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Hostels are a budget travel hack to more frequent and longer vacations. As a cheaper alternative to hotels and Airbnbs, hostels are often centrally located, a great way to meet fellow travelers, and a nice space to set up shop with your laptop if you’re a digital nomad. I’ve stayed in my fair share of hostels over the years and am sharing my picks for the best hostels in Europe and the U.S.
The Best Hostels in Europe and the USA
Líbere Córdoba Spain - Editor's Pick Córdoba is located in southern Spain in the country’s Andalusia region. It’s perhaps most famous for the Mezquita, a mosque originally built in the 700s. Other notable sites include the Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos, the Synagogue of Córdoba, their ancient Roman bridge, and the Calahorra Tower. Why the Líbere Córdoba Earned the Top Spot The Líbere Córdoba is not your run-of-the-mill hostel. First, it appears newer and not so rundown like other hostels I’ve been to, but it still retains the charming southern Spanish design you’ll find all around this city. The building surrounds a beautiful outdoor patio with plenty of tables and seating for people to hang out or work remotely. If sitting outside isn’t your cup of tea, they also have an indoor area where people can eat or work. Another plus is how clean the rooms are. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Dream Hostel Prague - Best Hostel in Prague Prague was, hands down, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe I've been to, so I under why it's such a popular travel destination. And it's exactly the kind of European city where picking a central hostel, with easy walking access to all the beautiful historic sites, is extra beneficial. Why the Dream Hostel Earned Best Hostel in Prague I loved how central this hostel is! Not only is it just a 10-minute walk from the main train station, but it's walkable to all kinds of popular spots, including Old Town Square, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and Wenceslas Square. I also loved that they gave you a ticket for a free welcome drink when you arrive (in my case, it was mulled wine since it was during winter). Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
HI Boston - Best Hostel in Boston Boston is one of my favorite cities in the United States. Washington D.C. may be the nation’s capital, but Boston and Philadelphia feel more representative of America’s founding fathers and history. Plus, Boston is just a 40-minute train ride from Salem, which means you can see two great places in one trip. Why the HI Boston Earned Best Hostel in Boston Surprisingly, Boston has very few hostels, and the HI Boston is pretty much the Boston hostel. Despite limited options, this is a great choice for those who want to visit Boston and save money by skipping expensive hotels. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
New Samay Seville - Best Hostel in Seville Seville is a well-known city in Spain’s Andalusia region in the south, featuring incredible architecture like the Plaza de España and Giralda Tower, along with vibrant cultural charms like flamenco dancing. Why the New Samay Seville Earned Best Hostel in Seville From my experience, I felt very safe at the New Samay Hostel in Seville. The hostel felt safe and secure, and the neighborhood it’s in felt safe, too. Plus, it was easily walkable to popular tourist sites. This isn’t a party hostel either, which made it feel safer. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Find out more about this hostel in my full-length New Samay Hostel review HI New Orleans - Best Hostel in New Orleans New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the U.S., with a rich history and culture unlike any other city I’ve ever been to. It’s also a great place to go on a trip with friends. I spent a long weekend in Nola for my birthday, and the HI Hostel allowed me to have a great stay while saving some money. Why the HI New Orleans Earned Best Hostel in New Orleans This HI Hostel is a clean, well-kept hostel on Canal Street in the heart of the city, within walking distance of New Orleans’s iconic French Quarter and the Mississippi River. Of course, the French Quarter is a prime spot for friend groups to take tours, explore, or hit exciting bars and restaurants. While most folks go to New Orleans to see these spots, the HI New Orleans is also within walking distance to the street cars to take you to other areas of town like the old cemeteries and the Garden District. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Read More: Guide to Visiting New Orleans for the First Time ECO Hostel Granada - Best Hostel for 30-Year-Olds Granada is located in southern Spain and is most famous for the Alhambra Palace, which sits atop a hill overlooking the city. However, I would encourage you to also visit the Royal Chapel there, which is where Spain’s most famous monarchs, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, are buried. Why the ECO Hostel Granada Earned Best Hostel for 30-Year-Olds There’s a slight misunderstanding that hostels are only for twentysomethings, but from my experience, I’ve seen people of all ages stay at them. That said, if you’re over 30, odds are you’ll probably want something more low-key than a rowdy party hostel. Hey, we need our sleep, right? The ECO Hostel was a quiet, calm hostel with a good mix of adults of all ages, which is why I think this is a good choice for the over-30 budget traveler. