11 Best Hostels in Lima, Peru

The sprawling metropolis that is Peru’s capital Lima was one of those ‘surprise cities’ for us. We’d not known what to expect from this city, and we ended up absolutely loving it! Since Lima was far off from where we were coming from, we wanted to keep staying costs down, and we did keep them down, thanks to the many amazing hostels in Peru Lima. With Peru being one of Couth America’s top backpacking destinations, Lima is the gateway. What’s more, the hostel choices were not only safe, but also ranged across vibes, budgets, and locations. If that wasn’t enough, they all boasted this amazing, friendly community vibe, no matter where we went and what we chose.

Since the city has nearly 100 registered hostels, it can get overwhelming to pick and choose where to stay. To that end, here’s a useful hosteling guide to “Ciudad de los Reyes” Lima, the “City of Kings.”

1900 Backpackers Hostel

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We begin the list with the 1900 Backpackers Hostel, a highly-recommended on-point hostel with a super-friendly staff. We loved the laidback, cool, and welcoming traveling crowd, but there were a lot of other things we loved about the hostel.

For one, it sits in a beautifully restored structure close to Lima’s best sights and nightlife. What’s more, it boasts a ton of amenities, with our favorite being the rooftop 1900 bar. After a long day, we’d head up here for a drink or two and get chatty with fellow travelers and locals. It was the perfect cool hangout spot on the property. We especially loved the spacious common room that was decked out in vintage decor and foliage. Besides free Wi-Fi, there was a long roster of free everyday activities, including language exchange sessions and walking tours.

Dorms and rooms at this hostel retain the historic character of the structure combined with modern touches for our comfort. Besides sturdy bunk beds with plush mattresses, the dorms also had immaculate shared bathrooms, personal lockers, and individual reading lights and sockets. Even the private rooms were amazing, offering additional comfort and privacy.

Flying Dog Hostel

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Imagine staying right next to Parque Kennedy in the heart of Miraflores in Lima; that’s the Flying Dog Hostel for you. The hostel sits in a historic arequipeña house and is ultra-affordable, besides being modern, convenient, and comfortable. We had the choice of spacious female-only and mixed dorms, as well as excellent private rooms. While the former have immaculate shared bathrooms, the latter have private bathrooms for those who want some space.

Not only did the hostel have free Wi-Fi, but they also served us a delicious breakfast spread every day. It was the best way to begin the day. Aside from a 24-hour front desk, the shared kitchen was a huge blessing for us, especially since we could whip up light meals when we were hungry. Socializing with fellow travelers was how we’d spend time at the hostel, either in the games room or the shared lounge.

Pool Paradise Lima

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Few hostels in the world, let alone Lima, have a pool on the property, but the Pool Paradise Lima is one of them!

This colorful Miraflores hostel was close to Lima’s attractions, sights, and nightlife, but its real winner was its amenities, especially the pool. In fact, it was the only hostel in Miraflores with a swimming pool, which is where we’d be lounging when we weren’t exploring the city. Right next to the pool was a massive, lush garden area with sunbeds galore, which was our favorite spot outside the pool. It was the social centerpiece of the hostel, stocked with games such as beer and ping pong, and surrounded by fun, mural-painted walls. However, we were most impressed with the team and the staff, who were very keen to impress and help us out.

The accommodations were amazing too, with rooms ranging from women-only and 12-person dorms to private doubles for people who wanted privacy.

Alpes Lima Kennedy Hostel

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Best location. In the heart of the trendy Miraflores, just a block from the scenic clifftop road of El Malecón lies Alpes Lima Kennedy Hostel. This was the perfect location for exploring Lima, but it wasn’t all just due to the location. Firstly, they offered a free breakfast spread, so it would fuel us up for more than half of the day. Secondly, they would even give us free city maps so exploring was all the easier for us, along with free Wi-Fi, of course.

Since we wanted to hang out and not just crash in, this hostel and its rooftop terrace is perfect. Think outdoor furniture, a barbeque, and faux grass, making it the ideal hangout spot for us and our new-found fellow traveler friends. There was also a common kitchen for all of us to hang out and make light meals. The on-the-house walking tours were a great way to explore and get to know the neighborhood. Are you here on Sundays? There are free yoga sessions too.

The hostel featured an excellent selection of 4- and 6-bed mixed dorms as well as a selection of double and triple-bed private rooms with shared and private bathrooms. What’s more, the beds are super-comfy everywhere, while the rooms themselves are airy and bright.

The Point Miraflores, Lima

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Sitting in a converted colonial mansion near the Bridge of Sighs, The Point Miraflores, Lima was the perfect party-esque staying What’s more, Barranco’s fun nightlife was just a stone’s throw away from the hostel.

