---
title: "The Backpack Hostel vs The Walden House: which hotel is better?"
description: "The Backpack Hostel or The Walden House in Cape Town? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-backpack-hostel-cape-town-vs-the-walden-house-cape-town/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-08
---

# The Backpack Hostel vs The Walden House

Both are in Cape Town, 400 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Guesthouse · Tamboerskloof
## [The Backpack Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-backpack-hostel-cape-town/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.2 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 7.7

- **Score by category:** 3 of 6

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2189441/agoda/?lang=en)

Guesthouse · Tamboerskloof
## [The Walden House](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-walden-house-cape-town/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.9 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 6.8

- **Score by category:** 2 of 6

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2221782/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick The Backpack Hostel

It leads in 3 of 6 categories. 400 m apart.

### Choose The Backpack Hostel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.2 / 8.9)
-   breakfast included
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 33 / 7)

### Choose The Walden House if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 7 / 33)

### Why is The Backpack Hostel better than The Walden House?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 8.9) (+0.3)
2.  Includes free breakfast
3.  51 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+51)
4.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 96 vs 83) (+13)
5.  17 more sights within 1 km (+17)

### Why is The Walden House better than The Backpack Hostel?

1.  Newer or more recently renovated (2018 vs 2014) (+4y)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | The Backpack Hostel | The Walden House |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.2 | 8.9 |
| Location | 7.7  (+0.9) | 6.8 |
| Facilities | 5.8  (+1.6) | 4.2 |
| Spa & wellness | 1.5 | 2.5  (+1.0) |
| Beach access | 1.6 | 2.2  (+0.6) |
| Public transport | 2.8  (+2.1) | 0.7 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 9.0  (+0.3) | 8.7 |
| Guest rating | 9.2  (+0.3) | 8.9 |
| Number of reviews | 47  (+41) | 6 |
| Rank in Cape Town | top 19%  (+36%) | bottom 45% |
| Location |
| Location score | 7.7  (+0.9) | 6.8 |
| Distance to Tamboerskloof centre | 410 m | 140 m  (−270 m) |
| To the beach | 2.5 km | 2.4 km  (−160 m) |
| To public transport | 1.5 km  (−380 m) | 1.9 km |
| To the airport | 19 km | 19 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 136  (+51) | 85 |
| To the nearest food shop | 80 m  (−260 m) | 340 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 7 | 7 |
| Sights within 1 km | 30  (+17) | 13 |
| Rooms & building |
| Rooms | 33 | 7 |
| Floors | 1 | 2 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2014 | 2018  (+4y) |
| Listed amenities | 15 | 18  (+3) |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 11:00  (+1h) | 10:30 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shuttle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Car hire | ✓ | ✓ |
| Concierge | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free breakfast | ✓ | – |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen | ✓ | – |
| In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ |
| Room service | – | ✓ |
| Massage | – | ✓ |
| Terrace | – | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | – | ✓ |
| Balcony | – | ✓ |
| Minibar | – | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | – | ✓ |
| Distance to the main sights |
| South African National Gallery | 640 m  (−290 m) | 920 m |
| Two Oceans Aquarium | 2.2 km | 2.6 km |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Beach holidays | – | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |
| Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

400 m apart

The Backpack Hostel: city centre: 1.1 km, nearest station Cape Town Station Deck: 1.5 km, Cape Town International Airport (CPT): 19 km, beach: 2.5 km, 136 places to eat within 500 m, 30 sights within 1 km.

The Walden House: city centre: 1.5 km, nearest station Cape Town Station Deck: 1.9 km, Cape Town International Airport (CPT): 19 km, beach: 2.4 km, 85 places to eat within 500 m, 13 sights within 1 km.

[Top-rated of 75 hotels in City Bowl](https://stayversus.com/en/south-africa/cape-town/area/city-bowl/)

## Weather in Cape Town

[Cape Town weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/south-africa/western-cape/cape-town/weather)

## The Backpack Hostel or The Walden House: common questions

### Which is better, The Backpack Hostel or The Walden House?

The Backpack Hostel leads in 3 of 6 categories, including location, facilities, public transport. The Walden House is stronger in spa & wellness, beach access.

### Which is cheaper, The Backpack Hostel or The Walden House?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

The Walden House is closer: 140 m from the centre, against 410 m for The Backpack Hostel.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

The Walden House is 2.4 km from the nearest beach; The Backpack Hostel is 2.5 km.

### How far apart are The Backpack Hostel and The Walden House?

The two hotels are 400 m apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-backpack-hostel-cape-town-vs-the-walden-house-cape-town/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/