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Find out more in my ECO Hostel Granada review Astor Oxford Street - Best Hostel in London London is one of the biggest and most famous cities in the world, but that also means staying here can get expensive. In this case, hostels are a great workaround for this. That said, in such a big city, you want to make sure the hostel you’re staying at is in a decent, safe location. Why the Astor Oxford Street Earned Best Hostel in London There are multiple hostels around London, but I chose to stay near Oxford Street as this seemed like a good central location for someone who had never been to London before. The Astor Hostel Oxford Street is near London’s West End, and even though it’s a busier area, I never felt unsafe here. The hostel is a secured building a block behind Oxford St., where you can get to buses. It’s also just a 10-minute walk to the Oxford Circus subway station. During my stay, the hostel was clean and well-maintained, and I saw people of all ages, including families, there. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Discover more tips about London in this London Travel Guide Young and Happy Latin Quarter - Best Hostel in Paris Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements that sort of work their way up from the center out. This means that the lower your arrondissement number is, the more central you’ll be to the popular sites. For your first trip to Paris, I’d recommend finding accommodations within the first 10 arrondissements so that you’re close to the best sightseeing. Why the Young and Happy Hostel Latin Quarter Earned Best Hostel in Paris The Young and Happy Hostel is located in the Latin Quarter (A.K.A. Arrondissement 5) on a street called Rue Mouffetard. What’s special about the Latin Quarter is that it’s one of the city’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods, particularly for education, and it was where Ernest Hemingway lived during his time there in the 1920s. Rue Mouffetard is also home to a local market, so you can find lots of yummy foods from local vendors. The Young and Happy Hostel’s excellent location made it easy for me to walk to the must-see Paris sites like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, among others. As for the hostel, I loved that it felt more historic, like the neighborhood it was in. I think my favorite part was the cozy hangout area below the main floor, which kind of felt like you were entering some catacombs or something. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Learn more with this Paris Travel Guide Kick Ass Greyfriars - Best Hostel in Edinburgh Scotland is one of my favorites of all the countries I’ve traveled to, with Edinburgh being one of the most magical cities I’ve ever seen. Seriously, I’m still dreaming of living there and writing in cozy coffee shops. Why the Kick Ass Greyfriars Earned Best Edinburgh Hostel The Kick Ass Greyfriars (previously known as Budget Backpackers) Hostel in Edinburgh was the very first hostel I ever stayed at, and it clearly left a positive impression. This hostel is in the heart of Old Town Edinburgh at the bottom of the iconic Victoria Street. If you’ve seen images of Edinburgh, you’ve likely seen that street. It curves and has colorful buildings along it. Because it’s so central, I could easily walk to major sites in the city like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. It’s also close to coffee shops, restaurants, bars, tours, etc. This hostel was also only a 15-minute walk to Waverly Train Station. Aside from a great location, the hostel felt safe and even provided meal and drink coupons for their restaurant and bar. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Find out more in this Scotland Travel Guide Euro Youth Hostel Munich - Best Hostel for Digital Nomads Munich was my favorite of the three big cities I’ve visited in Germany, which included Frankfurt and Berlin. While Frankfurt seemed too industrial and Berlin too overwhelming, Munich had some great character to it. To offset the price of a hotel, I stayed at the Euro Youth Hostel (also referred to as the Euro Youth Hotel Munich), which was conveniently within a roughly 10-minute walking distance of the city’s Central Station. Why the Euro Youth Hostel Munich Earned Best Hostel for Remote Workers Working remotely while staying in a hostel can present a unique set of challenges. I ideally want somewhere with good Wi-Fi and a communal space with tables to plug in my laptop as needed. I’ve certainly found this at other hostels (and if I had to give a runner-up in this category, the ECO Hostel Granada would get that title). However, I picked this one because they have a larger community dining and hangout area next to the lobby with plenty of tables where I could easily get work done and order food and beverages. On the flip side, I understand that some folks may want something quieter, and the good news here is that the Euro Youth Hostel in Munich also provided a table and chairs in the dorm room, so if I had to take a meeting, I was able to do it there with my headphones on. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Learn more about my experience in Munich here St. Christopher’s Inn - Best Hostel in Barcelona Barcelona sits on Spain’s eastern coast along the Mediterranean Sea. The city has a lot to offer travelers, from the visually stunning Gothic Quarter and famous La Sagrada Familia cathedral to the beautiful beaches and food; I’d recommend it in a heartbeat. Why St. Christopher’s Inn Earned Best Hostel in Barcelona The St. Christopher’s Inn Hostel is centrally located near Barcelona’s Las Ramblas neighborhood, so you have lots of access to shopping and food. The hostel's location also made it easy for me to walk to all the sites I wanted to check out, including La Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, and Barceloneta Beach. Another location perk was how close this hostel is to the Barcelona Airport shuttle. I remember having to leave for the airport around 3 in the morning. I’ll admit I was pretty nervous since it was the middle of the night, but to my surprise, there were many people out and about (likely coming back from nightclubs), and people were already waiting for the shuttle. As far as the hostel itself, they have a great bar area where people can socialize and watch games. I actually had the best three-hour conversation with a fellow female traveler from Denmark. They also have privacy curtains on the beds in the rooms. Pros About This Hostel
