Hostelling International New York

Upper West Side & Central Park


This red-brick mansion from the 1880s houses HI’s 734 well-scrubbed and maintained bunks. It’s rather 19th-century industrial, but benefits include good public areas, a backyard (that sees barbecue action in the summer), a communal kitchen, a cafe and environmentally friendly initiatives throughout. There are loads of activities on offer, from walking tours to club nights. It's short-staffed, however, and reception staff can be stubborn.

There are three attractive private rooms with private bathrooms, too. The hostel is alcohol-free.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Upper West Side & Central Park attractions

1. Straus Park

0.25 MILES

This leafy little triangle is dedicated to the memory of Ida and Isidor Straus, a wealthy couple (Isidor owned Macy's) who died together in 1912 on the…

2. Nicholas Roerich Museum

0.33 MILES

This compelling little museum, housed in a three-story town house from 1898, is one of Manhattan’s best-kept secrets. It displays 150 paintings by the…

3. Riverside Park

0.41 MILES

A classic beauty designed by Central Park creators Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this waterside spot, running north on the Upper West Side and…

4. Cathedral Church of St John the Divine

0.46 MILES

New York’s most impressive house of worship is a towering monument that looks like it's straight out of medieval Europe. Built in a mix of styles – with…

5. Blockhouse

0.56 MILES

The oldest building in Central Park, the Blockhouse is a military fortification from the War of 1812. It's located in the North Woods, on the west side of…

6. Columbia University

0.73 MILES

Founded in Lower Manhattan in 1754 as King’s College, the oldest university in New York is now one of the world’s premier research institutions. In 1897…

7. Conservatory Garden

0.84 MILES

For a little peace and quiet (as in no runners, cyclists or singing buskers), visit this 6-acre, formal garden – one of the park's official quiet zones…

8. Canaan Baptist Church

0.86 MILES

A modern Harlem church, founded in 1932, that welcomes visitors to Sunday services.