Best Hostels in Marseille: top picks

Marseille is a backpackers’ hot-spot with an impressive array of affordable hostels. Travelers on a budget can still enjoy comfort when knowing the right spots: today’s top hostels in central Marseille feature clean, modern rooms, free Wi-Fi, and friendly social spaces. Our guide covers the best cheap hostels in Marseille center with prime locations, great reviews and links to book and enjoy the top picks from the best hostels in Marseille. These hostels can be booked via https://www.hostelworld.com/fr/

Vertigo Vieux-Port Hostel

Price Range: ~€25 (dorms) to €90 (private rooms) per night
Location: Old Port (Vieux-Port) – Tucked just up the hill from Marseille’s famous Old Port, Vertigo Vieux-Port sits in a prime central spot. You can easily walk to the bustling harbor, beaches, and even the iconic Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica above the city. Bars, cafes, and the central market are all nearby, yet the hostel’s side-street location keeps things safe and relatively quiet at night.
Key Perks & Features: This hostel offers a free breakfast to start your day (a rarity in France’s hostel scene), plus a well-equipped communal kitchen for cooking your own meals and saving more cash. The atmosphere is cozy and social – ideal for meeting fellow travelers – and the friendly staff can offer tips on local hotspots. Facilities include 24-hour reception, luggage storage, and free Wi-Fi. Dorm rooms have sturdy bunk beds (with individual lockers), and the private rooms provide hotel-like comfort on a budget.
Unique or Fun Aspect: Vertigo is set in a renovated historic building with tons of character. In fact, the interior was personally designed by local artists, giving each room and common area a quirky Marseille flair. Colorful murals, vintage furnishings, and exposed wooden beams create an artsy charm that you won’t find in a generic hotel. Combined with the communal lounge areas and the hostel’s own bar, it’s a warm, creative environment perfect for swapping travel stories – a top reason why Vertigo Vieux-Port is often cited as the best overall hostel in Marseille.

The People Hostel – Marseille

Price Range: ~€20–€60 per night (from inexpensive dorm beds to private rooms)
Location: City Center (La Joliette/Panier) – The People Hostel is a modern spot right in central Marseille, only a few minutes’ walk from the Saint-Charles train station, the Old Port, and the trendy Le Panier district. It’s extremely convenient for exploring the city on foot; plus, nearby metro and tram stops make it easy to reach other neighborhoods. Despite being so central, the hostel is tucked on a side street, giving you a comfortable base that isn’t too noisy at night.
Key Perks & Features: Opened in 2021, this hostel feels more like a stylish boutique hotel blended with a hostel vibe. You’ll find air-conditioned rooms (a blessing in Marseille’s summer heat) and free Wi-Fi throughout. There’s a chic on-site bar and café serving local beers and tapas, a sunny courtyard terrace for socializing, and even a shared kitchen area (with fridge and microwave) if you want to store snacks. The dorm bunk beds are built with privacy curtains and individual lights/outlets, and everything is still new and clean. A 24-hour reception and security make late check-ins or early check-outs hassle-free.
Unique or Fun Aspect: The People Hostel has a creative soul – in fact, it doubles as an art gallery showcasing local artists’ works. The walls are adorned with street art and murals, immersing you in Marseille’s edgy art scene.

