TL;DR: This hostel felt the newest and best equipped. It has a great café bar at the lounge. My 4-bed (!) room was excellent - not too many roommates, a sturdy & big bed with a curtain, and a massive locker where I could fit all my stuff, including my luggage (which worked via the passcard, no padlock needed). The shared bathroom was top-notch, hygienic, and wasn't co-ed.

Vibe: The vibe is a mix between a college dorm and a hotel. Everything was clean, modern, and high quality. But there was little socialization between guests.

Arrival: My check-in went fast and without a hitch. After the obligatory ID check, I was given a passcard and went to my floor via elevator. They have 24/7 check-in, which is always lovely.

Building: There are multiple levels, but the building has elevators. The building is on a moderately busy side street, but the noise levels were acceptable.

Room: One of the best equipped and modern rooms I stayed in. First, the 4-bed setup was lovely - the fewer roommates, the fewer problems (noise, probability of infection, less accommodation to each other). There was a huge locker where I could fit all of my stuff (including my luggage) and lock it with my card. The room was quiet.

Bed: Well-equipped, sturdy and private. No squeaking sounds. It was a 10/10 bed.

Bathroom: This was the best shared bathroom I saw during my stay in various hostels in Budapest. It was hygienic, modern, and spacious. The shower was fantastic (ample space, good water flow, huge showerhead). The bathroom wasn't co-ed, thankfully. It was a nice touch to put music in the bathroom.

Kitchen: There's a compact kitchen area complete with all the necessities (water boiler, cookware, cutlery, and fridge) and a huge table where you can eat or optionally work on your laptop (which you can also do in the lounge café).

Facilities: The bar/lounge area had an excellent laptop workspace. They also serve breakfast (optional). One of the kitchen staff was a loud-mouthed guy, but apart from that, everything was faultless.

Location: It's in the city center, but not the dead center. The Central Market Hall is 5 minutes away on foot. The public transport options close by include the 2 tram, 47/49 tram, and the 1/2 metro. The 100E airport bus stop is also 5-10 minutes on foot.

Value for money: This hostel is great value for money. Bunk beds start from 9€/night and private rooms from 46€/night.

TL;DR: This is where I felt the most welcome of all hostels. With a few employees and many (+10) volunteers, the staff greeted me with warm hospitality and professionalism. The guests were likewise high caliber, and I had a great time watching the Argentina-Croatia match here. It was so good that I hung around here 1-2 times after I checked out.

Vibe: Most of the life in the hostel goes on either in the TV room (more chill) or the bar area - where you can meet people and make friends. Prices in the bar were reasonable. In addition, there were activities organized daily - city sightseeing during the day, drinking games at night, and the optional chance to continue partying at a club or ruin bar after midnight. 

Arrival: I was greeted by Hector and a British chap whose name eludes me. After the quick obligatory ID check, I put my luggage in their secure luggage room as I was early (check-ins at 2 pm). They have 24/7 check-in, which is always lovely.

Building: There's only one level, so there wasn't a need for elevators. The place is in the dead center of Budapest on a quieter street in the party district.

Room: My room was excellent, and there was plenty of space to move around. Below the bed was a secure and lockable stash (padlock included). The room was quiet enough.

Bed: The bed came with a privacy curtain, lamp, and socket - but was missing an item tray. The bed was spotless and bed had a solid metal frame and wasn't squeaky.

Bathroom: This is the weakest point of the entire joint, I'm sad to say. I'm not going to sugarcoat it - the shower was horrible. The water temperature wasn't constant, and the light sensor was poorly placed - so the light constantly went off every 10s, and I had to stick my hand outside the shower cabin to turn it on. The rest of the bathroom (toilet, sink area) was fine.

Kitchen: There's a compact kitchen area complete with all the necessities (water boiler, cookware, cutlery, and fridge)

Facilities: The bar/lounge area had an excellent laptop workspace. Free coffee was available, but you could also start your day strong with a shot from the bar (you alcoholic, you!).

Location: Possibly the hostel with the best location in town. The most important public transport options (47/49 tram, 4/6 tram, 1/2/3 metro), Deak Ference square, Astoria, the Danube, and the main party venues are within walking distance.

