The Most Unique Hostel Experiences Around The Globe
When planning a trip, one of the first things you're going to consider is where you want to stay when you get wherever you're going. While most will opt for a hotel, another more budget-friendly option can be staying in a hostel.
Hostels exist in most major cities, and there are plenty of good, solid choices, but why not pick one that adds to the experience of your trip? These hostels are some of the most unique ones you can visit around the world.
Heradsskolinn Guesthouse
Experiencing the Northern Lights is something that is on most people's bucket list, and Iceland's Heradsskolinn Guesthouse makes that much easier to achieve. The Guesthouse is located within the famous Golden Circle sightseeing trail in Laugarvatn, Iceland, and every room offers either mountain or lake views.
Casa Elemento
Set on a mountainside in the middle of the Colombian jungle, Casa Elemento, with its giant hammock nets that overlook the jungle, is the perfect escape for anyone looking to appreciate the nature Colombia has to offer.
Safestay Holland Park
A hostel built on a property in London that has previously hosted literary guests such as Charles Dickens and Lord Byron, the Safestay Holland Park spans over 54 acres and is located just 23 miles from Buckingham Palace, so you really will feel like royalty.
St Briavels Castle
We'd all love to think we deserve the royal treatment when we're traveling, and thanks to YHA's St Briavels Castle, you can have that. This hostel is built in a castle in Gloucestershire, England, that's over 800 years old and has a variety of different dorm options to choose from—including staying in The Prison.
Lucky Lake Hostel
Located just outside of Amsterdam's city center, Lucky Lake hostel is the perfect summer hostel if you're looking for a camper van experience in the heart of The Netherlands. They've got all the amenities you'd find at a hostel, plus experiences like a breakfast dining hall built out of a bus, and an outdoor kitchen area.
Kadir's Treehouses
How could anyone not be interested in staying in a treehouse in Turkey on their next vacation? Kadir's Tree Houses in the valley of Olympos is just what you need to immerse yourself in nature and relax while feeling a little like you're in Tarzan.
Hub New Lisbon Hostel
The Hub New Lisbon Hostel may seem like a regular hostel in Portugal, but what really sets it apart from others is one main feature: a ball pit. That's right, a literal ball pit, like you always dreamed of having in your house when you were a child.
Book And Bed
The Book and Bed hostel in Tokyo has a theme that's fairly obvious based on the name: books. This hostel gives you the opportunity to be surrounded by books and sleep inside the bookshelves. With more than 1,700 books you're sure to find something you'll want to read.
JumboStay
Located at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport—because where else are you going to turn a Boeing 747 airliner into a hostel?—this hostel is one of the more unique accommodations to stay at while in Sweden. It's been open since 2009, but it has all the modern amenities you could want, including a flatscreen where guests can watch the departure times for the flights around them.
Bambuda Castle
The only castle in Central America, Bambuda Castle in Western Panama opened in 2016 and has been ranked as the number one hostel in Panama since then. Nearby, you've got mountains, waterfalls, and the Baru Volcano, then you get to return to your castle at the end of the day!
Hostel Celica
Another former prison that's now been turned into a hostel (clearly, it's something people are interested in), the Hostel Celica Art in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is just as colorful and beautiful as its history.
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel
Located in Canada's capital city, the HI Ottawa Jail Hostel is located in what used to be a jail in the 19th century, and it's in the perfect location to see everything that Ottawa has to offer. Hopefully, your nights here will be the only time you ever spend in jail!
Sant Jordi Hostel Sagrada Familia
You might not have realized there was even a market for a skateboard-themed hostel, but the Sant Jordi Sagrada Familia hostel in Barcelona has that covered. The vibrant theme of this hostel is meant to reflect the street art and culture of the city. It even has an indoor mini skateboarding ramp for you to try out.
Caveland Hostel
Built out of a set of caves that used to be an 18th-century winery, the Caveland Hostel in Santorini lets you live out your Mamma Mia fantasy while also keeping you cool in the caves at night.
MET A Space Pod
It's just a fact that most people cannot afford a trip to space, nor will they ever be able to. So for all of us non-astronauts, MET A Space Pod in Singapore offers you the chance to feel like you're in space.
Railway Square YHA
Who would have thought that there was a hostel located just a five-minute walk away from the Sydney Central train station that offers you the opportunity to actually stay in restored train carriages? Close to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour as well as having easy access to transportation to all of Sydney's other highlights, the Sydney Railway Square YHA is a unique Australian opportunity.
Lavender Circus Hostel
The Lavender Circus Hostel in Budapest makes its guests feel like they're stepping into a picture book thanks to its elaborate hand-painted murals and eclectic furniture. While its decor is impressive, the hostel also hosts incredible dinner parties for its guests to allow them to immerse themselves in Hungarian culture and experience the city to the fullest.
Urban House
If you're looking for the perfect memento from your trip that will help you remember it forever, Copenhagen's Urban House hostel with its in-house tattoo parlor is the place for you. This pop art and graffiti-filled hostel is located in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen and has plenty of activities to participate in besides getting inked, like watching a movie in their classic theater.
Hostel Cascada Verde
If you're looking for unique outdoor experiences, clearly Central and South America are the places to go, because the Cascada Verde hostel in Costa Rica offers just that. Just a five-minute walk from the Uvita Waterfall, this hostel will make you forget about civilization altogether.
ArkaBarka Floating Hostel
We'll give you one guess as to why Belgrade's ArkaBarka hostel classifies as a floating hostel... That's right, this hostel is actually a series of floating apartments that sit on the Danube. The hostel is located in the Friendship Park area, which is a favorite for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, and you'll have a great view from your floating dormitory.
