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Hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Find the hostels that appeal to you the most

The best hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Some of the best backpacker spots in Kota Kinabalu

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Homy Seafront Hostel

Kota Kinabalu

Homy Seafront Hostel is situated in Kota Kinabalu, within 3.6 km of Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 5.4 km of North Borneo Railway.

H
Hara
From
United States
This place EXCEEDED my expectations! Staff was so helpful with planning literally everything. Location was perfect - right on the water. Rooms were cozy and it felt like home.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,255 reviews
Price from
US$19.70
1 night, 2 adults

Concrete Jungle Cabin

Kota Kinabalu

Concrete Jungle Cabin is set in Kota Kinabalu, within 4.1 km of Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 5.2 km of Likas City Mosque.

M
Malvin Mikeson
From
Canada
I can honestly say this is one of the best hostels I've stayed at during my entire trip! The place has just been renovated, so everything is sparkling clean. The design is modern and there are great safety features, like personal lockers in the dorms and big storage spaces for your luggage. It's right on Gaya Street, the heart of Kota Kinabalu, which makes it perfect for exploring the weekend markets. The hostel has such a welcoming vibe, and the staff make you feel like part of the family—they even bought me a beer! Thanks a lot, guys! I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in Kota Kinabalu. Cheers! 🍻
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 102 reviews
Price from
US$21.89
1 night, 2 adults

Signel Hostel

Kota Kinabalu

Set in Kota Kinabalu and with Filipino Market Sabah reachable within 500 metres, Signel Hostel offers a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a terrace.

D
DUYOUNG
From
South Korea
Nice location. Friendly staff. Clean n comportable wiith affordable price :)
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 358 reviews
Price from
US$19.46
1 night, 2 adults

Vibrant Hostel

Kota Kinabalu

Located in Kota Kinabalu, 1.7 km from Filipino Market Sabah, Vibrant Hostel provides air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge.

A
Alice
From
Malaysia
My favourite place to stay in kk!
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 432 reviews
Price from
US$25.12
1 night, 2 adults

Space Cap Hotel

Kota Kinabalu

Situated in Kota Kinabalu and within 400 metres of Filipino Market Sabah, Space Cap Hotel has a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi.

E
Egan zhuang yong
From
Brunei Darussalam
Surrounding and how easy to get to places
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.1
Very good - What previous guests thought, 223 reviews
Price from
US$18.73
1 night, 2 adults

Borneo Gaya Lodge

Kota Kinabalu

Situated within less than 1 km of Filipino Market Sabah and 3.1 km of Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, Borneo Gaya Lodge features rooms with air conditioning and a private bathroom in Kota...

D
Derek
From
Ireland
Walter is brilliant. Very nice guy and always quick with helpful answers and info.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 139 reviews
Price from
US$22.66
1 night, 2 adults

Jiran Hostel Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu

Set in Kota Kinabalu and within 1.3 km of Filipino Market Sabah, Jiran Hostel Kota Kinabalu has a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi.

A
Anna
From
Australia
Jiran hostel was wonderful. The ladies running it are so friendly and kind. They helped me book my onward travel to kinabatangan river and even shared some local fruits and dishes with me. The hostel itself is perfectly located near the jetty and gaya street in town. The hostel is clean and secure. They provide a light breakfast and drinking water. I would love to stay here again
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 65 reviews
Price from
US$28.22
1 night, 2 adults

Capsule Inn

Kota Kinabalu

Capsule Inn is located in Kota Kinabalu, 3.6 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 4.7 km from North Borneo Railway.

A
Afif
From
Malaysia
I booked a dorm with aircond. It’s clean and they provide you a very comfy comforter and towel. The hostel is clean and the staff were friendly. They have common kitchen and common area with a hot/cold water dispenser. The toilet is clean with strong water and heater. Importantly they provide you with breakfast.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 223 reviews
Price from
US$12.42
1 night, 2 adults

Escape Backpackers KK

Kota Kinabalu

Located in Kota Kinabalu, 400 metres from Filipino Market Sabah, Escape Backpackers KK provides air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge.

