The 10 Best Hostels in Europe From Our Team’s Experiences

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It’s time to unearth that top pick of Europe’s budget-friendly offerings for your adventure. I’ve broken these down into some of the most famous hostels and frequented destinations to travel in Europe. All you’ll need to know after this is how to do those European cheek kisses.

1. Hostel Mostel – Best Overall Hostel (Sofia, Bulgaria)

• Price: $
• Best for: Budget travellers, and people looking to really learn about Sofia
• Highlights: Free beer in the evening
• Dorms from: $12 per night
• Private rooms from: $43 per night
• Location: 2A Makedonia Boulevard, Sofia

There’s a certain kind of soft nervousness that takes over when I’m about to enter a new hostel by myself. I’ve done it so many times, but still, sometimes it’s stronger than me…

Will there be cool people around? Will I fit in?

But then there’s a certain kind of hostel that stops you from snowballing into this anxious firepit as soon as you step in. A place where you immediately feel at home. This independent backpacking hub is one of those places.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Social vibes: I found this to be one of the easiest places to make friends, with a bustling common area.
• Lots of FREE perks: Including a city map, and even an evening beer!
• Buffet breakfast: For 5 euros you can tuck into unlimited scran including waffles, fruits, eggs, sausages, and more.

I spent Christmas here many, many moons ago, during one of my first trips in Europe. It was one of those times when the spirit of hostelling truly shined before my eyes.

We were an eclectic bunch, and all were eager to learn from each other and share tales of wisdom and adventure. I felt really lucky that I ended up there, as this was exactly what I needed in a time like that.

This is a chain with two locations: one hostel in Sofia and another one in Veliko Tarnovo. They both offer pretty much the same things: comfy beds, a pool table, and free, fast Wi-Fi. People often jump around their locations, so you’re likely to run into the same people if you do the same. It’s a traveller’s classic in Europe, so make sure to book in advance.

2. JJ’s Yard – Best for Solo Travellers (Lagos, Portugal)

• Price: $$
• Best for: Party animals only – this is no place for introverts
• Highlights: The pub crawls here are part of the fun
• Dorms from: $31 per night
• Location: R. 5 de Outubro 9, Lagos

If you’re looking for Europe’s best party hostel, the search is over. Hidden amongst the cobbled streets of the BEAUTIFUL party town of Lagos, Portugal, you’ll find JJ’s Yard.

JJ’s is run by none other than the man himself, JJ. The man is an absolute legend. He can funnel more beer than you’d think was humanly possible and is SO welcoming to every guest who arrives through his doors. 

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Nightly pre-drinks and pub crawls: It was mad every night here, and I met some of my best buds.
• Central location and close to the beach: Once the beers subsided in the morning, we went and topped up our tans around the corner. The ultimate chill spot.
• Epic rooftop views: Looking across the Atlantic when the sun sets is romantic as fuck.

The place is spread across JJ’s Yard 1 and JJ’s Yard 2. JJ’s Yard 1 is slightly more chilled out and has an EPIC rooftop with a view across the town and the ocean. Whereas, JJ’s Yard 2 is where the action happens. The nightly pre-drinks for the pub crawls are hosted here on the rooftop bar, the turnout is usually solid and they can get pretty loose. 

These Lagos hostels are super close to one another and are smack bang in the heart of Lagos. Cure your hangover with a dive in the sea or some all-you-can-eat sushi. After working here for over a month and meeting the luuuurve of my life here, I can vouch for its EPICNESS. Solid memories will be made at this place (if you can remember them).

3. Grand Hostel Berlin Classic – Best Cheap Hostel (Berlin, Germany)

• Price: $
• Best for: Disabled backpackers looking for an accessible hostel to stay in.
• Highlights: A yummy breakfast buffet, and great pub crawls.
• Dorms from: $26 per night
• Private rooms from: $123 per night
• Location: Tempelhofer Ufer 14, Berlin

This is one of Europe’s cheaper hostels and not too shabby at all for budget travellers in Berlin! And there are no bunk beds… dude, I’m in love!

Honestly, the whole setup is really damn cool; the building is old – dating back to 1874 – which means some real classical architecture but, of course, the amenities have been updated for modern Euro-backpacker standards. And there are no bunk beds – single beds with a nightstand. It’s hard to find hostels that feel like a lil slice of home but this place nails it.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Pub crawls with amazing staff: Some of the friendlies lads and ladies I’ve met who put a ton of effort into making our nights extra special.
• Old-ass building with modern amenities: The building retains that old-school euro vibe, whilst also having a laundry service, kitchen, and even a free welcome drink.
• Step-free access ground floor: Unfortunately not every European hostel is disability-friendly, but this one is, and that’s a great reason to love it.

