Quirky European Hostels

Quirkiness, noun: ‘the quality of being unusual in an attractive and interesting way’.

Whilst my days of regularly staying in large hostel dorm rooms may be over, it recently occurred to me about the range of different hostels I've stayed in throughout Europe whilst backpacking - they provide an obscure yet thankful reflection.

When I consider staying at these hostels, words such as quirky, zany, visionary, abnormal, cosy, and unique come to mind.

Most importantly, the vision of the owner/s is what stands out for me when understanding a hostel - as most owners would've likely been budget-conscious backpackers at some point, adaptability and adjustment is also needed. However strange these visions may be, it separates them from the norm and creates a unique atmosphere.

As a backpacker who has spent numerous years travelling on a budget, it is always nice to have a kitchen, a supplied or very cheap breakfast, nice bathroom facilities, a relaxed bar to meet fellow travellers and sometimes even locals, some privacy when sleeping and a quirk or two whether blindly obvious or a hidden message.

Here are my top quirky hostels in Europe – be sure to keep them in mind for your next backpacking adventure.

Woodah Hostel, Copenhagen:

This eco-friendly, quiet and friendly little hostel located just outside of inner Copenhagen has just about everything a budget-conscious backpacker needs. Custom-made wooden bunk beds with extra privacy, a cafe with wonderful coffee and food, and breakfast on offer in the morning. If it’s your thing, they also run their own yoga classes. It is a fantastic place to base yourself when visiting the Danish capital as the staff are incredibly friendly. You can maintain your fitness and sanity, ask the staff for help, be in central Copenhagen in a quirky area itself and spend some time in the lobby conversing with fellow travellers. I stayed here when I first moved to Copenhagen and also once before that when the hostel first opened. I still remain in contact with the genuinely caring and helpful staff. While living in Copenhagen, it was always one of my favourite spots to sit outside and enjoy one of the best coffees available in the Danish capital.

Snuffle Backpackers, Bruges:

We separated from the majority of the group that we were travelling with at the time to experience this wonderful, quirky and comfortable hostel. A tiny winding staircase up to the dorm rooms is a tight fit with a large backpack but a nice touch nonetheless. The hostel has a small bar where we caught up with the owner who shared some tips about Bruges. He mentioned he also banned large tour groups (we all know the ones with the loud Australians practically on a glorified long school camp) from coming as he wanted to aim at independent travellers visiting, thus keeping the hostel unique in its own way. There is also a welcoming outdoor area with plenty of space and a very busy bar with ample table space to socialise, and a kitchen available to prepare your meals to keep you under budget and well-nourished. To add a final layer to the quirkiness are the showers - with a pull chain hanging from above to operate – making sure you're not overstaying your limit under the water.

Williams Lak Hostel, Budapest:

There is rather a long story that comes with my stay at this friendly yet relatively well-hidden hostel located on the ‘Pest’ side of the river Danube in the Hungarian capital. Let’s just say I was very thankful the owner is a member of the police force himself after I was questioned by local authorities as to why I wasn’t carrying my passport at one stage – he was my saving grace. The hostel occupies just one floor of an apartment block. The owner is very friendly, the kitchen is well-resourced and spacious and at the time of staying here, there were some wonderful other guests who joined for drinks and food of a night and some exploring by day. While there is something uniquely charming about Budapest hostels that are located within an apartment block, as a lot of them are, this one in particular resonated with me because of its cosiness, friendliness, clean facilities, helpful staff and availability of bathrooms per person made for a very comfortable stay.

Hostel Musala, Mostar:

This intricate little hostel is a touch difficult to spot behind a large gateway, but is well designed and located reasonably close to the centre of Mostar. The owner, Sasa, is knowledgeable, caring and also very passionate about his hometown. He runs day tours from the hostel which are a must for any curious and locally-minded traveller. The hostel itself runs over three stories but is relatively small, with an open outdoor area to catch up with other backpackers, clean facilities, and a nice social area in the basement. The location stands out here as it is located reasonably close to the centre of Mostar but far enough away to be nestled amongst the war-torn streets and buildings that were heavily affected by the war that was centred in this historical former capital city.

Sun Hostel, Belgrade, Serbia:

While I visited Serbia in the midst of a rainy and grey autumnal period, after numerous border crossings, bag checks and a run-in with the authorities in Budapest, this hostel and its friendly owners and staff managed to brighten up almost every part of my stay in Belgrade. While hearing some stories from the past regarding the former Yugoslavian capital's neglect and the impact it has had on both the residents and the country as a whole may be difficult to process, it is a fantastic way to be educated on the history of Belgrade. The owner was very informative, helpful and generous. We enjoyed a night out, a traditional Serbian breakfast, some stories about our home countries, our travels and plenty of advice. The hostel itself is well-designed, spacious, has an open kitchen, a lovely green and colourful garden, ample space for socialising and is located not too far from the city centre. Sun Hostel is a hidden gem and from all reports is a vibrant and social happening spot during the summer period.

Hostel Possonium, Bratislava, Slovakia:

Think abnormal, think Hostel Possonium. The fact that I actually didn’t get any sleep due to the large drunk man snoring even though he’d managed to break his bottom bunk bed next to me didn’t deter me from falling in love with this very, very strange hostel. By the way, I caught up on some sleep on the bean bags by the river the next day – just in case this happens to you. It has since been transformed into a boutique apartment-style of accommodation, but some of the remnants of the former hostel still remain.

The hostel was different to say the least. The dark and dingy basement bar is designed based on the Quentin Tarantino horror movie ‘Hostel’ which of course was set in Bratislava. A bath tub with a with a fake dead body (I hope) is the centerpiece to a range of displays related to the theme of the movie. The outdoor area is brilliant – cosy, relaxed, spacious and with an outdoor bar. The staff, to say the very least, suited the ambiance of the hostel in general: quirky almost beyond quirky, but so very helpful. Throughout the stay, there was always a feeling of ‘what is going to happen next’? It was hard not to love staying here and it would be very interesting to now visit and notice the changes and whether the vibe has completely changed.

The Treehouse Hostel – Grunau Im Almtal, Austria:

This hostel, accurately named the Treehouse Hostel, is nestled perfectly within the serene and snow-capped mountains of the Austrian Alps. Gerhard, the owner, and his family including the pet dog, own and manage this wonderful establishment which is a favourite stopover for both independent travellers as well as some bus companies. Hearty home-cooked meals such as lasagne, the option of bicycles for hire, healthy walks through the fresh snowy mountains, a peaceful fireplace by the lightly running stream at night and a comfortable bar to recap the day's events with other travellers make this hostel a truly unique and rare European experience. Such is the quaintness and peacefulness of this hostel and the surrounds, it can be utilised as a stopover to enjoy and entertain but also very importantly, to recharge.

The view of the yard from The Treehouse Hostel, Grunau im Almtal, Austria