*This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the provided links at no extra cost to you. Please note that we haven’t received any free accommodation based on the information below. All reviews are our own, and we have paid in full for all accommodation.
I have been rating the accommodation I’ve stayed at during my travels, assessing both the location and the accommodation itself on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best, 1 the worst).
I will continually update this list of all the places we’ve stayed so far, ranging from hostels and hotels to B&Bs and Airbnbs. Our criteria for choosing accommodation are primarily based on location and of course budget, with a preference for more affordable options. We are backpacking on a very tight budget most of the time. All reviews are based on my personal experience and preferences.
Countries Listed:
Hungary
Budapest
5/5 Overall, 5/5 Location
Loved our stay here. The bunk beds were incredible; it felt like you had your own private room in your bunk. The location was perfect for being amongst the main bar area. It was super social with lots of activities on every night. We ended up extending our stay we loved it that much! Would highly recommend.
Netherlands
Amsterdam
5/5 Overall , 4/5 location
LOVE LOVE LOVED our stay at the Flying Pig Uptown. The rooms and bathrooms were always clean, and the social aspect was amazing. There were always people at the bar and activities every night. We met so many people during our time there and even won the beer pong competition. The only downside was that the kitchen was tiny and always packed, so we weren’t able to cook.
Check out the Flying Pig Uptown Here
Germany
Heidelberg
4/5 Overall , 5/5 location
We had a great time at Lotte’s place. The staff were super friendly, the facilities were clean, and there was a great social atmosphere in the common areas.
Check out Lotte Backpackers Here
Munich
4/5 Overall, 5/5 Location
The location of Wombats is great, close to the train station and the city center. It has a great common space, kitchen, and bar area, which are always super tidy. Personally, I am not a huge fan of ensuites in a hostel dorm, as I feel they are never cleaned as well as common bathrooms, so that would be the only downside to this accommodation for me. I would recommend this hostel if you are staying in Munich, especially if you are a solo traveler.
Slovenia
Lake Bled
5/5 Overall, 5/5 Location
This is one of my favourite hostels in Europe. The owner is incredibly friendly, and the guests are like-minded travellers. It has a super social atmosphere, a very cheap bar downstairs, and it’s always super clean. I could go on and on about how many things I loved about this hostel. I can’t recommend it enough.
Ljubljana
3.5/5 Overall, 4/5 Location
This city was an unexpected hidden gem. The Sax Pub is a small hostel with rooms located above the pub. The pub itself has a great social atmosphere and offers excellent happy hour deals. We enjoyed our stay here, although we found that the hostel lacked a large common area to hang out in. Other than that, it was perfect for our stay in Ljubljana.
Belgium
Brussels
3/5 overall , 4/5 location
The hostel was super funky and had a great location near our FlixBus drop-off point. It was within easy walking distance of all the main attractions in Brussels. Although we weren’t fans of Brussels as a city, the hostel made our stay enjoyable with its inviting common area.
Check out 2GO4 City Centre Hostel Here
Bruges
4/5 overall , 5/5 location
The location and hostel were great. We loved the bar area and the kitchen attached to the hostel. There is a fantastic outdoor area, and the whole place was always very clean. It’s in a quiet area within walking distance of the bus station and the city center. We would love to stay again.
Antwerp
2.5/5 overall , 4/5 location
We weren’t huge fans of our room at The Ash. We were in a 6-bedroom dorm with an ensuite, which was teeny tiny, and the shower had see-through glass!!!! Additionally, we found that there weren’t a lot of people our age there. It seemed to be a place where many people stayed due to its proximity to the bus station. Keep this in mind when booking. We probably wouldn’t stay again.
Austria
Salzburg
3.5/5 Overall, 3/5 Location
We really enjoyed our stay at the Meininger. Don’t get me wrong, these are definitely not social hostels; they have more of a hotel vibe but for the cheap hostel price. There was a great kitchen that we were able to use, and also breakfast could be purchased. It is a little bit out of the old town; however, there is a tram stop right outside, making it super convenient.
Vienna
3/5 Overall, 3/5 Location
This hostel offers a very social atmosphere, featuring a family dinner every night for a donation and daily activities. Although it’s a bit outside the city center, there are convenient tram stations just a couple of minutes’ walk away. The dorm rooms are okay, nothing extraordinary, but we didn’t mind.
Check out Hostel Ruthensteiner Here
Czech Republic
Prague
3/5 Overall, 3.5/5 location
The bunk beds in Sir Toby’s were wild—they were three tall, and by tall, I mean super tall. There was a good kitchen and hang-out space. The location was a little further out from the main area, but there were great, cheaper food spots around, which was a huge win.
