Where to Stay In Medellín in 2026: Best Medellín Hostels

Medellín was my very first city, on my very first solo backpacking trip back in January 2024. I liked it so much I went back and lived there for a full year, split across two six-month stints. What pulled me in from day one was the backpacker scene. Medellín is one of the most fun, vibrant, and beautiful cities I’ve travelled to, and there’s no shortage of things to see and do. It’s zero surprise that there are so many great hostels to choose from.

If you’re looking at where to stay in Medellín as a backpacker, the answer I would give you is it depends on whether you want the social, party energy of El Poblado, the quieter local feel of Laureles, or the budget-friendly, authentic vibe of Centro. These are where the vast majority of hostels are located. Listed below is a rundown of my favourite hostels in the city, plus one different, bonus option at the end.

Best Hostels in El Poblado (For the Classic Backpacker Trail)

El Poblado is Medellín’s backpacker and nightlife hub. Think Parque Lleras, modern rooftop bars, pools, cafes, restaurants, and clubs. If it’s your first time in the city and you want a built-in social scene, where you’re guaranteed to find English speakers, this is where most people start.

Viajero Medellín

This was my very first hostel, on my very first solo trip, and looking back, I’m really glad I went with Viajero.

Viajero has a bit of a reputation among more seasoned backpackers, some of whom prefer a smaller homestay-style or authentic “traveller” experience instead. But if it’s your first time in a city and you want clean, comfortable beds with privacy curtains and a guaranteed social atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with a Viajero.

Pros:

• Guaranteed social atmosphere so it’s easy to meet people fast
• Comfortable dorms with privacy curtains
• Rooftop bar, pool, and cafe (non-dorm guests can also access these for a small fee)
• Regular activities- I did the salsa class here and made friends I’m still in touch with today

Cons:

• Priced around £5 more per night than similar hostels, which adds up on a backpacker budget. Book in advance if you know you’ll want to stay here
• Not ideal if you’re after a quiet night’s sleep or a more local experience

Best for: First-timers in Medellín/LATAM who want an easy, social landing spot

Book your viajero stay here with Hostelworld.

Los Patios, Poblado

This is the second most popular hostel in Medellín, rivalling Viajero in both size and comfort. It’s also in El Poblado, within walking distance of a cluster of backpacker cafes, bars, restaurants, and clubs, which is arguably the best location in the city for being close to everything.

Pros:

• Excellent rooftop and pool area
• Comfort level very close to Viajero- privacy curtains and solid dorm beds
• Central location, walkable to most of El Poblado’s nightlife and food
• Quieter at night than Viajero and you’ll sleep well (but I’m not calling it calm!)

Cons:

• Similar price point to Viajero, so not a super budget option
• Can feel busy given how popular it is

One of my friends stayed here and swore by a strategy of “going out to Viajero in the evening, and coming back to sleep at Los Patios,” since the sleep and room atmosphere were a little calmer there. I can’t personally vouch for that combo, but it’s worth trying if you want the best of both.

Best for: Simply a different option to the massive Viajero chain whilst still experiencing the same comfort and social scene.

I’ve linked the Los Patios booking confirmation here for you.

Best Hostel in Centro (For Budget Travellers Who Want the Local Experience)

Centro Hostel, Downtown Medellín

I wouldn’t call Centro Hostel a spot for “advanced” backpackers exactly, but its location and clientele are noticeably different from Viajero and Los Patios. It’s near the centre of Medellín, which admittedly is NOT the area you want to be wandering around after dark. That said, Centro’s location has perks: it’s essentially the connecting hub for the metro, so you’re well placed to reach other neighbourhoods, bus stations if you’re planning other day trips in Antioquia, the metro to Comuna 13, and the city’s main commercial area.

Pros:

• Noticeably more affordable, both for beds and for food nearby (a typical menú del día lunch is affordable and delicious here)
• More local, more Spanish spoken: fewer European and American tourists than Poblado hostels, which can be hard to come by these days
• Great transport connections via the metro
• Ideal if you want to get off the “gringo trail” and experience something more authentic

Cons:

• The surrounding area isn’t somewhere you want to walk alone after dark
• Less of an international built-in party/social scene compared to Poblado hostels
• Not a con by any means but a higher Spanish level makes the experience smoother, though not essential

Best for: Budget-conscious travellers, or anyone who’s done the Poblado backpacker trail before and wants something more local, with bonus points if you already speak some Spanish.

Book your stay at Centro Hostel Medellin here.

