This article on 10 of the best hostels in Europe is an extract from my book:
The Hostel Guide: The Ultimate Backpackers Guide to Staying and Working in Hostels in Europe.

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Over the years I’ve given you plenty of guidance on how you can find the best hostels in Europe to stay in on your Eurotrip. You can scroll through all my hostel tips here, find out how to book hostels here, read about different types of hostels, and learn how to read online reviews to find the best hostels.

I’ve also visited, tested and filmed some of the best hostels in Europe to provide in-depth hostel reviews for those of you who follow me.

But one thing I haven’t done is provided you with a comprehensive list of what are, in my opinion, the best hostels in Europe. That was until I published my book this summer.

There are thousands of hostels across Europe. And finding the perfect match for your trip can be daunting. So if you want a bit more guidance, here are my candidates for the best hostels in Europe. These are the hostels I visit (or try to visit) the most. And the ones in which I have the most fun, feel the most at home, and absolutely love the staff!

Contents Of The BEST Hostels In Europe (imo!)

1. Hostel ROOM, Rotterdam

2. The Beehive, Rome

3. The Yellow, Rome

4. Die Wohngemeinschaft, Cologne

5. Generator, Amsterdam

6. St Christopher’s Inn Liverpool Street, London

7. Hans Brinker Hostel, Lisbon

8. St Christopher’s at The Bauhaus, Bruges

9. ClinkNOORD, Amsterdam

10. Red Nest Hostel, Valencia

10 Of The BEST Hostels In Europe

1. Hostel ROOM, Rotterdam

My very first trip to Hostel ROOM took place in February 2015. And since then I’ve lost count of the number of nights I’ve chosen to stay there. Run by Mirjam & Monique and their loyal team of staff, the hostel has a homeliness to it that I can’t resist whenever I’m passing by Rotterdam!

With a bar stocked with local craft beers, as well as stone-baked pizzas and regular walking tours of the city of Rotterdam, the hostel does an incredible job at helping guests get to know each other and the city. Each room is also decorated with a different theme – which adds an element of childlike fun to the check-in process! But most importantly, the staff at Hostel ROOM feel like family, and go out of their way to keep their guests entertained!

Each room is also decorated with a different theme – which adds an element of childlike fun to the check-in process! But most importantly, the staff at Hostel ROOM feel like family, and go out of their way to keep their guests entertained!

Website: www.roomrotterdam.nl

→ Click to read my review of Hostel ROOM ←

 

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2. The Beehive, Rome

Like Hostel ROOM, The Beehive Hostel is my home away from home in Rome! Run by Linda and Steve, an expat couple from the US, the hostel runs evening ‘family’ dinners and offers a mix of cosy private rooms, a mixed dorm and a female-only dorm.

Situated just a five-minute walk from Rome’s main train and metro station, Termini, The Beehive staff will not only make you feel at home in this bustling city, but they also know the city like the back of their hand. With great connections to tour operators across the city, and knowledge of hidden secrets like the best coffee, and the best Italian jazz bars, the staff always do their best to make sure you see the best of Rome!

With great connections to tour operators across the city, and knowledge of hidden secrets like the best coffee, and the best Italian jazz bars, the staff always do their best to make sure you see the best of Rome!

Website: www.the-beehive.com

→ Click to read my review of The Beehive ←

 

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3. The Yellow, Rome

For those of you looking to see the best of the nightlife in Rome, then the best place to stay is at The Yellow! With their own bar and nightclub, they host live bands, dance parties, DJs and beer pong events every night of the week!

At The Yellow, your days in Rome are more about getting over a hangover with the friends you got drunk with last night than seeing the sights. But they also run fantastic walking tours of the city (with hilarious guides!) and have an exquisite Italian restaurant called Mamma Angela’s that I regularly take friends to eat at.

Website: www.the-yellow.com

→ Click to read my review of The Yellow ←

 

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4. Die Wohngemeinschaft, Cologne

Located in the hip side of the city and with a large bar popular with locals from the area, Die Wohngemeinschaft’s uniqueness comes in its incredibly designed and imaginative rooms.

With a mix of privates and dorms, the rooms all have an individual theme. Whether it’s a space-theme, a Shakespearean theme, or an Indian one!

The hostel originally began as a bar, but in German, ‘die wohgnemeinschaft’ means ‘shared rooms’. And so after countless requests for a bed for the night, the owners decided to transform the upper floors into a hostel! And it’s now definitely one of my favourites!

