Do Brussels hostels have private rooms, or only shared dorms?

All five on this list offer both options: shared dorms (the cheapest choice) and private rooms with their own bathroom. The price we show is for a double/private room — a shared dorm bed costs quite a bit less per person.

Why does the centre have so many hostels when it barely shows up in the other categories?

Because here the centre is the segment: more than half of Brussels's hostels are in the historic centre, and that's the whole point of a hostel — being within walking distance of everything. In hotels and apartments the centre is split with other neighborhoods; in hostels it isn't.

Is a hostel in Molenbeek worth it instead of the centre?

If price is the priority, yes: hostels outside the centre (Molenbeek, Saint-Josse) cost quite a bit less. The difference is 10-15 extra minutes walking or on transport to reach the Grand Place.

Hostels in Brussels: Dorms, Low Prices, and a Great Location (2026)

Is this category for you?

A hostel in Brussels is for solo travel, trips with friends, or a tight budget: a shared dorm or a cheap private room, a common kitchen, and being within walking distance of everything if you pick the centre. If you'd rather have full privacy, or you're travelling as a couple for a special occasion, a 3★ or a B&B can be worth it for a bit more money.

The 3 neighborhoods of the hostels

Unlike the other categories, here the historic centre really is the segment: we don't hold it back for the homepage, because it's half of the hostel inventory and the whole point of the format.

Map of Brussels

EU Quarter — EU headquarters, ideal for business trips.

Saint-Josse / Rogier — Close to the centre, a good budget base.

Schaerbeek — Residential area to the north, lower prices.

Ixelles / Flagey — Neighborhood life, local bars and restaurants.

Louise — The shopping avenue, elegant and well-connected.

Saint-Gilles — Art nouveau and a young vibe, close to Midi.

Midi — Next to the station, convenient for Eurostar/Thalys.

Anderlecht — The most affordable: worth choosing carefully.

Molenbeek — Across the canal, the lowest prices.

Etterbeek — Residential, right next to the EU Quarter.

Watermael-Boitsfort — The greenest, next to the Sonian Forest.

Uccle — Quiet and residential, in the south of the city.

Distances for each neighborhood are measured in a straight line from the Historic Centre (Grand Place) — walking or public transport always takes a little longer.

Guild houses and the Town Hall on the Grand Place in Brussels

1. Historic Centre Half of the category

More than half of Brussels's hostels are here: this is where the centre really is the segment, because it's the whole point of a hostel. BX Downtown, Sleep Well, and Hostel Bruegel are all less than 700 m from the Grand Place.

Rooftops of the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean neighborhood, Brussels

2. Molenbeek-Saint-Jean The most affordable

Across the canal, a bit further from the tourist circuit but with the lowest prices in the group. HI Brussels Generation Europe is here.

Jardin Botanique and modern towers in Saint-Josse, Brussels

3. Saint-Josse Close to Gare du Nord

A good base if you're arriving by train at Brussels-North, a short walk from the centre. Youth Hostel van Gogh is here.

5 recommended hostels in Brussels

Selected by score with a real volume of reviews, spread across the three neighborhoods. The price shown is for a double/private room — a shared dorm bed costs quite a bit less per person.

BX Downtown - Brussels

€121–212

Facade of the BX Downtown hostel, in the historic centre of Brussels

Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains 8-12, Historic Centre · 500 m from downtown

9.0 — the highest score of the five, with 1,404 real reviews.

500 m from the Grand Place, the most central location in the group.

A recent review mentions a one-off issue with another guest (resolved by staff).

Only 1,404 reviews — less volume than other hostels in the centre.

Reference price per night

Double room or dorm for 2 people

Between €121 and €212 a night depending on the date. The most expensive of the five — you're paying for the unbeatable location.

Real Booking.com prices, taxes included, for 2 people, surveyed on specific dates between August 2026 and August 2027.

See prices on Booking.com

Sleep Well Youth Hostel

€100–190

Rue du Damier 23, Historic Centre · 700 m from downtown

15,515 reviews — by far the most reviewed of the five, very consistent.

Buffet breakfast included, well rated in almost all recent reviews.

