Social Sydney Hostels for Solo Travelers
Traveling alone to Australia? Luckily, this country is a hotspot for backpackers and individuals on working holiday visas, making it a bit less intimidating to do by yourself. There are plenty of Sydney hostels for solo travelers to connect with each other and meet like-minded individuals with similar travel plans.
Starting your travels in Sydney is a great way to meet people who may be traveling the same route. With the buzzing atmosphere of this major city, the hostels here offer a great mix of events to help you explore the city and meet new people.
Whether you’ve stayed in a hostel before or not, it’s pretty well-known that they create the prime environment for meeting others. Having met a girl from the Netherlands and another group of Americans that I ended up hanging out with daily, I am a prime example of how these social events make you feel less alone.
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Continue reading to discover some ideal hostels and the activities that they offer!
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The Top Social Sydney Hostels
Wake Up! Sydney Central
Starting off strong with a centrally-located hostel just steps away from a train station, Wake Up! Sydney Central is a social hub. Easily one of the most popular choices among solo travelers, this hostel holds numerous events throughout the week, creating a fun and effortless environment for people to get to know each other.
While the rooms themselves are pretty basic, each bed comes with a power outlet, and there are lockers in each room for your use. The large mirrors are also a bonus, as there is no ensuite bathroom.
The hostel’s location is a great connecting point to other areas of Sydney, with the train station being in such close proximity. Alternatively, it is not too far of a walk down to some of the city’s highlights.
Additionally, the on-site cafe offers delicious breakfast items as well as a downstairs bar open 7 days a week with some cheap deals for those staying at the hostel.
Their travel desk in the lobby also provides travelers with access to local advice on anything from nearby cafes to recommended tours. Take advantage of this if you don’t know what to do during your time here.
Social Activities: Wake Up! Sydney Hostel has a pretty set itinerary full of complimentary guided tours, themed nights, and live DJ’s. You can expect an event at the hostel’s bar each night, but the day tours were what really stood out to me. They offer a guided city orientation tour, a trip to Manly Beach, a Sydney beaches walking tour, and pub crawl. These events are how I met the majority of people throughout my stay!
Check room prices here.
Wake Up! Bondi Beach
Staying on brand, the next social Sydney hostel I recommend for solo travelers is Wake Up! Bondi Beach. Although the downtown location seems to be constantly buzzing with activity, the Bondi Beach location is a bit more low-key, with fun activities throughout the week.
The location is pretty covetable, being right across from the famous Bondi Beach. Keep in mind that this hostel does require at least two nights, which I feel is needed at location.
The rooms here are pretty comparable to the downtown option, but the lobby is a bit cuter and offers better views with the beach being in such close proximity.
Social Activities: Events here range from a barbeque to yoga to a walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach. Solo travelers will be quite pleased with the amount of activities they have to choose from.
Click here to book!
Nomads Sydney
Another social downtown hostel, Nomads Sydney, is located across the street from Darling Harbour and is about a 30-minute walk from the Sydney Opera House. Some (not all) dorm beds here do have covetable privacy curtains, USB charging stations, and private lockers.
Keeping up with the social Sydney atmosphere, Nomads also includes an on-site bar with nightly events. You can enjoy the modern design while getting to know other travelers.
Social Activities: Apart from the nighttime events, Nomads Sydney offers a fun weekly schedule filled with activities like walking from Bondi to Coogee Beach, enjoying a traditional Aussie BBQ on the beach, and enjoying free pancakes! Despite its downtown location, Nomads makes sure that travelers see the famous beaches that Sydney has to offer.
View prices here.
The Pacific House
This hostel offers a cleaner, more sleek design for those looking for more than just a place to sleep. Each room here includes a privacy curtain, USB port, reading lights, and two large lockers per guest. You can rely on 24/7 reception hours and take advantage of social areas such as a TV lounge and kitchen. I should also mention that the kitchen has an air fryer!
Guests can enjoy food from the on-site cafe, bar, and pizzeria, as well as a free daily breakfast. Speaking of free, you can also borrow a yoga mat, football, basketball, and volleyball during your stay.
This safe and social Sydney hostel offers a great haven to return to and has helped numerous backpackers connect.
Social Activities: Throughout your stay here, you can engage in a number of free events, including yoga classes, a Coogee to Bondi walk, Sunday football games, a wine and cheese night, a movie night, and a trivia night. This hostel really knows how to cater to all types of travelers.
Book your stay here!
The Village Bondi Beach
Heading back over to Bondi Beach, The Village is another aesthetically pleasing hub for solo travelers to connect. Enjoy privacy curtains with your bunks, an outdoor seating area, and an outdoor shower for rinsing off after a sandy beach day.
With its close proximity to Bondi Beach, this hostel is a great choice for those whose priority is being by the beach or surfing. While the rooms are on the smaller side, the intimate environment of this hostel helps travelers get to know each other in a less intimidating setting.
Social Activities: Similar to some of the events hosted at other hostels, The Village Bondi Beach provides a BBQ night and free pancakes to its guests during their stay. With it being on the newer side, though, there is plenty of opportunity for this hostel to host new events for future travelers.
Check availability now.
Mad Monkey Coogee Beach
Lastly, a bit further out than some of the other social Sydney hostels mentioned for solo travelers, Mad Monkey Coogee Beach offers a humble rooming experience with stunning views of the ocean. The location also provides guests with easy access to nearby bars and restaurants.
Even though it is a bit further out than some other hostels, guests can quickly get to the Coogee to Bondi walk as well as public transportation options to explore downtown Sydney.
This hostel is known for its social atmosphere and is intentional about helping travelers connect, whether it be at their bar on the first floor or at one of their events throughout the week.
Social Activities: Events here can switch up weekly, but guests can usually expect to enjoy a pancake evening, pool tournament, movie night, or nightly DJ set.
Book your stay here!
Tips for Solo Travelers in Sydney
Sydney is a really popular destination for solo travelers, so it doesn’t feel quite as intimidating or awkward to sit alone in a cafe or explore on your own. The beauty of solo travel is that you can elect to do activities with strangers or go out and see the city by yourself. The choice is yours, as there are multiple social Sydney hostels for solo travelers hoping to meet people.
Taking advantage of and making an effort to attend the events your hostel offers is a great way to meet people who will want to explore the city with you. While I’ve grown out of some of the nighttime activities, I still met plenty of people by attending free tours offered throughout the week. Just do what feels right for you and try to put yourself out there at least once.
How to Make Friends as a Solo Traveler in Sydney
Staying at hostels and taking part in the events they offer is the prime way to meet people during your stay. Even if you aren’t staying in a hostel, there are some other ways to make friends. You can sign up for other day tours and introduce yourself to the other travelers, strike up conversations with people at cafes or bars, or consider joining a Facebook group for solo travelers in the area. These can be a great way to meet up with people who happen to be traveling there on the same dates.
Embracing these social activities is the key to making friends when traveling alone. I don’t think I’ve outgrown it feeling intimidating to me, but I’ve come to meet some great people just by striking up a conversation.
These social Sydney hostels for solo travelers are a great starting point for creating friendships and having people to explore with. You’ll likely find it much easier than you think to find people who are interested in the same activities as you are.
