Hostels in Cairns
Photo: pierre matile on Pexels.
The best hostels in Cairns, by what you're after
Picked from Hostelworld's own ratings and listings, not opinion — each pick says how.
- 🏆Best overall
beds from €29Dreamtime Hostel9.81,755 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🍳 KitchenDorm from€29Private from€40📍 570 m from the centreHow we picked: highest review-weighted Hostelworld rating among hostels with 100+ reviews. - 🎉Best for partying
beds from €18Mad Monkey Waterfront9.31,169 Hostelworld reviews🎉 Party🍳 KitchenDorm from€18Private from€27📍 700 m from the centreHow we picked: our party rule (Fun & Party on Hostelworld plus party events, or a 9.5+ atmosphere score and a bar), then the best review-weighted atmosphere score.
- 💸Best cheap bed
beds from €9.43Mumma's Hostel Cairns9.2553 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🥐 Free breakfast🍳 KitchenDorm from€9.43Private from€34📍 620 m from the centreHow we picked: lowest dorm price among hostels rated 8.5+ with 100+ reviews. - 🙋Best for solo travellers
beds from €31Travellers Oasis9.73,767 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🏆 Hoscar 2025🔐 Free lockers🍳 KitchenDorm from€31Private from€36📍 550 m from the centreHow we picked: best review-weighted atmosphere score among hostels with 100+ reviews. - 🏊Best with a poolbeds from €29Dreamtime Hostel9.81,755 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🍳 KitchenDorm from€29Private from€40📍 570 m from the centreHow we picked: has a pool, highest review-weighted rating.
- 🛏️Best value private room
beds from €23YHA Cairns Central9.2627 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🍹 Bar🍳 KitchenDorm from€23Private from€17📍 190 m from the centreHow we picked: lowest private-room price among hostels rated 8.5+ with 100+ reviews. - 📍Most central
beds from €23Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns8.94,530 Hostelworld reviews🎉 Party🏊 Pool🕐 24h reception🍹 BarDorm from€23Private from€71📍 170 m from the centreHow we picked: closest to the city centre among hostels rated 8.5+ with 100+ reviews.
🎉 Party hostels in Cairns
On Hostelworld's Fun & Party list and with party events this week, or a 9.5+ atmosphere score and a bar.
- beds from €23Most centralGilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns8.94,530 Hostelworld reviews🎉 Party🏊 Pool🕐 24h reception🍹 BarDorm from€23Private from€71📍 170 m from the centre
beds from €14Summer House Cairns8.31,623 Hostelworld reviews🎉 Party🏊 Pool🕐 24h reception🍹 BarDorm from€14Private from€22📍 2.8 km from the centre
💸 Cheapest beds in Cairns
- beds from €9.43Best cheap bedMumma's Hostel Cairns9.2553 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🥐 Free breakfast🍳 KitchenDorm from€9.43Private from€34📍 620 m from the centre
beds from €9.43The Jack Backpackers8.01,211 Hostelworld reviews🍹 Bar🍳 KitchenDorm from€9.43Private from€19📍 70 m from the centre- beds from €14Summer House Cairns8.31,623 Hostelworld reviews🎉 Party🏊 Pool🕐 24h reception🍹 BarDorm from€14Private from€22📍 2.8 km from the centre
beds from €16Travellers Paradise9.4117 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🍳 KitchenDorm from€16Private from€18📍 540 m from the centre
beds from €19Cairns City Backpackers7.0636 Hostelworld reviews🏊 Pool🍳 KitchenDorm from€19Private from€22📍 840 m from the centre
📍 Where they are
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenFreeMap. Pins show the cheapest bed Hostelworld lists.
All 23 hostels in Cairns compared
| Hostel | Rating | Dorm from | Private from | To centre | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dreamtime Hostel | 9.8(1,755) | €29 | €40 | 0.6 km | 🏊 |
 Travellers Oasis | 9.7(3,767) | €31 | €36 | 0.6 km | 🏊🏆 |
 Global Backpackers Cairns | 9.8(774) | €24 | €51 | 0.6 km | |
 Mad Monkey Village | 9.4(1,610) | €24 | €34 | 1.1 km | 🏊 |
 Mad Monkey Waterfront | 9.3(1,169) | €18 | €27 | 0.7 km | 🎉 |
 YHA Cairns Central | 9.2(627) | €23 | €17 | 0.2 km | 🏊 |
 Mumma's Hostel Cairns | 9.2(553) | €9.43 | €34 | 0.6 km | 🏊 |
 Travellers Paradise | 9.4(117) | €16 | €18 | 0.5 km | 🏊 |
 Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns | 8.9(4,530) | €23 | €71 | 0.2 km | 🎉🏊 |
 The Espy Hostel | 9.2(100) | €25 | €33 | 0.7 km | 🏊 |
 Mad Monkey Jungle | 8.9(2,055) | €24 | — | 0.3 km | 🎉🏊 |
 Temple Backpackers | €27 | €42 | 1.0 km | 🏊 | |
 Castaways Backpackers | — | €10 | 1.6 km | 🏊 | |
 Little Drifter Cairns | 8.8(199) | €31 | €31 | 0.4 km | |
 Hides Hotel | 8.6(6) | — | €27 | 0.3 km | |
 Wanna Stay? | 8.1(71) | €23 | €35 | 0.2 km | |
 Queens Court Hotel | 2.0(11) | — | €26 | 1.3 km | 🏊 |
 Aspect Central | (11) | — | €39 | 1.7 km | 🏊 |
 Summer House Cairns | 8.3(1,623) | €14 | €22 | 2.8 km | 🎉🏊 |
 Mad Monkey Central | 8.1(1,612) | €23 | €33 | 0.4 km | 🎉🏊 |
 The Jack Backpackers | 8.0(1,211) | €9.43 | €19 | 0.1 km | |
 Cairns City Backpackers | 7.0(636) | €19 | €22 | 0.8 km | 🏊 |
 Lake Central Cairns | (199) | — | €37 | 0.6 km | 🏊 |
Prices are the lowest per night Hostelworld listed on 11 October 2026; your dates may differ. Ratings are Hostelworld guests'.
FAQ
How much is a hostel in Cairns?+
Dorm beds in Cairns start at €9.43 a night (Mumma's Hostel Cairns); private rooms from €10 (Castaways Backpackers), the lowest prices Hostelworld listed on 11 October 2026.
What is the best hostel in Cairns?+
Dreamtime Hostel, rated 9.8 from 1,755 Hostelworld reviews — the highest-rated of the 23 hostels with 100+ reviews (11 October 2026).
What is the best party hostel in Cairns?+
Mad Monkey Waterfront: on Hostelworld's Fun & Party list with party events this week, and the highest atmosphere score among party hostels with 100+ reviews.
How many hostels are there in Cairns?+
Hostelworld lists 23 hostels in Cairns, averaging 8.5 from 27,716 reviews (11 October 2026).
Which hostels in Cairns have a pool?+
17 do, including Dreamtime Hostel, Travellers Oasis, Mad Monkey Village.
🎒 Sort the rest of your Cairns trip
How we pick · AirConnect data team
Every hostel Hostelworld lists in Cairns, read from its public pages on 11 October 2026: prices, ratings, category scores, facilities, events and Hostelworld's own filters. Awards use the rules shown; distances to the centre are Hostelworld's, checked against each hostel's coordinates. We refresh weekly. AirConnect may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.