The Backpack Hostel vs The Walden House
Both are in Cape Town, 400 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.
GuesthouseTamboerskloof
The Backpack Hostel
- Guest rating
- 9.2 Excellent
- Location score
- 7.7
- Score by category
- 3 of 6
GuesthouseTamboerskloof
The Walden House
- Guest rating
- 8.9 Excellent
- Location score
- 6.8
- Score by category
- 2 of 6
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?
- 1Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 8.9)+0.3
- 2Includes free breakfast
- 351 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m+51
- 4More walkable surroundings (walk grade 96 vs 83)+13
- 517 more sights within 1 km+17
Why is The Walden House better than The Backpack Hostel?
- 1Newer 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 vs The Walden House: which hotel is better? | 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 | – | ✓ |
Price for your dates
Prices come from booking partners and can change. The final price is shown before you book.
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
Weather in Cape Town
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