The Cons
Learn more in my St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona review Also visiting Madrid? Read my Ok Hostel Madrid review Frequently Asked Questions 1.) Is 30 too old to stay in hostels? Absolutely not! I first stayed in a hostel at 30 years old and have had great experiences in them. The older you get, you may prefer the comfort of your own hotel room, but I've seen people of all ages in hostels. There are some that have age limits, usually just for certain rooms to keep younger people together, but in general, you can book them at any age. 2.) Where are the most hostels in the world? I would say most hostels are in Europe because they're so popular there. 3.) Can you pay in full on Hostelworld? Yes, from my experience, I've been able to pay in full when booking on Hostelworld. 4.) Which institute has best hostel? I really like the HI Hostel chain, especially if you're in the U.S. I've stayed at both the HI New Orleans and HI Boston, and both were really nice, even providing a free breakfast for guests every morning. Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.
Prague is arguably one of the prettiest cities in Europe, which also makes it among the most popular to visit. With such popularity often comes higher hotel prices, making hostels a great cost-saving alternative. If you’re on the lookout for a hostel in Prague city, I’ve got you covered.
In this detailed review, I’ll share my honest thoughts on the Dream Hostel Prague. I recently stayed here during my own trip to Prague and will share my experience, including what they offer, what I liked about it, what I didn’t like, location, pricing, and more. Dream Hostel Prague Booking Prices Hostel pricing is greatly dependent on when you go. In my case, a two-night stay during winter cost me about $65 (or $32.50 per night). While considerably cheaper than hotels, it might feel a little higher compared to other hostel prices out there. That said, for the location and quality of the hostel, I was okay with these prices. Dream Hostel Prague Check-In Process Check-in time here is at 3 p.m. I arrived slightly earlier than that, so I had to wait a little bit, but they were cool about letting me hang out in the lobby in the meantime. They also have 24/7 reception service, so no need to worry if you’re arriving late. As far as a key, you get a keycard that opens both your room and the doors that lead to the rooms from where the stairs are, which is good for extra security. During check-in, they also gave me a card for a cup of free mulled wine, which was a nice perk. I’ve only seen one other hostel do something like that, and it was the Euro Youth Hostel in Munich, which gives you a ticket for a free drink. Dream Hostel Prague Towels Unless you bring your own towel, you’ll have to pay to use one of theirs. Unfortunately, it’s not a deposit either. In this case, it cost 80 Czech Koruna ($3.89). I wasn’t a fan of this since a lot of other hostels only require payment as a deposit, in which case you get your money back when you return the towel. But I double-checked with them at check-in and they confirmed it wasn’t a deposit. Dream Hostel Prague Location The Dream Hostel Prague is centrally located. It’s just a 10-minute walk from the main train station and walkable to sites around the city, including Old Town Prague. The area looked relatively safe too. When I had to wait for my Uber to Prague’s Airport, it was around 4:30 a.m., and there were still people out and about. Safety in numbers, right? Dream Hostel Prague Rooms & Bathrooms I loved that the dorm rooms here come with privacy curtains on each bunk bed. Each bunk also featured a private light and charging outlet. As far as bathrooms go, our floor had two single shower rooms. I appreciated this for privacy, but the space outside the shower is small. Then, they had a separate room with two sinks and mirrors for getting ready. However, they only had a single room with a toilet, though there were two additional toilets in other areas of our floor. This wasn’t the worst bathroom/shower setup I’ve seen at a hostel, but I think they could stand to have a few more toilets since it didn’t seem like there might not be enough for everyone. Dream Hostel Prague Lobby & Overall Experience The lobby here is nice. They have drinks and food you can order, with plenty of seating to hang out and chat. Overall, I thought the crowd here was nice, though there was one guy who was absolutely hammered sitting in the lobby making a ruckus while I was waiting for my Uber to the airport. Thankfully, it didn’t look like he was going to his room anytime soon. As far as the people in my room, they were all quiet and respectful. Pros: What I Liked About This Hostel
Cons: What I Didn’t Like
Frequently Asked Questions Where is the Prague Dream Hostel? The Prague Dream Hostel is located just a 10-minute walk from the train station and about a 15-minute walk from Prague’s Old Town Square. The hostel’s address is Ve Smečkách 23, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia. It’s also located right near lots of shopping as Wenceslaus Square. How secure is Prague Dream Hostel? As a solo female traveler, I thought this hostel was very secure. They have 24/7 reception (usually two people at the front desk), and you need a key card to open the door to where the dorm rooms are and your own room. What makes Dream Hostel Prague unique? Honestly, I thought the ticket for free mulled wine was a unique touch. I’ve only seen one other hostel do this, and while it’s not something that makes or breaks a trip, it’s a nice touch that stands out. Is Dream Hostel Prague suitable for solo travelers? Yes, the Dream Hostel Prague is totally suitable for solo travelers. I stayed here on my own, and I felt safe and met some nice travelers. Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.