The free breakfast buffet (there’s my beloved BB again) costs a bit extra but considering the price of the hostel, that’s admissible. Besides, there’s a library bar and this is Berlin so that means you can get piss-drunk on cheap-ass beer while you catch up on some of the classics. Legend has it that Einstein, Kant, Nietzsche, and Marx rather enjoyed their cheap-ass beer too!

4. Greg & Tom Beer House Hostel – Best Party Hostel (Krakow, Poland)

• Price: $
• Best for: Budget backpackers and social travellers
• Highlights: Free breakfast, free dinner and free beer – how’s that for value!?
• Dorms from: $27 per night
• Location: 43 Floriańska Street, Krakow

Greg and Tom’s is a chain with a rich history of dominating the Polish hostel scene. The one thing that sets these hostels apart from the rest and firmly places them as one of the best hostel chains in Europe is the FREE BREAKFAST AND DINNER provided by all three of these hostels. 

The OG Greg and Tom Hostel is one of the most praised online, and the more famous hostel out of the three in Krakow, but this one ain’t too shabby either. There is only one real winner for me… I mean, free food is always great, but one thing that we Englishmen and the Polish can agree on is how fucking awesome free beer is.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free beer: Don’t rub your eyes, you really did read that correctly. From 9pm-10pm, you can drink beer for free. You gotta pay for earplugs though…
• Free breakfast: A daily buffet from 7:30am-10am. And you don’t pay a penny for it. Great value.
• Free dinner: Sign up by 6pm, and you can have dinner at 9pm to enjoy alongside your beers.

Now, it’s not just the fact that the beer is free (during beer hour) that makes this hostel so good, it is the atmosphere this creates that is what’s really special. The booze gets the hostel so buzzing and lively and creates that idyllic, social and interactive backpacking atmosphere that we solo travellers crave. Add pub crawls into the mix and you quite literally have the perfect cocktail for a banging night out.

Located in the heart of Krakow, this place is an elite choice for solo travellers in Europe who are looking to indulge in the nightlife, socialise, make memories (and then forget them) and just have a downright swell time. If you like the sound of all that, don’t hesitate as this place books up fast, there are nine differently-sized dorms here so there really is something for everyone.

What if they’re all full?

Popular hostels sell out, especially during peak season. But backpackers are flaky and cancel all the time. We’ve built a tool that lets you know as soon as a bed becomes available, so you don’t have to keep checking 😉

5. City Backpackers Hostel – Best for Digital Nomads (Stockholm, Sweden)

• Price: $$
• Best for: Anyone who wants to explore Swedish culture – especially in the winter
• Highlights: The free sauna and ice skate rental are unique touches
• Dorms from: $39 per night
• Private rooms from: $145 per night
• Location: Upplandsgatan 2a, 11123, Stockholm

As a digital nomad, there’s nothing more frustrating than shitty WIFI connection. Fast, reliable WIFI is a blessing I took for granted before embarking on my digital nomad journey. Arriving at City Backpackers was a breath of fresh air. With fibre internet throughout the Hostel and plenty of spaces to work, it’s no surprise, that it’s crowned the best hostel for digital nomads in Europe. 

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free Sauna: In the evenings they open up the sauna so we can all get a bit steamy!
• Free Ice skate rental: Only in the winter though, as let’s be honest, they aren’t much use on a sunny day.
• Free Pasta: You gotta bring your own sauce, but the pasta here won’t cost a penny.

If you thought the fast WIFI was good..it gets better. They even offer FREE Pasta and movie nights. Yes, you read that correctly FREE pasta. They have an onsite sauna, which is FREE to guests and in the winter they have FREE ice skate rental. There are plenty of activities to keep you entertained and the wallet happy.

There are heaps of buzzing common rooms to meet some fellow digital nomads and head into town to grab a beer. You’re in an ideal location at this Stockholm hostel within walking distance from the train station and public transport. Trust me, you’re in for a treat with this one. 

6. ClinkNOORD – Best for Activities (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

• Price: $$
• Best for: Backpackers who like an upbeat atmosphere
• Highlights: The live music and DJs performing here
• Dorms from: $35 per night
• Private rooms from: $169 per night
• Location: Badhuiskade 3, 1031 KV Amsterdam, Amsterdam

Oh, Amsterdam – you knew it’d be on here. Like, it’s Amsterdam.

This isn’t the most hedonistic place for what can only be described as the ‘essential Amsterdam experience’, but it is certainly one of Europe’s nicest boutique hostels. Comfortable beds and tons of common rooms and the space itself is pretty spectacular in its own right!

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free friends-making events: It can be awkward meeting new people without drinking some social lubricant. Fortunately, the top lads and lasses here put on several activities to bring people together.
• Live music and DJ sets: A cheeky rave without leaving your accommodation. Love it.
• Unique common rooms: They’re sleek and well-designed. One even had an arcade machine I played with my missus (kicked her arse of course).

