{"id":26324,"date":"2022-09-21T22:10:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T22:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=26324"},"modified":"2023-05-24T14:35:34","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T14:35:34","slug":"guide-to-luxury-hostels-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/guide-to-luxury-hostels-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"The A to Z of Luxury Hostels in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Luxury<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2b05\ufe0f\u00a0Click here to download the free guide now!<\/h2>\n

What does luxury mean to you when you\u2019re travelling? Kash aka The Budget Traveller<\/a> spent months backpacking around some of Europe\u2019s best hostels to find the answer.
\nIn his Guide to Luxury Hostels in Europe <\/a>you\u2019ll find rooftop pools, killer views and gorgeous design to rival any hotel. But luxury is about more than just swanky facilities. Luxury is watching a movie with new travel buddies in your very own indoor teepee. It\u2019s a free pancake breakfast after a night of karaoke in the hostel bar. It\u2019s a yoga lesson in the garden before a day exploring the city like a local on a free guided tour. It\u2019s knowing that your hostel is as committed to protecting the planet as you are. Here\u2019s our A to Z of how Luxury hostels<\/strong> in Europe are making a name for themselves.<\/p>\n

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A is for arty<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"city
\nThere\u2019s nothing more luxurious than being surrounded by art: from the gorgeous frescoed ceilings and quirky illustrations\u00a0at City Circus Athens<\/a> (pictured) to Gallery Hostel Porto<\/a> which has its own\u00a0public art gallery and PLUS Berlin<\/a> who kindly re-homed a collection of bizarre metal sculptures after a local artists\u2019s commune was bought by developers. The best bit is you\u2019ll be supporting local creative talent with your stay.<\/p>\n

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B is for bathrooms<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"czech
\nA nice bathroom can go a long way to making you feel at home on your trip. In Kash\u2019s guide you\u2019ll find power showers, full-length mirrors, free toiletries and towels, not to mention many hostels with en-suites on every dorm and private. Special mention goes to Czech Inn\u00a0<\/a>in Prague (pictured) for their inventive design,\u00a0Bongo Hostel<\/a> in Belgrade for their underfloor heating, Casa Gracia Hostel Barcelona<\/a> for the Jacuzzi bath and spa package in their super suite and Ecomama<\/a> in Amsterdam for the free nail polish, hair dryers and straighteners.<\/p>\n

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C is for chilled<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"ecomama
\nWhether you\u2019re a party animal, or like to pack insane amounts of exploring into your itinerary, every traveller needs a place to chill. Hostels taking chill to a whole new level include Ecomama<\/a> (pictured) in Amsterdam, where you can watch films and hang with your new travel friends in an indoor teepee tent, and King Kong Hostel<\/a> in Rotterdam where the \u201changover basement\u201d does exactly what it says on the tin: beanbags, Netflix and free popcorn.<\/p>\n

D is for design <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"dscf2943\"
\nThe beauty of hostels is that no two are alike, especially when it comes to their design. We love the industrial chic design at Meininger Brussels City Centre<\/a>,\u00a0EVERYTHING at\u00a0Wallyard Concept Hostel <\/a>in Berlin\u00a0\u00a0and Superbude Hotel Hostel St Pauli<\/a> who have taken upcycling to a whole new level: magazine racks made from old water pipes, chairs created out of old wheelbarrows and hostel keyrings from old skateboards. Luxury hostels in Europe are designed so beautifully, you’ll feel like you’re in a five star hotel!<\/p>\n

E is for eco-friendly<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of life\u2019s greatest luxuries is having peace of mind that your travels aren\u2019t destroying the planet. From local, organic produce to eco cleaning products, you\u2019ll find loads of sustainable hostels in this guide. One hostel leading the charge is Ecomama<\/a> in Amsterdam, where you\u2019ll find a water-saving system, natural stone heating and crazy amounts of upcycled furniture. Mosaic House\u00a0<\/a>in Prague\u00a0also has a\u00a0water recycling system and runs off\u00a0100% renewable energy.\u00a0And at The Beehive<\/a> in Rome, the food served in their organic veggie caf\u00e9 comes straight from the hostel garden.<\/p>\n

F is for freebies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"swanky
\nHostels are notoriously generous compared to other types of accommodation. From free walking tours to yoga lessons, unlimited laundry to free entry to the best parties, you\u2019ll be in freebie heaven.\u00a0We love Lost Inn Lisbon<\/a>, who offer guests free sangria and chorizo every single night. But now let\u2019s talk about the undisputed best freebie: free breakfast. Loads of the hostels in this guide offer it, but Lisboa Central Hostel<\/a> had us at free pancake breakfast \u2013 lovingly cooked by the owner\u2019s mother every morning.<\/p>\n

