Ian’s Ultimate European Hostel Guide

Ian Cannon

Traveling through Europe can be an incredible adventure and hostels offer a budget friendly and social place to spend your nights. However, for first-time travelers, choosing  the right hostel and knowing what to expect can make all the difference. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your hostel experience in Europe, based on my own experiences. 

When selecting a hostel, consider your travel priorities. Are you looking for a lively social  atmosphere, or do you prefer a quieter environment for a good night’s sleep? I recommend using a hostel app like Hostelworld or Booking.com. Hostelworld specializes in budget  accommodations and offers detailed filters for amenities like free Wi-Fi, lockers, and  breakfast. Booking.com provides a broader range of accommodations, often including hostels alongside hotels and apartments. Use these platforms to compare prices, read reviews, and find one near the locations you most want to visit. Personally, I prefer Hostelworld for solo travel, but more on that later. Pay special attention to ratings for cleanliness, security, and location. Look for hostels near public transportation or major attractions to save time and money. If you’re traveling alone, especially as a woman, check for hostels with single or female-only rooms to ensure extra privacy. Typically, the earlier you book, the better, but I was never good at that. I often found myself booking as close to three days before my trip and the prices were still affordable and space was usually available. 

The hostel experience can vary depending on where you are and what hostel you choose, but most offer shared rooms of bunk beds for 8-12 people, though private rooms are often available for an additional fee. Common areas like kitchens, lounges, and rooftops are great places for meeting fellow travelers or talking to the staff for recommendations on where to visit or who to tour with. Many hostels also organize activities such as pub crawl and tours. I cannot recommend these enough, as they were some of the best parts of my solo trips. As a man, I never experienced any trouble, but if you are a woman worried about safety, look for hostels with 24-hour reception, secure lockers, and good reviews from other women. Trust your instincts—if a place feels unsafe, it’s worth spending a little extra to stay somewhere else. 

Hostels usually provide basic bedding, but towels, toiletries, and other essentials are often not included. Bring a microfiber towel, travel-size toiletries, and shower sandals for  hygiene. A small padlock is essential for securing your belongings in lockers. The lockers are usually not large, so do your best to fit everything into a medium-large backpack. I’m a  heavy sleeper, but if you’re not, earplugs and a sleep mask might be a good idea.  

As I mentioned before, I preferred to use Hostelworld, specifically when solo travelling.  This is because Hostelworld has a group chat feature that allows you to message people staying at your hostel or traveling in the same place as you. Of course, be careful when meeting up with strangers, but I highly recommend utilizing this feature.  

My personal favorite hostel experience was when I travelled to Budapest, Hungary. I stayed at the Hive Party Hostel, which was in the main part of the city. The hostel featured its own club and hosted multiple nightly events, such as a prosecco river cruise, bingo bar crawl and karaoke. I arrived in the city in the late afternoon, checked into the hostel and immediately signed up for the river cruise. On the cruise, I met with some other solo travelers, and we ended up spending the entire trip together, touring during the day and going out at night. Long story short, utilize the social features of your hostel and you might make some lifelong friends. Another great way to meet people is to send a message to the hostel group chat and ask if anyone wants to meet up for dinner or drinks.  

By choosing the right hostel and preparing efficiently, you can enjoy an affordable and  memorable adventure while forging connections with travelers from around the world. With a bit of planning and an open attitude, hostels can become one of the highlights of your semester abroad.