Friends Hostel

I especially liked the bathroom, which was much better than at hostels I’d stayed in before. The place was clean and felt safe, the staff were friendly, and I’d recommend it as one of the better hostels I’ve visited. It’s near the train station, with public transport close by for getting to the city center. A few things for the owners: get a toilet brush that hangs instead of sitting in dirty water, and a toilet paper bin that opens upwards rather than inwards. Also, the pillows are awful. You need to stack two to make them remotely comfortable, so please fill them more.

I’d probably stay here again. The volunteers came from all over the world and were cheerful and kind, and the kitchen has everything you need, plus more, for cooking on a budget. I was there for three nights and had a great experience. It’s right by the north railway station, with bus stops nearby for getting into the city center. At night, the streets around the hostel can feel a bit rough. People may ask you for change, but they weren’t really pushy. Just say no and keep walking, and you should be fine.

The city center is about a half-hour walk away. The hostel is easy to reach from the train station, and the metro isn’t far if you’re coming by highway bus. The bus station is outside the city, so you’ll need to take the metro. We found everything clean during our stay, and the staff were very helpful. It’s a friendly place with common rooms where there’s enough space to sit and chat with other backpackers. The hostel encourages people to connect, but there’s no pressure. The rooms aren’t the biggest common areas, though. There are kittens here, which was a bonus for me. If you have a serious cat allergy, be aware they stay in the hallways and aren’t allowed into the bedrooms. We had a very pleasant stay and would come again.

Handy for the railway station, and the staff were friendly and fairly helpful. The rooms and bathrooms were quite clean, so it works well enough as a place to sleep for a night or two. The common room and kitchen are in a cramped, hot basement, which isn’t somewhere you’d want to spend much time. Temporary volunteers run the hostel, and the tidiness reflects that. It has the feel of a student flat.