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When choosing a place to stay in Sydney, you want to make sure it is close to where all the action is.
The Sydney Central YHA is one of the best located accommodations in the city, as well as one that offers budget accommodation – which is always a bonus as Sydney is not cheap.
What attracted us to stay at the Sydney Central YHA was purely the location, but we soon discovered it had so much more than this.
In this review, we have shared our honest opinion about what it’s like staying at the YHA Central in Sydney.
About Sydney YHA Central
Nestled in the heart of Sydney, the Sydney Central YHA hostel is a 5 star backpackers hostel housed in a heritage-listed building and is a Three-time Winner (and Hall of Fame entrant) of the Australian Tourism Awards (2008, 2009, 2010).
With a unique backstory, this hostel offers more than just a place to stay. From its humble beginnings as an inwards parcel shed to its transformation into a modern haven for backpackers, the Sydney Central YHA has preserved its heritage while providing modern amenities.
The accolades are a testament to the exceptional service, comfortable facilities, and vibrant atmosphere offered by the hostel.
Whether you’re a budget traveler or simply seeking a unique experience, the Sydney Central YHA hostel provides a blend of history, comfort, and modern conveniences that sets it apart from the rest.
- Prices: start at $49 for dorm room up to $192 for private rooms.
- Parking: we found the cheapest parking in Sydney at the new Darling Park Wilsons parking only a short walk from he hostel. Get there before 9:30am and you’ll get the flat early brd rate of $10 for 24 hours.
- Getting there: right opposite Central Train Station.
- Location: 11 Rawson Pl, Corner of Pitt St and Rawson Place (opposite Central Station)
- Phone: (+612) 9218 9000
- Website: Sydney Central YHA
Our Experience Staying at Sydney YHA Central
The Sydney Central YHA turned out to be the best place for us to stay that made it easy for us to get to all the places we needed to get to on foot.
All of them were within a short walking distance, except for Kings Cross. Luckily the hostel is right across the road from Central Station (Sydney’s hub) making it an easy five minute train trip.
The YHA is a perfect place to stay in Sydney for those wishing to explore all of the city, as you can easily get the train from Central Station to anywhere in the city, and it’s great for onward domestic or international travel as it’s a short train ride to Sydney airport.
The Sydney Central YHA is a close walk to the cheap eats of Chinatown, the tourist area of Darling Harbour, the alternative suburbs of Surry Hills, Newtown and Glebe, and is also only about a half hour walk through the city to the historic Rocks area and stunning harbour that makes Sydney so beautiful.
The Facilities at Sydney Central YHA
It is a large spacious building with plenty of recreation amenities and extensive facilities. The hostel is suitable to any type of traveller from solo, to group, to family travel.
We stayed in a private room with an ensuite that had a double bed, a roll out bed for Kalyra, which she loved, and we bought our own portable cot for Savannah. We felt very comfortable and happy.
Kalyra loved peeking out the window to the city views outside and constantly remarked at how much she loved the hotel.
The hostel has a rooftop pool and BBQ facilities for you to enjoy the panoramic views of the city on a balmy summers evening.
Each floor has a lounge/chill out area, there are several big communal kitchens that are clean and functional, and there are plenty of spots for you to hook yourself up online.
The hostel provides free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, ensuring you can stay connected with ease.
For those staying in dormitories, there is a shared bathroom but it’s spacious and kept very clean.
Extensive common areas include spacious dining and lounge areas where you can socialize with fellow travelers and make new friends, and an outdoor area.
Additional amenities such as a cinema room where you can enjoy movie nights with free popcorn, games/TV rooms, meeting rooms, rooftop terrace, laundries, and a pool table provide entertainment options for downtime.
The hostel also offers secure lockers, parking facilities, and disabled access to ensure a hassle-free stay. They also have a guest laundry service.
Entertainment and Events
Downstairs is a cafe with free wifi and really reasonably priced food and coffee.
The hostel has entertainment specials on every night with different themed meals, BBQs and cheap drinks. They have their very own backpackers Scubar in the basement with pool comps, theme nights and pub crawls.
The hostel is close to Star City Casino and many other of Sydney’s pubs and clubs.
We recommend the nearby Scruffy Murphys Irish Pub for cheap drinks and meals. A pint of guinness and a meal of fish and chips will set you back $12 – a friggin bargain in Sydney!
Enjoy regular activities such as pub crawls, sporting events, market tours, free wine and cheese nights, pizza nights, and lively rooftop BBQs, fostering a vibrant social atmosphere that encourages interaction and camaraderie.
If relaxation is your priority, take advantage of the sauna, fitness center, and indoor pool.
Would We Recommend YHA Sydney Central?
With its unbeatable location in Sydney CBD and close to the New Sydney Light Rail Line, you have everything you need on the doorstep of Sydney Central YHA.
Not only that, but the affordable dormitory accommodations make finding backpacker accommodation a breeze.
It’s no wonder this is an award-winning hostel, there is nothing to complain about.
How important is location for you when choosing accommodation? Let us know in the comments!
Check prices and availability of the Sydney Central YHA hostel here.
You may also like the Sydney YHA at The Rocks – it’s our favorite hostel in Sydney! Here are some more accommodation options in the Sydney CBD.
Use the map below to help you find alternative places to stay in Sydney
More posts on Sydney
- 11 Ideas For What to do in the Rocks, Sydney
- 2 Day Sydney Itinerary: What To Do In 48 Hours
- 17 Free Things to Do in Sydney
- How to Experience the Vivid Sydney Festival (with or without kids)
Disclaimer: We were offered a complimentary stay by Sydney Central YHA, but all thoughts, ideas and opinions in this guide are our own.
