Rating the hostels I stayed in during my 6 week Europe backpacking trip

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Last fall, I embarked on a solo backpacking journey across Europe, covering six countries, checking into nine hostels, and learning what truly makes a great stay. I had only stayed in a hostel once before this trip, so you can imagine how much I discovered along the way about what really makes (or breaks) a good hostel experience.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through each place I stayed, sharing the pros, cons, and my honest rating. Whether you’re planning your own trip or just want to know what to expect, I hope this helps you find the right fit or at least gives you a better idea of what to look for when booking.

If you’re interested in any of these hostels, you can click the name to book through my affiliate links!

Wombats City Hostel London 9.5/10

This was my very first stop, and honestly, I started the trip off strong. Wombats had many great traits, which I think I didn't come to appreciate until I went without them later on, but we'll get into that later.

The main thing I loved about this place was the room setup. Each dorm had a private bathroom, with the toilet and shower in separate rooms, and a sink in the main area, super convenient for sharing. The beds had curtains, which gave some nice privacy. Inside the bed was a shelf with a plug and a light. My only critique was that the shelf was a bit small to keep all my valuables on, but it wasn't a big deal, as there was also a safe inside the bed, which I just used to store some extra things and kept unlocked. Each bed came with its own locker that opened with your room key, which was super convenient; no need to bring your own lock.

The kitchen setup and social spaces were great too. There was ample space in the kitchen for cooking and seating, which was impressive considering the size of the hostel. The bar was also really nice, and they had a cafe in the lobby.

If I had to nitpick, the location wasn’t super central. It was great for Tower Bridge and Borough Market, but not ideal for getting to areas on the other side of the city, like Notting Hill. Also, for such a large hostel, I expected more social events. I stayed six nights and only caught one karaoke night. For a hostel of that size, I would've liked to see events hosted almost every night.

Still, this was one of my top picks and I’d 100% recommend it.

MEININGER Hotel Brussels City Center 7.5/10

I'll be honest, this one is a bit hard for me to rate, as I only stayed 3 nights here, and it's tough to differentiate Brussels as a city from this hostel specifically.

The rooms were modern and clean. Lockers were provided, but you had to bring your own lock. The beds had outlets, but no shelf or curtain for privacy. I did appreciate the split bathroom setup, but the whole “you need a key card in the wall for the lights to work” thing was super annoying, especially if someone left with their card while others were still inside the room.

The location was okay, but not great. Walking into the city center took about 15 minutes, and the train stations were at least 10 minutes away via tram. We heard some rumours of scary encounters in the neighborhood from other guests, but I didn't experience anything myself. That being said, that may just be a Brussels thing in general, and not neighborhood-specific.

The hostel was huge and packed with school groups, which made it feel more chaotic than cozy. Also, the kitchen was very small for the size of the hostel.

Hotel Madrigal (Paris) 8.5/10

Definitely the most unique stay of the trip. Hotel Madrigal is technically a hotel, but they offer dorm rooms, and they’re nice. Each bed is basically its own pod, with a curtain, three huge shelves behind your head, and a charging outlet. There was a seating area in my room, which was a nice touch.

The bathroom setup was a little strange, with the toilet and shower being in stalls, so you kind of had to duck your head out, hoping no one else was currently in the bathroom, when it was time to grab your towel and dry off. However, there were two showers in a six-bed dorm, which was super nice.

Location-wise, I give this place five stars. While there wasn't a ton to do within walking distance, the hotel was basically on top of a metro stop, which served key lines. In my opinion, this is crucial in bigger cities like London and Paris, as naturally, everything won't be walkable anyway.

The big downside? No kitchen, bar, or shared spaces, so it lacked the social vibe of a typical hostel. This also meant I ate out basically the whole time I was there, which I think is a big factor to consider, depending on your budget.

I also want to mention, the service here was by far the best of my whole trip. The hotel even has a resident dog that greets you when you come in the door!

The People Strasbourg 5/10

This hostel unfortunately earns its spot as the lowest on my list.  I didn’t realize until I arrived that the bathrooms were communal and not attached to the dorms, admittedly something I should’ve better researched. The bathrooms were cold, one of the showers barely drained, and overall, the facilities felt pretty run-down.

