The best hostels in Europe right now, going by Hostelworld guest ratings in November 2026, include The RoadHouse in Prague, The RomeHello in Rome, Onefam Budapest and The House of Sandeman in Porto, all rated 9.7 out of 10. Below are 15 hostels across 15 cities, each one checked against its live Hostelworld listing so the details are current.
Hostels are the cheapest way to sleep in pricey Europe, and the good ones also hand you a ready-made group to explore with, whether you’re travelling solo, with friends or as a couple. For more city guides, browse our Europe travel guides.
Expect a microbrewery in Berlin, port-barrel beds in Porto, an Acropolis-view rooftop in Athens and plenty in between.
The best hostels in Europe, city by city
Wombat’s City Hostel London, London
Selina Camden is no longer on Hostelworld, so our London pick is Wombat’s City Hostel, a short walk from the Tower of London. Its basement WomBAR serves cheap drinks (craft beer included) and is where guests end up meeting each other most nights. Aldgate East Underground station and the DLR are both close by, which makes it an easy base for the East End and the City.
Hostel highlights:
- Basement bar
- Social atmosphere
- Close to the Tower of London
Address: 7 Dock Street, London
Neighbourhood: Whitechapel
Nearest station: Aldgate East
Flying Pig Downtown, Amsterdam
Solo travellers in Amsterdam can’t stop talking about this hostel, that’s known for having the most social vibe in the city. The bar is the place to be during happy hour, when cheap beer, pool tables and Flying Pig’s legendary staff bring everyone together. There’s a smoking room for those interested, but it’s tucked away because FP knows that’s not what everybody comes to Amsterdam for. Choose your vibe!
If it’s your first time in the city, then location is key. Luckily for you, this hostel is about ten minutes from Centraal Station, and a short walk to the Red-Light District, Anne Frank House and some of Amsterdam’s most famous pubs and coffee shops. Staff will point you to the best walking tours and sell discounted tickets for city attractions. Guests must be 18 or over.
Hostel highlights:
- Super social atmosphere
- DJ nights
- Perfect location
- Amazing staff
Address: Nieuwendijk 100, Amsterdam
Neighbourhood: Centrum
Nearest station: Centraal
Sant Jordi Hostels Gracia, Barcelona
You’ll feel like part of the Sant Jordi family from the moment you check in to this bohemian Barcelona hostel. Located in the artsy Gracia neighbourhood, you’ll get to see a different side to the city while still in easy reach of the main attractions via public transport. Make like a true Gracia local and rent a bike or skateboard from reception to explore the area’s organic eateries, indie galleries and cocktail bars, then head back for a drink on the terrace. Sant Jordi’s creative design blends in perfectly to this backdrop. The staff are what make it truly special though, and guests have rated it 9.1 from more than 3,700 reviews on Hostelworld.
Hostel highlights:
- Terraces
- Bike and skateboard rental
- Amazing staff
- Breakfast every morning
Address: Carrer de Terol 35, Barcelona
Neighbourhood: Gracia
Nearest station: Fontana
Circus Hostel, Berlin
This hostel has its own on-site microbrewery – does it get any more Berlin? Make sure you sample some of their home-brewed beers before joining one of their many social events. There are quiz nights, Karaoke Thursdays and Späti crawls (a tour of Berlin’s corner shops, beer in hand). Our guests rave about their clean, spacious rooms (dorms and private!) and excellent bathroom facilities. You can’t go wrong with this location either, smack-bang in Berlin’s most central district with both a metro and tram stop right on the doorstep. After filling up on the hostel’s big buffet breakfast and coffee from their cute café, you’ll be ready to explore every corner of Berlin!
Hostel highlights:
- Microbrewery and bar
- Adorable café
- Lots of social events
- Amazing location
Address: Weinbergsweg 1A, Berlin
Neighbourhood: Mitte
Nearest station: U Rosenthaler Platz
The RoadHouse, Prague
Take a quick browse of The Roadhouse’s reviews and you’ll see several guests calling it ‘the best hostel I’ve ever stayed in’. This is firstly thanks to the welcoming, homely vibe that starts over a nightly family dinner, where guests can meet fellow travellers and make plans for the big Prague night ahead. It’s social without being a crazy party hostel (check out their sister hostel The MadHouse if that’s more your scene), with evening activities and live music nights for anyone who wants them. If you opt for a night in, there are plenty of board games and books in the common room. It’s also close to Charles Bridge, so you can walk to all of the Old Town’s sights, and guests rate it 9.7 from more than 2,000 reviews. Planning more time in the city? See our guide to where to stay in Prague.
