Green Tortoise Hostel Seattle

Bunk beds are SO perfect, felt private with lots of head room. I slept so good! Lockers (under bed storage) are big, twice the space I was expecting (or needed for the weekend). Bathrooms are private and nice, like home. Common areas are comfortable with lots of windows to watch the happenings outside. Staff were SO VERY kind and informative. Big thanks to all for helping me get away and feel safe as a solo traveler.

What a gem! Very hospitable and welcoming staff. They have free: breakfast, alcohol (on occasion), dinner (on occasion), tours, a pullup bar, shower soaps, an arcade machine, and laundry. You might also find some free ice cream in the freezer! Treat the staff nicely and they will go above and beyond to help you. Super close to lots of shops, bars, and restaurants. You can stay in the Sphere parking decks for $22 a night unless you leave it there for more ($70 for two nights). Close to rail and bus stops so you can absolutely get around on public transit. Again, these folks treat you so well! You're very likely to make friends here. I couldn't help but be impressed with this temporary home! By far best place to stay near downtown.

Reserved on December 27, 2025 - January 3, 2026. I didn't know what to expect renting at a hostel. Actually this is my first time being at a hostel and I completely enjoyed staying for a week here at the Green Tortoise Hostel. The staff was incredibly helpful and will show you around to make you feel comfortable. The morning breakfast was wonderful, you get to cook your own, they will provide the eggs, cereals, milk, orange juice and fruits. They have toasters, they will provide the breads, the muffins, butter, peanut butter. All excellent. Also, a plus is every evening around 7:30 they will either have free ice cream, free wine, free dinner, depends the day of the week. Showers are wonderful specially walking around all day. You are really close to Pikes Market, seriously...really close, across the street is Salt and Straw and restaurants that have happy hours. Overall my experience was top notch. I'll definitely come back again next year.

Perfect location. Can see pikes market out our window. Every one we encountered that worked there was friendly and helpful. Sheets clean showers clean! Room temp was lovely also. We had Christmas dinner there and it was yummy. Has a smoking hang out room also that was convenient. Wi-Fi worked well. Will definitely stay here again.

Amazing hostel all around. Front desk is super kind and welcoming. Very informative and makes sure you are comfortable. Everything is clean. Sheets are soft and beds are comfy. Daily specials, things to do, laundry. Bathrooms are nice. Breakfast, WiFi, perfect location. Reasonably priced. I mean what else would you need? They have taken care of every detail. I wish there more hostels like this one. This is how it should be 🫶🏼

Absolutely phenomenal experience, the bed was surprisingly comfortable for being a bunk bed and everything was clean and well maintained. I stayed in a co-ed room with 8 beds (4 bunk beds) The top bunks were pretty close to the ceiling and some also have a padded metal pole overhead so keep that in mind when making reservations if you're on the taller side. I'm 5'4" and had a few inches of clearance between my noggin and the ceiling but did have to be mindful of the pole. The beds had a fitted sheet, two pillows, a normal sheet, and a blanket. There are two lockers underneath each bunk and you can get a lock at the front desk when you check in if you haven't brought your own. Bunks were arranged with the ladders on the end facing eachother, so it's possible to brace yourself against the opposite ladder when climbing in and out of bed, but I'd recommend bringing slippers or socks with grip to make things easier. The rooms were impressively quiet for being directly next to Pikes place, there was also construction immediately outside while I stayed here, and I couldn't hear it at all from inside the room. Bathrooms were clean and functional, there were ample individual bathrooms each with a standing shower, toilet, and sink across the hallway from the bedrooms. I'll definitely stay here again!

Solo female traveler. Was very impressed with the cleanliness. Staff was so friendly and upbeat. Kitchen was immaculate. Great location. Literally 25 minute walk to needle. Across the street from pike market and Target was literally next door. Lovely!!

I travel to South America, Europe and around the United States, and this is one of my all-time fave hostels. Each bed has its own fan, light, and curtains. The storage area for your luggage is roomy. You can bring your own lock or buy one there - which I recommend, because the lock is engraved, "Green Tortoise Hostel," so it makes a great souvenir. The iconic Pike Place Market is just across the street. The hostel provides breakfast fixings - coffee, cereal, milk, English muffins and bread, butter and jam. Eggs are sitting by the stove if you want to cook some up. Pots, pans, and chef knives are all in pretty good shape, if you're a picky cook (I am). The staff is attentive and helpful and are travelers themselves, so you can chat them up if you have been on the road for a while and are kind of lonely.

Just wanted to say thank you Tyler !!! You helped me a lot by changing my reservation! Great location: there is a target right beside and multiple bars and restaurants ; Great 24h staff; Free breakfast and you can cook your own eggs (provided by them); Cleanliness: not the best. My bedsheets were stained and bathrooms were always full of hair; Bath towels can be rented for $1; The building itself is a bit old They have free tours and every day of the week they have something different ( free beer, free ice cream) Overall very cool hostel!

Found this hostel across from Pike Place Market. It has been called Seattle's best hostel by many online. Green Tortoise Hostel certainly is a place we could stay again. Location is good and so is the place itself. The prices are okay for the area and quality. Best thing about it for many staying here is the location of course. It's located across from Pike Place Market. This is in the main touristy area, which means it gets crowded around here and inside this. Especially the bathrooms. They have quite a few in each hall so it's not very long of a wait. If needing toiletries it's $1 for soap or toothpaste. That's an okay price for these. Could charge you even more actually. They have events like free beer and ice cream, so check the calendars for when these are happening. Good place if wanting to stay close to top attractions. It's located next to many restaurants and shops, as well as other things like museums. This is also located along bus lines and it's close to the Westlake station, so it's convenient to get to with public transportation.

