4 Best Hostels in Johannesburg

Nestled in the heart of Johannesburg, Explorer Backpackers embodies the true spirit of backpacking. With its vibrant atmosphere and welcoming vibes, this hostel is a haven for adventurers seeking both camaraderie and affordability. The communal spaces buzz with energy, making it effortless to connect with fellow travelers from around the globe.

Explorer Backpackers strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. Clean and cozy dorms ensure a good night's rest after exploring the city's gems, like the Apartheid Museum and bustling markets. The knowledgeable staff, often seasoned travelers themselves, are a goldmine of local tips and offbeat discoveries.

A standout feature is the spacious outdoor area—a hub for barbecues, storytelling sessions, and impromptu guitar jams under the African sky. The hostel's social events, from pub crawls to city tours, make solo travelers feel like part of a global family. For those seeking authenticity without breaking the bank, Explorer Backpackers is an unbeatable choice. It's more than a hostel; it's a doorway to unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships.

Lebo's Soweto Backpackers offers a unique and personal experience of Soweto, a vibrant township in Johannesburg. This backpackers lodge is integrated with the local community and invites guests to be part of it.

Guests can choose from a range of accommodation options such as camping, dormitory, and private en-suite rooms. Lebo's Soweto Backpackers also offers interactive tours by walk, bicycle or tuk-tuk, and guests can enjoy home-cooked meals by the fire in the community park.

Overnight guests can explore Soweto on their own or on an organized tour conducted by local tour guides. In addition, community volunteering, self-guided tours, and free bicycle hire are available for those staying longer.

Brown Sugar Backpackers is a hostel located in Johannesburg, South Africa, that was once an infamous drug lord's mansion. The hostel has private rooms equipped with wall heaters, wall fans, wall safe, and international plugs for electronic devices. Gas geysers are used to provide hot water and cooking facilities for guests, as well as to keep the rooms warm during the colder months.

Brown Sugar Backpackers is spread over 3000 square meters and features a sparkling swimming pool at the top of the hill. Brown Sugar offers free Wi-Fi to guests in the common areas, and they are currently working on extending the service to all rooms. The staff is specialized in advising travelers on obtaining visas for countries such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Brown Sugar Backpackers provides a large communal and self-catering kitchen with all the necessary equipment and offers pub lunches and fresh home-cooked dinners every day. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. The hostel is located near the Eastgate International Shopping Mall and other shopping centers.

Curiocity Backpackers is a design hostel located in the heart of Maboneng, the lively neighborhood of Johannesburg. It has been recognized as one of the top 10 industrial-chic hostels in the world by the Guardian.

The hostel is designed for curious adventurers who are looking for a clean and cozy accommodation, and want to explore the local culture and community.

Curiocity Backpackers offers a range of accommodation options, including Private Apartments, Classic Doubles, Female only, and Shared Dormitories. In-house activities include Inner-city Tours, Soweto Township Tours, City Cycle Rides, Pub-crawls, Picnics In The Sky, and CurioSafaris.

The hostel also features various facilities, such as a games room, a well-equipped communal kitchen, a dipping pool, laundry services, a bar, a rooftop, free fast WiFi, a shuttle service, bicycle rentals, a communal chill-out zone, and a luggage room.