep costs low and cooking on-site (there are some great value restaurants in Galway, though!).
This is another of a handful of hostels in Galway that’s a very short walk into the action – you’re around 5-7 minute stroll from Eyre Square.
The need to knows
- Location: Galway City Centre
- Hostelworld review score: Superb (9.0 out of 8,986 reviews)
- Private rooms available: Yes (private twin)
- Breakfast: Light breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
4. Nest Boutique Hostel (One of the most unique Galway hostels)
Photos via Nest Botique Hostel
I’d never heard of Nest Boutique Hostel until I was planning out this guide. Nest straddles the line between funky guesthouse and hostel.
This place looks ridiculously good. It’s been a while since I’ve stayed in one of the Galway hostels, but I’d genuinely consider spending a night here if I was looking for a cheap weekend away.
This is a boutique-style hostel that looks like something you’d find in Berlin – funky interiors, ‘rustic’ decor and top-notch reviews (see below).
Why we liked this Galway hostel
This is the first property in our Galway hostels guide that’s not located within Galway City. You’ll find Nest Boutique Hostel a short, 29-minute walk from the City in Salthill.
No, if you’re not familiar with this area, it’s worth considering as a base – there’s loads of things to do in Salthill and there’s plenty of great restaurants in Salthill, too!
There’s also a beach nearby (Salthill Beach) and you’re still a short distance drive from many of the best places to visit in Galway.
The need to knows
- Location: Salthill
- Hostelworld review score: Superb (9.3 out of 561 reviews)
- Private rooms available: Yes
- Breakfast: Light, healthy buffet-style breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
5. Galway City Hostel (for those in search of award-winning Galway hostels)
Photo via Galway City Hostel
If awards tend to swing your booking decision, then the award-winning Galway City Hostel may tickle your fancy.
This place won the Hostelworld best hostel in Galway and Ireland in 2018, 2017 and 2016. Not too shabby, given the competition!
Located right beside the bus and train station, the Galway City Hostel boasts excellent reviews (see below) and a decent bar on-site.
Why we liked this Galway hostel
Again, similar to some of the other Galway hostels mentioned above, you just can’t beat the location of this place.
You can literally hop off the train/bus and take the very short stroll right into the reception area, which should suit those of you looking to drop your bags and start exploring.
The need to knows
- Location: Galway City Centre
- Hostelworld review score: Superb (9.6 out of 3,026 reviews)
- Private rooms available: No
- Breakfast: Continental breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
6. Savoy Hostel (one of the best Galway hostels for groups)
Photo via Savoy Hostel
If you’re in search of Galway hostels that are capable of catering for groups, the Savoy Hostel is worth a shout.
You’ll find everything from a pool table and a jukebox to a widescreen TV and much more here (along with big, bright rooms).
Location wise, you’re a handy, 3-minute walk from Eyre Square and a short ramble from Shop Street, Quay Street and lots more.
Why we liked this Galway hostel
Price wise, the Savoy is pretty good (you can compare prices at the link below). It’s also racked up a a good bank of reviews, too.
While the rooms look quite dated, the natural light definitely helps. The common room is also better than many of the other hostels in Galway.
The need to knows
- Location: Galway City Centre
- Hostelworld review score: Fabulous (8.3 out of 1,808 reviews)
- Private rooms available: No
- Breakfast: Continental breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
7. Bunk Hostel (One of the best hostels in Galway location wise)
Similar to Nest, the Bunk Boutique Hostel is another of the quirkier hostels in Galway City (hit play above to see why).
Located a handy 1-minute walk from Eyre Square and the city’s bus and train stations, this hostel boasts fantastic reviews, a top location and one of the best prices for a private room that I could find (see below).
Visitors to this hostel can expect free WiFi, luggage storage and lockers. There’s also either en suite or shared bathroom facilities with showers in all mixed and all-female dormitories.
Why we liked this Galway hostel
Bunk is one of the few hostels in Galway that has a bit of an edge to it and that doesn’t feel like you’ve just picked the cheapest option on offer.
The location also just can’t be beat. You’re a short ramble away from loads of things to see and plenty of places to eat and grab a drink.
The need to knows
- Location: Galway City Centre
- Google review score: Fabulous (4.3/5 out of 383 reviews)
- Private rooms available: Yes
- Breakfast: Light breakfast included
Check prices + see more photos here
FAQs about the best hostels Galway has to offer
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from the best youth hostels in Galway to what Galway hostels are best for couples traveling together.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
What are the best hostels in Galway that don’t feel like hostels?
Snoozles is one where the rooms least feel like a hostel. If you book a private room, you get a balcony, a private bathroom and a shower all to yourself.
What Galway hostels are best for groups?
Savoy Hostel, Galway City Hostel and Kinlay Hostel are good options for big groups.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 34 years and has spent most of the last 10 years creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.