Style and Comfort on a BudgetPost date：2026-06-10
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TAIPEI #44 (2026 Summer)
Style and Comfort on a Budget
Three Youth Hostels Worth Knowing About in Taipei
TEXT Twelli
PHOTOS Courtesy Of The Hostels
Youth hostels have come a long way from their bare-bones, bunk-bed-only origins. In Taipei, some of the best double as social hubs and cultural spaces. Below, we introduce three unique and conveniently located hostels in the city.
Taipei Main Station is the gateway to Taipei for many visitors arriving in the city. It's therefore not surprising that in close roximity to this major transportation hub are numerous accommodation options, including several premium choices located north of the station, which provide backpacking travelers with affordable quality facilities.
Star Hostel Taipei Main Station is one of Taipei's best-known hostels, and one that has quietly redefined what budget accommodation can look and feel like in Taiwan. Located on Huayin Street, a 5-minute walk from Taipei Main Station's West 1 Exit, it is best known for its Green Lounge – an inviting two-story skylit atrium with lush plants, raised wooden floors, and cabin-style seating areas. The hostel has well-lit, well-equipped rooms, with the warm use of wood giving every space a homey feel. Dorm and private rooms with ample storage space are available, as are complimentary breakfasts and freshly brewed coffee.
The hostel regularly organizes free guided city walks (around Lungshan Temple) and hikes (Elephant Mountain), giving guests a great start into exploring the city. It also offers daily activities such as game nights, movie nights, and DIY food preparation sessions, including the making of boba tea and tang hu lu (candied fruit skewers). All activities are included in the room rate. Guests can also take advantage of the hostel's location on Huayin Street, home to several no-frills eateries, for an immediate, authentic taste of the foods that locals like to consume.
Star Hostel Taipei Main Station 信星青年旅館
🚩4F, 50, Huayin St., Datong Dist.
🔗starhostel.com.tw
Not far from the Star Hostel, on Changan West Road, opposite the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (7 minutes from the station's West 1 Exit), the Flip Flop Hostel occupies a lovingly renovated 1970s building. The name – "flip flops" being the universal footwear of the relaxed backpack traveler – sets the tone perfectly. Step inside and you'll find a building reborn: a courtyard open to the sky, an independent bookstore (The One Bookstore; two stories, reading corner on second floor), a lounge (common area with simple kitchen, large table, coffee machine, microwave, etc.), and a breakfast place (Good Morning; hostel guests can redeem NT$100 vouchers). The hostel has dorms (mixed/female) and private rooms (single/double/triple/quadruple), some with en-suite bathrooms.
The courtyard and indoor spaces are sometimes used for cultural activities, including cultural-creative markets, exhibitions, and small-scale concerts. The hostel is especially interesting for architecture lovers and those travelers who enjoy immersing themselves in contemporary culture. From the location, hostel guests can also easily reach the trendy pedestrian-friendly area around MRT Zhongshan Station (Xinzhongshan Linear Park, Chifeng Street), known for its many boutiques, cafés, and bookstores.
Flip Flop Hostel 夾腳拖的家
🚩122, Changan W. Rd., Datong Dist.
🔗owlstay.travel
For something a little more intimate, Old Door Hostel & Bar is a small, friendly guesthouse tucked away down a quiet lane just off Zhengzhou Road, facing the Y13 exit of the Taipei City Mall. The hostel's location is very convenient. The underground mall – home to hundreds of shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks – connects to Taipei Main Station and the airport metro station, enabling you to make the journey to/from the airport almost exclusively indoors. The ground floor of the hostel functions as a café and bar by day and evening, respectively, serving tea, coffee, and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, while the upper floors house the guestrooms and shared bathrooms, and the top floor has a common room and kitchen. A freshly made Taiwanese breakfast – egg pancake, toast, and a drink – is included in the room rate.
Despite its central location, the hostel provides a remarkably quiet retreat from the city noise, and the bar downstairs is a great place to sample local craft beers while chatting with the knowledgeable staff. It is also a perfect base for those planning an early-morning trip to Taoyuan International Airport using the nearby Taoyuan Airport MRT station.
Old Door Hostel & Bar 門埕青旅
🚩10, Ln. 21, Zhengzhou Rd., Datong Dist.
🔗facebook.com/OldDoorHostel
To find hostels in Taipei that have been vetted by the Tourism Administration, visit www.taiwanstay.net.tw.
