Home to around 67,000 people, with more than half a million in the full metropolitan area, Portland is the biggest city in the state of Maine and is located in Cumberland County on the state's coast. A very historic city that played a key part in the growth and development of Maine over the years, Portland is home to the biggest tonnage seaport in all of New England and is the main economic center of the state.

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It's also one of the most popular touristic destinations in Maine due to its beautiful architecture, historic landmarks, attractive waterfront area, and more. Some of the top spots to check out around Portland, Maine include the Old Port, Peaks Island, Fort Williams Park, and the 18th century Portland Head Lighthouse. Tourists will also enjoy sampling some fresh seafood in the city's restaurants and exploring the West End district, which is filled with stunning old homes dating back to the Victorian era.

If you're heading down to Portland, Maine and are looking for a cheap place to spend a few nights, the city is home to a few different hostels and guesthouses. These locations provide clean rooms at good prices, with many of them also offering additional features like shared kitchens and communal lounges for guests to relax with their friends and meet new people. Read on to learn more about the best hostels in Portland, Maine.

- Inn at St John - 939 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102, Phone: 207-773-6481

A great Portland Maine hostel and Bed & Breakfast, the Inn at St John is nicely located in the western side of the city, within walking distance of some popular touristic attractions like Deering Oaks Park, the Portland Museum of Art, and the Victoria Mansion. You're right by the West End when staying at this hostel too, so can really feel free to explore the best parts of Portland without needing to drive around or rely on public transport too much.

Highly rated by previous guests, the Inn at St John offers comfortable rooms decorated in an authentic, New England style with a lot of rustic furnishings and interesting artworks on the walls. The bathrooms are all clean and well-maintained, and you can hang out in the communal lounge and dining areas whenever you like. This Portland, Maine hostel also features free Wi-Fi access for all guests, along with continental breakfast in the mornings.

- Black Elephant Hostel - 33 Hampshire St, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-712-7062

Portland, Maine tends to be home to older and traditional guesthouses and B&Bs in general, but if you want a hip, contemporary hostel with a cool urban vibe in this New England city, be sure to check out the Black Elephant Hostel. As soon as you arrive at this location, you'll be amazed by the murals all over the sides of the building, which is located on Hampshire Street, just north of Downtown Portland. You can access the Old Port area in less than 10 minutes on foot from this hostel, with other local attractions like the Portland Museum of Art less than 20 minutes away too.

As for the hostel itself, it's even pretty on the inside than it is on the outside. As soon as you enter, you'll be greeted by some fantastic boho-chic rooms decorated with unique patterns, lots of colors, rustic furniture, and more. All of the rooms seem to have their own personalities in this Portland hostel, with both shared rooms and private rooms available for your convenience. There's also a big lounge space with a large, flat-screen TV for your viewing pleasure and plenty of comfortable seating spread around the room, along with a shared kitchen to cook up some meals.

- Fleetwood House - 10 Fleetwood St, Portland, ME 04102, Phone: 207-772-9592

The first thing to note about Fleetwood House is that this isn't a traditional hostel and it isn't located too close to the center of Portland. Instead, this hostel/guesthouse location is out to the west of the city, quite close by to the Portland International Jetport and about 3 miles from Downtown Portland and the waterfront areas. This means you'll have to travel a little to get into Portland and visit the main attractions, but Fleetwood House is still worthy of consideration for your Portland trip, especially if you're making use of the airport and want to be close by.

Housed in a wonderful old wooden building, this family-owned and operated hostel and B&B features traditionally decorated and furnished rooms with four-poster beds and antique furniture. You'll find a lot of charms and unique things to admire all around this property, which also offers a few communal spaces like a lounge, decking area, and garden for guests to hang out together and enjoy the quiet vibe of the local area and the wonderful views all around.