HI Braga - Pousada de Juventude

For two people, the private twin room is close to perfect: it's new, very clean and excellent value, with an amazing location and an incredible upstairs terrace. Weekends do get loud. I can't say how the dorms compare for the price.

The room was small, but perfectly fine for a night, and it was clean. There were eight of us sharing one bathroom with a shower and toilet. Each bed had an electric outlet and a USB port, and reception staff were nice. They let me leave my luggage there and collect it later after check-out. One of the best hostels I've stayed in.

There are several places to unwind, including the downstairs lobby, an upstairs common room and an upstairs sit-out area. Restrooms are near both the lobby and common room. The interactive screens in those shared spaces let you browse city sights, put together an itinerary and send it to your phone. You can also ask reception for a city map. The rooms were spacious for a hostel and very tidy. Mine had four bunks split between two sections, plus a bathroom and toilet shared by all eight occupants. Each bed had a two-pin charging socket and a USB port. At check-in I got a key card, a locker key and a breakfast ticket for the next morning. Inside the locker were a blanket, one large towel and two smaller ones. I was impressed by how clean everything was and how friendly the staff were. The hostel also takes the Sustainable Development Goals seriously. There was information around the place to teach you about the SDGs, color-coded bins for sorting waste in the rooms and common areas, and reminders in the bathrooms about water use. It's about a 15-minute walk from the bus terminal, opposite a tall, long yellow building. When I first walked in, the calm atmosphere and reception made it feel more like a trendy co-working space than a hostel. I've stayed in quite a few hostels, and HI Braga - Pousada de Juventude has been my best experience. I'll definitely stay there again next time I'm in Braga.

HI hostels have been great for me generally, and the Braga one was just as good. The facilities were easily the best I've come across in a hostel, and the place was very clean, spacious and comfortable. Thanks especially to Bruna and Vitor for being efficient and welcoming.