The second most populous city in Switzerland is also home to the best hostels in Geneva. Close your eyes and imagine standing by the side of Lake Geneva while enjoying epic views of dramatic Mont Blanc. Yes, please! You only need one hostel, right? Just to be sure, we’ve included 3 that have been handpicked by us.
These are the hostels we’d recommend for our friends and family… and you, dear reader!
Good to know: We’ve also included a hostel in nearby Nyon, a gorgeous town just 22km from Geneva. Stay here if you’d rather not be right in the middle of the tourist area.
Your shortcut:
- City Hostel Geneva – top pick for solo travelers
- Geneva Hostel – great for groups
- Nyon Hostel (Nyon) – one for digital nomads
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
These cool hostels in Geneva offer a simple, no-frills environment as a base whilst exploring the natural beauty of the area.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
Why not go wild and tick off all 23 best hostels in Switzerland whilst you’re in the country?
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- #1 City Hostel Geneva
- #2 Geneva Hostel
- #3 Nyon Hostel
- cheapest hostels in Geneva
- best hostels in Geneva for solo travellers
- hotels in Geneva
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQ
You can find all 5 5-star hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Geneva
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Geneva cost x€ – x€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from x€ up to x€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the check-out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Party Hostels in Geneva: Sorry folks, there isn’t a good party hostel in this city! There’s plenty of nightlife though, so we recommend staying at City Hostel Geneva for its central location.
Staying in Lausanne: Lausanne is another option as a place to base yourself around Lake Geneva. It’s an easy 30-minute train ride to Geneva. A hostel we recommend in this area is Lausanne Youth Hostel Jeunotel – a great Geneva youth hostel.
Budget: Check out our Geneva budget travel guide.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read my guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. I especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels?
- Understanding Hostels in Europe - and what makes them special
The 3 Best Hostels in Geneva
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Geneva.
We put all three accommodations on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | City Hostel Geneva |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Geneva Hostel |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | City Hostel Geneva |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | Nyon Hostel |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | Geneva Hostel |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Nyon Hostel |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Nyon Hostel |
1. City Hostel Geneva
Our #1 hostel in Geneva happens to be located right in the center of the tourist area so it’s super easy to explore from here.
City Hostel Geneva is a modern minimalist accommodation that has all of the comforts you’re after. Whilst it’s pretty simplistic, we rate this highly because of the superb location.
It’s for any traveler who prefers to spend most of their time outside exploring. It’s one of the top Geneva backpacker’s hostels.
Super cool: Upon check-in you’ll be given a transit card which qualifies you for free public transport during your stay!
As we say, the rooms here are pretty basic, yet very clean and comfortable.
You can either sleep in a shared dorm (mixed & single gender) or opt for a single, twin, or triple room. Out in the corridor, you’ll find huge lockers big enough for your backpack.
What else?
- Large guest kitchen & dining area
- Lounge area w/ vending machines
- Free WiFi
- Gift shop
There aren’t any organized activities or events happening here, so it’s best to choose this hostel if you’re happy pleasing yourself.
Just so you know, there is an elevator here so forget about hauling your luggage up the stairs. Phew!
At the end of every day, there is a free English movie shown to keep you entertained on chilly nights.
Location: It’s an easy 7-minute walk from the main train station to City Hostel Geneva. Need a Geneva hostel near the airport? It’s free to reach the hostel from Geneva airport, just grab yourself a Unireso ticket which allows you free public transport for 80 minutes – it will take you 20 minutes. Lake Geneva is just a 5 minute walk away!
This is one of the best hostels in Geneva for
- Solo travellers
- Backpackers
Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Geneva Hostel
Next up is a similarly modern accommodation that’s surrounded by 5-star hotels in a quiet neighbourhood. Let us introduce Geneva Hostel.
This historic building is from the 19th century, refurbished with all the mod-cons and traveler comforts.
Out on the outdoor terrace, you can enjoy views of Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva – wow!
Thanks to the 24-hour reception and no curfew, you’re welcome to turn up whenever you like to check-in.
The nice thing about Geneva Hostel is that the spaces are more set up for socializing. There’s a foosball table to bring people together and a mini library for the bookworms.
Thanks to the sheer size of the place (336 beds in total!), groups are welcome and there are tons of common areas to spread out in.
If you’re looking for student hostels in Geneva, this one is a perfect choice.