Hostel highlights:
- Family style dinner
- Evening activities and live music
- Excellent cleanliness
- Old Town location
Address: Náprstkova 275/4, Prague
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Nearest station: Mustek
Latroupe Jacobs Inn, Dublin
Jacobs Inn (now Latroupe Jacobs Inn) is waiting to welcome you to Dublin with an expertly poured Guinness at its bar and restaurant. Come for the booze, but stay for the facilities, like the signature pod beds (in dorms of four to twelve pods) and what it calls the only hostel rooftop terrace in town, perfect for a sunny day pint. It’s within walking distance of Trinity College and Temple Bar, and the travel desk can book you on a walking tour of Dublin’s highlights, a good way for solo travellers to find new buddies to explore with.
Hostel highlights:
- Stylish bar and restaurant
- Pod-style beds
- Rooftop terrace
- Travel desk for tours
Address: 21-28 Talbot Place, Dublin
Neighbourhood: Dublin 1
Nearest station: Connolly
The RomeHello, Rome
This hostel is loved by all guests, but especially solo female travellers who highlight its excellent comfort and cleanliness. The garden and beer garden are perfect for gelato and sunbathing, or challenging new friends to a game of ping pong. Daily activities include pasta cooking classes, yoga and city walking tours, and guests rate it 9.7 from more than 4,000 reviews. RomeHello’s location makes it easy to visit Rome’s hotspots on foot, and Termini Station is a 7-minute walk away. La dolce vita!
Hostel highlights:
- Pasta cooking classes
- Yoga classes
- On-site bar and restaurant
- City walking tours
Address: Via Torino 45, Rome
Neighbourhood: Esquilino
Nearest station: Repubblica
Onefam Budapest, Budapest
Hostel One Budapest is now called Onefam Budapest, and it’s still a guaranteed good time. The staff are superstars who’ll guide you around the city by day and get the party started by night, and guests rate it 9.7 from more than 6,500 reviews. The bar fills up in the early evening, and next up are the drinking games, so make sure your beer pong and flip cup skills are up to scratch. By the time you head out into the Jewish Quarter’s ruin bars, you’ll have a whole new squad to experience Budapest’s nightlife with. Guests must be aged 18 to 39.
Don’t be nervous, party hostel doesn’t equal frat house. You’ll be able to get a solid night’s sleep in their clean, comfy and quiet dorms.
Hostel highlights:
- Legendary staff
- Daily and nightly social events
- Drinking games
- Excellent location
Address: Rumbach Sebestyén utca 6, Budapest
Neighbourhood: Jewish Quarter
Nearest station: Deák Ferenc tér
The Hat Madrid, Madrid
For a bougie yet budget-friendly stay in Madrid, check out The Hat, a gorgeous boutique hostel in a converted mansion that’s located in the heart of the city. Every inch of this place is beautiful, from the stylish common areas to the luxurious dorms and next-level private rooms. But it’s not just a pretty face! Day or night, head to the stunning rooftop bar, a meeting place that’s popular with locals and travellers alike. They serve amazing tapas, and the banging breakfast is a must before the day’s adventures. Guests talk about the daily sangria nights, and staff are happy to point you to Madrid’s best nightlife. With a 9.4 rating from more than 10,000 reviews, it’s one of the best-reviewed hostels in the city.
Hostel highlights:
- Sangria nights
- Converted mansion
- Sunny rooftop bar
- Daily social events
Address: Calle Imperial 9, Madrid
Neighbourhood: Plaza Mayor
Nearest station: Sol
The People Paris Belleville, Paris
It doesn’t get any more Parisian than this romantic art deco building, that was transformed into a charming hostel by 3 friends with a passion for travel. It’s located in Belleville, an alternative district known for its street food market, colourful graffiti and tiny art galleries. By Paris standards, this edgy neighbourhood is pretty budget-friendly, and one of Belleville’s coolest bars is inside The People hostel! It’s got local craft beers to enjoy at jazz and electro parties. The hostel’s pièce de résistance is its rooftop terrace though, with views over Paris’s famous monuments that’ll take your selfie game up a level.
