Best Budget Hostels in Port Elizabeth That Are Actually Worth Staying In
Words by
Ayanda Dlamini
Best Budget Hostels in Port Elizabeth That Are Actually Worth Staying In
Port Elizabeth does not play its budget accommodation cards close to its chest. If you know where to look, and I mean off the main beach strip and into the neighborhoods where locals actually earn and spend, you will find the best budget hostels in Port Elizabeth that will not leave you choosing between eating dinner and paying for a bed. I have spent more nights than I can count crashing at these places, some during road trips along the Garden Route and others when I was stuck in town between freelance gigs. What follows is the honest version, not the one your travel app will give you, but the one that comes from someone who has lived here, rated the mattresses, tested the Wi-Fi, and eavesdropped on the conversations in every common room.
The A Waves and Beyond on Walmer
1. Waves and Beyond Hostel
This is the one I always recommend first, not because it is the cheapest in town, but because the hospitality is the closest thing to being invited into someone's home. Waves and Beyond sits on La Roche Drive in Walmer, which is the leafy, old money suburb five minutes from the airport but somehow feels like a different country from the CBD. The street itself is quiet, lined with enormous stately trees that drop jacaranda blossoms all over the pavement every October.
Inside, the dorm beds go for around 260 to 320 ZAR per night, and if you book directly over the phone they sometimes knock off another 30 or 40. Private rooms start at about 520 ZAR for a single en suite, which in Walmer terms is an absurd bargain. The communal kitchen is stainless steel and actually kept clean, the backyard has a real braai setup where backpackers from three continents end up arguing about whether ketchup belongs on a boerewors roll. There is a small plunge pool out back, not glamorous, just a concrete thing that saves your sanity in February when Port Elizabeth temperatures hit 38 degrees Celsius by noon.
The Vibe? Relaxed, slightly chaotic, like a youth center run by someone's most organized aunt.
The Bill? Dorms 260-320 ZAR / Private rooms 520-700 ZAR.
The Standout? The owner arranges a weekly township tour on Thursdays that costs 150 ZAR, way better than any tour company booking desk quote.
The Catch? Walmer is residential, so after 9 PM the streets go completely dark and silent on foot; you want to grab your dinner before heading back.
Insider tip: If you are flying in late, call ahead and ask the owner to leave a key under the flower pot next to the back gate. They have done it for years and prefer it to waking up at midnight. Also, the Walmer Country Club two blocks to the east sells roast dinners on Sundays from 1:00 PM for 85 ZAR, and the mixed does not turn their noses up at backpackers in flip flops.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Walmer has long been the address where Port Elizabeth's old industrial families built their mansions. Walking down hallways of Waves and Beyond, you notice frames showing the Eastern Province cricket team that was once coached here. The hostel buys produce from a spaza run by a Somali family on Heugh Road, which reflects the Ethiopian-and-Somalian small business corridor that has quietly become essential to Walmer's commercial life since the early 2000s.
Summerstrand's Most Reliable Bed: City Lodge Port Elizabeth Beachfront and the Surrounding Budget Options
2. City Lodge Port Elizabeth (Beachfront)
Strictly speaking on the Eastern Cape scale, City Lodge sits in the mid tier. But in Summerstrand, where hotels routinely charge north of 2,000 ZAR a night, booking a standard room at City Lodge for about 900 to 1,200 ZAR feels like you outsmarted the property developers. Units Ocean Beach, Marine Drive and Admiralty Beach all fall in the same pricing band and a three night mid-week special has been known to bring them to 750 ZAR per night. The beds are firm but the sheets are proper cotton and someone replaces them every single morning. Air conditioning actually works, which cannot be said about half the places south of the M4.
If this sounds like it is pushing the boundary of "budget hostel", remember that Port Elizabeth's specialty is called "affordable luxury on the Eastern Cape coast", and on any given Tuesday in the shoulder season, City Lodge offers genuine value that middle class South African families can afford without a credit card sign. Breakfast costs about 130 ZAR extra, and it is a full English spread with eggs, boerewors, toast, fruit, and bottomless filter coffee. The pool overlooks the Indian Ocean, and on a clear morning you can see the outline of the old Shark Rock Pier from the balcony.
