Ljubljana Hostel Guide    

Looking for a place to stay that won’t break your budget?

by floor tuinstra, march 2007

My quest for exploring budget accommodations in Ljubljana took me on a short stroll through the city centre with a friend. Less then two years ago there weren't that many hostels in the city, apart from Celica (which is also relatively new) and a few student dorms. Nowadays, it seems there are hostels, dorms and apartments popping up everywhere, and as the Ljubljana Tourist Information centre puts it, "The city welcomes you with more than just a shower and a pillow to lay your head on".

Most hostels in Ljubljana are within a 10 minute walking distance from the city’s main square, Prešerenov trg. The new boom of hostels and student dorms provide convenient locations, interesting architecture, friendly staff, and nice ambiance. They options also vary from privacy for one to having a great chance to meet many new people.

Although most hostels are fairly new on the market, their prices have quickly caught up with those of Western Europe. The prices of the hostels described below start from €13 and go up to €25, with some exceptions for double private rooms. Comparatively, in London and Berlin you can find hostels for €7/8 per night. To find accommodations in Ljubljana below €13, you will need to visit in the summer and book a bed at one of the student dorms.

City centre

Alibi Hostel, Cankarjevo nabrežje 27, 031 363 666, www.alibi.si

Our first visit takes us to the Alibi Hostel, which is located in the city centre along the Ljubljanica river. As small as it might appear from the outside, you enter a big house with four floors and more than 100 beds. Friendly staff welcome you at the 24h reception. The interior is decorated with unique graffiti and the atmosphere is very calm and pleasant. Alibi provides accommodation for single travelers, small groups, big groups and even families. Together with an adventure company they also provide excursions for active visitors.

Prices vary according to the season. A bed in the dormitory ranges from €17 up to €25. A double room costs between €20 and €35, while a private room for four ranges from €17 up to €30.

In the summer Alibi also opens it doors in Bežigrad (a 20 minute walk from the city centre), where a dormitory bed costs €17 and a double room costs €23.

Hostel Simbol Castle, Gerbičeva ulica 46, 041 720 825, www.simbol.si

Next is the Simbol Castle, a quaint hostel with interesting architecture and 19 beds. It is notably very clean and hygienic. Each dorm has a kitchen, and a washing machine and tumble dryer are also available at a very reasonable price. This hostel has a perfect location in the city centre along the Ljubljanica, and the reception is open 24 hours. However, don’t get confused with the name of the hostel. ‘Castle’ might imply somewhere big but Simbol is a very nice, cosy little hostel. Prices for a dormitory room for 6 are €15 per night, a room for 4 costs €17, and a double room costs €21.

Hostel Fluxus, Tomšičeva ulica 4, 01 251 57 60, www.fluxus-hostel.com

Fluxus, a small hostel with 16 beds has a great ambience. Entering Fluxus feels like coming into a warm ‘casa’. There is one living room with a kitchen and television as well as free internet. It has two dormitory rooms that connect to each other which makes it easier to meet other people. The staff are very friendly and the hostel breathes a homely atmosphere. It fills up fast so book in advance.

A dormitory room costs €21 per person, while a double room comes to a total of €63 for two persons.

Most Hostel, Petkovškovo nabrežje 41, 041 63 28 00

The name of this hostel means "bridge", which certainly fits with its location close by the Dragon Bridge crossing the Ljubljanica. The Most hostel is known for its warm and friendly staff, and you might get the feeling of being in a Slovene home rather than a hostel. It has a well equipped, clean kitchen and a luxurious shower (Jacuzzi).

A bed on the dormitory for 8 costs €21, a room for 4 costs €22, a room for 3 costs €25, and a private room costs €33.

Unique

Hostel Celica, Metelkova ulica 8, 01 230 97 00, www.hostelcelica.com

‘The hippest hostel in the world’, according to the Lonely Planet Guide. The Celica hostel is actually an artistically renovated former prison turned into a hostel, and the cells are and were very real. You can experience sleeping in a former cell with bars on the door and on the window. It is situated near the train station and close to Metelkova, the freewheeling boho quarter of Ljubljana. They provide a good breakfast and have an art gallery, a restaurant and meeting rooms. The hostel also organises excursions and guided tours throughout Slovenia.

Shared rooms for 6 to 12 people vary from €16 up to €19, depending on the season. Rooms for 3 to 5 people vary from €18 up to €24. A double room costs either €23 or €24.

Vila Veselova, Veselova ulica 14, 059 926 721, www.v-v.si

Vila Veselova aims to be, as the name literally implies, a "happy villa" that welcomes all comers. The hostel, which will have its official opening on the 26 April 2007, has an inviting living room and garden, as well as parking facilities, laundry, and other amenities. Each room has air conditioning and a kitchen with basic breakfast needs. If you are traveling with a bigger group, one of the dormitory rooms for 8 might be a good option.

The top floor with kitchen for four persons cost €25 each. A room for 6 to 8 costs €21, while a double room costs €31 each. A welcome drink awaits new visitors.

Like a hotel

Hostel Park, Tabor 9, 01 300 2500, www.hotelpark.si

Hostel Park is situated in the same bland apartment block as the Hotel Park, which is no reason for excitement, but it does offer a few more comforts than a typical hostel, such as breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant. The hotel is also known for its friendly and helpful staff, and the hostel/hotel cooperates with other companies that offer excursions and activities for those interested to explore more of the country. They have parking available for guests, and in April will also start offering bike rentals.

There are 43 rooms which are all for 2 or 4 persons. Rooms for two cost €20 per person and rooms for 4 cost €17 per person.

Bit Center, Litijska cesta 57, 01 548 00 55

The comfortable Ljubljana Youth Hostel, located in the Bit Center Hotel, is a hostel designed for more active travelers. They offer guests a 50% discount on all of the Center's sport facilities, which consist of badminton, squash, fitness, a golf driving range, aerobics, sauna, and a solarium.

The hostel/hotel is located 2km from the city center, with plenty of parking. A self-service breakfast is available upon request.

Two and three-bedded rooms and dormitory rooms for 10 start at €13 per person.

Summer hostels

From June through August Ljubljana's budget travelers can also spend the night in one of the following four student dorms, locally called dijaški dom: Bežigrad, Ivana Cankarja, Poljane, and Tabor. They are all quite suitable for larger groups, have facilities for sports and other recreational activities, and offer free use of the internet. Prices for a dormitory room typically cost around €9, while a double room costs around €13/15.

More information is available about the above hostels at the City's Tourist Information Center located at the Triple Bridge. You can also find further information about Ljubljana's hotel accommodations on the Ljubljana Life Hotel page.