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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.

M
Mark Chen
From
Taiwan
- Wonderful public space with a sea viewing - Free breakfast and some snack - Great and helpful staff with lots of tourist information
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,256 reviews
Price from
US$19.68
1 night, 2 adults

Faloe Hostel

Kota Kinabalu

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.

B
Beck
From
Australia
Facilities and cleanliness were amazing. Loved the Queen size bed in the dorks, so comfortable. The staff (Sarah & Lia) were incredible and so helpful with planning my journey in Borneo. Check out KStudio gym nearby, they do 3 x classes for 75 MYR and were very welcoming.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 491 reviews
Price from
US$20.66
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 8.7
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 103 reviews
Price from
US$21.87
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.

O
Otey
From
Indonesia
The location, the staff and the hostel itself
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 358 reviews
Price from
US$19.44
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.

P
Patrice
From
Canada
Great hostel, good location, awesome staff, really clean. Highly recommended
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 431 reviews
Price from
US$25.10
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.

T
Tass
From
Slovenia
Very friendly staff. Clean. Drinking water available. Nice view.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.1
Very good - What previous guests thought, 221 reviews
Price from
US$18.71
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...

R
Ricard Cristia
From
Spain
Great communication with the host! I made a mistake while booking the room, but he was really flexible and made my stay comfortable and made me feel welcome. Everything was spotless and had a pleasant smell. No noise outside.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 140 reviews
Price from
US$22.64
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.

D
Daniela
From
Malaysia
Overall it was a fantastic experience! The hostel is well-maintained, clean, and has a welcoming atmosphere. The bathroom was impressively clean, which is always a big plus for me. The hostel provides essential amenities like 2in1 shampoo with body wash, and even towels, so you don't have to worry about bringing your own. Another great feature is the simple breakfast provided by the hostel, along with unlimited water and coffee, such a nice touch for the guests. It's clear that the staff has thought of almost everything to make guests feel at home.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 65 reviews
Price from
US$28.19
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.

J
James
From
United Kingdom
Outstanding hosts, lots of positive energy. Capsules offer privacy. I am 1m 92cm and just fit into one. USB charging ports, plug charging as well. Mirror, internal lighting within pod. Great showers and toilets, wash room facilities. You have access to free water, hot and cold for drinks. You are able to cook your own food. Beautifully furnished communal area. Amazing value for money. ***** 5 star rating
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 223 reviews
Price from
US$12.40
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.

M
Mohammad Haikal
From
Singapore
Place felt home-ly. Very nice people. Would come again soon. InshaAllah..
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 405 reviews
Price from
US$12.88
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 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 140 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.7
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 103 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.2
Good - What previous guests thought, 151 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.1
Very good - What previous guests thought, 221 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 405 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 491 reviews

Popular with guests booking hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 431 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 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, 1,256 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$25.20 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$12.13 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.

FAQ about hostels in Kota Kinabalu

Hostels that guests love in Kota Kinabalu

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Avg. price/night: US$18.23
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 491 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$25.52
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$23.62
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,256 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$23.62
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,256 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