Hostels in Tonga
You are looking for hostels in Tonga? Good news, you have come to the right place.
On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Tonga hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Tonga.
All Cities in Tonga
We list every single hostel in Tonga and the world. In total, we have 3 cities in Tonga for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.
All Tonga 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 Tonga. 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 Tonga
Tonga is an archipelagic country in the South Pacific made up of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. It’s known as the Friendly Islands. The country is divided into three island groups - Vava’u, Ha’apai, and Tongatapu. The capital city of Nukuʻalofa is on the main island of Tongatapu. The international airport in Tonga is Fua'amotu Airport, about 30 minutes from Nuku’alofa, and services flights from Fiji, the United States, New Zealand, China, and Australia. Its easy to get from the airport into the town; catch a local bus or taxi. To get around the islands, you either need to sail or fly. Real Tonga Airline operates short flights between most of the major islands. Once you’re on an island, you can hire a scooter, motorbike, or cycle; most cars are in terrible shape, as are the roads. You will need to purchase a Tongan drivers license in addition to your original one.
Nearby islands include Fiji, Samoa, Niue, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. Tonga was first inhabited by Polynesian migrants around 1500-1000 BCE, but the first real settlement at Nukuleka is estimated around 825BCE. Europeans first arrived in the 17th century. The first arrivals were Dutch, but they were soon followed by the British and the Spanish. Tonga became a protectorate under the British in 1900 but is the only Pacific nation to not give up their sovereignty.
The currency in Tonga is the Pa’anga (TOP). The main economy is characterised by a non-monetary sector and remittances from family abroad, as well as agriculture. Bananas, coconuts, vanilla beans, and coffee beans are among some of the crops grown for both personal subsistence and sale. The government owns much of the monetary sector and Tonga is considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Tonga is a beautiful country, with the white sand beaches, lagoons, and incredible coral reefs that much of the Pacific is known for, but tourism is not yet a main part of the economy. There are plans to increase tourism in Tonga.
The climate in Tonga is tropical, with two distinct seasons. The warm season is December to April, during which both the cyclone season and the rainy season occur, and the colder season is May to November. Temperatures average 30 degrees Celsius in the warm season and around 26 degrees Celsius in the cooler season.
Budget accommodation in Tonga is found in most places, but you won’t find the traditional European-style hostels or the flashpacker hostels of New Zealand. Here, budget accommodation means a cozy shack on the beach, a homestay, or a guesthouse. There are just a few backpacker hostels in Vava’u and Nuku’alofa, but to get a real feel for the country, consider a homestay.
Tonga is known for its low key approach. Once you are settled into your accommodation, hit the beach or the mountains. Tonga’s rugged coastline is perfect for hiking, whether its a day walk at Mapu’a ‘a Vaea (blowholes near Houma) or an overnight hike on the island of ‘Eua. Water lovers will relish the snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing, and kayaking opportunities. If you want to do some offshore excursions, hire a sailboat or charter a fishing boat for a day. On Vava’u, don’t miss the whale watching trips where, if you’re lucky, you can swim with these gentle giants. The cave system at ‘Anahulu is a rather unique network of limestone caves and freshwater pools. It’s a day trip from Nuku’alofa, but well worth the time and money.
Tonga is a laid-back nation with breathtaking scenery and friendly locals. You’ll be on Tonga Time in no time at all!
Handwritten by local expert for Tonga hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Tonga - 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 Tonga. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Tonga. 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 Tonga
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 Tonga?
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 Tonga 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 Tonga 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.