It’s close to downtown yet enjoys the vibe of the much more chill but vibrant areas to base yourself in Amsterdam – Noord neighbourhood and ClinkNOORD is also close to some cultural hotspots to admire too (yes, Amsterdam does have culture as well). Other than that, it’s got all the amenities you would expect from one of Europe’s absolute best hostels.

7. Wombat’s City Hostel London – Best Chain Hostel (London, UK)

• Price: $$
• Best for: Solo travellers and friend groups
• Highlights: Delicious roast dinners at the WomCAFE
• Dorms from: $40 per night
• Private rooms from: $218 per night
• Location: 7 Dock Street, London

As you backpack around Europe like a pro, you’re going to quickly discover some repeat offenders… of the crime of offering fucking awesome hostels! Wombat’s Hostels is a chain of the most famous ones in Europe and they’ve won a bunch of awards too, so they gotta be doing something right!

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Relatively central London location: I won’t lie, Tower Hamlets is a monstrous shithole, but it is at least very convenient for getting to the best parts of London.
• Lively atmosphere: This is a proper social hostel with a real buzz at both day and night. Great for socialising.
• Ensuite rooms: No need to sneak down the corridor at 3am to see off those cocktails. You’ve got a bathroom attached to the rooms.

So, yeah, they offer good hostels in Europe, and Wombats in London is no exception. Super clean, modern amenities (the dorms and lockers even have smart card locks), and private showers in all the rooms. They even got a buffet breakfast (two of my four favourite words in the English language) for an extra charge.

Wombats is in a dope spot for backpackers exploring The Big Smoke and is an all-round just solidly awesome hostel. The only real downside I can think of is that you’re in Tower Hamlets, a shady and diverse part of London.

8. Steel House Copenhagen – Best for Fitness Fanatics (Copenhagen, Denmark)

• Price: $$
• Best for: Gym bros – this is the best hostel gym out there
• Highlights: Aside from the gym, the games rooms are good fun
• Dorms from: $31 per night
• Private rooms from: $170 per night
• Location: Herholdtsgade 6, Copenhagen

Dorm sceptics unite because I’m about to blow your little cotton socks off with this next hostel in Copenhagen. Here comes the famous Steel House, to completely change the game!

Where do I even start with this beauty?

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Games and arcade rooms: As an avid gamer, I had a great time nerding out here, there’s lots to play.
• The gym: The best gym I’ve seen in a hostel after visiting over 100 countries. This is 4-star hotel shit right here, this has no place in a hostel! It does cost around $5 to enter, but this covers your entire stay. So if you stay for a year… 😉
• Pod-style beds with super comfortable mattresses: No curtains unfortunately, but it still felt nice and quiet.

Ok, I’m gonna dive right into the tasty details because, frankly, I’ve gotten myself so over-excited about a hostel I need a lie-down. So, the beds, ahh, the beds. No bog standard bunks here, everything is custom-made down to even having mattresses made by the Danish furniture brand Getama that fit the unique contours of the rounded pod-style beds with a light, plug sockets and a super comfortable pillow. Oh, and they also offer private single and double rooms with terraces looking out over the city as well. 

My favourite bit though is the gym! We’re talking about a fully stocked gym with proper weights, benches, TRX and cardio equipment. Then there’s a swimming pool, a movie room, pool tables and shuffleboards, there’s even a bar and a massive fully equipped kitchen with proper stoves, and, wait for it… ovens! A rarity in hostels I think we can all agree. 

9. Sir Toby’s Hostel – Best for a Homely Feel (Prague, Czechia)

• Price: $
• Best for: Backpackers wanting more of a homely vibe
• Highlights: The weekly barbecues
• Dorms from: $15 per night
• Private rooms from: $61 per night
• Location: Delnicka 24, 17000 Prague 7, Prague

Tucked away in the art centre of Prague, Holesovice, Sir Toby’s Hostel is THE place to stay. It may not be smack bang in the middle of the city centre, but instead, you’ll find yourself quickly immersed in funky industrial cafes and quirky art galleries nearby. This independent hostel is also super close to the tram station that can take you right into the city in less than 15 minutes. 

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Vintage brick cellar pub on-site: You’d be mistaken for thinking you were in Britain. Proper traditional pub vibes, I love it.
• Weekly BBQs: Get your weekly dose of protein here, and maybe meet some friends whilst you’re at it. Win-win.
• Homely vibes: It gave off more of a home-like feel than many of the mad party places I stayed at. Nice change.

Warm, cosy and homely are the words I’d used to describe Sir Toby’s. Whether you’re up for exchanging stories over a pint in the hostel’s brick cellar pub or showing off your competitive side in one of the hostel’s many board games… this is the perfect place to stay in Prague if you’re craving a taste of “home”. 