I needed a quick decent place to just rest my head for a night in Seattle and head out to the airport in the morning. No way would I want to spend hundred of dollars for 10 hours use to lay my head. It was also quite affordable...for just ~$45/night (shared female-only bunkbed room though, not private!). That was where Green Tortoise came into my plan. The hostel was in a convenient location. It was just 5 min walk from Univ Street Light Rail Station, so it was great to be able to go to places from downtown to airport without breaking a bank. P.S. Be ware, the this is a hostel, so amenities aren't necessarily tops. They also don't take anyone local or anyone who lives within 50 miles of a hostel I believe (e.g. only travelers!). For me, it was fine as I barely spent some hours there (good for me to just take a quick, quiet nap, have access to internet, shower/brush my teeth and explore a city a bit). If you are looking for real hotel amenities, this wasn't it.

Stayed here for three nights in July 2024. Brilliant location, just a few steps from Pike's Place Market. I stayed in a four-person female dorm. About the room: - there is a sink that you can use for washing your hands/brushing teeth - storage locker under each bunk (brink your own lock, or they have them for $5) - air conditioning! - privacy curtains around each bed About the hostel: - complimentary breakfast - free walking tours (there is one of the market and a Seattle 101 version) - nightly activities (rotates depending on the day) - plenty of restrooms (note: bathrooms are combo toilet/shower/sink; there are at least five per floor) -- I never had to wait Everything was clean. Helpful staff. Ability to store your luggage. I would stay here again and would highly recommend. Note that there were travelers of all ages -- some in their early 20s and also more mature travelers, too. 2024: 25/100

I decided to take a hostel for my last night in Washington state. Since me and my friends will be spending our last time together in Seattle before we go our separate ways. I booked here since I have an early flight tomorrow. My friend recommended this to me since he stayed here years ago. I want to preface and say that you should read the reviews first before booking. I stayed in a lot of hostel before when I travel, but this is the first time I have ever had a somewhat bad experience. Check in was great, the one who checked me in helped me with my luggage. But when I came in the room, the scent of everyone's feet welcomed me. I don't think the rooms were ventilated properly. The people who stay here are also loud and very rude. It goes to show the kind of crowd who stay here. I solo travel often and as a woman, this is the first time I feel very unsafe. I was sitting in the common area and I felt very perceived. The outside of the hostel was a bit scary too, especially since I had to leave in the morning while it's still dark. One thing I had to do was take out the sheets, which was a chore in itself since I was in the top bunk. When I checked out, the people in the front desk asked me to return the blanket... why can't they return it for me?! I had 3 bags with me and it was 3 am - i didn't want to make anymore noise. They were also very standoff-ish as well. I'm just happy I left early. Note to self, when visiting Seattle I'll book a hotel even for just one night.

No frills pretty run of the mill hostel experience. Plenty of amenities and friendly staff

Great staff, room had great A/C unit. Plenty of bathrooms. Across the street from likes place also!!!

I really enjoyed staying at the Green Tortoise. They have very fun events, and their central location is truly unbeatable. It's a 25 minute walk from the Seattle Center, and a 1 minute walk from Pike Place. I loved getting a different breakfast from a different culture each morning at the market. I stayed in a co-ed dorm for four nights and never had issues (bring an eyemask and earplugs if you're staying in a hostel dorm). The dorms have privacy curtains, outlets, personal fans, and reading lights, and they are clean. The restrooms are cleaned twice a day, I felt perfectly fine showering in them and was always able to find a vacant one. The commons are lower quality than a lot of hostels I've stayed in. There are a lot of tables and chairs, but few couches or more comfortable seating, which I love for new friends and studying. They are still very lively, however, and people regularly stayed up past 2 am while I was there. Unfortunately, the noise of those post-pub crawl or karaoke night owls did make it very difficult to sleep, even with earplugs and a floor above them. This is certainly a social hostel, so be aware. Parking was not fun. I parked at the west edge garage, which does not have great reviews for safety, and the rush hour downtown traffic was a nightmare. I removed everything from my car preemptively and put "In-car camera" stickers on my vehicle. It worked, and I was not broken into, but many others have not had such luck. It was over $100 dollars for 4 days. I met someone who parked outside the city and bussed in to avoid the high prices and thieves, and honestly, I wish I had done that. So, something to consider for those with cars. Overall, the hostel was great as far as hostels go. I only spent one day by myself because I kept making friends and going out with groups. There are so many cool things nearby, and I loved the Starbucks Roastery, Pike Place, the Ferris Wheel, and Seattle Center. I recommend getting a citypass if you are staying for a couple days.

Great location and staff, the amenities and cleanliness were spot on In a shared female dorm with 3 sets of bunk beds. Each had a locker available at the bottom and curtains to block ut the sides, though it was a little hard to pull the curtains for privacy. The pillows maybe too flat but not a big deal. Heating and cooling for the room was back and forth as it was hard to tell how the room would be regulated. Bathrooms are set up for individual use and multiple locations- lobby and upstairs. Some had better water pressure than others and would lock better too. Breakfast was self serve as well as clean up, a good spread of the basics and then some with a full kitchen. Communication with the staff is easy and they are helpful too, accessible 24/7

My first hostel experience and I loved it. I will always look for this as an option for accommodation. The staff are amazing! (This gets mentioned first because they make it all possible.) The amenities are better than advertised. I would go into more detail but you don't need to hear about how many tacos I ate. The location is perfect for exploring the city. I checked out hours ago and I'm just hanging out in their lounge giving my feet a rest after going on a couple walking tours that started at the front desk. A pair of birds were getting intimate by my window, which woke up my roommate, and my brief anxiety about him thinking I caused the racket was the worst part of my stay.

I had a wonderful stay. The staff is very friendly and the location is fantastic. I really enjoyed watching the Pikes Market come alive while eating breakfast. Made some friends to explore Seattle with too. Would definitely stay here again.