Value for money: Hostel one is on the pricier side. Bunk beds start from 14€/night, and private rooms aren't available. But the friendly atmosphere is worth the premium, in my opinion.

TL;DR: If you want to save money, come here! It's affordable, and you get a free breakfast plus a highly discounted dinner. The hostel's cleanliness, modernness, bathroom, and comfort level could be better, but it's not a deal breaker. I recommend this hostel for budget travelers!

Vibe: Very much an impersonal hotel vibe where all sorts of random people stay for a few days. No social atmosphere, except (maybe) in the breakfast area. Not squeaky clean or particularly modern interior. It's a trendy hostel (read: the place was full of people).

Arrival: My check-in went fast and without a hitch. After the obligatory ID check, I was given a passcard and shown to my room by a receptionist. They have 24/7 check-in, which is always lovely. In addition, there is free luggage storage available at the reception (before check-in and after check-out)

Building: The building is quite old and several stories tall. Luckily, there was an elevator, but it was old, tiny, and slow. I often resorted to walking via the staircase because someone was always using the elevator. The staircase area was open-air, so it was cold. The noise levels are high in the building due to traffic and the many guests. It's a bit inconvenient having to enter and exit to the cold stairway to go to the reception/lounge (e.g., for breakfast or dinner)

Room: The room was spacious, with a veil in the middle. Its purpose was to give the feeling of privacy. There was a normal-sized locker I could fit in my laptop and backpack, but my luggage had to stay by the bed. They sold me a padlock for about 3€ at the reception, which was reasonable. The room was loud due to the busy avenue nearby, plus the tram rolling by. Only my earplugs saved me.

Bed: My bed wasn't privacy friendly (no curtains). Later I realized there were many options with privacy-friendly beds. Oh, well. The bed had a light and a socket but no item tray. It had a metal frame and was clean.

Bathroom: The two shared bathrooms in our living quarters were mediocre in cleanliness and comfort. It could accommodate two people at any given time, so somebody was always waiting for their turn. One bathroom was small and poorly designed (the shower is next to the toilet, which gets wet). The other one was spacious but didn't give me a highly clean or hygienic impression — all in all, not a strong point of my stay here, but not a deal-breaker.

Kitchen: Every living quarter has its kitchen. There's also a large kitchen next to the dining area on the reception level. Both were complete with all the necessities (water boiler, cookware, cutlery, and fridge).

Facilities: The kitchen and the main breakfast lounge area are your main options for laptop work. There's no dedicated workspace, however. There are some sightseeing activities offered/advertised on the walls.

Location: Located in the outer part of the city center, near a busy avenue (Oktogon). The party district is a stone's throw away. The public transport options close by include the 4/6 tram and the 1 metro.

Value for money: The best value for money hostel, right here! Bunk beds start from 8€/night and private rooms from 51€/night. These prices include breakfast (typical hotel cuisine), but you also have the option to have a deeply discounted homemade dinner (I had a massive portion of chili con carne) if you spend 3€ at the bar. In other words, you spend money, get food/drinks, and get a free dinner. If budget was my primary concern, this is where I'd come since you can save so much on food.

TL;DR: This hostel is perfect if you want peaceful sleep in a comfortable bed, a clean/minimalist environment, and don't care for the social aspects of hostel life.

Vibe: It smells, acts, and looks like a hotel - but it's priced like a hostel! Although socialization does happen, this place has more of a hotel vibe. It does the job well if you're here for a few days on a business trip or other private business.

Arrival: The receptionists were helpful, friendly, and efficient. They have 1-2 receptionists available 24/7 - check-in was a breeze.

Building: Elevators are available. There are rooms on all floors in this 4-story building. The building is on a side street, so it's relatively quiet. Earplugs and eye covers do come in handy to filter out those remaining stray noises/lights.

Room: The room was immaculate and minimal. There's a wide space in the middle, although the room isn't huge. There's a cage-looking stash under the bed (padlock NOT included). The heat and sound insulation are spot-on.

Bed: There's no bed curtain, so it's not too private. The bed has an item storage "pit" on the side, a night lamp, and an electric socket. The pillow looked used/dirty (I'll have it replaced next time). The bed had a solid metal frame and wasn't squeaky.

