The Hostelworld blog
Travel written by people who actually went
City guides, routes and hard numbers from the hostels we stay in and the travellers we meet there. What a day really costs, when to go, where to eat at eleven at night, and how to turn up somewhere alone without staying that way.
The 2026 report
The State of Solo Travel
Vietnam breaks the top three, Americans stay home, and the people who travel alone stop chasing what is trending.
4.5m
Solo trips analysed
3,309
Travellers surveyed
59
Destinations with growth data
Explore our latest stories
Everything we have published recently, newest first.
Vietnam’s Wild Side: Caves, Karsts and National Parks
Cheap Places to Travel in December: Winter Escapes That Won’t Wreck Your Budget
7 Places Travel Experts Say to Skip This Winter (and Where Backpackers Should Go Instead)
The Best Beaches in Greece for Island-Hopping Backpackers
Sustainability Stories: How Hopestel Secret Garden is championing traveller health and wellness
Montego Bay on a Backpacker Budget: Jamaica’s Hip Strip Without the Resort Price Tag
Nha Trang on a Budget: Beaches, Islands and Nightlife
Trending this week
The destinations travellers are reading about right now.
Sustainability stories
The hostels doing something worth writing about, and the people behind them.
Sustainability Stories: How Hopestel Secret Garden is championing traveller health and wellness
Sustainability Stories: How Capsule Hotel is making sustainability the default
Sustainability Stories: How Centrum House Hostel is helping young people discover the world through hospitality
Sustainability Stories: How Ostello degli Elefanti and Catania’s LGBTQIA+ community created Queer Catania
Explore the map
Every destination we have written a guide for. Tap a country to see its city guides.
- 130 countries
- 756 city guides
Coloured countries have a guide. Tap one to see its cities.
Start with a continent
Every hub carries its countries and cities, what a trip costs there, and the guides our writers have put together on the ground.
Europe
Forty countries, one rail network, a bed in most cities for under EUR 30.
Explore Europe
Asia
Our strongest coverage, and the cheapest months on the road.
Explore Asia
North America
Road trips, national parks and cities that reward a week each.
Explore North America
South America
Long overland routes, and the continent where a month goes furthest.
Explore South America
Africa
Thinner coverage, growing fast. Morocco and the east lead it.
Explore Africa
Oceania
Australia, New Zealand and the islands. Working holidays and long stays.
Explore Oceania
Nature's calendar
What nature is up to in October
Blooms, migrations and glowing water happening right now, and where to see them.
Blooms
Cherry blossom season
Blooms
Tulip season
Blooms
Jacaranda season
Pretoria
Blooms
Lavender season
Light
Firefly season
Kuala Selangor (Kampung Kuantan and Bukit Belimbing)
Light
Bioluminescent bays and beaches
Mosquito Bay, Vieques, Laguna Grande, Fajardo, Maldives (Vaadhoo and other local islands)
Wildlife
Turtle hatching season
Tortuguero National Park
Wildlife
Whale watching season
Hervey Bay, Hermanus
Wildlife
The Great Migration
Masai Mara National Reserve
Landscapes
Autumn leaves
Vermont, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Highland Perthshire (Pitlochry)
Wildlife
Monarch butterfly migration
Light
Northern lights
Tromsø, Iceland (Reykjavík and beyond), Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, Abisko, Swedish Lapland
Light
Southern lights
Nothing on the calendar this month.
More from the blog
Things to do
What to Do If Your Hostel Roommates Are Noisy
Free Things to Do in the Americas, the Middle East and Beyond
Free Things to Do in Asia and the Pacific: The Backpacker’s Guide
Free Things To Do In Venice
Free Things To Do In Warsaw
Free Things To Do In Vancouver
Free Things To Do In Toronto
Free Things To Do In Sydney
Social connections
Local Events: How Hostels Connect You with the City
How to Choose the Best Social Hostel (Insights from Real Reviews)
Hostelworld Social Pass: The Social App, No Booking Required
Best Social Hostels in Amsterdam with Lounges and Canal Views
The Best Social Hostels in Prague for Solo Travellers
The Best Social Hostels in Osaka for Foodies and Solo Travelers
7 Best Apps for Solo Travellers to Meet People on the Road 🌍
The Best Hostels to Meet Other Travelers (With Reviews)
Hostel life
What Are the Extra Costs at Hostels? City Tax, Late Check-In & More
Dorm vs Private Room in a Hostel: How to Choose
Why Travellers Choose Hostels Over Hotels
How to Pick a Good Hostel
Arriving Late to Your Hostel? Late Check-In Tips
Am I Too Old to Stay in a Hostel?
The Future of Hostels: Trends from the Traveler Community
How Hostel Ratings & Reviews Work: Decoding the Score
Solo travel
Is Genoa Safe for Backpackers? Where to Wander, Where to Skip After Dark
What AI Is Actually Good For When You’re Planning a Trip
Best Places for Solo Travel in 2027
Best Hostels for Solo Female Travellers in Australia (With Reviews)
Best Hostels for Solo Female Travellers in Asia (With Reviews)
Best Hostels for Solo Female Travellers in South America (With Reviews)
Best Hostels for Solo Female Travellers in North America (With Reviews)
Best Hostels for Solo Female Travellers in Europe (With Reviews)
Nightlife
Travelling on a budget
Europe in February: Where to Go When Everyone Else Stays Home
Europe in January: 9 Budget Trips to Cure the Post-Holiday Blues
Two Weeks of Wild Sri Lanka on a Hostel Budget
How to Travel with Carry-On Only and Save Money
How to Travel Europe for a Month on a Student Budget
Best Value Backpacking Destinations 2026 With Daily Budget
Budget-Friendly Weekend in Amsterdam
Hostelworld vs Hotels vs Airbnb: Best for Budget, Social, Flexibility
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