This spot is killer!! And I booked thru air bnb so I got a pretty good deal! Upon arrival, I noticed their hours were posted as 24/7 which was awesome so I didn't have to worry about going out for a few drinks late at night. The service was super friendly and helpful. There's laundry and refrigerators for food storage although I did not use them. The bunk I had was in a room of 6 and there was a lock box for my stuff underneath the beds. I liked that the bathrooms were cleaned 3x a day and the shower pressure was nice. The only thing I would recommend is some updates to the furniture, carpet, and other interior stuff (some of it was a little musty).

I was banned from this hostel only because I checked out 20 minutes late. THATS IT!!!! No complaints, no rules broken, no laws broken, didn't violate anything or anyone. I simply was sleep when they came in to let me know it was 11. I got up, got my things and brought them the key card. But because it was 11:20, they banned me. I'm black, I spoke with 4 other people who were also banned from the hostel who also is black with very similar stories. I don't know if the owner instructs this or if the manager just doesn't like certain people, but it's a problem there. The American hostel is only a mile and a half away and yet they are always full and it takes a while to get in. This hostel however always has vacancies and availability. I wouldn't recommend The Green Tortoise hostel to anyone (especially anyone of any color)!!!!! My review was just responded to saying I had a history of checking out late. Prior to the 1 night I stayed, I hadn't been there in 2 and a half years. When I was there, they said I missed a payment. Never had a history of checking out late and even though I don't remember missing a payment, I paid double for 1 night just to turn and get banned for checking out 20 minutes late. It's worse when a company makes up a lie to justify mistreating customers. The American Hostel may take time to get in. The other people who were banned from Green Tortoise are there with no complaints and I checked out a couple days ago after staying there for 2 weeks. They treat everyone fair and no complaints at all. As far as Green Tortoise, I absolutely would avoid that place!!!!!

It is with a heavy heart I write this. After many stays we will not be returning. Location is great and the price is fabulous. Staff is so nice! My last two stays have not been pleasant because of the patrons attracted to the hostal. Rooms smell like a college dorm. Individuals inebriated, most of us know what that smells like the next day, passed out on their bunk with the phone alarm going off. Bathrooms not being kept as clean as they used to be. In fact, I decided not to take a shower the next day and wait till I got home! Overall the place is not being kept clean. Before the pandemic it was well run, kept clean and it attracted a different type of patron. I remember being shocked at how clean the bathrooms were. I told all my friends! During our last stay I sat in the common area next to a young man that was growing an onion field under his arm pits! I felt so bad for those who had to share a room with him! He sure cleared my sinuses in a gross way! I realize the staff cannot do anything about him but management can do something about the cleanliness of the place. The hallway, going down the stairs smelled like urine. Did someone pee on the carpet? It is an old building and it used to be kept clean. I never minded the dates look. I didn't even mind having to share a room with other people. It is part of the experience. It's the way it is in Europe. I met some lovely people here during my stay. Hire an actual housekeeping crew. It will be well worth the investment. There are lots of activities and Wifi, pub crawl, wine night, karaoke night, etc. There was a guy named Sonny who worked there and used to do the pub crawl. Where did he go?

Also, too with a heavy heart I have to say this. The check-in staff are not presentable hear with ill-placed body jewelry that made me queasy. For other positions ok imo. Also, it is a job to rip sheets off the bed from the top bunk: for the price I'm paying (around 50$) here returning the sheets should be the hostels' job. Most importantly, at 10am BATHROOMS (all) were in disgusting condition. I asked staff about this; but got the shoulder shrug. My visit was for September. I mentioned these issues to management-hopefully things are different, now.

You get what you pay for! Apparently, this place is in a prime location! I went a couple weeks ago during the pandemic. Everything was still closed. The market was dead on a daily basis---but I take the local's word for it. With parking costs, the price honestly might even out. Parking was $21/24 hours including the discount. The kicker is, the garage closes at 6pm and there are not in-and-out privileges. My friend and I decided to park at an airport parking lot and take the train back to the hostel---it was a hassle but much more economical! Friend was able to keep his bike in the room. I was pleasantly surprised that the 'private room' consisted of 4 bunk beds. Each bed had a privacy curtain. The bed was comfortable enough and the provided light and personal fan were a nice touch. There were storage areas underneath the beds. Locks are not provided but are available to purchase or rent---as is toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and towels. Breakfast was 100% self-serve. You have to cook your own eggs and do your own dishes in the kitchen. All-in-all would stay again. Just know that the amenities are extra.

Showed up to claim my reserved bed a scant few hours before the Sigur Ros orchestral concert,only to find out I'd reserved for the wrong month! Alright.All co-ed dorms were full.Luckily,they found me a decent bunk in the employee room,freeing me up to relax before the show.Of course,I ended up paying twice for my mistake.The staff came through in a pinch and saved me a major headache; helpful,patient,and friendly indeed. This trip gave me solid memories (and a stubborn case of COVID,who knew?) and if I need to return to Seattle,I'd definitely consider the Tortoise again. PS I winced at the poor-bashing in some older reviews.Times have indeed changed since those reviews were written.We're all broke now! The atmosphere was not exactly convivial,more like deeply introverted/gadget-addicted/autistic.Made no friends BUT no bedbugs either.Thanks!