Check out Sir Tobys Hostel Here
Poland
Krakow
4/4 Overall, 5/5 Location
Dizzy Daisy’s was a perfect spot for our short stay in Krakow. It was centrally located, as well as being only a 10-minute walk from the main train and bus terminal. It was a busy hostel with a large kitchen and common area. Having a free washer and dryer to use was an added bonus.
Check out Dizzy Daisy’s Hostel Here
Italy
Rome
Little Charm in the City (airbnb)
4/5 overall , 4/5 location
Cosy little apartment, with helpful host. Great location for the subway to get you to central tourist locations easily. Friendly neighbourhood with cute supermarkets and food options.
Book your stay at Little Charm in the City here
Napoli
4/5 overall, 5/5 location
Hidden oasis from the hustle and bustle of Naples. In a great location situated in the Old Town. Great relaxing garden area, with a ping pong table and outdoor bar set up. Rooms were cosy but worked with privacy curtains. Highly recommend.
Book your stay at Hopestel Secret Garden here
Casa Rita Napoli (airbnb)
2.5/5 overall, 1/5 location
Not a pleasant location, located outside of the Old Town felt a little unsafe and was super noisy at night. Pull out sofa bed and small apartment.
Pompeii
5/5 overall, 4/5 location
Couldn’t rate our stay at this BnB more highly. Attentive host with great breakfast. Location was perfect for the subway to be able to get to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. Loved our stay here.
Book your stay at PompeiLog Guest House here
Salerno
3/5 overall, 4/5 location
Location was close to the waterfront, bus terminal and cute cafes. 20-30min walk from the city centre. The rooms was sufficient however no cooking facilities and owner was always onsite. Basic but perfect for what we needed.
Book your stay at Barone Bed and Breakfast here
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar
5/5 Overall, 5/5 Location
I’ll never stop raving about our stay at Nina’s Hostel. The atmosphere was incredibly homely, and the daily cooked breakfast by the owner added a special touch. Everything was immaculately clean and tidy, and the option to have your laundry done was convenient. We chose to stay here for their day trip, and it turned out to be the highlight of our trip. If you’re heading to Mostar, I highly recommend staying here. They truly make you feel at home. Plus, the fact that we could check in at 8am when our overnight bus arrived was a huge bonus!
Bulgaria
Sozopol
Orhidea 2- Fantastic view to the sea (airbnb)
4/5 overall, 3.5/5 location
15min walk uphill to the apartment from the beach, restaurants , shops and bus stop. Apartment was clean and had a kettle. Beautiful sea views.
Book your stay at Orhidea 2- Fantastic view to the sea here
Plovdiv
Convenient 1BD Flat in the Centre of Plovdiv (airbnb)
4/5 overall, 4/5 location
Huge aparment with a great kitchen setup and washer dryer. We found it great value for money and the location was in perfect walking distance to food, tourist attractions and public transport.
Book your stay at Convenient 1BD Flat in the Centre of Plovdiv here
Sofia
Quiet Park Loft Next to Eagles Bridge (airbnb)
4/5 overall, 4/5 location
Great central location, apartment was spotless and very modern. Host was very good with communication and was conveniently located by public transport.
Book your stay at Quiet Park Loft Next to Eagles Bridge here
Croatia
Zagreb
4/5 Overall, 4/5 Location
Swanky Mint Hostel had an excellent overall vibe. With a bar and restaurant attached (highly recommended), a fantastic social kitchen and common area, and rooms equipped with great privacy curtains, it offered a comfortable stay. Though we encountered a few issues with other guests in our room, the reception staff were incredibly helpful and promptly resolved them by relocating the individuals. The location was superb, super central with a tram stop right outside the hostel.
Trogir
4/5 Overall, 5/5 Location
Staying at this hostel was one of our first proper hostel experiences, and it gave us such a great experience. The owner was super friendly. The place was really clean, and everyone was very friendly. They did a communal breakfast in the morning. Great location, and they were super helpful when it came to giving recommendations on what to do and how to get places.
Greece
Athens
4/5 overall, 4/5 location
Great location for getting the ferry to the islands, was also within walking distance to any shops that we needed. The room was very spacious and was incredible value for money. Staff were helpful and even let us hang in the lobby at 5am till check in when we arrived early from our overnight bus.
Book your stay at Filon Hotel here
Paros
3/5 overall, 3.5/5 location
Jimmy’s was very basic, you got what you paid for. Was advertised as a social hostel however that was not the vibe when we were there. Great location for the ferry (15min walk).
Book your stay at Jimmys cheap rooms here
Andros
5/5 overall, 5/5 location
Located a 1hr bus ride away from the ferry terminal. The host is incredible meets you at the bus station, gives you a tour of the town. you are located within the hustle and bustle of the town centre. Close to restaurants, swimming locations. Feels like you are in Mama Mia.
Book your stay at Roulas kamara house here
*Last updated April 2024
One comment on “Accomodation: Recommendations and Reviews”