However, our partying would begin start right at the in-house bar, which would be open until 1am every morning. If their bar closed earlier, The Point’s resident nightlife guide would take us all into the city to explore its buzzing nightclub scene. Of course, after a night of partying, we’d sleep in the next morning before digging into a complimentary buffet breakfast spread on the terrace. Then we’d walk through the quiet neighborhood, with the beach right down the street. After all the exploring and partying, we’d crash in the hammocks in the common room. Aside from a 24-hour front desk, the hostel even served drinks and food on the terrace throughout the day.

We had the choice of rooms and dorms at The Point Miraflores. Moreover, the dorms were extremely spacious, with 6- and 8-bed options, couches, shared bathrooms, safes, and lots of walking space. While the private rooms are on the smaller side, some of them even featured balconies.

Dragonfly Hostels Miraflores

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A Miraflores location doesn’t get any better than Dragonfly Hostels Miraflores, which was close to the Pacific-facing Larcomar Mall and Parque Kennedy. Formerly Lucky Lodge, this hostel sits in a classic Art Deco 60s style structure that looked extremely pretty on the outside.

On the inside, the hostel is a warm and friendly place where we met people from different countries, swapping travel stories. Open 24/7, the hostel boasted a barbeque area and a rooftop where we’d love to kick back and mingle with fellow travelers. What’s more, there was a long roster of activities ranging from beer pong and pisco sour making lessons to salsa nights. Since the beach was nearby, the hostel even allowed renting towels. Besides free Wi-Fi and free storage, the hostel also had 24/7 free hot showers, complimentary hot infusions, and a communal kitchen where we could whip up light meals. Did you know that they even offered a breakfast for a small fee between 7 and 10 am? Yep.

Choose from shared and private rooms, all with vibrant, cozy décor, with the former featuring free lockers and shared bathrooms and the latter featuring private bathrooms. They even had a washing machine, making it a godsend for us extended stay travelers on a tight budget.

Mama Backpackers, Lima

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We had an early morning flight, which is why we chose Mama Backpackers Lima. It sat off-the-beaten-path in the Covida neighborhood, just 15 minutes from the airport. Since we like to travel solo sometimes, this hostel suited us perfectly in that sense as well, as we were away from rowdy crowds too.

This cool and calm hostel still had tons of opportunities to mix and mingle with fellow travelers, which was the entire point of staying at a hostel. We’d get chatting with our hostel mates in the cozy yet spacious common room. Our hosts Carlos and Mama were terrific, taking care of our every need and giving us valuable tips to explore the city. It was like staying in someone’s home! The rooftop spot is a great addition, but it was the free perks like complimentary all-day infusions (coca tea. tea), free towels, a communal kitchen, and a free breakfast to kickstart the day that had us swooning.

Besides all of the above, we loved the choice of rooms at this spacious property. Not only were there private doubles but also dorms with plush beds, reading lights, and immaculate shared bathrooms that allowed us to stay comfortably.

Tierras Viajeras Hostel Cultural

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Best for couples. If you thought hostels were best for solo travelers and groups, think again. Welcome to Tierras Viajeras Hostel Cultural, which boasted a strategic away-from-the-bustle location in the gorgeous Callao neighborhood, which showed us the real side of Lima. Even then, we were a mere 10-minute taxi ride from the airport and the beach. While Miraflores and Barranco were farther away, that was the point of staying here.

Art was the focus at this cultural hostel, with wall installations and tours for soaking in museums, street-art murals, and more. What’s more, there would be live music onsite, too, allowing us to kick back after a long day of exploring the city. This hostel is culture-central too, with offbeat city tours, gastronomic experiences, etc. Are you still planning your Peruvian itinerary? Their tours and travel desk can help with that too.

What made this Tierras Viajeras outpost perfect for us as a couple was the many choices for cute private double rooms that they had. So, not only did we get our comfort and privacy, complete with a private modern bathroom, but we also got to meet other backpacking couples, groups of people, and color travelers.

Pariwana Hostel Lima

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Best value for money. Sitting right across the road from Miraflores’ Parque Central, Pariwana Hostel is one of the best value backpacking stays in the Peruvian capital. Why? That’s because we had the choice of six-people forms as well as private double rooms, all with comfy beds, under-bed lockers, power outlets, and individual reading lights. What’s more, all rooms feature clean lines and vibrant hues, reflecting the brand’s overall modern and energetic aesthetic.

