Best hostels in Nanjing

Nanjing splits into two very different cities for a budget traveler. Inside the Ming city wall, the old core runs from the lantern-lit Qinhuai River and the Confucius Temple in the south, north through the Xinjiekou metro interchange and the Presidential Palace, to the lakes and temples along the northern wall. Outside the wall are the transit and business districts: the high-speed rail hub at Nanjing South, the northern railway station near Hongshan Forest Zoo, the glass towers of Hexi, and the airport strip at Lukou. Nanjing has few true backpacker dorms. Budget travelers here mostly stay in compact chain hotels: the majority opened in the last few years: with smart-room fittings and high guest scores. So choosing a neighborhood matters more than choosing a hotel. Stay inside the wall if you want to walk to temples, river lanes and museums. Stay outside it only if a train, a flight, a concert or a trade fair is setting your schedule. The ten neighborhoods below cover both sides of that line, with the budget pick in each one.

1. 1

   Xinjiekou Area/Presidential Palace, Nanjing

   Central shopping and transit hub around the Xinjiekou roundabout, inner Nanjing

   Nanjing's busiest metro interchange, with malls in every direction and the Presidential Palace a short walk to the north.

   At about $41 a night, the Echarm Hotel at Deji Plaza puts a budget bed right on top of Nanjing's busiest metro interchange, and guests give it a 9.7. Within walking range are the Deji Plaza and Xinjiekou department-store cluster, the Zhongshan Road shopping axis, and the Presidential Palace up Changjiang Road. The streets hum late with mall crowds and basement food courts, then go quiet early, so a morning walk to the palace gates beats the tour groups. Skip the older international chain towers around the roundabout; the newer budget openings on the side streets offer fresher rooms at a fraction of the price. Stay here if you want the metro to do the work: Xinjiekou links the Confucius Temple area to the south with Xuanwu Lake to the north, and nothing in the old city is far away.

   1. Budget

      Echarm Hotel (Xinjiekou Metro Station Deji Plaza Branch

      Since it just opened this year, the rooms are very new and clean, and they offer several types of pillows, which is fantastic. The TV is huge and supports screen casting. Even the rooms facing the str

      9.7/10 rating ~$41/night
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2. 2

   Confucius Temple/Qinhuai River Scenic Area, Nanjing

   Qinhuai River frontage around the Confucius Temple, southern old city

   Lantern-lit river lanes, painted boats and late crowds in the historic heart of old Nanjing.

   Lantern light spills across the Qinhuai River after dark, and the Jinpeng Yunju Hotel (Nanjing Confucius Temple Center Branch) sits in the thick of it at about $34 a night. Within a short walk are the Confucius Temple complex, the Jiangnan Examination Hall museum, Wuyi Lane, and the painted boats that leave from the temple quay. Guests give it a 9.6, mostly for new fittings and smart toilets, which matters in a district where older guesthouses can feel tired. Avoid the snack streets directly facing the temple gate; head a few lanes back for duck blood vermicelli and salted duck at fairer prices. This is the base for night owls: the river crowds peak late and the lanes stay loud well into the evening. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the water.

   1. Budget

      Jinpeng Yunju Hotel (Nanjing Confucius Temple Center Branch)

      Facilities: The hotel facilities are very new, with a fresh decor style, and equipped with smart toilets. Hygiene: The room is clean and hygienic, the bedding is clean, and there are no strange odors.

      9.6/10 rating ~$34/night
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3. 3

   Lukou International Airport Surrounding, Nanjing

   Airport perimeter at Lukou, far southern Jiangning district

   A cheap, clean bed for late arrivals and red-eye departures, and little else.

   At about $18 a night, the Starway Hotel (Nanjing Lukou Airport) is about as cheap as a clean room in Nanjing gets, and it still holds a 9.6. There is little to walk to: terminal access roads, highway frontage, and roadside noodle shops that feed airport workers. The airport metro line runs into the city through Nanjing South Railway Station, so the center is a long ride away. Don't stay out here to go sightseeing; whatever you save on the room, you lose in travel time. It suits one traveler: the late arrival or red-eye flyer who wants breakfast, a shower, and a short hop to departures. Guests praise the included breakfast and the proximity to the airport, and that is all it needs to do.

