The Pink Palace Hostel in Corfu Greece
A few weeks left during your semester abroad? Gearing up for a summer holiday? Either way, for young people and students looking for a great time in Europe, here are 10 certified party hostels with a reputatation for a good time. Frommer's own intern personally toiled through Europe, burdened with the onerous task of researching her favorites. Her choices may vary from yours, but they offer all the amenities you could need, plus a more-than-social environment and proven track record that they know how to party. Pace yourself!
Interlaken is a small town packed with adrenaline in the Alps of Switzerland. The Alps have an attitude that adrenaline junkies dream of: canyon jumping, skydiving, paragliding, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and ice climbing are standard daily activities. Balmers, however, is the only big-time party hostel in a town where quiet laws keep the evenings quaint. The 60-year-old hostel has the only underground club in Interlaken, plus free breakfast, a friendly staff, and a rustic common room.
This places is made by its surroundings. The Kabul is located in Plaza Real, one of the most famous plazas in Barcelona, packed with restaurants, people and a beautiful fountain for watching them. The beach and shopping district are only a five-minute walk away, making it easy to swing back to the bars right after getting your tan on.
The Wombat’s City Hostel starts it off strong—as check in, you're handed a "courtesy" shot of alcohol. The Wombat was built specifically with travelers in mind. It has locations in Vienna, Munich, and Budapest, too.
The Loft Hostel, opened in late 2012, has an eager and friendly staff ready to help you have an amazing stay in Paris. The chic design of the hostel makes for a comfortable stay along with a private bathroom and toilet in each room, open kitchen and bar for all, flat screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. The neighborhood, though, is where the party's at: Belleville is a very exciting bright part of town, with cute bars, restaurants, and off-the-beaten-track clubs nearby.
“Cheap, clean rooms, dirty fun” is its motto, so be warned. Staff at the Oasis, in a restored 100-year-old mansion in the heart of the city, pride themselves on making sure their guests have a great time. There is a patio garden, communal kitchen bar, free walking tours of Fado, local foods, and of course, of Lisbon's pubs.
The Flying Pig is next to the Red Light District and Amsterdam Central Station. It is not easy being the best party hostel in a city known for partying, but the Flying Pig makes it happen. After the bars and coffee shops close, this is the place to relax and hang out at the bar or in the "smoking" area. You won't neglect your culture, either: the Anne Frank house, the Royal Palace, and Dam Square are just around the corner along with the oldest part of Amsterdam, the Jordaan.
In the middle of a quiet beach town, the Villa is the place to party. The hostel may be located 50 meters from the center of town, but it's not necessary to head out for a good time: There's a huge bar and café right on the premises. The beach hostel also has happy hours, activities, drinking parties, free walking tours—and a 24 hour gym (not common in hostels) if you are feeling guilty from drinking too many calories the night before.
The legendary Pink Palace is located directly on one of Corfu’s most breathtaking beach resorts. The hostel has over 360 beds so there are plenty of people to meet at the routine happy hours, toga parties (in pink togas of course), and Greek dancing parties. You can take out a 4-wheeler, go on a booze cruise, enjoy the day on a private beach, kayak, cliff-dive, play volleyball—and whatever else the 24-hour bar (that's right) inspires you to do. The hostel even operates its own nightclub.
The Generator is often voted one of London’s best hostels by people who care about partying. There are now eight Generators around Europe but London is where it all began. It has more than 800 beds, making it one of the best places to meet people from all over the globe. Conveniently, you don't even have to leave; downstairs there is a bar that's popular on the backpackers' circuit.