The Vibe? Business hotel meets family holiday, with a side of retired couples doing the Garden Route in a Kia Picanto.
The Bill? Standard room 900-1,200 ZAR / Breakfast add-on 130 ZAR.
The Standout? The ocean view from the pool deck at sunrise, when the water turns silver and the beach is empty.
The Catch? The Wi-Fi drops out near the back tables in the breakfast area, and the signal is weak on the upper floors.
Insider tip: Ask for a room on the third floor or above. The lower floors face the parking lot and you lose the ocean view entirely. Also, the Humewood Health and Fitness Centre across the road sells day passes for 60 ZAR, which is useful if you want a proper gym session without paying hotel prices.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Summerstrand is where Port Elizabeth's post-apartheid middle class built its beachfront identity. The City Lodge sits on Marine Drive, the same road where the old Beach Hotel once stood before it was demolished in the 1990s. The area is a living record of how the city's leisure geography shifted from segregated beaches to the open, if still economically stratified, promenade you walk today.
The Backpacker Heart of Humewood
3. Island Vibe Backpackers
Island Vibe is the backpacker hostel Port Elizabeth has needed for years, and it sits right on the corner of Beach Road and Strand Street in Humewood, a two-minute walk from the sand. Dorm beds hover around 220 to 280 ZAR, and private rooms go for 450 to 600 ZAR depending on the season. The building is a converted double-story house with a rooftop deck that catches the sea breeze, and the common room has a pool table that has seen better days but still functions.
What makes Island Vibe worth recommending is the staff. The manager, a guy named Thando who grew up in Motherwell, knows every cheap eatery, every combi taxi route, and every free beach access point within a 10-kilometer radius. He will draw you a hand-drawn map if you ask. The kitchen is small but functional, and there is a daily 50 ZAR dinner special that rotates between curry, pasta, and a surprisingly decent potjie. The hostel also runs a weekly pub crawl on Wednesday nights that hits three bars along the beach road, and the entry fee of 80 ZAR includes a free drink at each stop.
The Vibe? Surf shack meets student house, with a soundtrack of Afrikaans rock and house music.
The Bill? Dorms 220-280 ZAR / Private rooms 450-600 ZAR / Dinner special 50 ZAR.
The Standout? The rooftop deck at sunset, when the sky over Algoa Bay turns orange and the silhouette of the old Shark Rock Pier cuts across the horizon.
The Catch? The bathrooms are shared and there are only two showers for the entire dorm wing, so expect a queue between 7:00 and 8:30 AM.
Insider tip: If you are planning to surf, ask Thando about the rental board deal he has with a guy on the beach. It is 100 ZAR for a full day, half what the formal surf schools charge. Also, the fish and chips shop two doors down, something called Something Fishy, does a hake and chips for 55 ZAR that is the best value meal on the beachfront.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Humewood was one of the first areas in Port Elizabeth to desegregate its beaches in the early 1990s, and the backpacker culture that grew up around it reflects that history of opening up. Island Vibe sits in a building that was once a holiday flat for a white Port Elizabeth family in the 1970s, and the layers of paint on the walls tell that story if you look closely.
The Budget Option in the CBD That Actually Works
4. Home Away Guesthouse
Home Away Guesthouse is on Prospect Hill, a quiet residential street in the Port Elizabeth CBD that most tourists drive past without a second glance. The building is a renovated Victorian-era house with high ceilings, wooden floors, and a small garden out front. Dorm beds are around 200 ZAR, and private rooms start at 400 ZAR, making it one of the cheapest accommodation Port Elizabeth offers in the city center.
The owner, Mrs. Noluthando Mkhize, has run the place for over 15 years and treats every guest like a wayward nephew. She serves a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, fruit, and rooibos tea for 60 ZAR, and she will pack you a lunch if you ask the night before. The Wi-Fi is reliable, the hot water is consistent, and the neighborhood is safe enough to walk around at night, though I would still recommend taking a Bolt or Uber after 10:00 PM.
