Wombat's City Hostel Budapest

The central location was a plus, with restaurants and bars nearby and easy access to tourist spots and bus stations. Prices seemed reasonable for somewhere so central, the receptionists were very nice, and even though we visited in December, the room didn’t feel cold. The downsides outweighed the good points. We arrived in Budapest at 10 a.m. with our luggage, but couldn’t check in until 2 p.m. The only place to leave our bags was a paid luggage room, which wasn’t included in the accommodation price. We paid 4.5 euros for 12 hours, the maximum, but were given only 6 hours, so we couldn’t spend the whole day out without coming back for our bags. The room was badly uncleaned. There was rubbish on the floor, food packaging left on shelves, hairs on the toilet lid, more hair and lots of dust on the bathroom radiator, and a terrible sewage smell. I hardly wanted to use the bathroom and would almost have preferred a diaper. The roof windows were so high that we couldn’t reach them to air out the room. I can’t really recommend the hostel. Staff should pay much closer attention to cleanliness, especially since I’ve seen other complaints about it.

The rooms and main hall are spacious, and I liked that every room has its own shower and bathroom. Everything was very clean. The receptionist Gaby was especially lovely, so kind and always full of positive energy. Wishing her all the best and lots of love.

The location is right in the city center, with nearly all the main attractions just one stop away, so getting around Budapest is easy. The WiFi was a little shaky at first, then worked well. I’m still staying at Wombats Hostel Budapest as I write this, and I feel grateful for the care we’ve received. I asked for an early check-in because my little one wasn’t feeling well. Catha listened patiently, spoke gently, and took personal responsibility for helping us. Her kindness felt instinctive, and her empathy made a real difference when I was worried as a parent. She made us feel seen, safe, and cared for. The bearded gentleman at the front desk was welcoming and helpful too, adding to the calm, friendly feel. I’ve travelled much of the world as a journalist, and people like Catha are rare. Wombats Hostel Budapest stands out for its humanity as well as its comfort. Thank you for a memorable stay.

The hostel itself is nice, in a good location, and the staff are moderately friendly, but I found it very unsafe and the cleaning was disgusting. The common areas felt like a public square, with homeless people coming in to ask for money and use the shared bathrooms. I saw a woman try to rob a man from Italy. Others came in to steal food from the kitchen. A couple, an elderly woman in a pink coat, and a man, all filthy and smelling incredibly bad, used the break room during the day. At the salsa party, many people were offering substances that seemed suspicious. The cleaning staff didn’t do their jobs well. On several occasions, bedding was reused for a new guest without being changed. Management should take the cleaning work seriously and check it. Young people staying here are exposed to sales of all kinds and insecurity. There’s a big security guard who seems complicit with the dealer. I’m not talking about people on the sidewalk outside, but what’s going on inside the hostel. More control is needed, especially from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Many homeless people also use the laundromat to store disgustingly dirty, smelly clothes. To my surprise, the woman in the pink coat stayed at the hostel one night, apparently intending to steal from and harass younger guests. I’m quite sure two guests complained at reception. She and her partner stole everything from the fridge, and now they’re asking for money again to pay for the bed, while offering phones and sweaters for sale that are clearly stolen. Breakfast is very expensive, there isn’t much of it, and what there is is poor quality. It’s a shame, because the hostel is nice and well located, but they need more security and to take cleaning much more seriously.