Backpacker Friendly Hotels in Taipei

One of the best ways to see a city in the modern age is to backpack through it. Not only is this cheap, but it allows you to venture off the beaten path and to live like a local. Backpackers search for a specific kind of hotel. They don’t stay in luxury 5-star or 4-star establishments and prefer something cheaper, but something that is also ideally located.

With that in mind, just where are the best backpacking hotels in the city of Taipei?

Star Hostel Taipei Main Station

So-called because it is located right next to the main station in Taipei, the Star Hostel is in the Datong District, which is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. There are plenty of night markets in this district, and there is also a great deal of fantastic street food.

• In-Room Television? Yes
• Free WiFi? Yes
• Breakfast? Yes
• Single Rooms? Yes
• Near Public Transport? Yes

There are 24 rooms in the Star Hostel in total, but not all of these sleep just one or two people. All of these rooms are soundproofed and air conditioned. Some of the rooms also include a flat-screen television, a desk to work on and a private bathroom. Included in that bathroom is a hairdryer and some other essentials.

The Star Hostel has single rooms for single occupants, but it also has multi-occupancy rooms, including 8-bed dormitories that cater for single sexes. These are the most sought-after rooms as they offer cheap accommodation, not to mention a communal spirit. This is not the idea of a great holiday for everyone, but for young backpackers this can be the perfect way of enjoying a city and making friends along the way.

The Star Hostel also has a tour desk, which is staffed by people who know the area like the back of their hands. This is where you go if you want recommendations on the best places to eat and to visit. The tour desk may also be able to arrange tickets to a bus-top sightseeing tour.

Backpacker’s Inn

Th aptly named Backpacker’s Inn was created with young backpackers in mind, aiming to create a base for all young backpackers to enjoy a holiday in this region.

The Backpacker’s Inn is located in the Zhongzheng District, which is a great district for any holiday to Taipei, with plenty of night markets, local art, great food and much more. It is also a short trek from an MRT Station, which can take you anywhere you want to go around the city of Taipei.

• In-Room Television? No
• Free WiFi? Yes
• Breakfast? Yes
• Single Rooms? No
• Near Public Transport? Yes

Whilst there are no in-room televisions in the Backpacker’s Inn, there is a shared lounge area which includes a TV and other means of entertainment. There are also no single rooms, but you can of course book into a single bed in a dormitory, and there are also double bedrooms available.

The Backpacker’s Inn has male dormitories, female dormitories and mixed dormitories. All of these are air conditioned and they come with free Wi-Fi access. These rooms are very affordable, so much so that a night stay in the Backpacker’s Inn costs about the same as two or three event tickets to the many top attractions in Taipei. Of course, it depends on which room you choose and some are more expensive than others, but not by a great deal. There are also showers available, along with a sun terrace, a restaurant and a shared kitchen. If you want to keep your valuables safe whilst in the dormitory then there are also private lockers, along with a luggage storage facility.

If Inn

Ideally located within the Datong District, the If Inn is a 3-star establishment that was created with backpackers in mind. This hotel offers a little more than the others on this list though, which means it may also be an ideal choice for travelers seeking affordable comfort.

Surrounding the hotel there is a great number of restaurants, along with street food vendors, clubs, bars and some tourist attractions.

• In-Room Television? Yes
• Free WiFi? Yes
• Breakfast? Yes
• Single Rooms? Yes
• Near Public Transport? Yes

As well as single occupancy rooms, which are very affordable for the individual travelers, there are also family suites. These are a little more expensive, but the rooms are bigger and they also come with a great view of the city of Taipei. Groups of backpackers looking to save money can book into one of the Triple rooms. These are very affordable and if the cost is split three ways, then all guests can have an enjoyable holiday for very little cost.

All rooms are air conditioned and soundproofed, and they all also come with free Wi-Fi, a private bathroom, and a number of other basic amenities. This is as good as it gets for backpackers looking to get the most out of their visit to Taipei.