The Backpacker's Blueprint: Top 7 European Hostels From My Summer Solo Trip

First up, we have Flow Spaces in Budapest. At this hostel, it was easy to meet people, the facilities were clean, and the staff was very friendly. My main complaint: no elevator! The hostel is on the second floor, and your room could potentially be on the third, so be warned. Overall, I really enjoyed my stay here! It's a little far from the nightlife but very close to a bus station. There are late-night food spots nearby when you're walking home from the bars. Flow Spaces has great bang for your buck; it's a wonderful hostel for a low low price.

Coming in 6th place is Prague Dream Hostel! This hostel was very clean, quiet, and in a great location (about a 20-minute walk from the Charles Bridge and nearby a metro). Sometimes the street was a little loud, but the hostel itself was easy to sleep in. I was very comfortable and the bathrooms were cleaned often. Prague is well-known for its nightlife, so it was nice to go find the parties elsewhere and then come back to a quiet place for sleep. If you're looking for a party hostel, this isn't it! Breakfast was not very good here; I recommend spending your money somewhere else. The shared spaces were really great for meeting people and they have an adorable outdoor courtyard to enjoy a meal or glass of wine with friends. The kitchen isn't huge but it's cleaned often! The price was incredible; Czechia tends to be cheaper, but this was very cheap for June/July in Europe. I would definitely stay here again.

I stayed at a lot of Ostello Bellos during my time in Italy and loved them. While there are definitely cheaper options in Naples, this is not the city to sacrifice safety and comfort. I originally had checked into a different hostel late at night and left first thing in the morning due to extremely dirty bathrooms, no doors/locks on the buildings, and no locks on the bedroom doors. Ostello Bello saved me. They have air conditioning, which is necessary during July in the south of Italy. Other perks include both an indoor and rooftop bar, plenty of clean toilets, showers, and sinks (I never had to wait), an elevator, and comfortable dorms with changing curtains. It's in a good area, although I'd always be cautious in Naples, and is within walking distance of great food, drink, and activities. The atmosphere here is amazing. They host events on the rooftop, the bartender was a sweetheart (I had no cash so he gave me free breakfast), and it was so easy to make friends. I also got a lot of work done in the common area (both an indoor and outdoor section). Did I mention they give a crazy amount of toiletries for free? So if you run out of anything, restock here. All in all, paying a little bit extra is absolutely worth it for the stay Ostello Bello offers.

There is another MEININGER in Brussels, but I recommend this one (city center) for the proximity to things. The social scene here is wonderful. The bar is a fun vibe with great beer and upstairs the game room is perfect for solo travelers to meet. I met some amazing friends here and definitely recommend to other backpackers. The rooms themselves are fairly secluded from the hubbub, so it was quiet. It's set up like a hotel; I saw plenty of families here as well! The dorm room was slightly cramped, but everything was clean and comfortable. Overall, MEININGER Bruxelles was a great experience and I would absolutely stay here again.

In 3rd place, we have 5 Elements Hostel in Leipzig, Germany, a city about an hour train ride south of Berlin. I 100% recommend Leipzig to anyone who's traveling in this area; the locals call it the "up and coming Berlin", but I say it has its own completely unique vibe that you should experience for yourself. When you visit, this is the place to stay. Large, spacious dorm rooms, a large, clean kitchen that doubles as a great working space, a bar, community dinners, a game room, and connected to a restaurant, all for a VERY reasonable price. I would've stayed here for a few more days if my schedule allowed it. Everyone was friendly and I met some super fun friends here. The energy and the large variety of shared spaces make it easy to meet people. It's just down the street from a really great spot to grab a drink with friends in the evening. It's also within walking distance of most other things Leipzig has to offer. This was absolutely one of my favorite hostel experiences and the city is a must-visit if you ask me!

I had to include another Ostello Bello because I stayed at so many and they treated me so well! They have two locations in Milan; I recommend this one (Grande) because it's right by the central station. However, if you prefer to be a bit further from the main station, they do have a location near il Duomo (the cathedral). Locals told me that the train station wasn't the best area, but I never felt unsafe and the hostel had an amazing bar if you prefer to spend the night there. In addition to the bar and incredibly friendly staff, Ostello Bello Grande also offers comfortable, clean, air-conditioned rooms, clean bathrooms, a rooftop and kitchen area (with plenty of free food), a garden, a coworking space, and really good food from the bar (plenty of vegetarian options & some vegan). This hostel is our runner-up because I can get work done during the day and have a great night as well. It's a far walking distance from the cathedral and the canals, but public transport is pretty good & cheap. They host events most nights, allowing people to meet each other easily with low stress. This is a perfect solo-travel hostel.

Coming in at #1 is Selina in Berlin! This is my go-to hostel when visiting. It falls between a hostel and a hotel. For me, I usually stay in a dorm to get the best deal and meet new people. However, if you prefer more privacy, they have plenty of private and semi-private options available. I was able to stay in a private room once for a couple of nights, and it was amazing! It was very spacious and it included a kitchenette. In addition to the friendly, helpful staff, Selina Berlin Mitte has its own restaurant adjacent to the hostel, a rooftop bar and lounge, a coworking space, a shared kitchen, and great WiFi. This hostel is set up as a co-live space, so as a digital nomad, this was unbeatable. The location is superb: It's a two-minute walk from the metro, but if you like walking and the weather is nice, you can easily get to Museum Island (about 20 minutes) or Alexanderplatz (about 15 minutes) by foot. Additionally, there is a myriad of cuisines nearby. Selina also makes it really easy to meet new people. In addition to incredible shared spaces, they host events on the rooftop (some are free, some have a small fee). Try yoga as the sun is coming up, take a salsa class, listen to live music with your free welcome beer in hand, or dance to some Berlin-based DJs on the weekends. Know before you go: This hostel is definitely geared toward an artsy, young clientele. They do offer all-female dorms if that's important to you, but it is slightly more expensive. If you like to stay in private rooms but still want the ease of meeting people that a hostel environment offers, Selina is perfect! The last thing I'll say is that I have always met the BEST people here. My most favorite European nights began at Selina. The environment is easy and priceless for the solo traveler. Have the best time!