Traveling in Europe is exponentially more feasible when staying in hostels, and I’m here to tell you why I am such a big fan.

You share a room and a bathroom, so it is less personal space. But if you’re willing to look past that, it can be an amazing experience.

1. They’re CHEAP.

Okay, obviously we already know this. The main draw to hostels is that they’re much more budget-friendly compared to hotels or vacation rentals. If you are solo traveling and only need one bed, a hostel is such a great route to take.

Pay 30€ per night instead of 130€!

They also typically have a communcal kitchen where you can put your groceries and cook dinner to save money. Sometimes they even provide free coffee and tea.

2. The Community

Hostels are such a fun place to make friends! There are shared spaces, like the kitchen and living rooms, and some hostels even have a bar or an area to sit and chat. You can play card games, have a drink, or just socialize. You can meet people to explore the city with, to ask for recommendations, or just to enjoy a drink with at the hostel.

3. They give recommendations on where to go.

Every hostel I’ve stayed at has had a handful of great recommendations. Some have flyers and pamphlets, and the employees are always kind and have recommendations too.

Often, they recommend local restaurants, tourist favorites, and activities to do across different areas of the city.

4. Hostel activities

Many hostels put on group activities like bar crawls, hostel dinners, cocktail making classes, sunset walks, and more. One time I did a “family dinner” at a hostel, and it was only 3€ for wine and pasta. The bar crawls are also a great way to explore the nightlife while staying in a group. You can make friends more easily, and you won’t have to worry whether you’re picking a good bar or not.

5. More eco-friendly

Overall, hostels are more eco-friendly because you’re using a communal space.

Hostels produce, on average, 75% less carbon emissions than hotels. Shared bathrooms and kitchens naturally lead to less water consumption. Shared bedrooms and common spaces also mean using less electricity. There are fewer rooms, fewer lights, and fewer negative impacts on the planet.