Backpacker hubs – the truth is you either love them or hate them. Regardless you will find yourself in a few, especially if you are traveling for an extended amount of time. They are good places to meet other travelers, get a hamburger or a pizza, and gain your barrings. Most hubs are packed with hostels, cheap eats, and travel agents who specialize in low cost travel. Your likely to experience a few bedbugs, some scams, and many pushy merchants hawking souvenirs.

I tend to linger no more than a night or two in any one of these places which is enough time to purchase an onward ticket, eat that meal you have been craving, purchase anything you might need in terms of clothes or supplies, and get first hand travel advise on where to go next. I also enjoyed connecting with like minded travelers to get advice on good hostels, current visa/border situations, as well as current events.

Shell Gas Station at night near Ko San Road in Bangkok.

1. Bangkok, Thailand

This made it to the top of the list because it is the hub for all backpackers on the South East Asia circuit. The infamous Ko San Road is the heart of backpackers paradise – you can fill up with 15 baht Pad Thai and Coconut shakes. You’ll run into old friends and reunite with new ones to plan the next leg in your journey.

Need a bucket? Only 150 baht!

2. Ko Pangan , Thailand

The Full Moon Party is almost a backpackers right of passage, and brings thousand to Ko Pangan. You’ll find cheap motorbike rentals, colorful plastic sand pails full of Thai Whiskey (aka Dark Rum). If you don’t make when the Full Moon Party your still likely to run it the Half Moon, Shiva, Black Moon, Blue Moon, Moon Set, Backyard, Day, Jungle Party, and everything in between.

3. Munich, Germany

Most go to Munich for the Oktoberfest, but regardless it’s a great place to guzzle down on fine quality beer in a Biergarten, lazy around in the park, explore the old town, or experience the standing wave.

4. Queenstown, New Zealand

For the outdoor sports enthusiast Queenstown, New Zealand is the place. It’s got everything to feed your adrenaline and keep you lingering longer than planned.

5. Prague, Czech Republic

Apart from the city being an architectural gem there is wonderful nightlife and cheap beer. If you go out around town your likely to bump into like minded backpackers and share a few tales from the road.

6. San Francisco Bay Area, California USA

Truly a city that has it all. You could spend weeks exploring the neighborhoods, and surrounding Bay Area which has so much to offer for the backpacker, shopper, nature type, historian, and photographer alike. Unlike many other US cities San Francisco and the surrounding bay is very accessible by foot, train, bus and ferry.

7. Cuzco, Peru

This city is the base for anyone exploring Machu Pichu. The place is rich in Inca culture and history and it’s teaming with backpackers doing the South America circuit. People have been coming here for centuries and you can see why.

A view of Goreme, a Turkish city built in caves

8. Goreme. Turkey

Turkey is the bridge from Europe to Asia and the gateway to the Middle East. Perhaps it’s the romantic tales of underground cities, cities in caves, or phallic rock formations that bring people through this region, but there is truly an endless opportunity to explore, or kickback and enjoy Turkish hospitality, tea and cuisine.

9. Goa, India

Cocktails, curry, sandy white beaches (complete with a cow or two!), really who could ask for a more exotic location to enjoy a few days of rest?

Enjoying  a Loa beer on the Mekong River

10. Vang Vieng, Loas

A place for experimentation with the unsaid ‘happy’ menus makes this place overwhelmingly popular. If you chose to float down the river be extra careful you don’t pass the town itself, and do so in daylight hours. After all you wouldn’t want to miss a tasty meal at any of the great restaurants that blast Friends reruns.

Written by Shannon Hogan

Any other place you think we might have left out? Leave us a comment or a message on the forum.