Auberge de Jeunesse HI Marseille – Château de Bois Luzy

Price Range: ~€15–€45 per night (budget dorms to simple private rooms)
Location: Bois Luzy (12th Arrondissement) – Ever wanted to stay in a castle on a hill? This official HI (Hostelling International) hostel is set in Château de Bois-Luzy, a 19th-century mini-castle on the eastern heights of Marseille. It’s surrounded by an 8-hectare public park, offering a peaceful, green escape from the city bustle. You’ll be about 4.5 km from the Old Port (city center) – so not walkable to the main sights – but a local bus stop is only 200m away, making it easy to reach downtown in 15–20 minutes. The trade-off for being a bit outside the core is enjoying panoramic views over Marseille and a tranquil, safe neighborhood.
Key Perks & Features: As the cheapest hostel in Marseille in many travelers’ eyes, HI Bois Luzy still packs in great perks. A free breakfast is included – and not just any breakfast, but a fresh one with homemade honey and organic eggs from the hostel’s own chickens on the grounds! There’s a large communal kitchen and dining hall if you wish to cook, picnic tables on the lawn, vending machines, and even sports facilities on the property (volleyball, basketball, and more). Guests appreciate the free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and secure, fenced premises that make it feel like a little fortress. The dorms (4 to 8 beds) and private rooms are basic but clean, and the reception can assist with directions and tips.
Unique or Fun Aspect: This hostel’s setting is truly one-of-a-kind. You’ll be staying in a Napoleonic-era château with period architectural details like a sky-lit foyer, wrought-iron balconies, and mosaic floors – it almost feels like a museum! Outside, you can relax with your feet in the grass, enjoying a meal at a picnic table as if in the 19th century.

Hello Marseille Hostel

Price Range: ~€20–€30 per night (all dorm beds)
Location: Vieux-Port area (Rue Breteuil) – Hello Marseille enjoys a fantastic location in the very center of Marseille, just a block from the Old Port. Step outside and you’re minutes away from the lively harbor, art galleries, nightlife in the cours Honoré-d’Estienne, and metro/bus connections. Despite being so central, this hostel is on a smaller side street off the main drag, which means a quieter, safe feel amid the downtown hustle. It’s an ideal base if you want to be in the heart of the action without spending a fortune on accommodation.
Key Perks & Features: This hostel is run a bit differently – it’s a not-for-profit, volunteer-run hostel, which creates a really welcoming and communal vibe. Free breakfast is provided each morning (the staff/volunteers often prepare coffee, toast, and local jams for guests). There’s a shared kitchen and lounge where travelers congregate, play board games, or plan outings, and you’ll often find a volunteer ready with city tips or a free map. They even offer bicycle rentals so you can sightsee around Marseille on two wheels. Other handy features include free Wi-Fi, no curfew (come and go as you please), and a communal “free stuff box” where past guests have left behind useful items like guidebooks or sunscreen for others to use.
Unique or Fun Aspect: Staying at Hello Marseille feels like crashing at a friend’s apartment – if that friend happened to have a gorgeous old French flat. The hostel is set in a classic building with marble floors, high ceilings, and even a couple of elegant fireplaces that give it a touch of Old World charm.

Pitchounette & Olives Hostel

Price Range: ~€30 per night (dorm bed); ~€60–€70 per night (private room for two)
Location: Saint-Victor/Endoume neighborhood – Pitchounette & Olives is a cozy homestay-style hostel nestled in a charming residential area about 1.5 km from the Old Port (roughly a 15–20 minute walk). The neighborhood sits near the base of the Notre-Dame de la Garde hill, so you’re close to that must-see landmark as well as local markets, bakeries, and the waterfront corniche. A convenient bus stop is only a couple minutes away, so getting around the city or down to the port is easy if you don’t feel like walking. This locale gives you a more authentic slice of Marseille life, away from the tourist crowds but still accessible to all the sights.
Key Perks & Features: With an intimate capacity (only a handful of rooms), Pitchounette & Olives provides amenities in a more personal way. A wonderful breakfast with coffee is included – the superhost Cati (and her husband) personally prepare a spread each morning for guests. The rooms are artistically decorated, clean, and come with towels and linens provided. You’ll have access to a fully equipped kitchen to cook your own meals, and there’s a lovely courtyard garden where you can dine or relax under the citrus trees. Free Wi-Fi is available, and if you have a car, street parking can usually be found (they even list parking as an amenity). One unique perk here is bicycle rental – the hosts keep bikes that guests can borrow or rent, perfect for exploring Marseille’s winding streets and coastal paths like a local.

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