I was hesitant about staying in a hostel, but it ended up being my best vacation lodging experience yet. Everything about the hostel just makes sense, it's extremely traveler-friendly. Aside from affordable rates and a stellar location, the hostel offers cheap luggage storage after your check-out time, free breakfast and social events in the common area where you can meet other young travelers, cool and creative lounge spaces (specifically the room behind the vending machines, met some great people in there,) and private hall bathrooms with showers. The hostel is cleaner than most expensive hotels, and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Additionally, I saw a bin with free shampoo, conditioner and body wash for guests to use if they didn't bring their own. They also offer lists of places they recommend in Seattle, including a list of great thrift stores, which I thought was a very unique touch. I met cool people from all over the world during my stay there, and it made the entire experience of traveling to Seattle a bit more fun. If you're looking for affordable, clean, safe, social, easy lodging, Green Tortoise is probably the best option. I will absolutely be returning.

Dont trust them with your luggage they did not handle my bags with care at all. When I picked it up there were huge stain/scratch marks that wouldn't come off.

10/10 every time. Superb staff are always willing to help and are great at what they do. Never not one time ahead an issue. I frequent here through the years and its my number one stay when I choose Seattle. You get to rub shoulders with ppl from all over the world. I have made many long term friendships because of choosing to stay here. You can't get that with staying at a hotel. Choose Green Tortoise every time.

I'm inquiring about the being able to shower if you're not a guest? I'm living out of my car and do not have any family or friends in the area and I am in desperate need of a shower but don't have any money either. I'm not a druggie or anything weird. I lost the man I was suppose to spend the rest of my life with due to health conditions and the property owner decided to sell the house not even a month after he passed leaving me with no where to go except for my car. I have hurd you allow non guests to shower if they are done in a timely manner and not strung out on anything.

It's a hostel. Saying that, that means there are multiple people in your dorm room who will be going in and out. And can be difficult to sleep if you're a light sleeper. Request a bed away from the door if you can. This is an excellent location to and it's easy to walk to many locations. Furthest about 25 min walk away from the space needle. They have many activities which include organizing some tours which some have a low cost attached. They have a few free beer nights as long as you bring your ID. Also free continental breakfast type items in the morning. It is 420 friendly so in the common area you can smell it from there. That could be a plus or minus. No parking included

I got stranded in Downtown Seattle last night and a friend suggested a hostel. Having never stayed in one, or any kind of dorm outside the army, I had my doubts. From the staff to the other guests, i met some of the most interesting people in my life. Awesome common room that I spent hours watching marvel movies and explaining backstories to a crowd that was captivated by my telling. If they weren't they pretended to be and bless em TL:DR, GREAT PLACE, GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT PRICE, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

This was my first time staying in a hostel and exactly what I needed! I had been at a work conference by the airport all week and stayed the weekend after to do fun stuff, but I wanted to be in a more central location. Hotel costs were crazy and even Airbnb options weren't that great. I planned on being out the entire 2 days I had left so I really just needed a place to store my luggage and sleep, and I couldn't justify paying the super high prices at other locations. For 2 nights, my cost at GT total was around $80 which was way more reasonable than other options. I arrived prior to check-in and staff was very friendly and helpful, let me store my luggage until later in the day. So I dropped my bag off and went off to my adventures, returning around 5pm to check in. Check in was very easy, I explained to the guy that this was my first time at a hostel so wasn't sure how everything worked so he was very helpful at explaining. I purchased a lock for a few bucks so that I could lock my luggage locker in the room. He showed me to my room (female only dorm) and my bed, and I was good to go! Room setup was fine - there were 4 sets of bunks and 2 lockers under the bottom bunk for storage. I pulled out my clothes and supplies I needed for the next 2 days so that I wouldn't be as loud when getting into my locker (I felt bad that I was literally inches away from the girl in the bottom bunk while getting my things). Bed wasn't the comfiest but fine for what I needed and having the individual fan was nice (I'm a white noise kinda gal). Really didn't sleep all that great here though because people were constantly coming and going, you could hear doors opening/closing constantly, people getting into their lockers, stomping around, etc. But I mean, I fully expected that this wasn't going to be the most restful time and I was ok with that for the price I was paying. The individual bathrooms were nice! Each bathroom had toilet, sink, and shower, and you were the only person in there. I was on the first floor and had to go up to the second floor a few times because the bathrooms on my floor were full... but that wasn't a big deal. Never had to wait if I just went to the other floor. Free breakfast was nice as well! They had coffee, juices, fruit, cereal, milk, toast, fixings, etc. They also had eggs available if you wanted to cook in the kitchen. Lots of plates/silverware/etc and plenty of areas to sit and relax in the common areas. They also had tvs, games, computers, and free wifi. I did see that they also organized daily events - tours, sports games, happy hours, karaoke. I didn't partake in any of those but it was nice to see they had so many options for travelers. On the day I checked out, I had a few hours to kill before heading down to the airport so they again let me store my luggage while I went strolling around and didn't have to worry about lugging my bags with me. This hostel had a prime location too, literally right next to Pikes Place Market! I'm glad I finally caved and stayed at a hostel as I now know this is a great choice in the future if I'm packed with things to do and want to save some money on a place to stay.

I stayed here just recently during the Memorial Day holiday weekend and I must say that this place is the spot to be if you want to be around touristy areas. It's literally next to the Pike Place Market, walking distance to the Gum Wall, the Selfie Center, the Wheel, and many more! However, I do wish they had an elevator though because carrying my luggage on a few flight of steps was definitely a struggle for me. Fortunately, halfway through the steps someone was able to help. I'm not sure if they have an elevator hidden somewhere though that would need it more than I did. That's the only reason I knocked off a star. But overall, I'd come back again. This was my 2nd stay at a hostel and I felt extremely safe. The staff was nice and helpful with recs to visit. The bed in my opinion was comfortable. The showers and toilets were clean. I also like how there's a privacy curtain for the bunk beds and large and roomy lockers to store my belongings. The common areas were open as well and as long as you had a mask on, you were good.

