Hostels in Dorset 
Looking for the best hostels in Dorset? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Dorset with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Dorset hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Dorset and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Dorset
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Dorset, across 8 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Dorset hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Dorset. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Dorset
Dorset is a county on the south coast of England which takes in a number of large towns, small villages and part of the Jurrasic coast. It enjoys a climate that is more pleasant than a lot of the UK. Whilst there are a few hostels in Dorset, there may just be one hostel in a particular town, so advance booking would be wise. Trains and buses run throughout the area but may be less frequent in the less populated areas. Hostels are also scarcer in the smaller places.
Bournemouth is the biggest town in Dorset with a population over 180,000. The long, sandy beach is popular in the summer and has two piers. The town centre has a good range of shops and a large concert venue. The Russell-Cotes museum by the beach was originally a large, private home now turned over to the town complete with a collection of exhibits gathered from around overseas trips. The town centre tends to liven up at weekends with hen nights and revellers enjoying the pubs and clubs.
Poole is the town next to Bournemouth and the home for Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and for Bournemouth's university. In Poole, "The Lighthouse" is not a lighthouse at all, but rather a centre for the arts including a theatre and cinema. Poole has a large natural harbour and this is the place to catch a boat ride out to Brownsea Island which is popular for nature walks. Sandbanks is a peninsula in Poole, famous for its immensely expensive properties and views across the sea.
The ruins of the 11th century, Corfe Castle is near to Swanage. Swanage is a small seaside town to the south of Poole and this is the place to catch a ferry to the large Isle of Wight. Swanage is close to Old Harry Rocks which marks one end of the Jurassic coast line. Dorset is blessed with a beautiful coastal walk which goes through Kimmeridge, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Osmington, Weymouth, Fortuneswell, Abbotsbury, Chesil Beach, West Bay, Lyme Regis and ends in the county of Devon at Exmouth.
The Jurrasic coast is designated as a World Heritage site and covers 96 miles and 180 years of geology. It provides dramatic views, fascinating rock formations, and possibly some seal spotting. Rock falls do occur and there maybe the opportunity to find fossils.
Other notable areas include the market towns of Christchurch with its 11th century priory and Dorchester which was the inspiration for the books of Thomas Hardy. Weymouth is a bigger town which has a lot of Georgian architecture and a beach with many attractions for children like donkey rides and puppet shows.
Dorset has plenty to offer for all age groups and for any length of stay.
Handwritten by local expert for Dorset hostels Charli
Travel Tips for Dorset - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Dorset. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Dorset. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Dorset
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Dorset?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Dorset here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Dorset safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.