Mandala Hostel

The staff made my stay in Budapest even better. They were warm and really helpful, marking a map when I checked in with great places I probably wouldn't have found on my own. I enjoyed those spots, and they even invited me along to a concert. The hostel has a great atmosphere too.

It can be a little tricky to find, but once you're there, it's a fantastic place: cozy, welcoming, and with great service. We went bar hopping as a group, and the volunteers were so much fun and easy to get along with. They also seemed responsible and made us feel secure. I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Budapest.

The cat won me over on my last night, curling up with me in the loft for half an hour. That made up for a lot, and at the price I paid, I still felt it was a good deal. Mandala was the highlight of my stay, thanks to that cat. Getting around is easy: the hostel is near the tram, cafes, restaurants, and public transport to the airport and bus station. There are cats and a dog in the house too, nice company on a rainy day. It gets really noisy when full. The six-bed and eight-bed rooms connect, so sound carries between them, and some guests were playing the hostel's free guitars after midnight. The loft beds are very close together, with just a mattress pad and about six inches between sleepers. If you can, ask for a single bed in a shared room, since those look more comfortable and private.

Mandala became one of my favorite places to stay in Budapest. I liked the mandala theme, the homey feel, and the laid-back atmosphere, and the staff were accommodating. Guests come and go, but mostly quietly. It helps if you like animals. The layout has a couple of small annoyances: the door between the shared sleeping rooms doesn't close, maybe to keep access to the shared bathroom easy, and bathroom sounds carry. Still, things felt peaceful there, and for its price, Mandala is hard to beat.