Granada, Nicaragua is a must-visit spot in one of my favorite Central American countries. This picturesque lakeside town boasts charming cobblestone streets, friendly locals, brooding nearby volcanoes, and a beautiful yellow cathedral smack dab in the middle.
For any backpacker traveling through Nicaragua, you will find yourself in Granada at some point.
With tourism on the rise in recent years, a boatload of hostels have sprung up all across the city. Where does one even begin to look for the best hostels in Granada for backpackers?
Some hostels in Granada are CERTAINLY better than others.
That’s exactly why I wrote this super in-depth guide to the best hostels in Granada.
Once you have all the insider information regarding Granada hostels, booking your accommodation is easy and stress-free.
Crush your Nicaraguan travels with the help of this Granada hostel guide, and spend your time doing the things you love (and not worrying about hostels too much) whilst backpacking Nicaragua…
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Granada, Nicaragua
- Overall Best Hostel in Granada – De Boca En Boca
- Best Couple Hostel in Granada – Casa del Agua
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Granada – Selina Granada
The 11 Best Hostels in Granada, Nicaragua
Backpacking Nicaragua can be a real dream. But it can also be a horrible trip if you don’t have a nice accommodation. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
The main thing you want to look for in hostels are facilities, location and safety. Nicaragua is pretty safe, but that doesn’t mean that there are exceptions. Make sure you read the reviews before you book and look for lockers to store your luggage properly.
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Overall Best Hostel in Granada – De Boca En Boca
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- No Curfew
For the best hostel in Granada, De Boca En Boca is a great shout. It’s hostel-y, so also pretty affordable (who doesn’t like a bargain?), but it’s also well thought-out and heavy on the design-magazine-aesthetic. Tick and tick. Add hammocks for chilling, a make-your-own-breakfast station, tropical plants for extra aesthetics, friendly staff, and this stylish little place becomes a lot more than a youth hostel in Granada: it’s a tiny serving of personal paradise for however long you stay here.
Best Cheap Hostel in Granada #2 – Hostal Azul
- $
- Bar & Cafe
- Free Breakfast
- Book Exchange
It’s another budget hostel in Granada in the form of the always-very-clean Hostal Azul. The rooms are stylish and spacious with a cool minimalist feeling, there’s a chill little garden to hang around in, they do a free breakfast, they have a cafe/bar that serves up tasty Mexican food and drink, and away from this cool hostel itself the cathedral and popping main street of Calzada are not very far away at all. So combine a looked-after space and cool decor with a great location and Hostal Azul looks more and more like a top hostel in Granada. Plus it’s cheap.
Best Cheap Hostel in Granada #3 – Hostel Oasis Granada
- $
- Bar
- Free Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
Swimming pool! A daily happy hour from 5pm (that means free rum for an hour)! Filtered water! Yep, the perks at Hostel Oasis Granada are many. And that’s without mentioning the free all-you-can-eat breakfast – or the ‘light sleepers’ policy they have of quiet time after 11pm. So you probably won’t be partying here, but if you fancy a chilled place then this Granada backpackers hostel is a good choice. The kitchen is a little bit basic but other than that there are plenty of places to hang out and enjoy your stay in Granada. There’s a reason it’s called ‘Oasis’.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that still stands the test of time: the backpacker-approved Osprey Aether.
Want more deetz on why it’s so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Couples in Granada – Casa del Agua
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
- Heritage Building
Casa del Agua. Well, it’s not exactly a budget hostel in Granada, and comes without ‘dorms’ as such, but couples will love it. It isn’t ultra cheap but it is ultra nice. It’s in an old colonial house for one, and is literally in the heart of the old colonial centre of Granada, features TWO courtyard pools, rooms that look over them, bright decoration… the list goes on. So for a great location and facilities, plus friendly vibe, this place wins. Their motto is “Casa del Agua is just like home, only better.” So… yeah!
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Granada – Selina Granada
- $$
- Bar
- Self Catering Facilities
- Coworking Space
A very slick, very design-y budget hostel in Granada, the stylish Selina Granada is, in a word, sick. Coolest hostel in Granada. 100%. Not only does it look amazing, it’s got everything you need for funding your travels as a digital nomad – namely a cool office-y coworking space that literally has us wondering why more hostels don’t do this. It is highly, highly cool. Add to this daily wellness activities, ping pong table, places to chill and meet fellow travellers (or network with fellow digital nomads), and you have yourself an easy contender for best hostel in Granada.