The Vibe? Your grandmother's house, if your grandmother ran a small hotel and made the best rooibos tea in the Eastern Cape.
The Bill? Dorms 200 ZAR / Private rooms 400-550 ZAR / Breakfast 60 ZAR.
The Standout? The garden in the morning, when the birds are loud and the air smells like wet grass.
The Catch? The CBD location means you are a 15-minute drive from the beach, and the street parking fills up fast on weekdays.
Insider tip: Mrs. Mkhize knows a woman who does laundry pickup and delivery for 40 ZAR per bag, which is half the price of the laundromat on Govan Mbeki Avenue. Also, the Donkin Reserve, a five-minute walk uphill, has a lighthouse and a pyramid built by Sir Rufane Donkin in 1820, and the view from the top is the best free panorama in Port Elizabeth.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Prospect Hill is one of the oldest residential areas in Port Elizabeth, and the Victorian architecture is a direct legacy of the British settlers who arrived in 1820. Home Away sits on a street where the original 19th-century street lamps still stand, and the house itself was built in the 1890s as a home for a shipping clerk. Staying here is like sleeping inside the city's colonial history, except now the owner is a Black woman from KwaZulu-Natal and the guests are from everywhere.
The Surf and Stay Combo in Summerstrand
5. The Beach House Backpackers
The Beach House Backpackers is on the Marine Drive strip in Summerstrand, sandwiched between a surf shop and a coffee place, and it is the kind of hostel where you arrive for two nights and stay for a week. Dorm beds are around 250 to 300 ZAR, and private rooms go for 500 to 650 ZAR. The building is a double-story with a wraparound veranda, and the common room has a library of paperbacks that previous guests have left behind, ranging from Wilbur Smith thrillers to dog-eared copies of "Long Walk to Freedom".
The hostel does not have a pool, but it does have direct access to the beach through a gate at the back, and the surf breaks at Pollok Beach are a five-minute walk south. The kitchen is well stocked, and there is a braai area that gets used every evening. The staff organizes a weekly beach cleanup on Saturday mornings, and participants get a free coffee from the café next door. The Wi-Fi is decent, and the hot water runs on a solar geyser system that the owner installed in 2019, which means you get a hot shower even when the municipality cuts the power.
The Vibe? Surf camp meets community center, with a soundtrack of waves and someone's Bluetooth speaker playing amapiano.
The Bill? Dorms 250-300 ZAR / Private rooms 500-650 ZAR.
The Standout? The beach access gate, which means you can be in the water within three minutes of waking up.
The Catch? The veranda faces west, so the afternoon sun makes it unusable from about 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in summer.
Insider tip: The surf shop next door rents longboards for 120 ZAR a day, and the owner will give you a free lesson if you buy a wax stick. Also, the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve is a 10-minute drive south, and the hiking trail along the cliffs is one of the most underrated walks in the Eastern Cape.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Summerstrand's Marine Drive was originally built as a scenic route for the white elite in the mid-20th century, and the Beach House sits in a building that was once a holiday cottage for a family from the Northern Suburbs. The fact that it is now a backpacker hostel where a German surfer and a Johannesburg student share a braai is a small but real piece of Port Elizabeth's post-apartheid story.
The Township Stay That Changes Your Trip
- Lizalise Backpacker Lodge
Lizalise is in KwaZakhele, one of the oldest townships in Port Elizabeth, and it is the only backpacker hostel in the city that is actually located in a township. Dorm beds are around 180 to 220 ZAR, and private rooms go for 350 to 450 ZAR. The building is a converted community center with a large communal kitchen, a TV room, and a small courtyard where the owner, Mr. Sipho Tyali, grows spinach and tomatoes.
Staying at Lizalise is not for everyone, and I will be honest about that. The neighborhood is not set up for tourism, there are no restaurants or shops within walking distance, and you will need to take a combi taxi or arrange transport to get to the beach or the CBD. But if you want to understand Port Elizabeth beyond the beachfront, this is where you come. Mr. Tyali runs a walking tour of KwaZakhele every Friday morning for 100 ZAR, and it takes you past the house where Steve Biko once hid, the community hall where the United Democratic Front held meetings in the 1980s, and the local shebeen where you can buy a quart of beer for 20 ZAR.