Best Hostel in Laureles (For a Calmer, More Local Feel)

The Wandering Paisa

I only stayed at The Wandering Paisa for a few nights between other stops, and it must have been low season because my experience was very different from what I’d read in the Hostelworld reviews. I’d expected a party hostel where sleep would be a challenge, but when I arrived, it couldn’t have been more chilled out. (I was actually grateful for this on my route between cities, and had originally chosen this due to a great price)

The hostel sits on a calm, tree lined street in Laureles, which is the neighbourhood I chose to live in full-time when I moved to Medellín. I love Laureles as it lets you feel safe and comfortable to walk around, explore alone (important as a solo female traveller) without living inside a bubble of tourists and Parque Lleras chaos. And, you can still easily access Carrera 70 if you want a livelier night out.

Pros:

• Calm, residential Laureles location which feels more like “real” Medellín (the middle to upper class at least)
• Super friendly staff and volunteers
• Close enough to Carrera 70’s bars and restaurants when you want more energy
• Activities run throughout the week in higher season

Cons:

• No privacy curtain on my dorm bed, which may be worth asking about when booking
• Quieter in low season, with some activities occasionally postponed
• Reviews suggest it can be much more of a party hostel at other times of year, so vibe may vary by season

Best for: Travellers who want to experience Medellín’s more local, low-key alternative to Poblado, and perhaps are staying for a longer period of time.

Click here to book your stay at The Wandering Paisa

Best Quiet Hostel in Poblado (For Slow Travel and Real Connections)

Black Sheep Hostel

Black Sheep is half-Colombian, half-Kiwi owned, and tucked into a calmer part of Poblado. You won’t get much noise here, and a good night’s sleep is close to guaranteed.

Of everything on this list, Black Sheep felt the most homey and cosy, but by no means boring. The relationships you will form here actually have room to grow into something meaningful, even if that just means travelling together for another week after you both leave. I didn’t find this the case at some of the busier, party hostels in Colombia, especially on the coast where people were coming and going all day! Read more about the best hostels on Colombia’s coast here.

Pros:

• Quiet, comfortable, guaranteed good sleep
• Both dorm beds and private rooms available
• Feels closest to a homestay- no frills, but warm and honest
• Great for slower travel and building real connections rather than one-night hostel small talk

Cons:

• Less nightlife and organised activity than Viajero or Los Patios
• Not the pick if you specifically want a big, buzzing party hostel

Best for: Backpackers who’ve already done the big party hostels and want something calmer and more personal, or anyone travelling a bit slower.

Want to book Black Sheep hostel? Find out more here.

Bonus: Best Hostel + Spanish School Combo in Medellín

Blink Spanish School

Here’s one bonus option that’s a bit different: a Spanish school and hostel combined, for anyone who wants to board while they study. I stayed for two weeks, and it ended up being one of the best experiences of my entire trip. I just feel like I can’t not have this on my list of best hostels in Medellín, even if the hostel is absolutely nothing to write home about!

I booked the queen bed dorm rather than the single dorm beds downstairs, and I’m glad I did as it made a real difference for noise levels and proximity to the bathrooms. This is really worth factoring in if you’re booking.

Blink was such a fun experience. Going to class and living with your classmates felt a lot like being back at university. The set price is around £230 a week in 2026, which includes 20 hours of Spanish classes, your dorm bed, and breakfast and lunch every day. Anyone who comes to Medellín to learn Spanish has usually heard of Blink already by word of mouth. 

I know this is a post about hostels and where to stay, but what really stayed with me is how amazing the teachers are, and how hospitable and kind Colombians are in general. This is one thousand percent reflected in the teaching here at Blink.

The school and hostel are based in Poblado, so you still get easy access to everything else in the neighbourhood, and throughout the week the teachers run events: think classic Colombian activities like tejo, salsa classes, a welcome drink, etc.

Pros:

• All-inclusive weekly price covering classes, accommodation, and two meals a day
• Built-in social structure — you’re studying and living with the same group
• Extracurricular events run by the teachers (tejo, salsa, welcome drinks)
• Poblado location, so still close to everything
• The Colombian teaching staff are genuinely the standout of the whole experience

Cons:

• Higher overall cost than a standard hostel bed, since it bundles in tuition
• Room choice matters. I’d go for the queen dorm over the single dorm beds if noise or bathroom proximity matters to you
• Only for those actually committed to learning Spanish, rather than pure backpackers passing through

Best for: Anyone spending 1-3 weeks in Medellín who wants to learn Spanish while living with a ready-made social circle, or looking for a way to learn Spanish and make friends fast if you’re just landing.

Book Blink directly through their website, or read more about their group and private classes here.