Bratislava, Slovakia is an under-the-radar European city, especially in comparison to other nearby hotspots like Vienna and Prague. However, this small-but-mighty Slovakian capital offers a charming old town neighborhood that has the traditional European appeal without the large crowds you’ll find in Bratislava’s more famous counterparts.
If you are looking for Bratislava hotels, my biggest recommendation is to stay in Old Town. Outside of this area, Bratislava didn’t feel as safe, which is also why I’d only recommend no more than two days here. During my two-day trip in Bratislava, I stayed at the Hotel Elisabeth Old Town. In this review, I’ll share my honest thoughts about this hotel based on my experience there. Hotel Elisabeth Bratislava Location The Hotel Elisabeth’s location is hard to beat. It’s located at the edge of Old Town (A.K.A. where all the tourist attractions are) but still walkable to the city’s main train station. During my time there, it was about a 30-minute walk to the train station. While some hotels may be further into Old Town, the convenience of walkability to the train station gave this hotel a huge leg up in my opinion. Elisabeth Old Town Bratislava Hotel Prices For a two-night stay in a single room, I paid $147, which equates to about $66 per night. In general, Bratislava was far cheaper than other European cities, which meant cheaper hotel prices. And, in the case of the Elisabeth, this hotel had one of the best rates considering the location. While you may find cheaper prices elsewhere, consider the location. Old Town felt considerably safer than other parts of the city closer to the train station, so if safety is also a priority, I think this place is a good find. Hotel Elisabeth Rooms My room here was small, but for just me, it was plenty of space. Keep in mind that the bed you get is only a Twin size, so if you prefer something larger, you may need to make a special request or just book a bigger room. The bathroom was clean, and there was a window in both the bedroom area and the bathroom in case you need some air. The only downside was that the hot water took a minute to kick in, but once it did, everything was fine. Towels and soap are provided in the room as well. Pros: What I Liked About the Hotel Elisabeth
Cons: What I Didn’t Like
Frequently Asked Questions Why is Bratislava famous? Bratislava is famous for being Slovakia’s capital city and its historic Old Town, which has medieval-era origins. Old Town Bratislava is where you’ll find notable landmarks like Bratislava Castle, Michael’s Gate, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Where is Elisabeth Old Town? The Elisabeth Old Town is located near the edge of Bratislava’s Old Town neighborhood, about a 30-minute walk from Hlavná stanica, the city’s main train station. The hotel’s official address is Klemensova 2523/2, 811 09 Bratislava, Slovakia. Is Bratislava worth visiting? I think Bratislava is worth visiting, especially since it’s so close to Vienna. You can either stay in Bratislava and take a day trip to Vienna or stay in Vienna and do a day trip to Bratislava. If you stay in Bratislava, you don’t need more than two days here. Where is the old town in Bratislava? The beginning of Old Town Bratislava is about a 30-minute walk south from Hlavná stanica train station. Old Town doesn’t sit directly against the Danube river, but it’s closer to it. Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site. |
About the author
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer and comedian who has been featured on Islands.com, Amazon, truTV, The New York Times, Matador Network, BUST Magazine, Sleep Advisor, Tiplr, ARTRPRNR Magazine, YourTango, Thought Catalog, GoMad Nomad, Mashable, The Daily Mail UK, the Cannes Film Festival, LaughFest, Women's Lifestyle Magazine, and the Funny Women Festival LA. Archives
January 2026
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