The Vibe? Community center meets guesthouse, with a soundtrack of gospel music and children playing in the street.
The Bill? Dorms 180-220 ZAR / Private rooms 350-450 ZAR / Walking tour 100 ZAR.
The Standout? The Friday walking tour, which is the most important history lesson you will get in Port Elizabeth.
The Catch? The location means you are dependent on transport, and combi taxis stop running after 8:00 PM.
Insider tip: Mr. Tyali's wife makes umngqusho (samp and beans) on Wednesdays for 40 ZAR, and it is the best meal you will eat in Port Elizabeth. Also, the KwaZakhele Museum, a small community-run space on the main road, has photographs and documents from the anti-apartheid struggle that you will not find in any mainstream museum.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: KwaZakhele was established in the 1950s as a township for Black workers under the Group Areas Act, and it was one of the centers of resistance during the apartheid era. Staying at Lizalise is not just cheap accommodation in Port Elizabeth, it is a way of putting your money directly into a community that was systematically excluded from the city's economy for decades.
The Budget Hotel That Punches Above Its Weight
7. Tropic Resorts Summerstrand
Tropic Resorts is on Marine Drive in Summerstrand, and it is technically a budget hotel rather than a hostel, but the pricing is close enough to include here. Standard rooms go for 600 to 800 ZAR, and family rooms for 900 to 1,100 ZAR. The building is a three-story block with a pool, a small restaurant, and a bar that does a happy hour from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM with two-for-one drinks.
The rooms are basic but clean, with air conditioning, TV, and en suite bathrooms. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet for 95 ZAR that includes eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit, and coffee, and the lunch menu has burgers, sandwiches, and salads in the 60 to 90 ZAR range. The pool is small but functional, and the bar has a deck that overlooks the ocean. The staff are friendly, and the location is perfect if you want to be on the beachfront without paying the prices of the nearby hotels.
The Vibe? Budget hotel meets holiday resort, with a soundtrack of classic rock and the occasional karaoke night.
The Bill? Standard rooms 600-800 ZAR / Breakfast buffet 95 ZAR / Happy hour 4:00-6:00 PM.
The Standout? The ocean view from the bar deck, especially at sunset when the sky turns pink and the water goes flat.
The Catch? The rooms on the ground floor face the parking lot and get no ocean view, so ask for an upper floor.
Insider tip: The happy hour is the best deal on Marine Drive, and the bartender makes a mean gin and tonic for 35 ZAR. Also, the Bayworld Museum and Oceanarium is a 10-minute walk north, and the entry fee of 80 ZAR includes access to the snake park, the museum, and the dolphin show.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Tropic Resorts sits on the same stretch of Marine Drive where the old Beach Hotel once stood, and the area has been a holiday destination for Port Elizabeth residents since the early 20th century. The hotel's clientele has shifted over the decades from exclusively white families to a mix of South African and international travelers, reflecting the broader changes in the city's tourism economy.
The Hidden Gem in Newton Park
8. Newton Park Guesthouse
Newton Park is a quiet, middle-class suburb about 10 minutes from the CBD, and it is where many of Port Elizabeth's teachers, nurses, and civil servants live. Newton Park Guesthouse is on a tree-lined street, and it is the kind of place where you can hear birds in the morning and the only traffic noise is the occasional taxi on the main road. Dorm beds are around 200 ZAR, and private rooms go for 400 to 500 ZAR.
The owner, Mrs. Patricia van der Merwe, has run the guesthouse for over 20 years, and she knows every corner of Port Elizabeth. She serves a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee for 70 ZAR, and she will arrange airport transfers for 150 ZAR, which is half what the taxi companies charge. The garden is large and well maintained, with a braai area and a hammock that is perfect for an afternoon nap. The Wi-Fi is reliable, and the hot water is consistent.
The Vibe? Suburban guesthouse meets bed and breakfast, with a soundtrack of birds and the occasional lawnmower.
The Bill? Dorms 200 ZAR / Private rooms 400-500 ZAR / Breakfast 70 ZAR.
