A post from Sebastiaan: a guide to finding the best hostels in Kyiv, Ukraine, with all different types of hostels. Includes a map at the end of the post.
Finding a hostel in Kyiv can be hard. It’s not that there aren’t hostels… there are plenty! However, many hostels in Kyiv—and in Ukraine in general—are more like boarding homes than travelers’ hostels.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might end up in a hostel full of Ukrainian men in Kyiv to work, not to socialize. Not a great hostel experience, in my opinion.
Even hostels with great reviews online often turn out to be just another boarding house (a particularly convenient boarding house, maybe). If this is what you’re into, fine. But if you’re staying in a hostel to meet other travelers and make friends, it’s not exactly ideal.
To save you the hassle of finding the right type of hostel, I compiled a list of best hostels in Kyiv, Ukraine for travelers. You can find a map of the hostels at the end of the article in case you want to know what’s what and where they all are.
For more info on traveling to Kyiv, check out my three-day Kyiv itinerary.
The Best Hostels in Kyiv for Travelers
Best overall hostel in Kyiv – Dream House Hostel ($$)
Great location, social hostel, on-site bar
Dream House Hostel is quickly becoming a staple in Eastern Europe, and it all started here. Usually it’s fully booked; it’s the most popular hostel in Kyiv, for good reason!
The location of Dream House Hostel in Kyiv is amazing: right at the end of Andriivsky Decent, in the heart of Podil. Dream House’s staff are friendly and professional, and the entire hostel is cleaned daily.
Dream House Hostel in Kyiv is a great place to meet other travelers. It has a chill common room, an on-site bar, and organized pub crawls, among other tours and activities. I stayed here many times and it’s by far my favorite hostel in Kyiv.
Book Dream House Hostel right now before it’s full!
Amazing location AND amazing value in Kyiv – ZigZag Hostel ($)
Amazing location, good value for money, within walking distance of everything
When it comes to location, it’s hard to beat ZigZag Hostel in Kyiv. Around the corner of Ploscha Lva Tolstoho metro station and Taras Shevchenka park, you’ll be right in the heart of the city.
You can walk to Maidan in about 15 minutes, and there are a plethora of cafes and restaurants within walking distance of ZigZag Hostel in Kyiv.
The hostel has a decent kitchen, a nice common room with lazy boy armchairs, and a small balcony. It’s also right next to Al’truist, a great place to get some food and get some work done while in Kyiv.
The entrance to the hostel is an unassuming door. Press *18 on the intercom to be let in.
Check out ZigZag Hostel in Kyiv here!
A place that has travelers in mind – Friends Forever Hostel ($)
Backpacker-oriented, central location, friendly staff
The good thing about Friends Forever is that the owner used to be a backpacker himself—he knows what it is that we travelers want! The staff at this place are friendly and helpful, and you’ll have all the amenities you need.
The location of Friends Forever Hostel in Kyiv is great, too. Not on the main street, so there’s little noise, but still right in the center. The hostel is walking distance from Maidan, and close to several historic buildings and mansions.
Book Friends Forever Hostel in Kyiv now!
An alternative hostel in Kyiv – Elements Hostel ($$)
Great chill room, free laundry, friendly hosts
I did not stay here myself, but I heard good stories from other travelers. According to them, they have one of the chillest chill rooms of all hostels in Kyiv! Element Hostel in Kyiv has movies, a PlayStation, and a guitar for jamming at all weird hours of the day. Elements Hostel in Kyiv also offers free laundry, which—as backpackers know—is awesome.
The interior of Elements Hostel in Kyiv is trippy (in a good way), but it’s not the hostel you want to go to if you want to party hard. If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere in a great location, look no further.
Check out Elements Hostel in Kyiv here!
Be prepared for cool artwork – Gar’is Kyiv Factory Hostel ($)
Nicely decorated, comfy beds, good common room
Have you ever had Jack Nicholson from The Shining look at you while taking a poop?
No?
Well after visiting Gar’is Kyiv Factory Hostel in Kyiv, you will have. This hostel is nice and spacious, and there are a lot of cool paintings everywhere. Including toilet Jack.
The hostel is a bit out of the way, about a 20-minute walk from the Golden Gate, and it’s a bit hard to find. This is made up for by comfortable beds, a relaxed common area with a TV and games, and quiet surroundings. It’s possible to take a bus to the city center, too.
Have a look at Gar’is Kyiv Factory Hostel here!
Right on Maidan – Булгакоff ($)
Super central, kind staff, privacy curtains
I didn’t think it was possible, but this hostel in Kyiv is right on Maidan and doesn’t charge an arm and a leg. There’s a balcony from where you can have a great view of Independence Square (Maidan). Other benefits include friendly staff, comfortable beds, and a cool interior.
On the downside, because it’s so close to Maidan, it can be noisy. But that’s a small price to pay to stay in one of the most centrally located hostels in Kyiv. The hostel is a bit small, so the toilet situation can be crowded. But, all in all, this is a great hostel considering its location in Kyiv.
A very stylish hostel in Kyiv – Ballet Hostel ($$)
Free breakfast included, charming, great location
Ballet Hostel in Kyiv oozes charm. With an old record player, paintings everywhere, books to read, a delicious breakfast—included in the price—and a friendly administrator, this hostel offers everything you would want. The location is also great, about 500 meters from the Golden Gate.
Rooms at Ballet Hostel in Kyiv come equipped with an AC, which is great if you’re visiting Kyiv in the summer. In short, Ballet Hostel in Kyiv offers great value for money.
Check out Ballet Hostel in Kyiv now!
Map of the best hostels in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine
So ends my list of favorite hostels in Kyiv for travelers. If you think I missed a particularly awesome hostel, let me know in the comments.
Check out this guide to travel in Ukraine for more info on traveling this amazing country!
Yay transparency! Some of the links in this article contain affiliate links. If you purchase anything using this link, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you.