Several August reviews mention the air conditioning isn't enough in summer.

There's a maximum age (38) for the shared dorms.

Reference price per night

Double room or dorm for 2 people

Between €100 and €190 a night depending on the date. Highest in peak season; drops by half in January-February.

Real Booking.com prices, taxes included, for 2 people, surveyed on specific dates between August 2026 and August 2027.

See prices on Booking.com

Hostel Bruegel

€97–101

Heilige Geeststraat 2, Historic Centre · 600 m from downtown

6,541 solid reviews and the most stable price of the five (€97-101 nearly all year).

Well-rated included breakfast, and you can pay in cash.

One review notes the wifi doesn't reach every room.

Student groups can make some noise on certain dates.

Reference price per night

Double room or dorm for 2 people

Between €97 and €101 a night depending on the date. The most predictable of the five: practically the same price all year round.

Real Booking.com prices, taxes included, for 2 people, surveyed on specific dates between August 2026 and August 2027.

See prices on Booking.com

HI Brussels Generation Europe Hostel

€62–125

Rue de l'Éléphant 4, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean · 1.4 km from downtown

The cheapest of the five (€62-125 depending on the date), with breakfast and parking included.

4,802 reviews and well-rated staff in most recent reviews.

No air conditioning — several summer reviews flag it as uncomfortable.

1.4 km from downtown, a bit farther than the other historic-centre options.

Reference price per night

Double room or dorm for 2 people

Between €62 and €125 a night depending on the date. The most affordable in the group — prices rise in September with the start of the school year.

Real Booking.com prices, taxes included, for 2 people, surveyed on specific dates between August 2026 and August 2027.

See prices on Booking.com

Youth Hostel van Gogh

€110–126

Rue Traversière 17, Saint-Josse · 1.3 km from downtown

24-hour reception, and it lets you store luggage before check-in and after check-out.

Good value for money, with a buffet-style breakfast included.

7.4 is the lowest score of the five — several reviews mention noise at night.

One review notes so-so beds and air conditioning, without it being a major issue.

Reference price per night

Double room or dorm for 2 people

Between €110 and €126 a night depending on the date. Not much calendar loaded ahead — few dates found beyond 3 months out.

Real Booking.com prices, taxes included, for 2 people, surveyed on specific dates between August 2026 and August 2027.

See prices on Booking.com

How much a hostel in Brussels costs

The five range between €62 and €212 a night for a private room, depending on the hostel and the date — a shared dorm bed costs quite a bit less per person. Location matters more here than in other categories: the ones in the historic centre cost more than those in Molenbeek or Saint-Josse, even though they're only 10-15 minutes away on foot.

Amenities at the hostels

How many of the properties in this category offer each amenity — tap one to see the filtered list on Booking.

Pet-friendly only 1 hostel

Woman in a wheelchair next to a hotel room bed

Wheelchair accessible a few hostels

Parking about 5 hostels

Rainbow flag hanging on a building facade

Travel Proud (LGBTQ+) only 1 hostel

Map of the hostels

Not your format?

3★ Hotels →
If you'd rather have full privacy without spending much more, from €61 a night.

Bed & Breakfast →
If you're travelling as a couple and prefer a personal touch over a big hostel.

Frequently asked questions

Do Brussels hostels have private rooms, or only shared dorms?: All five on this list offer both options: shared dorms (the cheapest choice) and private rooms with their own bathroom. The price we show is for a double/private room — a shared dorm bed costs quite a bit less per person.
Why does the centre have so many hostels when it barely shows up in the other categories?: Because here the centre is the segment: more than half of Brussels's hostels are in the historic centre, and that's the whole point of a hostel — being within walking distance of everything. In hotels and apartments the centre is split with other neighborhoods; in hostels it isn't.
Is a hostel in Molenbeek worth it instead of the centre?: If price is the priority, yes: hostels outside the centre (Molenbeek, Saint-Josse) cost quite a bit less. The difference is 10-15 extra minutes walking or on transport to reach the Grand Place.

Transparency: this is an independent guide; we are not the official site of any hotel. Bookings are processed through Booking.com: if you book through our links, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are for reference only (August 2026).