There was a large bar and seating area, but no kitchen or fridge. My room was also on the third floor and incredibly loud, noise from the bar and street carried straight in.

On the bright side, the location was solid. Easy to get to from the train and bus stations, and very walkable to the city center.

Wombat's City Hostel Munich Hauptbahnhof 9/10

Another Wombat’s and another great stay! The beds were basic, with no curtains, but they had a small shelf and outlet. My room had a picnic table in the center, which was actually great for sitting and getting ready for the day. The bathroom was dated, but fine, and again, lockers were assigned to each bed and worked with the room key. The common spaces of the hostel were nice and clean, and the kitchen was small but tidy and well laid out.

The location of this hostel was great, right next to the train station and only a 10-minute walk to the heart of Munich. Keep in mind there are two Wombat's in Munich, I stayed at the Hauptbahnhof location!

YellowSquare Milan 8/10

This was a solid hostel. The room was small but very up-to-date. In the YellowSquare hostels, beds have no curtains, but they encourage you to ask for an extra bed sheet and hang it up if you would like some privacy. I actually don't mind this system, as sheets can be washed, ensuring the cleanliness of the "curtains". The bed had a plug and a good-sized shelf to store my belongings. Lockers were a good size, but no locks were provided. The bathroom was very nice and clean, and it had a towel warmer, which is always nice.

What stood out most was the social atmosphere. You get a free drink on arrival, and they host events every night. They even host events during the day, like yoga classes! Great for travelers who don’t love bar hopping but still want to meet people.

The only downside to this hostel was that it was a bit far out of the city center. I had to take the subway for at least ten minutes to get where I wanted to go, and the bus station was a solid 25 minutes away.

Anda Venice Hostel 8.5/10

Anda was by far the biggest hostel I stayed in. It's seven stories tall! Venice's geography is very unique, of course, which makes choosing a hostel tough. Staying on the island is extremely expensive, so I opted for Anda, which is at the edge of the mainland. Upon reflection, I'm really happy with my choice. The hostel was a three-minute walk from the train station, which had trains running to the island every five minutes, and it took maybe ten minutes on the train to get to the island.

The rooms were spacious and bright. Beds had no curtains :(, but each bed had a nice-sized shelf with outlets. The shower was in its own room attached to the dorm room, and the toilet and sink were in another. Lockers were a drawer under the bed, which I honestly prefer to a locker, as it's easier to just dump your things inside.

The kitchen was small considering the size of the hostel, but the bar was fun and affordable (Aperol Spritzes for €4!). They also hosted events nightly, and I got a free drink at check-in.

YellowSquare Rome 6/10

Unfortunately, this one was pretty run-down. Despite it being the end of November/beginning of December when I was there, the room was uncomfortably hot. The bathroom was dated, and there was even a drip coming from the ceiling directly over the toilet, which wasn't very enjoyable when you had to go to the bathroom, to say the least.

The location wasn’t the best, but it was close to a metro station. I’ll give them props for the free food every night (pasta, chips, and guac!), which was a blessing after an expensive day of sightseeing. Just like the rest of the YellowSquares, Rome did a great job hosting events for solo travelers.

YellowSquare Florence 7.5/10

This one falls somewhere in the middle. The room and bar area were both really nice, and I appreciated the free pasta every night, although it started late. There’s even a pool on-site, which I didn’t get to use since it was December, but still a fun perk.

The main downside of this one for me was the location. It wasn’t very central, and public transportation isn't quite as good in Florence as in other larger cities in Italy, like Rome and Venice. Most days, I was taking a 15-minute tram, then walking at least 15 more minutes to where I wanted to go. Also, there wasn't even a grocery store close to the hostel, so it made planning dinners difficult at times.

Conclusion

That wraps up all the hostels I stayed at during my European backpacking adventure! I hope this list helps you pick a spot that suits your travel style, or at least gives you a better idea of what to expect. If you found this helpful and want to book one of these hostels, feel free to use the links in this post (just click the name of the hostel). I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!