This is NOT a party hostel but instead, the perfect place to relax, recoup and recover. It’s social without the pressure of having to get shit-faced to make new friends. Join the weekly BBQ, meet fellow travellers or just grab a book and chill out. Travelling in Prague is tiring and finding a hostel that feels like home can be just what you need. 

10. PLUS Florence – Best for Swimming and Saunas (Florence, Italy)

• Price: $$$
• Best for: Swimming in the sun living that dolce vita
• Highlights: The beer garden is lovely here
• Dorms from: $55 per night
• Private rooms from: $229 per night
• Location: Via Santa Caterina d’Alessandra 15, Florence

It’s not a secret that the birthplace of the Renaissance is one of the most visited places in the world. There are plenty of hostels in Florence, but among them, there is one that stands out, Plus Florence.

Not only a great and convenient location (10 min walk from the train station), but also the cool facilities that come with it including an onsite lively and colourful restaurant/bar, a garden area, a swimming pool in summer and an indoor pool and sauna in winter (I know it sounds insane buts it’s true), a gym, a beer garden and terrace with great views, spotless shared bathrooms and heaps of places to mingle and chill.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Close to train station: Super easy to get to if you’re tired after a long trip from northern Italy, or just from Rome.
• Swimming Pool all year: I’ve stayed in many places where the pools close in the winter. Not this one though!
• Terrace and Beer Garden area: Go outside, grab a beer, and watch the world go by. Proper holiday feeling.

The staff couldn’t be more helpful and attentive. The second you’ll step into this place, you’ll be well taken care of. With a laundry room too, luggage storage, free Wi-Fi, round-the-clock security, an ATM, and a tour desk, what more could you wish for?!

In my opinion, this has a great atmosphere to meet other backpackers and have fun, and is also close to all main museums, churches, and main interest points in the city. Regardless of whether you want to work or just chill, this hostel has everything that you need. It’s one of the best hostels in Europe I ever visited. Don’t just take my word, check out the thousands of reviews they have and reach your own conclusions. 

The Best Sites for Booking Hostels in Europe

There are lots of these and they’re all the same but different:

• Hostelworld – The classical choice to find hostels for backpackers worldwide and my number one choice.
• Booking.com – These guys work in a lot more fields than just hostels so you’re going to need to filter out all that hotel/villa/”I have too much disposable income” nonsense. It’s also a good place to find cheap hotels for when you’re over that hostel life (I feel ya)

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Europe

Hostels can involve some pretty reckless adventures, and travel insurance for Europe is there to keep you safe. Party responsibly, avoid drugs, and you can dodge most problems, but illness and accidents are always possibilities.

Sort out your insurance before you go. There are several good options, but our overall pick is SafetyWing. Most of the Broke Backpacker team has used it at one point or another, and we’ve filed claims for rabies jabs in Bali, a hospital stay in Mexico, and a clinic visit for a stomach bug that wouldn’t quit. All paid out.

It’s month-to-month, no lock-in, no itinerary required, and you can buy it after you’ve already left. A little over $2 a day if you’re under 40.

New SafetyWing customers: use code BROKEBACKPACKER for 8 free weeks of electronics theft coverage. You have to scroll down and click the pink camera on their landing page to enter it, and you have to do it before creating your account.

And there you have it: the crème de la crème of Europe’s hostel scene. If you weren’t feeling the vibe of staying in hostels in Europe before, I bet you are now.

Europe has a big hostel culture, and the offerings you can find reflect that. Big cities such as London, Barcelona and Rome will always have a ton of hostels catering specifically towards backpackers. They offer activities, parties, pub crawls, comfy bedding, staff are helpful and will give you all you need to enjoy the city.

Equally, there are cheaper options that aren’t as fun but offer the basics without some of the hostel horrors I’ve encountered in Central America (think bed bugs, dangerous dogs, shoddy electrics and more). Really though, if budget is your priority then Eastern Europe beats Western Europe comfortably.

The East is much safer than the West these days, plus it’s culturally rich, has more homogenous people, and is significantly cheaper. Poland and the Balkans offer great value for money. Croatia, Slovenia, Greece and the Baltics are the priciest offerings in the East, but still cheaper than the likes of Germany, France, Italy, the Nordics, and the UK.

I’d even be so bold as to say that you’re probably going to make some new friends. If there’s one spot you need to make sure is on your not-to-miss list, it’s Hostel Mostel in Sofia, Bulgaria. Few hostels come close to the community that they’ve formed there, it’s special stuff. I even enjoyed free beer which was a fantastic touch.

Now, pack light, keep those flip-flops close, and dive headfirst into the chaos, camaraderie, and memories that make hostel life here so iconic.