The top 7 hostels in Ireland

Known for its endlessly green scenery and storied history, Ireland is a pint-sized island where you can pack a lot in: from the ancient east to the dramatic Atlantic coast.

To help you plan your trip, here are the best hostels the ‘Emerald Isle’ has to offer.

Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel, Galway City, County Galway

Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel is four minutes’ walk from the traditional craft stores of Shop Street in Galway city centre. You can choose from modern rooms and dorms, and make your own meals in a sleek self-catering kitchen. The reception lounge has Mac computers, a pool table and a giant wall mural depicting Galway’s famous tribes. Borrow a city map and visit Lynch’s Castle or the Browne Doorway to learn about the city’s medieval rulers – stopping off for a pint at Tig Cóilí on the way.

The Black Sheep Hostel, Killarney, County Kerry

Although situated in Killarney town, The Black Sheep Hostel has a snug farmhouse feel. It provides rooms with pinewood bunks, a shared kitchen with gas hobs and a reading room that roars with a log fire on chilly evenings. Each morning, you get to taste homemade soda bread and free-range eggs from the hens that cluck around the back garden’s hammocks. The hostel backs onto Killarney National Park, so you can stroll to Muckross Abbey or rent a bike and cycle through the Gap of Dunloe.

The Nest Boutique Hostel, Salthill, County Galway

A 12-minute bus ride from Galway’s Eyre Square, The Nest Boutique Hostel is found in the seaside suburb of Salthill. The property’s trendy industrial-style rooms make smart use of recycled materials, and private ones include power showers and eco-friendly toiletries. You can kickstart the day with a barista-made coffee and raspberry pastry, then wander the promenade for panoramas of Galway Bay. At night, the neighbourhood bars draw you in with live traditional music and microbrewed stout.

Moville Boutique Hostel, Inishowen, County Donegal

The stone barn that hosts Moville Boutique Hostel is tucked away amid mature woodland on Donegal’s rugged Inishowen peninsula. The property offers both self-sufficient apartments and ample rooms with a free run of the farmhouse kitchen, making it popular with young families. The fairy garden, pet farm and rich birdlife sprinkle a dash of magic for children, too. From the hostel, you can cross Ireland’s oldest bridge and follow the river to the placid shore of Lough Foyle, just ten minutes away.

Connemara National Park Hostel – Letterfrack Lodge, County Galway

On the edge of Connemara National Park, Letterfrack Lodge is ideally placed for exploring the wilds of western Ireland. The popular Diamond Hill hiking trail starts right outside, while pony trekking and canoeing can be booked at the neighbouring visitor centre. Most of the hostel’s rooms have their own bathrooms, and you’re welcome to use the shared lounge, kitchen and laundry. After a day outdoors, warm up with freshly caught Atlantic salmon and a whiskey in the old-school pub.

Lus Mor, Roundwood, County Wicklow

An hour’s drive south of Dublin, Lus Mor is blessed with wondrous views of the Wicklow Mountains. The B&B-style hostel serves healthy continental or hearty fried breakfasts – you choose – plus organic home-cooked dinners made to order. You can check in to cosy private rooms or an airy dormitory loft, and mingle in a funky lounge that overlooks emerald-green valleys. Ask your hosts for the most scenic walking and biking trails to Powerscourt Waterfall or Glendalough’s sixth-century monastery, both 15 km away.

Maynooth Campus Accommodation, County Kildare

Maynooth Campus Accommodation is set on the historic grounds of Maynooth University, 25 minutes’ drive from Dublin. Its rooms are housed in heritage-listed Georgian and neo-Gothic buildings from the early 1800s, and come with tea/coffee makers and leafy courtyard views. Grab breakfast in the Harry Potteresque banquet hall, then take a walking tour of the college – you’ll hear ghost stories, see medieval castle ruins and witness the world’s largest choir chapel. Local cafes and bars are mere footsteps from the college gates.