   1. Budget

      Starway Hotel (Nanjing Lukou Airport)

      The hotel's environment is elegant and the decoration is exquisite. The room is clean and tidy, and every detail is carefully considered. Breakfast is also provided. It is also close to the airport, w

      9.6/10 rating ~$18/night
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4. 4

   Yuhuatai Nanjing South Railway Station Area, Nanjing

   High-speed rail hub and surrounding new district, southern Nanjing

   A functional base for dawn departures on the high-speed network.

   Nanjing South Railway Station runs high-speed departures from dawn, and the S·RUN Hotel (Nanjing South Railway Station) makes an early start easy at about $33 a night. Guests give it a 9.6 and single out the housekeeping. Within walking range are station plazas, a bus terminal, and a newer grid of malls and office blocks; the old city is a metro ride north. Yuhuatai Martyrs Cemetery and its hilltop park sit between here and the Zhonghua Gate, a short taxi ride away. Skip the overpriced eateries in the station concourse; the noodle counters on the side streets around the plaza are quicker and cheaper. Stay here before a dawn train to Shanghai or Suzhou, not as a base for exploring the city. Evenings are quiet once the commuters clear.

   1. Budget

      S·RUN Hotel (Nanjing South Railway Station)

      This hotel exceeded our expectations. From the helpful front counter staff, to the beautiful rooms, to the excellent cleaning service by the cleaning lady on the 6th floor, we had a very pleasant stay

      9.6/10 rating ~$33/night
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5. 5

   Confucius Temple/Qinhuai River Scenic Area

   Laomendong alleys near the Zhonghua Gate, southern old city

   Grey-brick courtyards, a landmark bookstore and the Ming wall, one step removed from the temple crowds.

   Inside the rebuilt alleys of Laomendong, the Kuandu Hotel (Nanjing Laomendong Branch) faces the Pioneer Bookstore and charges about $21 a night. Guests rate it 9.5, and the one honest complaint is the long walk to the metro, so plan on taxis or a shared bike. Within easy reach are the Zhonghua Gate, a stretch of Ming city wall you can walk along, the southern bend of the Qinhuai, and a grid of teahouses and craft shops in grey-brick courtyards. It is quieter than the temple frontage to the north, which wakes up loud and stays loud. Paying extra to sleep on the temple square itself is not worth it; locals prefer Laomendong for its bookshop, its wall walks and its breakfast stalls. It suits a slower traveler who wants the texture of the old city and the wall at sunrise.

   1. Budget

      Kuandu Hotel(Nanjing Laomendong Branch)

      This hotel is nestled in an alley in Laomendong, right opposite the popular Pioneer Bookstore, which is a great location. The only downside is that it's 1.5 km from the metro station, but we took taxi

      9.5/10 rating ~$21/night
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6. 6

   Xinjiekou Area/Presidential Palace

   Presidential Palace and Changjiang Road cultural strip, central Nanjing

   Republic-era history by day and a lively bar block by night, in the center of the city.

   Around the Presidential Palace, the Republic-era streets glow after dark, and the UrCove by HYATT Nanjing Downtown adds a big-brand budget option to this central belt at about $43 a night. Guests give it a 9.5, mostly for spotless rooms and well-kept amenities. Within walking range are the palace gardens, the museums along Changjiang Road, the Nanjing Library off Zhongshan East Road, and the Xinjiekou malls to the south. It beats the anonymous business hotels out on the ring roads for a first visit, since both the palace and the Xinjiekou interchange are close. The Republic-era bar block by the palace draws a late crowd, so evenings run later here than further east toward the Ming Palace. Stay here for history by day and a drink at night without needing a taxi either way.

   1. Budget

      UrCove by HYATT Nanjing Downtown

      Five stars, definitely! From check-in to check-out, everything was absolutely delightful. The room was spotlessly clean, fully equipped with fantastic amenities that were all well-maintained and easy

      9.5/10 rating ~$43/night
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7. 7

   Nanjing Railway Station/Hongshan Forest Zoo, Nanjing

   Northern rail hub toward Mufu Mountain and the Yangtze, northern Nanjing

   A quiet northern base for zoo days, the Yangtze cliffs and early trains.