Website: www.die-wohngemeinschaft.net

→ Click to read my review of Die Wohngemeinschaft ←

 

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5. Generator, Amsterdam

Generator Hostels are a leading brand in the hostel industry, and much of the attention they get comes from their attention to detail on incredible food and drinks, and their stunning design! Of all their hostels, the design and location of Generator Amsterdam is my favourite.

While some say the hostel isn’t close enough to the city centre, the hostel’s location in the East of Amsterdam helps showcase one of my favourite local districts of the city!

They’ve also got a café called Nescio, which is open to the public and has a brunch menu that I can never get enough of.

Website: generatorhostels.com

 

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6. St Christopher’s Inn Liverpool Street, London

Nestled above a traditional English pub close to London’s East End borough of Shoreditch, this modern hostel opened in early 2017 and has since become my go-to base when I’m in London.

Run by a young team of travellers in a pub full of local Londoners who work in the city, St Christopher’s Inn Liverpool Street gives you a real feeling of being in the heart of London.

Frequented during the week by businessmen and women from the local area, the atmosphere isn’t one of your traditional hostels. But I’ve included it in this list of the best hostels in Europe because the staff are out of their way friendly, and the pod bunk beds are extremely cosy and comfortable.

Website: www.st-christophers.co.uk

→ Click to read my review of St Christopher’s Inn Liverpool Street ←

 

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7. Hans Brinker Hostel, Lisbon

Again, this hostel is great for those of you who want to experience a party atmosphere while you’re travelling! The bar runs a happy hour every day from 5 pm – 7 pm, and the bar staff are more than happy to join in the dancing with their banging Spotify playlists!

Located just outside of the city centre, but only a 5-minute walk from two metro stations, the hostel also provides sun loungers and an inflatable pool for those Portuguese days that are just too hot for sightseeing! The staff also know the best places to party in the city, and the best guides to do it with!

The staff also know the best places to party in the city, and the best guides to do it with!

Website: hansbrinker.com

→ Click to read my review of Hans Brinker Lisbon ←

 

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8. St Christopher’s at The Bauhaus, Bruges

To anyone that believes Bruges is a sleepy old city with little to do – then you’ve clearly never stayed at The Bauhaus Hostel! With a large common room and a cosy bar that sells extremely cheap shots and stays open late into the night, The Bauhaus is my favourite hostel in this beautiful city.

Many of the rooms have modern pod bunk beds, meaning you have a cosy, private bed to crash in after a day exploring the city on bicycles that you can hire from reception. There’s also Belgian beer tasting available every night in the common room, and an incredible team of staff!

Website: www.st-christophers.co.uk

→ Click to read my review of The Bauhaus ←

 

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9. ClinkNOORD, Amsterdam

When it comes to large hostels with incredible design, Clink Hostels really stepped up their interior design skills when they opened ClinkNOORD in Amsterdam! Built within the frame of an old laboratory, the Dutch designers kept this in mind when they created the Zinc Bar and Catalyst Café!

Based in one of my favourite districts of Amsterdam, Noord is a young and creative area located just across the river from Amsterdam Centraal Station. The hostel showcases this by offering an open studio to local

The hostel showcases this by offering an open studio to local artists and inviting creatives of all types, whether they are writers, musicians, photographers or artists, to stay and create their work within ClinkNOORD.

Website: www.clinkhostels.com

→ Click to read my review of ClinkNOORD ←

 

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10. Red Nest Hostel, Valencia

Red Nest Hostel in Valencia is a true old-school backpackers hostel. The interior design has been scuffed by the endless backpacks that have crossed the hallways, and the beds are metallic with no USB charge points built in.

But I had to include it in this list of the best hostels in Europe because I found it incredibly easy to get to know other guests here and make new friends to explore the city with! The hostel has a huge bright kitchen, a large bar in the attic and a rooftop to spend your evenings socialising in.

Of all the hostels I have visited in Spain, Red Nest was my favourite. And while I haven’t been back since my first trip, I’d love to see the staff again and chill out with new friends and a few beers on the rooftop!

Website: www.nesthostelsvalencia.com

→ Click to read my review of Red Nes Hostel ←

 

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I obviously have so many more amazing hostels to visit and experience before I can tell you guys about them! But as you know I would never recommend a hostel I haven’t personally stayed and loved.

But if you have your own recommendations that you think should be in this list of the best hostels in Europe – let me know in the comments!