🔎
Elephant Mountain | 象山
Lungshan Temple | 龍山寺
Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei | 台北當代藝術館
Xinzhongshan Linear Park | 心中山線形公園
🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map
Style and Comfort on a Budget
Three Youth Hostels Worth Knowing About in Taipei
TEXT Twelli
PHOTOS Courtesy Of The Hostels
Youth hostels have come a long way from their bare-bones, bunk-bed-only origins. In Taipei, some of the best double as social hubs and cultural spaces. Below, we introduce three unique and conveniently located hostels in the city.
Taipei Main Station is the gateway to Taipei for many visitors arriving in the city. It's therefore not surprising that in close roximity to this major transportation hub are numerous accommodation options, including several premium choices located north of the station, which provide backpacking travelers with affordable quality facilities.
Star Hostel Taipei Main Station is one of Taipei's best-known hostels, and one that has quietly redefined what budget accommodation can look and feel like in Taiwan. Located on Huayin Street, a 5-minute walk from Taipei Main Station's West 1 Exit, it is best known for its Green Lounge – an inviting two-story skylit atrium with lush plants, raised wooden floors, and cabin-style seating areas. The hostel has well-lit, well-equipped rooms, with the warm use of wood giving every space a homey feel. Dorm and private rooms with ample storage space are available, as are complimentary breakfasts and freshly brewed coffee.
The hostel regularly organizes free guided city walks (around Lungshan Temple) and hikes (Elephant Mountain), giving guests a great start into exploring the city. It also offers daily activities such as game nights, movie nights, and DIY food preparation sessions, including the making of boba tea and tang hu lu (candied fruit skewers). All activities are included in the room rate. Guests can also take advantage of the hostel's location on Huayin Street, home to several no-frills eateries, for an immediate, authentic taste of the foods that locals like to consume.
Star Hostel Taipei Main Station 信星青年旅館
🚩4F, 50, Huayin St., Datong Dist.
🔗starhostel.com.tw
Not far from the Star Hostel, on Changan West Road, opposite the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (7 minutes from the station's West 1 Exit), the Flip Flop Hostel occupies a lovingly renovated 1970s building. The name – "flip flops" being the universal footwear of the relaxed backpack traveler – sets the tone perfectly. Step inside and you'll find a building reborn: a courtyard open to the sky, an independent bookstore (The One Bookstore; two stories, reading corner on second floor), a lounge (common area with simple kitchen, large table, coffee machine, microwave, etc.), and a breakfast place (Good Morning; hostel guests can redeem NT$100 vouchers). The hostel has dorms (mixed/female) and private rooms (single/double/triple/quadruple), some with en-suite bathrooms.
The courtyard and indoor spaces are sometimes used for cultural activities, including cultural-creative markets, exhibitions, and small-scale concerts. The hostel is especially interesting for architecture lovers and those travelers who enjoy immersing themselves in contemporary culture. From the location, hostel guests can also easily reach the trendy pedestrian-friendly area around MRT Zhongshan Station (Xinzhongshan Linear Park, Chifeng Street), known for its many boutiques, cafés, and bookstores.
Flip Flop Hostel 夾腳拖的家
🚩122, Changan W. Rd., Datong Dist.
🔗owlstay.travel
For something a little more intimate, Old Door Hostel & Bar is a small, friendly guesthouse tucked away down a quiet lane just off Zhengzhou Road, facing the Y13 exit of the Taipei City Mall. The hostel's location is very convenient. The underground mall – home to hundreds of shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks – connects to Taipei Main Station and the airport metro station, enabling you to make the journey to/from the airport almost exclusively indoors. The ground floor of the hostel functions as a café and bar by day and evening, respectively, serving tea, coffee, and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, while the upper floors house the guestrooms and shared bathrooms, and the top floor has a common room and kitchen. A freshly made Taiwanese breakfast – egg pancake, toast, and a drink – is included in the room rate.
Despite its central location, the hostel provides a remarkably quiet retreat from the city noise, and the bar downstairs is a great place to sample local craft beers while chatting with the knowledgeable staff. It is also a perfect base for those planning an early-morning trip to Taoyuan International Airport using the nearby Taoyuan Airport MRT station.
Old Door Hostel & Bar 門埕青旅
🚩10, Ln. 21, Zhengzhou Rd., Datong Dist.
🔗facebook.com/OldDoorHostel
To find hostels in Taipei that have been vetted by the Tourism Administration, visit www.taiwanstay.net.tw.
🔎
Elephant Mountain | 象山
Lungshan Temple | 龍山寺
Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei | 台北當代藝術館
Xinzhongshan Linear Park | 心中山線形公園
🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map
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