Stayed at GT this past weekend in a coed room with some friends and had the best experience! Staff was great and so welcoming, and the free breakfast and night time activities were amazing. We loved open mic night and the pub crawl! There was always something going on and got to meet people from all over. Bathrooms were way cleaner than anticipated, and everyone staying in our room was quiet and respectful. Staff was welcoming, and extremely helpful. Would recommend to anyone and we will definitely book again when we come back to Seattle!

Staff is friendly and helpful. Amenities were great. The free tour was fantastic

Not a fan of this place. Staff seemed very standoffish compared to other places I've stayed. Beds were uncomfortable, only thing curtains separating your head from your bunkmate's feet. And the storage boxes were underneath other beds on the lower level, meaning you'll either awake other travelers or be awakened by other travelers at some point. Bathrooms were okay, nothing special. Location is pretty great, though. Literally one block down from Pike Place.

I decided to take my kids on adventure and stay in a hostel instead of a fancy hotel in Seattle. It was one of the best decisions I made. The staff was excellent and we didn't mind the coed dorms even though I probably should've gotten an all female room for my daughter and I and had my son stay in another room. But they had a lot of great activities there like walking tours, karaoke nights and free dinner nights. there was breakfast provided in the morning and you can cook your own eggs. We had a huge refrigerators to be able to share with everyone. I highly recommend this place for those who just need a place to stay, and you're further than 50 miles away from Seattle. It was really convenient next to Pike Place market and easy to access transportation

My gf and I were on a "budget trip" and couldn't find a descent priced room in a good location (walking distance to the Clipper Ferry) in Seattle that we decided to stay at this hostel. It was only my 2nd hosteling experience, my first was about 11 years ago in San Diego! My gf never stayed at a hostel before so we were a little bit worry! The price, stellar reviews online and the strategic location (right across the street from Pike Place Market, walking distance to Clipper Ferry and lots of other places) were certainly what drew us to take the chance at staying in a hostel vs hotel. We got the 4 beds female dorm room for one night (on July 4th), $38/person and it came with a FREE dinner (spaghetti with ground meat, garlic bread, salad) and FREE breakfast (you cook your own eggs and pancakes). WHAT A STEAL! The front desk people were super helpful. They gave us a free seattle map, information about FREE attractions and there were even FREE tours offered (we didn't take the tours though). They also allowed us to leave our luggage the morning that we arrived there (prior to check in time) and the day that we didn't stay at the hostel (we were just transiting for a few hours before our flight back to SF). SUPERB! The bathrooms were pretty clean and the bed and the room was comfortable even though we did share the room with 2 other female travelers (we actually didn't get to meet them, our schedule didn't match, so they weren't back when we went to bed and they were still asleep when we left). I really like how there were curtains surrounding each bed for privacy! It was AWESOME! There was also a sink in the room and a locker to store your luggage under the bed. I definitely recommend Green Tortoise Hostel if you're traveling on a budget in Seattle. GREAT DEAL!

5 for location. Holy crap! You can't get a better location in DT Seattle. Literally, across the street from Public Market Center. I spent all day walking the Market, going back to GT Hostile to drop off stuff, rest and get back at it. Perfect. I refuse to rate the parking, because it doesn't pertain to everyone and all parking sucks in DT Seattle. But you can park at West Edge Parking garage on Pike St and 2nd Ave. Very close and they give you a discount on it. 5 for Staff. Everyone was friendly. You felt like you were part of a community the moment you walk in. Most of Seattle is not very welcoming, so this was such a nice feeling. When the vending machine gave me trouble...Terrance joyfully took care of it for me. Helena and Sonny were great on the Pub Crawl. The common room activities were fun and FREE BEER from 7-9pm on Friday and Saturday. Yes!! And good beer from a local brewery. 5 for accommodations. 8 beds (4 bunks) in my female dorm. Each bunk has curtains to provide privacy, 4 power outlets in the bunk (super convenient), a small fan mounted and a light. Oh and very convenient lockers under the bunk with tons of space. Bring a lock or get one for $5. Bathrooms are awesome! There are like 5 on each floor/ section and each are private, clean and look nice. 5 for atmosphere. There were people of all ages here and I am 40. I felt very comfortable and relaxed. I could go on and on, but they have this figured out. I hear their San Francisco location has the same vibe. People I spoke to who stay here, come back over and over. I know I will. Don't complain about the stairs. It's good for you and if you need help with your bags, the awesome staff will help. Don't complain about the pigeons on the ledge. It's just city sounds and pigeons need a place to live. (Not noisy, just noticeable very once in a while) Don't complain about the homeless people outside. This is Seattle's problem, not that of the Green Tortoise. They handle it very well. They watch the cameras from inside and if ANYONE is hanging out on the stoop they get on the intercom and politely encourage them to move on. I felt safe! My first hostile experience leaves me expecting this level of grace and comfort everywhere. So let's see if the rest of the world can match this. I almost gave a lower rating for the WiFi, because I didn't get much of a signal in the dorm. But, it was great in the common area, which is where everyone is really encouraged to hang out. So, I forgive this one. AND, I managed to get a good signal from my bunk a few times and it was enough. :)

What a great location, being a block away from the Pike Place Market. I can't complain so much about $42 per night. I stayed in a female dormitory room with bunk beds. Luggage storage is beneath the lower bunk and you have the option of renting a lock if you didn't bring one. I appreciated the privacy curtains on the beds and also the private bathrooms. No dorm-style restrooms here. I didn't notice if it was all of them but there is a step coming out of the bathroom that I stumbled from a couple times. The included breakfast was pretty decent. I should not have been surprised but the coffee was strong, as it should be for such a city. Peanut butter, jelly, and whipped butter were provided for your white or wheat bread. You can cook eggs if you wish. Everybody is in charge of washing the dishes, cups, and utensils used. If there's anything you need to buy, there's a Target just steps away. In the mornings, there was constant noise outside our window from trucks. They do provide earplugs at the front desk. They have activities every day such as visiting a waterfall or going on a walking tour. I liked how they put copies of the schedule in the restrooms. I was there for the solar eclipse so they organized a trip to view it at Lake Union.

