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May 25, 2023
Author: Adam Dimitrov — Budapester, Hungarian & City Expert/Guide
Are you planning to stay in Budapest and looking for a great hostel but need help deciding which one you should choose?
You're lucky because I've stayed at least one night in 8 hostels in Budapest in December 2023, including A&O City Hostel
In this article, you can read about my review of A&O City Hostel based on personal experience, which made #5 on my best hostels list.
Who is this hostel for? — Budget conscious travelers who don't mind hotel-type impersonal hostels. 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.
What was the best part of staying here? — The private shower in my room and the digital nomad friendly workspace in the lounge.
What was the worst part of staying here? — My pillow was dirty. I also didn't like the fact that you have to pay extra for bed linens and put them on yourself.
Did I enjoy my stay here? Would I return? — I prefer Maverick Urban Lodge over A&O, which is similarly cheap, but has better quality of life.
How much does it cost? Is it good value for money? — Prices start from 7€ per night, making A&O City Hostel an extremely affordable hostel. But you do have to pay 3€ for the bed linens. If you want a better deal with 2 free meals included, try Avenue Hostel.
This hostel is great value for money. Bunk beds start at 9€/night in the off-season and private rooms from 47€/night, with prices at least 2-3x higher in high season (May-October).
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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 plan to be out exploring from dusk till dawn.
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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).
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The receptionists were helpful, friendly, and efficient. They have 1-2 receptionists available 24/7 - check-in was a breeze.
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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, but they don’t give you a padlock to close it.
Noise levels are low to medium - you get the normal hostel noises, but traffic is light in the small street where the hostel is.
The bed is mediocre. 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.
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The room has shower and a toilet. They’re separate. and 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.
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The kitchen is a bit harder to find, as it's near the elevator. It could be more spacious, but it looked well-equipped. It doesn’t have an oven and the entire hostel has this sole kitchen, so it’s likely to get crowded very fast.
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€).
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.
