The Wanderlist: Hostels You'll Actually Want to Stay In
Cheap and cheerful aren’t the only attributes of the hotel’s communal cousins as demonstrated by these eclectic hostels.
Circus Hostel, Berlin
Everybody from 20-something backpackers to seasoned travellers stays at this hip yet approachable hostel. Rooms at Circus Hostel range from shared dorms for ten to private rooms with ensuite amenities. The ambiance is simple, cheerful and invitingly clean. Activities include guided street art walks, trivia nights, food tours and live performances.
Sophie’s Hostel, Prague
A distinctive setting, in a 19th-century Art Nouveau building, pairs well with smart, contemporary decor at Sophie's Hostel. Each bed in the dorms features its own shelf, light, electrical outlet and locker. Shared bathrooms have rainshower heads, and no more than two rooms share a single bathroom. Private rooms add extras like TVs, kitchenettes and air-conditioning. The location in Prague’s New Town offers a break from the hustle-and-bustle of the city’s tourist centre, but there are plenty of restaurants nearby and Old Town is a pleasant walk or tram ride away. There’s a guest kitchen, free luggage storage and top-notch hot and cold breakfast.
Sophie's Hostel
Cocomama, Amsterdam
The rooms in this quirky hostel are decorated in eclectic Dutch themes like Delftware, tulips or windmills. Beds offer cushy feather duvets, and even the dorms have en-suite bathrooms. Weekly events range from free pasta nights to pub crawls. Amenities include a communal kitchen and a pleasant backyard patio. The Cocomama hostel building was a brothel in a previous life, and a dedicated history corner displays photos from its illicit past (along with an original stripper pole). Located on the outskirts of the popular Canal Ring neighbourhood, attractions like the Albert Cuyp Market and the Museum Quarter are a short walk away.
Kex Hostel, Reykjavik
The name (Icelandic for “biscuit”) is a nod to the building’s former factory life. Kex Hostel plays up its industrial setting with decor that blends vintage pieces with upcycled objects. Trendy spaces and activities make this a spot for locals to hang out alongside hostel guests. A retro-styled boxing gym doubles as a venue for conferences, film screenings, parties and other events. They also have an equally old-school barber shop along with a gastropub specializing in Icelandic fare. Dorms and private rooms are available, with many of the latter offering photogenic views of nearby Faxa Bay.
Swanky Mint, Zagreb
A one-time dry cleaning and textile-dye factory, Swanky Mint’s cool design incorporates raw concrete, exposed pipes and original brickwork. Bunks are built from chipboard and dorms have colourful en-suite bathrooms. They also have private rooms and studio apartments with living rooms and kitchenettes. They do tons of events like movie nights and live DJ performances, plus the on-site bar has a leafy terrace area that attracts a buzzy crowd of locals and guests. The hostel’s location is a handy base for exploring.
Donald Cardwell