Great value for $. Safe during covid; everyone wore masks when not eating. Wooden bunks in 6-person dorm are comfortable & don't creak. Beds have outlets, curtains, a fan and a small lamp. Cubbies spacious enough for large luggage. Continental breakfast included: DIY eggs, toast, milk, cereal, oj, and fruit. Stove, sink & dishwasher available for use. Storage in communal kitchen is sparse. Common space is clean & safe to meet fellow travelers. Never a long wait to use the bathroom, some have hand soap, but wish all of them did. Conveniently located in downtown, short walk to bus stop and Capitol Hill neighbor where cool eateries are.

First of three nights was awesome. Really excited for the next couple of nights that we will be here. The rooms are clean and the bunks have privacy curtains so even though you're sharing a room with strangers in most cases, you still maintain some degree of personal space. You can rent locks for $5 and receive $3 back upon their return. Unlimited towels for $1. Free breakfast in the morning. Clean Community bathrooms and showers as well. Very friendly staff and they man the front desk all night long. There are lots of tables in the dining area and a 21 plus lounge for drinking or recreational smoking, which is legal in Washington. I would absolutely stay hee again and would totally recommend it to anyone traveling in Seattle. It's literally steps from Pike's Place Market and the waterfront, and only around $30/ night each person.

I was in Seattle for 4 days 3 nights and I stayed here at the green tortoise. I almost booked a regular hotel because I was hesitant but I decided to give this a try because it had a lot of great reviews and I booked 2 months in advance so I paid $38ish a night. In my opinion you get the most for your money and maybe a little more. It is conveniently located across the street from Pike place. There is also a free shuttle nearby that you can catch near Pike place and it can take you to the water front, pioneer square and the space Needle or if you like walking you can easily walk there (I did) to these locations which are within a mile or less from the hostel. ALSO IF YOU ARE FLYING AND COMING FROM SEATAC you can walk about 5 blocks from the hostel and you can catch the lightrail and that will take you all the way to Seatac for $3.00. it just doesn't get better than that. The staff is also very helpful and very nice too. There is this young women. I forgot her name but she is African American who is originally from California and she is the sweetest person. She was very helpful while I stayed at the hostel and she made me feel very welcomed . I also loved my roommates too and they made me feel welcomed. As a solo female traveler I felt very safe staying here. I'm glad o didn't book a hotel or else I would have missed having great conversations and meeting really cool people. They offer free breakfast which was cereal, coffee, cranberry juice, orange juice, hot chocolate, tea, and they offer eggs which you could cook yourself. Target is also two doors down so you could buy food and cook at the hostel. Just make sure you wash any dishes you use. This is a great if you want to save money as opposed to eating out all the time. However there are TONS of places you can buy delicious food from within a close walk from the hostel and there is Starbucks and many other places you can get a cup of coffee. I MEAN IT. Seattle is called the capital of coffee for a reason. There is on site laundry. $2 wash and $2 dry which is very convinient. The room that I got was all female 4 dorm room. I was the first female in my room to arrive and it was very clean it smelled fresh in there too. Each room have a sink which is a plus because in the mornings and evenings right before bed people are showering so the restrooms are usually occupied. But let me tell you I was able to brush my teeth, brush my hair and do my makeup in that sink. That sink made it very convenient to get ready in the morning. My advice try showering very early in the morning before people wake up or 3 hours before bedtime if you don't want to wait to shower. Or stand outside the restrooms. I did that and I only waited 5 minutes for the next available bathroom. Near the hostel there is this tour guide who offers pay as you feel tours (free market walking tour and Seattle 101). Sometimes they meet up at the hostel or near Pike place. I highly recommend you take that tour. Jake has a great sense of humor and his tours are very interesting. I paid for other tours at other parts of Seattle but Jake hands down gave the best tours I went on while on Seattle. I really liked his concept of pay as you feel tours because you never feel like you got ripped off.

I liked staying here a lot. The location was great. The room was clean and affordable. I originally booked a single room (to myself) but once I got to the destination, the single room was unavailable. The staff politely offered me an upgraded room to myself with 4 beds (the rest unoccupied). The rooms were immaculate. The shower and bath areas were clean and usually available. The kitchen was nice and the staff prepares some free healthy foods. I stored some veggi food items in the fridge without theft. The employees were professional but relaxed and met my needs. My only complaint: one of the guests was a little "in your face". One guy kept touching me (brushing against me, talked about wanting to touch me more) and harassing me after repeatedly being asked to leave me alone. He got off my back and the molest stopped after we returned to the hotel and he grasped that I wasn't interested. This place is crowded. That's not the fault of the hotel. Just avoid others if you're a woman and don't feel like talking and stick to yourself. Overall, I'd definitely stay again. I'd just opt to have my room to myself as I'm not a travelling young woman and don't socialize well in these clusters.