F
Fernanda
From
Uruguay
You feel like home. Breakfast is delicious, every days something different. Also in the afternoon someone cooks some snacks. And you always have coffee and water. You can also cook, do laundry. There’s always someone around to talk, very good vibes by the way. And The staff is amazing.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 405 reviews
Price from
US$12.90
1 night, 2 adults

Oikos Poshtel

Kota Kinabalu

Located in Kota Kinabalu and with Filipino Market Sabah reachable within 1.6 km, Oikos Poshtel provides a tour desk, non-smoking rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi and a restaurant.

A
Anonymous39
From
Brunei Darussalam
Very strategic location, the place is clean, all facilities are provided too. It's quiet too.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.1
Good - What previous guests thought, 151 reviews
Price from
US$31.62
1 night, 2 adults
All hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Looking for a hostel?

Budget travellers know that there is no better way to make the most of their trip than by staying at a hostel: save money for exploring during the day, and swap stories with fellow backpackers in the shared kitchen or bar in the evening. Dorm-style bedrooms with shared bathrooms are standard hostel fare, but private rooms are also available for those willing to pay a bit more.

Most booked hostels in Kota Kinabalu and surroundings in the past month

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Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.1
Good - What previous guests thought, 151 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.9
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 195 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.1
Very good - What previous guests thought, 223 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 490 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 102 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 358 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 432 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 405 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.8
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 404 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,255 reviews

No credit card needed to book these hostels in Kota Kinabalu and nearby

Capsule Inn

Kota Kinabalu
No credit card needed
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 223 reviews

Capsule Inn is located in Kota Kinabalu, 3.6 km from Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 4.7 km from North Borneo Railway.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.9
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 13 reviews

Akinabalu Youth Hostel provides air-conditioned accommodation in Kota Kinabalu. The accommodation features a shared kitchen, a shared lounge and organising tours for guests.

From US$25.22 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.8
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 404 reviews

Nusantara Mattwaddien Hostel is situated in Kota Kinabalu, within 11 km of International Technology & Commercial Centre Penampang - ITCC and 2.9 km of Signal Hill Observatory.

From US$12.14 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 1.0
Bad - What previous guests thought, 1 review

Situated within 3.4 km of Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 5 km of Likas City Mosque, Capsule inn CI enterprise offers rooms in Kota Kinabalu.

Faloe Hostel

Kota Kinabalu
No credit card needed
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 490 reviews

Faloe Hostel is set in Kota Kinabalu, within 1.8 km of Filipino Market Sabah and 4.1 km of Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village.

From US$20.68 per night

FAQ about hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Hostels that guests love in Kota Kinabalu

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Avg. price/night: US$20.68
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 490 reviews
The full team is wonderful and they help you with everything they can. The hostel is pretty, clean and very well organized. The common areas are very cozy. This has been for me the best hostel in all Malaysia 🙂🙃🙂
Guest review by
Sonne_HD
Solo traveller
Avg. price/night: US$25.54
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 358 reviews
Modern furnishing and each pod feels very private which is nice. The area immediately outside the hostel doesn’t feel like the most inviting but is perfectly safe, and probably quite insightful. Very central (although not sure that really makes a difference- not huge amounts to do in the city)
Guest review by
Christopher
Solo traveller
Avg. price/night: US$23.64
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,255 reviews
Amazing culture, stunning sunsets from the hostel panorama window and very clean! Definitely one of the very best hostels I’ve been in so far. Special thanks to Jenny of the hostel staff for integrating new people into the amazing social culture!
Guest review by
Ralf Johannes
Solo traveller
Avg. price/night: US$23.64
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,255 reviews
This was without a doubt the best hostel I ever stayed in so far. It’s clean, safe, good facilities, nice rooms, nice kitchen and living room, super friendly people who work there,… I definitely go back!
Guest review by
Delphine
Solo traveller