Bathroom: The room has two private bathrooms - a separate bathroom and a toilet. They were both small but hygienic. The shower in this hotel is out of this world - it's the best I've had out of any Budapest hostel.

Kitchen: The kitchen is a bit harder to find, as it's near the elevator. It could be more spacious, but it looked well-equipped. Unfortunately, I discovered it too late to take advantage of it.‍

Facilities: The hostel's lounge has an excellent laptop workspace, a breakfast area, and plenty of space to chill. There's a coffee machine and a bar too. The breakfast seems like typical bland hotel food and I found it overpriced (8€).

Location:  The hostel in the city center near the main public transport arteries (4/6 trams or the metro 2 and 4) and a stone's throw away from the Jewish district (read: parties/ruin bars).

Value for money: Bunk beds start from 9€/night, and private rooms from 47€/night.

‍TL;DR: This hostel is perfect if you want peaceful sleep, a welcoming and social environment, and want to bump into other travelers serendipitously.

Vibe: I love the social vibe of this hostel. The streets of Budapest can be harsh from the outside, but I felt like entering an oasis in a desert after setting foot in Flow Spaces! It's so welcoming! I f#@!king love this place!

Staff, check-in, building: The receptionists were helpful, friendly, and efficient. They have 2-3 receptions available 24/7 - checking in was a breeze. The bad news is that you do have to climb three flights of stairs, as there is no elevator in the building. They have free luggage storage (before check-in and after check-out) and secure lockers (for an additional charge).

Room: The rooms are small and don't have too much space. There is a stash under the bed (padlock included!).

Bed: Thanks to the bed curtains, you have a private bed space that is the best equipped I've tried in Budapest (lamp, socket, item box, item tray). The item box was in the way when climbing up, though. I did find some stray female hair on my bedsheet. The bed was made of wood and was squeaky.

Bathroom: The rooms don't have a private bathroom. Instead, you have to use communal bathrooms. I was missing a proper place to get dressed (you either have a wet shower or a toilet). The hygiene was acceptable in the bathroom and the entire hostel.

Kitchen: The kitchen is fully equipped and complete with kitchenware. You can use the free food others have left at Flow Spaces. There's also free coffee.‍

Facilities: The main lounge is a great spot to eat, cook and socialize with other travelers. There is also a quiet laptop workspace, a balcony for smoking, and two communal showers on each level. There are two levels in total.

Location: Perfectly situated in the city center, in a quiet sidestreet. The hostel is a few minutes away from the Central Market Hall, the Danube, and public transport (47/49 tram, metro 3 and 4, 100E bus).

Value for money: Bunk beds start from 9€/night, and given everything I just wrote, this place gets an +A for value.

‍TL;DR: Adagio falls into the category of an "also great" hostel. It simply doesn't have any distinctive features that would put it the "best" of any category. However, it's a solid option if you want a comfortable bed, a clean/minimalist environment, and don't care for the social aspects of hostel life.

Vibe: This hostel falls into the "hotel-like, at hostel prices" category. It works well if you're here for a few days on a business trip or other private business.

Arrival: The receptionist was helpful and efficient, although not overly friendly. They have one receptionist available 24/7 - check-in was a breeze.

Building: The hostel is on the first floor but has no elevator. The building is in a busy intersection, so expect high noise levels. Only go here with earplugs.

Room: It was spacious, with modern bunk beds and average-sized lockers. The floor was made of parquet tiles, so it was squeaky. My room had a view of St. Peter's Basilica. The noise levels were high due to the traffic.

Bed: The bed came with a privacy curtain, lamp, and socket - but was missing an item tray. The bed was spotless, had a solid metal frame, and wasn't squeaky.

Bathroom: The room has two private bathrooms - a separate bathroom and a toilet. They were both small but hygienic.

Kitchen: The kitchen is fully equipped with a microwave, coffee machine, and kitchenware.

Facilities: There's no dedicated workspace for digital nomads, but the kitchen/dining table seemed okay for work.

Location:  The hostel is located in the dead center of Budapest. The most important public transport options (47/49 tram, 4/6 tram, 1/2/3 metro), Deak Ference square, St. Stephen's Basilica, and the party district are within walking distance.