Hostel highlights:
- Rooftop terrace views
- Jazz and electro parties
- Locally loved bar
- Beautiful design
Address: 59 Boulevard de Belleville, Paris
Neighbourhood: Belleville
Closest station: Belleville
The Central House Istanbul Taksim, Istanbul
Wabi Sabi Hostel is now The Central House Istanbul Taksim, in the same building on Papa Roncalli Sokak in Elmadağ. It’s modern and spotlessly clean (cleanliness scores 9.1 on Hostelworld), and our guests love the bathroom facilities and cosy beds. The location is great too, about 5 minutes from Taksim Square and minutes from the shops and nightlife of Istiklal Street. Istanbul itself does the rest: one Hostelworld guest described it as “considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it is located in two continents!!!”
Hostel highlights:
- Spotless rooms
- Comfy beds
- Near Taksim Square
- Walk to Istiklal Street
Address: Papa Roncalli Sokak No.34, Istanbul
Neighbourhood: Taksim
Nearest station: Taksim
LX Hostel, Lisbon
Inside Lisbon’s LX Factory, a former industrial space turned creative hub, is where you’ll find the immensely cool LX Hostel. Its Scandi-style interior is kitted out with vintage furniture, and the rooftop terrace is the place for a cocktail. Every booking includes a free continental breakfast, and the dorm beds are curtained cubicles with their own lockers. Its location is great too, as LX Factory has dozens of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants loved by local creatives. Pets are welcome in private rooms (not dorms).
Hostel highlights:
- Creative hub
- Pod-style beds
- Rooftop terrace
- Free breakfast included
Address: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, Lisbon
Neighbourhood: Alcantara
Nearest station: Alcantara-Mar
The House of Sandeman, Porto
When in Porto, the home of port wine, it would be rude not to try the city’s most famous drink. You won’t have to look far if you stay at The House of Sandeman – it’s built on top of a wine cellar, and you can drink your fill in the hostel’s sun-soaked, open-air bar. Try it the classic way, or choose a creative port cocktail. Their unique dorm beds are even modelled after port wine barrels! There’s always a social event planned in the guest lounge, including visits to the Sandeman cellars below, and breakfast is included with every booking. The location is epic too, in Vila Nova de Gaia just 5 minutes from Porto’s historic centre, in an iconic building overlooking the river Douro. Guests rate it 9.7 from more than 1,900 reviews.
Hostel highlights:
- Wine, wine, wine!
- Outdoor bar
- Free breakfast
- Social events
Address: Largo Miguel Bombarda 3, Vila Nova de Gaia
Neighbourhood: Vila Nova de Gaia
Nearest station: General Torres
Athens Backpackers, Athens
We all love a hostel with a rooftop bar, but not many places have a view to rival Athens Backpackers. From ‘Sunnies’ you’ll get unbeatable views of the world-famous Acropolis, which is conveniently just three minutes away. Sunnies is spread over two levels, with views of the Acropolis, the mountains and the sea, and there’s a second bar in the lobby downstairs. Free breakfast is served every morning, the shared rooms have pod beds with their own lights and charging points, and the lobby has a quiet co-working space.
Hostel highlights:
- Incredible Acropolis views
- Two bars
- Pod-style beds
- Free breakfast
Address: 12 Makri Street, Athens
Neighbourhood: Makrygianni
Nearest station: Acropoli
Anda Venice, Venice (Mestre)
It would be easy to mistake Anda Venice for an art gallery, with its eccentric design, unique furniture and colourful murals in every corner. But step into its Alai Life Bar and you’ll feel that familiar hostel welcome. The bar is a neighbourhood favourite with travellers and locals, and there’s always something going on, from free karaoke every Monday to international beer pong every Thursday. In the summer, the party continues outside in the urban garden, with drinks from the pop-up bar kiosk. The facilities are excellent too, with comfortable dorms, modern bathrooms and working stations with Macs, so you don’t even need to pack your laptop. It’s a 1-minute walk from Venezia Mestre station, and guests rate it 9.1 from almost 13,000 reviews.
Hostel highlights:
- Nightly social events
- Gorgeous rooms and common areas
- Lively bar
- Co-working space
Address: Via Ortigara 10, Venice
Neighbourhood: Mestre
Nearest station: Venezia Mestre
Are hostels in Europe safe?
Yes, the hostels above are well-reviewed and staffed, and most European hostels have lockers and key-card access to dorms. Bring your own padlock (our hostel packing list has the rest), check the age rules (Flying Pig takes over-18s only and Onefam Budapest 18 to 39) and read our guide to hostel safety before you go. Travelling alone as a woman? See our tips on female solo travel in hostels.
Before you arrive, download the Hostelworld app and join the City Chat for your first stop, or browse Linkups (they open 14 days before check-in) to find a walking tour or bar crawl to join.
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