I'm a pretty big traveler so considering expectations after staying in many hostels I honestly disagree with some of the negative reviews and think this is a really quaint place to stay for vacation, passing through the area, etc. This is amazing value (I paid $45) and the accessibility to so many tourists spots is a plus. Literally walk out of the doors of the hostel and there's Pike Place market - which is only a few blocks from the Art Museum, Aquarium, waterfront, and a five minute walk to Westlake Station (which can take you to any other part of Seattle + the airport, for no more than $3). Free breakfast was nothing crazy - toast,cereal, oatmeal, coffee, other beverages and you serve yourself + clean up yourself but I mean we're adults here so makes sense. Plus theres so many other places to get (even better) breakfast food let alone food so it's nice they offer something. I stayed in an all-female room, which had 8 bunks, and felt pretty safe. There are trunks at the bottom of the bunks to store your stuff - $5 for a key. Either have a key on your suitcase, buy one at the desk, or take the risk (which I did, and I was fine). You have to scan your card to enter the hallway + the bedroom you're staying in. There's 4 individual bathrooms (not gender specific and for anyone in that hallway) that have toilet, sink, and shower (one of them had a really nice shower!). The service desk sells essentials for like $1 each if you need but there's also a Target and other shops very close by if you need anything too. Staff was really friendly- the hostel also offers things like Pike Place market tours, city tours, and bar hopping. If you want to explore the day you check out or come in too early then you can leave your luggage in the locked area by the front desk by tagging your luggage with their labels) And the clerks are good at double checking the tags (you save the #) Overall this is a good place and amazing location for exploring Seattle. If you feel uncomfortable with hostels/don't know what to expect or are high maintenance (which isn't a bad thing either!) look into a hotel or airbnb.

I have stayed at the Green Tortoise several times now. every stay has been a great experience. Every area of the hostel has always been very clean. What makes the Green Tortoise is what makes or breaks any business, it's people ! Everyone goes out of their way to provide anything needed. I stayed one time right after having surgery and they even brought up ice and ibuprofen. The prices are great, the facility is clean and well maintained and the service is Outstanding.

Amazing location. Great spacious showers/bathrooms. They have a lot of events too. I really enjoyed staying here and definitely would book again. Great price for the location. Parking isn't great but that's not their fault and it's Seattle so it's to be expected. It was easy to find. Great hostel definitely consider staying here!

Green Tortoise Hostel was the perfect place to stay during our night in Seattle before heading up to Port Angeles to explore Olympic National Park. We stayed in the female dorm, taking 3 of 4 beds in the room. Each bed has a spacious under-bed lockable cabinet for storage. It was very clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful. We also took advantage of their same-day storage area which was quick, easy, and seamlessly fit into a busy morning of exploring the area. This hostel is located insanely close to Pike Place Market and a great home base for Seattle adventures. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking!

3stars for: location -2stars for: service Perfect spot for any company to take advantage of its primo location next to Seattle's prime tourist attractions. Love hostels, don't mind the noise or the tight quarters or the smelly travelers. Don't love that the damn staff can't smile or even fake being cordial. Only the girl working overnight had an oz of friendliness. You'll have to pay $20 a day to park anyway, so you might as well stay at a motel 6 somewhere 20-50 minutes outside the city and drive in to the area and have your own room and bathroom. Only recommended if you are traveling by backpack+no car.

Always a great time here. Great location and perfect for solo travelers. Stayed in the San Francisco location so I was excited to see one in Seattle. Chill staff and clean rooms. They do their best to keep bathrooms clean. Common areas are much smaller than the San Francisco location and not as large of a breakfast, but it's still free. Appreciate the wall of 'things to do' in the city. Free secure luggage storage before and after check in if needed. Towels are $1 and locks are $5 if you forget them. This hostel has character and that's why I like it so much. Amazing location right across from Pike's Place Market and 2 blocks from the Westlake train station.

Location: PERFECT! Everything was walking distance. Literally could not ask for a better location. All the hotels in the same area were $200+. There is also a target right next door which came in handy. Everything was very CLEAN. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes/utensils/pans and everyone seemed good at cleaning after themselves. They also have a name tag system for the shared fridge that seems to work. Let's just say we went a little over budget and it was nice to be able to survive on 30cent ramen we cooked there lol Staff was super friendly! The bed only had one blanket but we asked for an extra one and they were nice enough to give it to us. Also they have great recommendations of where to go and also offer free tours.

I recently returned home from this great Hostel after having stayed here once upon a time many many moons ago! And I am very pleased to report that this still is my top choice. Let me count: a killer location, breakfast with fresh eggs that you can cook anyway you wish, with no obvious quantity limitation!!! ! A team of hard working trade workers ( who work there in exchange for free lodging and apparently wonderful dinner every night cooked by a fellow trade worker ) working non-stop to keep the place, especially the kitchen in shipshape condition; soap dispensers in the common bath/rest rooms; one does not get kicked out during the day, free wi-fi included. What more can a traveler possibly need? Had the woman receptionist recognized me on Monday 10/11 afternoon when I was waiting in line instead of the traveler who arrived after me and was actually standing behind me, I would have given a Five star. I wish I could avoid this same receptionist when I checked out on Friday 10/15 morning! But then I would not have met and talked to Shawn (or Shaun) who saw what happened to me when I checked in and greeted me warmly after he finished with the traveler ahead of me, Shawn compared various Seattle neighborhoods to their Bay Area counterparts as a reference point for me. Kendall is another sweetheart working at the desk, who could not have been nicer to assist me as I struggled with a malfunctioned phone charger. Thank you, Shawn and Kendall, for making my stay a memory making one. Public transportation from the Airport: on the Seattle light rail out of the Airport, the stop for the Pike Market area is Westlake. Look for Exit C2 after getting off the train and go to the Vine street side, walk toward the water. Pike street is parallel and next to Pine street, and the Hostel is between 1st and 2nd Ave. You will climb a set of steep stairs to the 2nd floor, and the street level front door remains open during the day and the Hostel is open 24/7.

Possibly the worst nightmare. The tortoise has a bohemian vibe if you are into that. The rooms are small and tight, at best. And when your roommates come in, be prepared to hear their loud banging on their lockers. Maybe the hostel can install soft close onto the locker? When we got there at 11pm, the host showed us to the wrong (very smelly) room and I had to wake someone up thinking they were in my bed. Furthermore, the bathrooms are not always clean, I have encountered more than i'd like to see. If you are a light sleeper I'd definitely suggest elsewhere, the streetscape sounds will keep you, and if that fails, there's gotta be a snoring roommate out of the 5 people you room with.