Value for money: Bunk beds start from 10€/night, and private rooms from 47€/night.

TL;DR: This hostel masquerades as a party hostel, while it's just an average hostel inside the party district. Calling it a youth hostel would be apt. There are bar crawls organized (for a fee). The guests are - you guessed it - more on the younger side. Everybody is friendly. So friendly, I had an impromptu dinner with a group of traveling Canadians after I helped them solve the mystery of using The Stove. There are no actual parties or loud music inside the hostel (as opposed to Hostel One, which has a lively bar venue). I made good friends with two bunkmates (we're three people in an 8-bed room) and had a blast.

Vibe: Again, this hostel is on Király street (THE party street), but no parties were going on inside or directly near the hostel. Thanks to the younger clientele, the vibes were more high-energy and vibrant.

Arrival: My check-in went fast and without a hitch. After the obligatory ID check, I was given a passcard and went to my floor via elevator (I was on the first floor). They have 24/7 check-in, which is always lovely. They also have a secure luggage storage room for free (before check-in and after check-out).

Building: There are three floors, but the building has elevators. The building is on a busy side street (Király street - THE party street), but my room faced a quiet inner courtyard.

Room: My 8-bed room was huge and was basic in decor. The locker had a funky opening mechanism whereby you had to push a button WITH your card (anything else won't work). I took my time figuring that out. The lockers were smallish - you could fit your luggage OR your backpack and laptop, but not both. The room itself was quiet.

Bed: The beds were basic without privacy (no bed curtain), but they were clean and had a lamp and a socket (no item tray).

Bathroom: The room had its private bathroom, which was okay in cleanliness and size. Nothing noteworthy about it, It got the job done.‍

Kitchen: There's only one kitchen in the entire building - on the ground floor. It was massive, modern, and well-equipped.

Facilities: There were plenty of spaces to chill or work on a laptop in the lounge. They also serve breakfast (optional).

Location: The hostel is in the dead center of Budapest, inside the party district on Király street. The public transport options close by include the 47/49 tram and the 1, 2, or 3 metro. The 100E airport bus stops nearby.

Value for money: Not the best deal in town, but location-wise it's perfect. The hostel doesn't offer anything that would justify their above-average prices. Bunk beds start from 17€/night and private rooms from 65€/night.

This place is perfect if you want a small hostel that feels like home!

Vibe: Cozy, warm, and homely are the words I'd describe Zen Hostel. Think "conversations on the couch with a hot tea in hand while being wrapped in a blanket" vibes.

Arrival: Julien manages the entire place like a one-person army. She's very friendly and accommodating. However, the check-in could have been faster. It took approximately 10 minutes, as I had to wait for two people in front of me.

Building: The building doesn't have an elevator, but the hostel is on the first floor. The door to the flat is hard to find, and the signage could be better. A group of Asians had just arrived before me, and I saw them struggling to find the door.

Room: I stayed in a spacious 8-bed bedroom. The room had an open space in the middle and a table. I had a non-lockable small closet beside my bed where I stored my smaller items (laptop, backpack). Traffic noise was non-existent, but some rooms face a busy avenue (Vámház krt.), so it's a bit of a tossup.

Bed: The bed was clean and comfortable but lacked a privacy-ensuring curtain. There was a night light, socket, and item tray available. The bed had a wooden frame and was squeaky.

Bathroom: There were four bathrooms in the hostel - two big and two small. They were okay but weren't immaculate. It was just okay.

Kitchen: There was a small kitchen area that was unremarkable. It had all the necessities - fridge, pot and pans, cutlery. That's about it.

Facilities: There are few luxuries as this is a small hostel. So there is no laptop workspace, bar, large breakfast area, or anything.

Location: The hostel in the city center near the main public transport arteries (47/49 trams or the metro 3 and 4) and a stone's throw away from the Central Market Hall.

Value for money: Bunk beds start from 13€/night, and private rooms from 32€/night. I went on a Friday (the most expensive day, along with Saturday) and paid around 23€. This hostel isn't the best value for money, but if you like the homely, small hostel vibe with a great location, this is the place for you.