My Top Ten Hostels in Europe

10. DanHostel Vandkunsten, Copenhagen

Copenhagen is quite an expensive place so it is good that the hostel is nice even if the Danes may be a bit too lax on security – they need security lockers in the room. Oh well, Denmark is probably the safest country in the world; even eccentric little Christiania. The decor will always forever stand out from the place as will the bean bags outside the hostel overlooking Vandkunsten. And there is actually a bar too with probably the best happy hour deal – 2 for 1 for all drinks between 8 and 9. And Carlsberg and Tuborg actually taste pretty good off the tap.

9. Wombats, Munich

Ah Wombats Munich. Another place I’ve stayed at before and since this is Munich, there is the obligatory first night hangover as you get used to drinking beer in litre steins; shame the rooms don’t have air conditioning which would be nice as Munich can get very, very hot in summer and buildings in Germany are designed to keep the heat in during the cold winter months. Oh well, still not a bad place and it’s of course the place, where I met Ozzie my tour guide all those years ago – and yes my Canadian/German friend is going stronger than ever.

8. Sir Toby’s Hostel, Prague

I had wanted to stay here last time I was in Prague so I was quite glad to have booked here this time. It may take a bit to get here from Prague’s city centre but at least they acknowledge that by giving you a subsidized transport card to ride all the trams and metros. And Holesovice is quite an interesting neighbourhood – where else in the world can you find mace and hand grenades at the local market. Ok, I lie about the hand grenades but they do have mace at the local market. Back to the hostel though, and yes it’s another great place to meet people, especially on barbeque nights. There’s also a bar which does serve Pilsner Urquell. 

7. Doug’s Mountain Getaway, Fulpmes

Don’t stay here if you want to base yourself in Innsbruck as it’s about 30 minutes by bus from the Tyrolean capital. But stay here if you want a break from the city and want to experience the outdoors and the beauty of the surrounding Austrian Alps. Advertised on hostelbookers, it is actually Brit Doug Fletcher’s house and a place where you can crash and relax and play with Doug’s X-Box. Very cool place.

6. Dreaming Rome Hostel, Rome

I got lost finding this place but turns out it’s the sort of place you can never forget – after all who can forget an apartment with pink walls owned by two Italian guys who have a passion for travel and give you all sorts of tips. Fabio and Giovanni might not have been there all the time as they sought exotic places like Malta and Istanbul but when they were there, they were invaluable. The place itself certainly doesn’t have the feel of a hostel, rather like Fabio and Giovanni’s apartment and well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. That means dining outdoors with hostelmates during Rome’s eternal summer. It may be messy but for fun and coziness, it's unbeatable. 

5. Oasis Backpackers Palace, Sevilla

The rooms and beds are actually rather nice, the Wi-Fi works in this Andalucian palace. There’s the bar  obligatory for all independent hostels and there’s even a pool –perfect for Sevilla’s ridiculously hot summers. Plus they organize all sorts of trips, e.g. day trips to Cadiz, Granada, Cordoba, etc., flamenco nights, etc. You won’t get bored here.

4. Wombats The Lounge, Vienna

Not the original Wombats hostel in Vienna – that is the Base on Grangasse not too far from the Lounge but it still has a special place in my heart having now stayed there twice. The lounge is a sacred place to relax, Skype and even meet people. There’s also a pretty good bar down in the basement with very cheap drinks. Always been a great place to meet people whether it’s crazy French Canadians or more Australians.  

3. Mama’s Hostel, Krakow

A hostel which you can call home and a great place to forget your nightmare experience with the Polish train conductor. The door to the room might not quite work but everything else works and the staff are just quite awesome at giving tips about the city and booking day trips to Auschwitz, etc. Plus Krakow has become quite a popular destination for British and Irish students looking for a cheap holiday in Eastern Europe; I met 7 girls from Newcastle University – 5 of them knew each other! And they do let you take your 1 euro beers and vodkas into the hostel – it’s expected really.  

2. Sant Jordi Mambo Tango, Barcelona

Last time I was in Barcelona I stayed at Mambo Tango Backpackers. The owners may have changed but the place has actually got better 5 years on. There may be no bar or free breakfast but then again it’s Barcelona so you should really be out. The cavern is legendary and always a good place to kick things off before heading off to take on Barcelona’s crazy nightlife. And it’s not too far a walk from that either. And while Marianna and her dogs are gone, now there’s Daniel who’s pretty awesome too.  I'll be back as Arnie will say and I hope you'll be around (even if you're not quite my number 1 favourite hostel - sorry it was a tough tough call). 

And number one.......

1. Travellers House, Lisbon

When I walked into Traveller’s House for the first time that morning after my night train from Madrid, I knew I would love this place. I couldn’t check into my dorm till the afternoon but knew that if the rooms were up-to-scratch, Traveller’s House would get my gong as the best hostel in Europe. Sure enough, the rooms and beds were top notch and Traveller’s House would snatch pole position right at the death of my Euro trip. And there’s George, the Norwegian who is one of the most helpful people ever and the people I met there were just awesome. I was only there for a night, my last night on the continent as I headed to London for the Olympics, but it was the best last night ever and the perfect way to end my time in Euroland.