Such a great location. It's loud throughout the night and it can get hot in the summer (we went at the end of august and had the windows open - no aircon - and the small fan on in our bed). The beds were great, the privacy curtain all around the beds, with blankets and sheets. Breakfast was available in the mornings, cereal, oatmeal, bread and jam, etc. Lots of washrooms on the floor, so it you were likely to find at least one that would be open. Bring your own soap.

I needed to store my luggage for a sightseeing day without car. This place is located across the street from Pike Place and charges $5 per luggage. (free storage for staying guest before or after check out) Place is clean but crowded, seems like a great place for young adults who enjoy sharing space and meeting free spirited people.

Why didn't I think about staying at a hostel sooner? I LOVED my stay here and wouldn't do anything different! All the staff are SUPER nice! I found out about this place 2 weeks before I was coming to Seattle. I called and spoke to Nicholas. I asked about more information about the hostel experience and he had no problem sharing. I booked a night and to have my own room was $84 a night! What a steal deal baybee! Hotels in the area of Pike Market is madd expensive so I was super surprised to hear this good price. Once I got there I knew what to expect from reading the reviews. The hostel is a little hidden as the sign is small. It's in a perfect location and right across the street from Pike Markets and 5 mins away from Seattle Aquarium. I was able to walk to EVERYTHING! I got the hostel at 730am and of course rooms weren't ready yet. Check- in time is 11AM and NO they don't do early check-in's so don't be alarmed. They do have bag check off so I was able to store my bags as I walked and explored the area. Once I got checked in I noticed they didn't have elevators!! OMG. I have to admit that is the only downfall. My suitcase weighed 57 pounds and trusts me it was HEAVY! So to imagine taking this up stairs was appalling. I was so lucky to be able to get help from staff: James and Nicholas!! Big shout out to these two men!! They were so thoughtful and respectful! Bathrooms are shared in the hallway and I loved the glass showers! BIG + for that! Bathrooms were kept clean for the most part as they are cleaned throughout the day. I never had a problem with bathrooms being all booked. There were about 4 bathrooms on the floor. Many of the people of the floors were quiet and did their own thing. There is the downstairs area were you are able to go on the computer hang out in the living room and my all-time favorite was the "lounge area". The beds are comfortable and come with a fan if you need it. The rooms had a sink inside which was really convenient. Some of the rules in the hostel are: No food and drinks in the room and no guest. Simple and straight to the point, right? They have a kitchen so you are able to cook if you want and they have a refrigerator so you can store your food if you do bring some in. During check out time I was asking questions in regards to the cheapest way to the airport and the lovely staff: Kaycee and Tris were nice enough to tell me about the light rail (transportation) to the airport for only $3.00. It's totally easy and walking distance from the Hostel. I couldn't choose a better place to stay! I met tons of great people in the hostel from many different locations. When I come back to Seattle this will definitely be the place that I stay at!

My first impression was, "Its location is perfect - in the heart of Downtown Seattle near Pike Place!" You don't need any mode of transportation besides your legs and a couple free rides on the local bus if you're booked at Green Tortoise. The location is so close to everything it is literally walking distance, and the front desk people will provide guides and maps to every spot you should hit while staying in Seattle. As staff are really friendly and comfortable, and so are the guests that stay here. It is somewhat dormitory style, with multiple bunk beds in one room and shared bathrooms in the hall. All accommodations are met in terms of getting your snooze on because there are curtains for your privacy, lighting, outlets, a fan, and storage underneath your bunk that you can lock up for your personal things that you do not want to carry around when venturing the city. Clean sheets and bedding, make sure you do your duty and bring your dirties down when you check out! Common courtesy for all hostels, the guests keep it clean when they leave, and come back to the same clean they left behind. While on my stay, I had roommates from France, Britain, Chicago, Italy...now that's what I call variety! I met a group of friends that were backpacking, a couple on their honeymoon trip across the U.S., a man on a business trip, and a few other traveling nomads like myself. My friend and I were able to share a bunk and it cost us around $25 a night for bed and breakfast. The bathrooms were very clean, and the showers stalls are really big. I was actually surprised about the bathrooms, because hostels are known for their dirty crappers, but they really take good care of them here. The last thing you want after a long day out in the city is a dirty place to take a shower. It's an open kitchen, meaning all the ingredients are there and you cook your own food, do your own dishes. They have all the stuff you need to cook up a mean breakfast, and sometimes offer late lunch/dinner too. We had a taco night when I was there. There are computers, games, and a lounging area where you can meet and start up a good conversation with travelers from all over the world. Tip: You're not allowed to have any alcoholic drinks in the rooms, so if you plan on brining some of your own make sure it's hidden well or some of my room mates filled up their water bottles. The staff that might check in will notice, but kind of turn their backs and it's fine as long as "they don't see." Take advantage of all the resources they have out for you from brochures, to pamphlets, to information on where you can get some great deals of the nearby attractions. By the way, they also have a jar of free condoms at the front desk (see photo), which I thought was hilarious. Use at your own discretion. Overall, my experience at Green Tortoise was a good one and met more than my expectations. Just read the reviews of all the satisfied yelpers before me. Enough to convince you yet? Best bet if you want to explore the Downtown Seattle area without spending to much on your stay. Instead, spend that extra saved money on some fresh eats and original antiques at the Farmer's market nearby! An added bonus, meet some really cool people to have fun with out in downtown, you won't get a chance like this anywhere else. The lasting impression? "No traveler is a true traveler until you've experienced a night at a hostel; and the Green Tortoise in Seattle is great for first-timers!"