G is for gastro-hostels <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"bbq
\nThe new breed of gastro-hostel offers amazing local food that is budget-friendly. There are way too many in the guide to list here, so here\u2019s a little *taster*: Hostel Gastama<\/a> in Lille serves up amazing vegan curry and its very own brand of beer. TOC Hostel Sevilla<\/a> has an in-house tapas bar. Sir Toby’s Hostel<\/a> (pictured) in Prague does a mean BBQ.\u00a0Circus Hostel<\/a> in Berlin has a microbrewery in the cellar. And finally at The Yellow<\/a> in Rome you can learn to cook authentic Roman cuisine such as pasta guanciale.<\/p>\n

H is for hammocks <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"2015_07_15-ostellobello_low-33\"
\nThere\u2019s nothing more luxurious than a hammock and that\u2019s a fact. And luxury hostels in Europe know this.\u00a0 You\u2019ll find plenty of these glorious swinging thrones in Kash\u2019s guide, but here are a couple of options to get you started: Ostello Bello Grande<\/a> (pictured) in Milan, Wombats City Hostel Munich<\/a> and Slo Living Hostel<\/a> in Lyon.<\/p>\n

I is for illustrious former residents <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"0819_clink_4468\"
\nAt Clink78<\/a> you can sleep in the same building where punk rockers The Clash stood trial and Charles Dickens once worked as a scribe. If Joseph Conrad is more to your literary taste, then book a stay at his former residence which is now home to Wombats City Hostel London<\/a>. For something a little racier, try King Kong Hostel<\/a> in Rotterdam, a one-time brothel, illegal casino and tattoo parlour.<\/p>\n

J is for Japanese-style pod beds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"boutique
\nThis is the future of hosteling peeps. Pod beds give you all the privacy and peace of a private room, with the low prices and sociability of a dorm. Each pod generally comes with its own reading light, plug sockets and a little shelf for valuables. For a new kind of dorm experience, check out Boutique Hostel Forum<\/a> (pictured) in Zadar, Code Hostel<\/a> in Edinburgh and Main Square<\/a> in Zagreb.<\/p>\n

K is for kick ass events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Away
\nOne of the best things about hostels is that they organise cool events that help you meet other travelers \u2013 many of which are free. Here are a few from the guide to try: wine and cheese tasting fun in the Chianti wine region with PLUS Florence<\/a>, Sunday brunch and the best coffee in Lyon at Away Hostel & Coffee shop<\/a> (pictured), whisky tasting and traditional Scottish dancing at Code Hostel<\/a> in Edinburgh, and crepe parties or Ap\u00e9ro-p\u00e9tanque (Tasty treats + the traditional French ball game) at Slo Living Hostel<\/a> in Lyon.<\/p>\n

L is for location <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"hera_sskolinn-a-laugarvatni-15\"
\nOne of the best things about hostels is that they\u2019re super central and put you right in the heart of the action. Unlike big hotels, hostels can be opened in almost any kind of building \u2013 from a tiny townhouse to a former factory, so hostel owners can be flexible and bag the very best locations. One of our favourites is H\u00e9ra\u00f0ssk\u00f3linn Hostel<\/a> (pictured) in Iceland, located on the banks of Laugarvatn Lake and an amazing, rural place to see the Northern Lights.<\/p>\n

M is for multitasking<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"backstay
\nNeed to cram getting a tattoo and a haircut into your busy travel schedule? What about a co-working space to catch up on work? Not a problem \u2013 at The Yellow<\/a> in Rome you can do it all without leaving the hostel. Or try Urban House<\/a> in Copenhagen for more tattoos, and the added bonus of a bicycle shop.<\/p>\n

N is for nightlife<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"superbude
\nLuxury hostels are the best way to meet people from all over the world and create crazy memories together after dark. The Yellow<\/a> in Rome is an example of a party hostel that really pulls out all the stops in their basement nightclub, where the free Jager shots flow and things can get a little wild and weird. If you\u2019re all about the VIP party, then Superbude Hotel Hostel St Pauli<\/a> (pictured) in Hamburg has a room which can be hired for private parties and comes with its own stage and beer hidden in the bed.<\/p>\n

O is for original features<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"clink-336\"
\nIt\u2019s the little details that really add to the character of a place, and it\u2019s great when a hostel manages to preserve a little piece of the past while offering gorgeous modern facilities. We love the gorgeous original stained glass windows at ClinkNOORD<\/a> (pictured) in Amsterdam and the old textile factory machinery at Swanky Mint<\/a> in Zagreb.<\/p>\n