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Granada – Surfing Donkey
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
- Towel Included
Despite its ToTaLlY wAcKy name Surfing Donkey is actually pretty cool. And even cooler if you’re on the lookout for people to meet and hang out with as a solo traveller. I mean, there’s a free cocktail on arrival so we guess that sorta sets the standard. But it’s not a mad party hostel. There’s a pool, giant Jenga, ping pong, and Zumba, salsa classes, yoga, city tours, a pub crawl, and a bar. There’s loads of stuff to do. And plenty of space to do all that stuff with other people. So if you wanna meet some fun people this is the top hostel in Granada for that. Plus it’s on the shores of Lake Nicaragua.
Surfing Donkey is one of our favourites in Granada, Nicaragua but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Cheap Hostel in Granada – Hostal El Momento
- $
- 24-Hour Reception
- Free Breakfast
- Bar/Restaurant
While dorm prices in a Granada backpackers hostel remain sorta similar across the board, this one just about pips all the others to the post. Its private rooms are pretty much a bargain too. So for a budget hostel in Granada with a relaxed atmosphere, a decent (and free) breakfast, luggage storage if you plan on leaving then returning, a bar/restaurant, and a little kitchen, all wrapped up in a cute, cosy and colourful setting with chill common areas, then Hostal El Momento is where you should be directing yourself in Granada.
Hostal El Momento is one of our favourites in Granada, Nicaragua but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Party Hostel in Granada – Encuentros
- $$
- No Curfew
- 24-Hour Reception
- Bar(s)
Located on the buzzingest main street of Granada, you say? We’re in. And not only is the enigmatically named Encuentros set on La Calle Calzada – where bars and clubs are open till midnight – but this recommended hostel in Granada is also up for a party itself. In fact, on Fridays, it hosts a party that’s also open to the public which goes till 2am. Which sounds fun. But wait, there’s more: Encuentros has a pool, rooftop terrace complete with jacuzzi, boasts 3 bars, and can also give you VIP access to many of the bars and clubs down the main street. Now that is cool.
Encuentros is one of our favourites in Granada, Nicaragua but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Granada – La Siesta
- $$
- 24-Hour Reception
- No Curfew
- Towels Included
Hey, the clue’s in the name: La Siesta. It’s a sleepy hostel in a quiet location that allows for a chilled environment – which is perfect for anyone wanting a bit of quiet time on their Nicaragua trip, or anyone with a natural aversion for overly loud and extra environments. We understand. So at this top hostel in Granada, you’ll find a little bit of solace, places to sit and socialise including a chill tropical garden, hammocks for actual siestas, private rooms (there’s also a 4-bed dorm) – and all at a budget-friendly price.
La Siesta is one of our favourites in Granada, Nicaragua but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
More Best Hostels in Granada, Nicaragua
El Caite Hostel
- $$
- 24-Hour Security
- Air Conditioning
- Swimming Pool
Another Granada backpackers hostel with an ideal location, El Caite Hostel is where you’ll want to be if you plan on hitting up all the cultural hotspots of Granada: Fortaleza de la Pólvora is just a few minutes’ walk away, and the Central Park and other iconic landmarks and UNESCO sites aren’t far either. El Caite also has a relaxed atmosphere – if you’re not here to party you’ll be happy about the chilled vibe here. That said it’s still a sociable place to meet fellow travellers and make friends (if you want). The place looks cool, it’s got a pool, and, um, it’s great!
Hostel Paradiso
- $$
- Bar & Restaurant
- Free Kayak Hire
- Beach
Located literally ON Lake Nicaragua, with its own slice of beach, this youth hostel in Granada is a good place to go if you like chilling on the sand with the prospect of messing around on the water to boot. Hostel Paradiso not only in name, huh? So with this focus on the lake, they’ve got kayaks for you to use free of charge, a floating dock, some water toys, volleyball, ping pong – and a bar right at the water’s edge. Which is cool AF. It’s not quite as cheap as other hostels but with its stunning natural setting, there’s not much in it if lakeside living sounds about right for you.
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What to Pack for your Granada Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Granada
The time has come for the epic hostel journey to end: that’s a wrap on my best hostels in Granada list.
I know that now you are ready to book the right hostel for yourself based on your own individual needs as a backpacker.
Granada really does have a hostel for everyone, so I hope you found my guide to the best hostels in Granada informative for you.
And if you like it there and want to stick around, there are some fantastic eco-lodges across the lake in the Isletas de Granada that offer a budget and environmentally friendly stay.
Still feeling unsure? I know that so many choices can be overwhelming! If in doubt, I recommend just going with my top pick for the best overall hostel in Granada: De Boca En Boca Hostel. See you down the road my friends…
FAQ about Hostels in Granada
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Granada.
Travel Safety Tips for Granada
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More Epic Hostels in Nicaragua and Central America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Granada.
Planning an epic trip all across Nicaragua or even Central America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Central America, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Granada has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