   At about $44 a night, the Full Season Hotel (Nanjing Mufu Mountain Subway Station Hotel) holds a 9.8 on the quiet northern side of the city. Hongshan Forest Zoo is close, and Nanjing Railway Station and the northern shore of Xuanwu Lake are a short metro ride south. In the other direction, toward the Yangtze, lie Mufu Mountain's riverside cliffs and the Swallow Rock lookout at Yanziji. Skip the crush of touts and fast-food counters on the station forecourt; the newer hotels a stop or two away are much calmer. Families planning a day at the zoo and travelers catching early trains get the most out of this area. Nights are quiet and the streets empty early: this is not a neighborhood for bar-hopping or late dinners.

   1. Budget

      Full Season Hotel (Nanjing Mufu Mountain Subway Station Hotel) ​

      The newly opened store is very clean and comfortable. It is very convenient to come to Hongshan Forest Zoo. The service staff is very warm and thoughtful. I will choose here next time I come to Nanjin

      9.8/10 rating ~$44/night
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8. 8

   Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area/Jiming Temple, Nanjing

   Lakeside parkland along the northern Ming city wall, Xuanwu district

   Lake causeways, a hilltop temple and wall-top walks, with the metro downstairs.

   Morning mist drifts off Xuanwu Lake, and the Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel is close enough that you can walk the causeways before breakfast. At about $61 a night it costs more than most budget rooms in Nanjing: a 9.3 that reflects what the location delivers. Within walking range are Jiming Temple's yellow walls and pagoda, the Ming wall along Taicheng, the lake's islands, and the metro station downstairs for quick rides to Xinjiekou or the railway station. Avoid the boat-rental hawkers at the main lake gate; locals prefer the walk along the top of the wall from Jiming Temple, especially in cherry-blossom season. The area suits runners, early risers, and anyone who would rather have green space than neon. Evenings are calm, so for food and nightlife, ride a few stops south.

   1. Budget

      Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel

      The hotel's location is fantastic, just a stone's throw away from Xuanwu Lake Park – easily walkable! Metro Line 1 is right downstairs, making it super convenient to get anywhere (seriously, public tr

      9.3/10 rating ~$61/night
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9. 9

   Hexi/Nanjing Olympic Sports Center/Aonan Area, Nanjing

   Modern riverside district west of the city wall, Jianye district

   Wide boulevards, stadium events and roomy modern hotels, far from the old city.

   West of the Ming wall, Hexi is a district of glass towers around the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, and the International Youth Convention Hotel (Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre) sits by the riverside cultural complex at about $65 a night. Its 9.6 reflects big rooms with bathtubs and king beds: more space than the budget hotels in the old city offer. Within walking range are wide boulevards, the Yangtze riverfront park, large malls, and the stadium itself. Don't bother with Hexi if you came for old Nanjing; the Confucius Temple and the Presidential Palace are a metro ride east. For anyone in town for a concert, a match, or a trade fair at the International Expo Center, it beats the cramped rooms by the stations. Evenings mean mall food courts and joggers on the river path rather than bars.

   1. Budget

      International Youth Convention Hotel (Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre)

      Room Amenities: We checked in pretty late, past 10 PM, coming from Guangzhou, but seeing the room instantly made us feel it was worth it. The bathtub, king-size bed, and bedside sofa were all super co

      9.6/10 rating ~$65/night
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10. 10

    The Ming Palace and Nanjing Museum Area, Nanjing

    Zhongshan East Road museum corridor toward the Zhongshan Gate, eastern Nanjing

    The culturally densest corner of the east side, with Purple Mountain visible beyond the gate.

    Along Zhongshan East Road, a plane-tree canopy rustles over the route to the Nanjing Museum, and the Meijing Hotel (Nanjing Museum Alfalfa Garden Street Branch) has smart-controlled rooms nearby for about $19 a night. Guests rate it 9.5 for fittings that are new and spotless. From here you can walk to the Ming Palace ruins, the museum's galleries and the Zhongshan Gate, where the city wall opens toward Purple Mountain, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Ming Xiaoling tomb. Skip the tour-bus parking lots at the mausoleum; locals go up early, on foot or by metro, before the crowds arrive. This is the best budget base on the east side for museum-goers and hikers who keep early hours. For nightlife, walk or ride west to the bars around the Presidential Palace.

    1. Budget

       Meijing Hotel (Nanjing Museum Alfalfa Garden Street Branch)

       FYI, I'm not a shill. This hotel, which opened in 2025, boasts intelligent, brand-new, and spotless facilities, all controlled by smart systems. The only downside is that the projector's sound keeps c

       9.5/10 rating ~$19/night
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