P is for pool<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"plus
\nA hostel with its own pool is #travelgoals: a great place to recharge your batteries and meet new friends. Special shout out to PLUS Florence<\/a> (pictured) where you\u2019ll find not one, but two pools, plus a Turkish bath, steam room and sauna. And then there\u2019s TOC Hostel Barcelona<\/a>, where 50 cent likes to stay when he\u2019s in town, and Sant Jordi Hostel Rock Palace<\/a>, whose rooftop was pool designed by Barcelona\u2019s legendary Razzmatazz club. This is the gold standard for luxury hostels in Europe.<\/p>\n

Q is for quirky<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Quirky
\nStaying in an eccentric hostel can make your trip that little bit more special, and gives you loads of stories to tell back home. Try sleeping in a former prison cell at Celica Art Hostel\u00a0<\/a>(pictured) in Ljubljana, a bed built into an old fiat car at Hostel and Garten Eden<\/a> in Leipzig, or a bright green camper van inside Kingkool<\/a> in The Hague. Or if that\u2019s not quite weird enough for you, Circus Hostel Berlin<\/a> has a museum dedicated to David Hasselhoff in the cellar. Two words: chest hair.<\/p>\n

R is for roof terrace <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"rooftop_generator-paris_2\"
\nYou know what\u2019s more luxurious than watching the sunset with a beer and some mates on your very own hostel roof terrace? Nope, nothing. Special mention goes to La Banda Rooftop Hostel<\/a> in Sevilla for their rooftop concerts with a stunning view of the cathedral. Generator Paris<\/a> (pictured) for their massive\u00a0suntrap roof terrace with panoramic views of the city.\u00a0City Circus Athens<\/a> whose roof terrace offers amazing views of the Acropolis;<\/p>\n

S is for staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Often, the people working in hostels are fellow travellers working to pay for their next adventure, so really understand what their guests need: from local tips to a friendly partying buddy. This extends to the hostel owners too: many spent years travelling around before starting their own hostel, such as Tinja, the owner of 7 Fells Hostel<\/a> in Lapland, who describes herself as a retired backpacker.<\/p>\n

T is for travel buddies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"hub
\nSome luxuries can\u2019t be bought \u2013 like making new friends and having unforgettable experiences together. Hostels are great at bringing people together from all over the world, whether you choose a party hostel, design hostel or eco-hostel. One of the best places ever to make new friends is in\u00a0the adult\u00a0ballpit at Hub New Lisbon Hostel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

U is for ultimate bargain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You know that amazing feeling you get when you bag a bargain? Well that\u2019s what it feels like staying in the hostels in this guide \u2013 whether you stay in a dorm or a private you\u2019ll often pay less than in a hotel, and find better facilities, loads of freebies and an awesome social atmosphere.<\/p>\n

V is for views <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"casa
\nBeing in some of the best and most central locations in the world, you can expect incredible views from many of the hostels in Kash\u2019s guide. A few highlights: Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel<\/a> (pictured) for possibly the best view you could hope to wake up to in the morning. Generator Venice<\/a>, which is located on the island of Giudecca and boasts amazing views across the water to Piazza San Marco and the grande canal.\u00a0PLUS hostel Florence<\/a>\u00a0(pictured) for one of the best views of the Duomo from their roof terrace. And Boutique Hostel Forum<\/a> in Zadar, where you can gaze down at the 3,000-year-old Roman Forum.<\/p>\n

W is for Wifi<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wifi is an essential for most travelers, and the best thing about all the hostels in this guide is that the Wifi is completely free \u2013 unlike in many hotels. Kudos to Ostello Bello Grande<\/a> for going the extra mile and providing their guests with free mobile Wi-Fi devices with data to take care of all your<\/p>\n

X is for XXL beds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"die
\nYou\u2019ll find some seriously luxurious beds in Kash\u2019s guide, both dorms and privates. Special shout out to Die Wohngemeinschaft<\/a> (pictured) in Cologne where all the dorm beds are doubles and Lisbon Calling<\/a> for their ornate gilded beds with velvet headboards.<\/p>\n

Y is for yoga<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s so important to take care of your mind, body and soul when travelling. Yoga is one of the best ways to do that, and many hostels now offer free or cheap sessions to their guests. Try the yoga brunch at Slo Living Hostel in Lyon; yoga lessons in the garden at Hostel Ani & Haakien in Rotterdam<\/a>; or free yoga on the terrace at Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Z is for zzzzzzzzz <\/strong><\/h2>\n

A good night\u2019s rest is one of the most important things in life, especially when you\u2019re travelling. Some people think hostels and sleep don\u2019t go together, but the new breed of luxury hostel takes your sleep very seriously: soundproofed rooms, pod beds, free ear plugs and reading lights next to every bed. At Backpackers Villa Hostel<\/a>\u00a0in Switzerland there’s even a meditation room in case you’re having trouble switching off – peace and quiet plus a library of spiritual books.<\/p>\n

What to read next?<\/b><\/p>\n