However, the real value lay outside the rooms. Firstly, their free breakfast was a great addition to our penny-saving stay, and it also fueled us for half the day. Secondly, they boasted a communal kitchen, along with free tea. So, we could simply pick up ingredients and whip up quick meals when we wanted. Our favorite place, though, was the barbecue area and the industrial-style terrace, which was home to the Funky Bar. We’d usually begin our evening jaunts here, sipping on drinks at backpacker-friendly prices. Plus, it was a fantastic way to meet our fellow backpackers. Free luggage storage, free Wi-Fi, and a fabulous selection of board and arcade games round up the amenities here.

Selina Miraflores Lima

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Most luxurious. The luxe hostel brand Selina is famed for its cool communal areas and coworking spaces – and its Miraflores outpost is no different. Selina Miraflores Lima is one of the most luxurious hostels in the city, and it’s easy to see why. They not only have a community kitchen where we could whip up quick meals but also had luxuries like a cinema and a yoga room!

Moreover, the communal spaces were designed for us to get out, socialize, and mingle. For instance, their Playground area has a ton of frequent events always happening. Plus, they even conducted cheap tours almost every day, which is a fantastic idea for backpackers on a serious budget. There were well-designed working spaces, just like other Selina outposts, as well as a cocktail bar and a restaurant where we’d get together for a beer every evening.

On the inside, we found a wide array of accommodations for all kinds of budgets, ranging from 12-person dorms and family-size suites to entire apartments that were more “hotel” than hostel. We loved the vibrant decor, with turquoise-green walls and colorful splashes in the form of pillows and rugs. Even the dorms had high-quality beds, power outlets, and personal lockers, while the rooms were extremely tasteful, with seating areas and gorgeous decor.

Viajero Kokopelli Lima Barranco Hostel

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Sitting at the top of the list is the Viajero Kokopelli Lima Barranco Hostel, which wasn’t a surprise anyway. After all, its Cusco outpost is also one of the best hostels in Cusco, Peru. This fabulous hostel sits in a restored colonial mansion in the hip neighborhood of Barranco, and we loved every Instagrammable inch of this architectural gem. Think a host of original features like lofty ceilings and ceramic floor tiles.

“We love staying in modern hostels with character, and Viajero Kokopeli Lima was just that!”

WOW Travel

Our days began on a high with the included breakfast spread. What’s more, it even had a fantastic bar and restaurant, which would feature live music on some nights. We loved the pumping rooftop bar scene, which served a crackling selection of cocktails and beers, and that too at backpacker-friendly prices. After starting the party scene here, we’d continue at Barranco’s bustling nightlife scene a stone’s throw away. During the day, we even joined the hostel’s free walking tour of Lima, seeing all the must-see landmarks and sights with our fellow backpacking mates.

We had a choice of dorms and private rooms, all of which were tailored for convenience and comfort. While the private rooms had, well, privacy and private bathrooms, the dorm-style ones had comfy bunk beds, ample charging points, personal reading lights, secure lockers, and immaculate shared bathrooms.

Our Verdict!

While we loved all the choices for hostels in Lima, the ones below are special for their specific features:

• Best for couples: Tierras Viajeras Hostel Cultural
• Best location: Alpes Lima Kennedy Hostel
• Most luxurious: Selina Miraflores Lima
• Best value for money: Pariwana Hostel Lima

Where to Stay in Lima?

Even though Lima is smaller than many European cities, it’s not a small city, but rather a spread-out metropolis. It’s home to three significant neighborhoods, or “barrios,” each with its own unique personality. Firstly, there’s Cercado de Lima, its most central, oldest, historic neighborhood, a.k.a. Downtown. Since it was laid out in blocks, it was the only neighborhood where traffic made sense to us! Everything was located with respect to the main square, Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by gorgeous structures. Oh, and it’s also home to the most top things to do in Lima.

Secondly, there’s the flower-filled Miraflores, which is a traveler hub and perfect for first-time travelers. This upscale district, which is also very safe, had the most options for stays and hostels. The bohemian Barranco, on the other hand, was the coolest neighborhood we stayed in Lima. Besides galleries and great hostels, it’s also known for its fabulous nightlife and parties. Think tucked-away restaurants with great food and cocktails and bars with dance floors in historic structures. Finally, there’s the well-to-do San Isidro/Pueblo Libre, which are quieter, but very safe, making them very popular with families.

Where is the best place to stay in Lima for one night?

We’d choose a boutique hostel like the XXXX, which is super-comfy if you’re staying for a single night.

What are the best, safest, and upscale hostels in the city?

Our picks would be Viajero Kokopeli and Selina Lima, with the former located in Barranco and the latter in Miraflores.

Which is the best hostel for a laidback holiday?

Pool Paradise Lima is excellent for a laidback holiday since it has a swimming pool and a garden with sunbeds.