Room choices include:
- Male & female only dorms
- Single, twin & triple private rooms
- Quad room w/ private toilet
Dorms come with 3, 5, 6, 8, and 12-beds, so now you can choose depending on how sociable you’re feeling.
To save you money and time, there’s an onsite restaurant that’s open for a few hours each evening. It’s also possible for groups to order takeaway picnics and lunches here.
And guess what? There’s a free breakfast, yay!
Location: Just 2km from picture-perfect Old Town, Vieille Ville. The very pretty Parc de La Perle du Lac is just around the corner. Geneva Railway Station is a 10-minute walk from the hostel.
This is one of the best hostels in Geneva for
- Groups
- Families
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Nyon Hostel (Nyon)
To mix things up a bit we want to include a hostel that’s located in Nyon, a pretty little lakeside town just 22km north of Geneva City.
Nyon Hostel is a great choice if you don’t necessarily want to be in the city center of Geneva, and it only takes around 15 minutes to reach the city by car.
Once again, this hostel isn’t anything super exciting – the design is modern and minimalist and there are no organized activities here.
Still, for a comfortable, affordable stay we think it’s a good option for any backpacker and digital nomad visiting the area.
In fact, there are well set up desks and computers for location independent workers on the move. The coffee machine in the dining area is there for you any time of the day!
Let’s show you the room types:
- 6-bed mixed, male & female dorms
- Double room w/ balcony
- Standard family room (up to 8 people)
- Suite w/ balcony
- Economy quadruple room
The dorm room beds are equipped with reading lights and electrical charging sockets. Everyone gets a locker which also includes a charging socket inside.
Some of the common areas include a kitchen, a chill-out room with a big TV, and a beautiful garden with a terrace.
Breakfast is free and discounts can be enjoyed for two of the nearby museums.
Location: It takes 30 minutes to reach Nyon Hostel from Geneva International Airport (by bus), and it’s a 10-minute walk from Nyon train station.
This is one of the best hostels in Geneva for
- Digital nomads
- Couples
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Geneva for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Geneva for solo-travellers?
Honestly, Geneva is a bit of a strange destination to recommend to solo travelers. It’s far more popular for couples, groups, and families… and richer people!
Still, if you are visiting the area as a solo traveler, we recommend staying at City Hostel Geneva.
It’s super central and within easy reach of good bars and restaurants, making it easier to meet people outside of the hostel.
If you choose a dorm room it’s more likely you’ll meet friends here.
As there aren’t any organized activities, make sure you’re happy with doing your own thing for the most part.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Looking for Hotels in Geneva?
Normally we don’t include hotel recommendations in our guides. The reasons are pretty obvious, right? We are Hostelgeeks for a reason!
Yet, as the hostels in Geneva have more of a hotel vibe, we thought we’d throw a hotel into the mix so that all of your bases are covered.
MEININGER Hotel Genève Centre Charmilles is a brand new property in Geneva and we choose to include it here because of the good reputation MEININGER has over the years. It’s a great budget hotel option.
The cool thing about this hotel is that there is a shared kitchen and dining area for guests.
Traveling with kids? They’ll love the ping pong tunnel table by reception!
Rooms include single, twin, triple, quadruple, and family rooms for 5-6 persons. It’s an ideal accommodation for families and couples.
Another option: La Cour Des Augustins Boutique Gallery Design Hotel is another modern, hip hotel in the area.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about the cheapest hostels in Geneva ?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Geneva .
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Geneva
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
From time to time, I receive special promo codes for booking platforms, hotels, or hostels. I will be sharing these here once received. Bookmark this page to get an update.
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
I included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
I recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Geneva best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
My Best Hostels in Geneva for Female Traveler on a Map + Sights
Let us have a look at the map. Below we list all three best Geneva hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all the sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map would help you with planning your trip too.
Looking for things to do in Geneva Switzerland?
We also included the main tourist attractions you need to know in this list:
- The Geneva Water Fountain
- Musée d’Art et d’Histoire
- Palais des Nations
- Bains des Pâquis
- St Pierre Cathedral
FAQ
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Geneva.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations in Switzerland:
- 23 BEST hostels in Switzerland
- best hostels in Interlaken
- best hostels in Lucerne
- best hostels in Basel
- best hostels in Zurich
- Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof in Interlaken
You can find all our new and updated articles for Best Hostels here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list, and more.
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