The Standout? The garden, which is the most peaceful outdoor space in Port Elizabeth.
The Catch? The location is not walkable to any major attractions, so you will need a car or a Bolt to get around.
Insider tip: Mrs. van der Merwe knows a mechanic on Cape Road who does basic car services for 300 ZAR, which is useful if you are road-tripping the Garden Route. Also, the Newton Park Shopping Centre has a supermarket, a pharmacy, and a bottle store, so you can stock up on supplies without driving into the CBD.
Connection to Port Elizabeth: Newton Park was established in the 1950s as a white working-class suburb under the Group Areas Act, and it has since become one of the most racially mixed neighborhoods in the city. The guesthouse sits on a street where the original 1950s houses are being slowly replaced by townhouse complexes, and the tension between old and new is visible in every block.
When to Go and What to Know
Port Elizabeth's peak season runs from December to February, when the beaches fill up and accommodation prices jump by 30 to 50 percent. If you are looking for where to stay cheap Port Elizabeth, the best time to visit is March to May or September to November, when the weather is still warm but the crowds thin out and hostels drop their rates. June to August is the windy season, and while the temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees Celsius, the wind off the Indian Ocean can make it feel much colder.
Most hostels in Port Elizabeth accept card payments, but it is always wise to carry some cash for small purchases, especially in the townships and at the beachfront stalls. Bolt and Uber operate reliably in the city, and a trip from the CBD to Summerstrand costs around 60 to 80 ZAR. Combi taxis are cheaper, around 12 to 15 ZAR, but they can be confusing if you do not know the routes, and they stop running after 8:00 PM.
Safety is a concern in any South African city, and Port Elizabeth is no exception. The beachfront and Summerstrand are generally safe during the day, but I would avoid walking alone at night, especially along the quieter stretches of Marine Drive. The CBD is fine during business hours but empties out after 6:00 PM. The townships are safe during the day, especially if you are with a local guide, but I would not recommend wandering around alone after dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Port Elizabeth?
A flat white or cappuccino at a beachfront café in Summerstrand costs between 35 and 50 ZAR. Rooibos tea at a local restaurant or guesthouse is usually 20 to 30 ZAR. At the smaller coffee shops in the CBD or Newton Park, you can get a decent espresso for 25 to 35 ZAR. The chain coffee shops like Seattle and Bootlegger charge similar prices to what you would find in Cape Town or Johannesburg.
What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Port Elizabeth?
The standard tip at sit-down restaurants in Port Elizabeth is 10 to 15 percent of the bill. Some restaurants, especially along the beachfront, add a discretionary 10 percent service charge, so check your bill before adding extra. At cafés and fast food places, tipping is not expected but rounding up the bill is appreciated. At backpacker hostels, tips for staff are not expected but are always welcomed.
What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Port Elizabeth as a solo traveler?
Bolt and Uber are the safest and most reliable options, with fares typically ranging from 40 to 100 ZAR for trips within the city. Both apps operate 24 hours a day, and drivers are vetted. Combi taxis are cheaper, around 12 to 15 ZAR per trip, but they follow fixed routes, do not run after 8:00 PM, and can be crowded. Renting a car is an option, with daily rates starting at around 350 ZAR from the airport, but parking in the CBD can be difficult during business hours.
Is Port Elizabeth expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier traveler can expect to spend around 800 to 1,200 ZAR per day. This includes a private room at a budget guesthouse (500 to 700 ZAR), two meals at casual restaurants (150 to 250 ZAR), local transport via Bolt or Uber (80 to 150 ZAR), and one activity or attraction (50 to 100 ZAR). Staying in a dorm and eating at cheaper spots can bring this down to 500 to 700 ZAR per day.
Are credit cards widely accepted across Port Elizabeth, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?
Credit and debit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and chain stores in Port Elizabeth. However, many small businesses, spaza shops, beachfront vendors, and combi taxi operators are cash only. It is advisable to carry at least 300 to 500 ZAR in cash for small daily purchases, especially if you plan to visit the townships or buy from street vendors. ATMs are widely available in shopping centers and along the main roads.
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