The 4 Best Hostels in Kochi, India - She is Lost Around the World

I spent 3 months living in Kochi, India. What was supposed to be a quick 3–4 day trip ended up with me staying until my visa finally forced me to leave. As someone who has been traveling for 10+ years and has now visited 62 countries, I’ve managed to travel this much by keeping things on a budget, and hostels have been a huge part of that.

In this guide, I’ll share the 4 best hostels in Kochi, including the one I stayed at during my time there and the others I’d recommend to anyone visiting the city.

Best Hostels in Kochi: Quick Picks

I wrote this post to help you decide what is the best hostel in Kochi for your trip. If you don’t feel like reading the whole thing, here are the best hostels for each category:

Category	Hostel
Best Overall Hostel	The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge
Best Hostel for First-Time Visitors	The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge
Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers	The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge
Best Social Hostel	The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge
Best Hostel for a Quiet Stay	Zostel Kochi, Kumbalangi
Best Hostel for a Peaceful Escape	Zostel Kochi, Kumbalangi
Best Hostel for a More Local Experience	Zostel Kochi, Kumbalangi

The 4 Best Hostels in Kochi

The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge

This is the hostel I stayed during my three months in Fort Kochi. We can debate between this one and other Hosteller on which one is the overall best, but for me this is the one I chose and the one I recommend to people traveling to Kochi.

This hostel has a HUGE rooftop and it was by far the main reason why I loved it here. I spent every night on the rooftop, playing pool and meeting different people every night. I’ve stayed in hundreds of hostels throughout my travels and I never found a hostel where it is SO easy to meet people as it was here.

Location: Fort Kochi
Best for: Solo travelers, social travelers, meeting people

Book Here: The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge

The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Cochin

No, this is not the same hostel as the one above.

The Hosteller is a hostel chain in India with several properties, including two hostels in Fort Kochi.

This one is a favorite among travelers visiting Kochi and is very similar to the Ocean Edge property, except it doesn’t have the giant rooftop. If The Hosteller Ocean Edge was fully booked, this is the one I would stay at instead. It’s also right in the center of Fort Kochi, which is where I recommend staying if you’re visiting Kochi for the first time.

Location: Fort Kochi
Best for: First-time visitors, central location

Book Here: The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Cochin

Zostel Kochi, Ernakulam

Zostel is another hostel chain in India, and one I highly recommend to travelers looking for the best hostels in India.

This is a very popular hostel in Kochi, but the main difference is that it is located in Ernakulam, close to the train station, rather than in Fort Kochi. I would say the facilities here are better and more modern than the two previous options, but if you’re traveling to Kochi on a short trip or it’s your first time in India, I would still recommend staying in Fort Kochi rather than Ernakulam. That said, this is definitely one of the best hostels in Kochi, and you should check it out because the facilities are seriously impressive for a hostel.

Location: Ernakulam
Best for: Short stays, proximity to the train station, more local vibe

Book Here: Zostel Kochi, Ernakulam

Zostel Kochi, Kumbalangi

This hostel is brand new and just opened, and I had to make sure it ended up on the list because I still can’t believe the quality of hostels in India.

This hostel is not in central Kochi, but in the middle of the Kumbalangi backwaters, around 40 minutes from Fort Kochi. And honestly, that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Instead of being surrounded by the busy streets of Fort Kochi, you’re staying right by the water, with backwater views, fishing villages, and the much slower pace that Kerala is known for.

The property has dorms as well as A-frame cottages overlooking the backwaters, plus a common area, games, a deck, and even kayaks, so you can actually spend time here rather than just using the hostel as somewhere to sleep.

Location: Kumbalangi, around 40 minutes from Fort Kochi
Best for: A quieter stay, backwaters, and a more local experience

Book Here: Zostel Kochi, Kumbalangi

How to Choose a Hostel in Kochi

When choosing between hostels in Kochi, the biggest thing to consider is where you actually want to stay. Fort Kochi is the most convenient area if you’re visiting for the first time, while Ernakulam and Kumbalangi offer a different experience.

Also consider whether you want a dorm or private room, how social the hostel is, whether the rooms have AC, and what recent guests are saying in the reviews.

Finally, check the location against your itinerary. A cheaper hostel isn’t necessarily a better deal if you’re spending your whole trip traveling back and forth to the places you want to see.

Best Hostels in Kochi: Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for hostels in Kochi, these are the four I’d look at first. Each one offers something different, whether you want to stay in Fort Kochi, meet other travelers, have a quieter backwater experience, or stay in Ernakulam.

After spending three months at The Hosteller Fort Kochi, Ocean Edge, that’s still my personal pick. The huge rooftop, social atmosphere, and how easy it was to meet people made it one of my favorite hostel experiences in India.