Solo Female Travel: The Hostels That Actually Get It Right

Let’s Get Real: Solo Female Travel Hostels Can Be Terrifying (But Also Amazing)

I’ll never forget my first Solo Female Travel hostel experience. I was 22, wide-eyed, and convinced I’d meet my future best friends in a 12-bed dorm in Prague. Instead, I got a top bunk next to a guy who stored his socks in the overhead light fixture. (Why? No clue.)

Since then, I’ve learned—the hard way—what makes a hostel actually great for solo women. Not just “safe” (though obviously that’s priority #1), but the kind of place where you can:

Fall asleep without someone’s wet towel dripping on your face
Find the Wi-Fi password without having to ask the guy who definitely wants to “show you around”
Actually enjoy being alone without feeling like a sad cliché

The Unwritten Rules of Hostel Survival (From Someone Who’s Screwed Up So You Don’t Have To)

1. The Magic of Female-Only Dorms

Yes, they’re usually a few dollars more. No, it’s not “just like” a co-ed dorm but with more hair ties on the floor. The vibe is different—less “who’s watching my stuff while I shower?” and more “hey, does anyone have a tampon?” solidarity.

Pro tip: If a hostel only offers co-ed dorms but claims to be “female-friendly,” side-eye hard.

2. Location Matters More Than Free Pancakes

I once booked a hostel because it promised “unlimited toast.” Turns out it was in a neighborhood where the only nightlife was a stray cat fight club. Now I prioritize:

Walking distance to public transport
Actual humans on the street after 8 PM
No “mystery meat” vibes from the surrounding restaurants

3. The Staff Test

Ask yourself:

Do they make eye contact when you check in?
Is there any system for lost keys, or is it chaos?
If you said “I think someone followed me back here,” would they care?

If the answer to any of these is “no,” leave.

Women’s Travel Community

Hostels I’d Actually Rebook (And One That Still Haunts Me)

✅ The Beehive, Rome

Family-run, kitchen smells like someone’s nonna is cooking
No bunk beds (BLESS)
Downside: You will cry when you leave

✅ Hostel One Miru, Barcelona

Free family dinners where you actually make friends
Staff who remember your name (and your weird pizza order)
Downside: The showers are aggressively European (i.e., no doors)

🚫 That One Berlin Hostel

Let’s just say: If your roommate offers you “special tea,” it’s not tea.

The Little Things That Make a Big Difference

Outlet placement: If I have to balance on one leg to charge my phone, I’m out
Lockers big enough for your dignity: Should fit your backpack and your emotional baggage
A common area that doesn’t smell like regret: Avoid places where the couches look sticky

Final Thought: You’ll Know When It’s Right

The best hostel feels like that one friend’s apartment where you can raid the fridge without asking. It’s not perfect (the shower might be coin-operated, and someone will snore), but it’s a place where you can exhale.

And if all else fails? There’s always Airbnb. (Just kidding… mostly.)