5 Awesome Backpacker Hostels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia is an amazing country to backpack with diverse nature, sights and wonderful people. It’s also easy, safe, fun and affordable to backpack Malaysia.

Most backpackers start in the vibrant, multicultural, exciting capital, Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as simply KL.

Kuala Lumpur is also a major budget airline hub so you might well find yourself visiting a couple of times while backpacking Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to Kuala Lumpur now but I always find something new to see (or eat!) Check out my favortie things to do in Kuala Lumpur if you need some inspiration or my itinerary for Kuala Lumpur if you need some tips on how to spend your time here.

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Luckily, there are many great backpacker hostels in Kuala Lumpur where you can have a fun, comfortable, conveniently located and sociable stay without spending too much money.

The city is culturally very diverse so there’s lots of different neighbourhoods to explore and street food to try. If you want to know more about the different areas of the city check out my guide to where to stay in Kuala Lumpur. 

Of course, some backpacker hostels are better than others and where you stay can really make or break your trip, especially if you are traveling solo and looking to make friends with other travellers. To help here’s my top 5 best backpacker hostels in Kuala Lumpur.

The Best Backpacker Hostels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Reggae Mansion

Reggae Mansion is one of the most popular and best backpacker hostels in Kuala Lumpur as it’s conveniently situated in the China Town area and has an amazing rooftop area with views of the iconic Petronas Towers which hosts parties most nights.

The staff are friendly, its a great place to met solo travellers and there’s even a free dinner! The hostel is really big and the rooms are really comfortable – the dorm beds are huge and it feels more like a capsule hotel. It’s also super stylish, clean and modern.

Reggae Mansion is awesome because you have alot of privacy in your bed but can also have a lot of fun meeting other travellers at the rooftop parties. This is probably the best party hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Click here to book!

Mingle Hostel

Mingle Hostel is located in a historic colonial building in the heart of Chinatown – one of the most popular and exciting areas of Kuala Lumpur that also offers east access to all the city has to offer.

Mingle is one of the best backpacker hostels in Kuala Lumpur because of its sociable atmosphere, great facilities and cool excursions that make it super easy to meet other travellers. Mingle hostel has an open air rooftop lounge and speakeasy style bar, a computer room with free IMACs for you to use, a library and book exchange, 24 hour reception, super fast wifi, communal kitchen and café.

The hostel also run awesome tours including street food tours and excursions to waterfalls. There are mixed dorm rooms as well as ladies only dorms and private rooms to choose from. Dorm beds all have individual power sockets and privacy curtains around the beds. Mingle is a super cool hostel where you’ll never get bored, check out more photos and book here!

Paper Plane Hostel

Paper plane is a light, bright, modern, arty and stylish backpacker hostel. It’s conveniently located in Bukit Bintang – one of the most popular areas to stay in KL as its close to all the sights and public transport but where the hostel is situated is not too noisy or busy.

The best parts about this hostel are the design, the glasshouse lobby and the rooftop garden. The shared bathrooms have free toiletries and there is also free wifi and free tea and coffee.   There are air conditioned mixed dormitories, female only dormitories and private rooms at Paper Plane. All the rooms are stylish, clean, comfortable and well equipped. The staff are really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and the other guests were more chilled than in some of the more party hostels. All round it’s a comfy, chilled, conveniently located and good value for money backpacker hostel. Click here to book!

Dorms KL

Dorms KL is a really sociable and fun backpacker hostel that is also centrally located in the Bukit Bintang area of KL within walking distance or easy reach to all of the cities sights and attractions.

For me, what makes Dorms KL one of the best backpacker hostels in Kuala Lumpur are the daily events organised by the hostel that make it really easy to make new friends with other travellers. There are movie nights, pub crawls, pizza night and on Wednesday girls get free drinks for Ladies Night!

You won’t get hungry at Dorms KL because there is free breakfast included and also a nice café that has pretty cheap meals and is a good place to chill out with other backpackers.

They also offer free luggage storage, free city map and wifi and the staff are super friendly and helpful with lots of local insider tips. The dorms are all air-conditioned and have individual lockers and a power-plug for every bed. Click here to book!

Back Home

It’s hard to choose the best backpacker hostel in Kuala Lumpur but Back Home definitely deserves to be in the running. Back Home has a great central location near to the Masjid Jamek station making it really convenient to reach all areas of the city.

It’s a great, clean, modern hostel with great facilities, excellent wifi, security, atmosphere and helpful and friendly staff as well as little extras that make it stand out against other hostels in KL.

One of the highlights is the movie room which makes a nice place to hang out, have drinks and met other travellers. The beds are comfortable and rooms are spacious with plenty of storage space and lockable cupboards. Back Home has everything a traveller could need at a great price, in a great location with a lovely homely feel.  Click here to book! 

Backpacking Malaysia: Where Next?

Kuala Lumpur is just the start of your backpacking Malaysian adventure. There’s so much to explore in Malaysia. From exciting and cosmopolitan cities, to charming historical towns and colonial architecture.

And don’t forget the tropical beaches, steamy ancient jungles, mountains, scenic tea plantations and endangered wildlife and remote tribal communities over in Borneo.

Check out my perfect Malaysia backpacking itinerary to see the best way to fit in all the highlights into your trip.

Enjoy backpacking Kuala Lumpur!