Until recently there was a problem finding cheap accommodation in Zagreb, especially good hostels where young people on budget can stay. Luckily this has changed and now there is a boom of pretty little cosy hostels that offer more than just a clean bed.
Zagreb daily newspaper Večernji List had a recently an interesting article about Zagreb hostels, so here are the most interesting parts.
Big or small, with lots or just a few bedrooms, no matter how many bathrooms they have, located in the city or in suburbs, majority of Zagreb hostels have what is the most important: they are cosy, clean, have a positive and cheerful atmosphere, imaginative interior design and a young and friendly stuff. We have checked: stuff is ready to help in every moment and they are very good in English.
Fulir hostel in ZagrebOne of hostels that has all these qualities is “
Fulir” (
http://www.fulir-hostel.com/), (
map, contact) located centrally in the passage of Radićeva street. A view to their homely and charming Zagreb backyard, fun sign with hostel’s name, spiral stairs leading to the reception, all awake good feelings. Behind the colorful reception sits a nice girl and there is a graffiti decorated living room with TV, computer, sofas, chairs, scattered pillows and book shelves.
On one of sofas lies half-conscious young guy from Britain who, still at 5 PM, is recovering from the night before. Next to him, in a chair, sits 25 yo American Jory Gravelyn, a law student from New York University, reading carefully Eastern European Guide.
“I am attracted to history of Balkans and south-east Europe. Interesting, but people are so friendly. I ask for a direction and they almost always take me personally to my destination” – she says cheerfully.
The living room is a favorite room to meet people from all over the world.
“Majority of young people travels alone and hostel is a perfect place to meet somebody along the way. Many make friends fast and they go out together to explore the city” – says a shy receptionist, offering a free Ožujsko beer to the Japanese guests asking about local beers.
Fulir was opened just two years ago. It has only tree bedrooms and one bathroom, but the last year British hostel agency Worldhostels included it among 10 the most pleasant hostels in the world.
Carpe Diem hostel in ZagrebWhen it comes to atmosphere,
Carpe Diem hostel (
http://www.hostel.com.hr/) (
map, contact) (about 10 minutes by tram from the centre) is right there with Fulir. This hostel is situated in a family house in Šalata part of the city and has one great advantage: peaceful neighborhood, no noise and in the back there is a large backyard and a terrace.
“I feel better than home! A wife and kids are bugging me there, and here I am enjoying myself with guys! I would rather stay here for few more days” – cheerfully says a Macedonian who spent 5 days in Carpe Diem. “The other night I played cards with an American and Albanian guy and a Serb girl. I felt like in the middle of some joke. Where else you can experience that?” – he says.
Carpe Diem has 3 bedrooms and total of 16 beds and a kitchen. In the basement there is a living room with TV and furniture that is begging to be lied on.
“During a winter, guests like to gather here. Some of them don’t even go out a whole day but rather stay here and fool around with us” – tells us a 28 yo Domagoj, one of the owners.
Newly renovated Omladinski Hostel (
http://www.hfhs.hr/) in Petrinjska street (
map, contact) (near the main railway station and the centre) is the only hostel in Zagreb that is a member of International Youth Hostel Federation, proudly says Ivica Nikolac, the manager. It has 55 rooms with totally 210 beds and it has over 30.000 guests during a year.
We met there two guys from Holland, a 22 yo media communication student Jelletie Roats and a 25 yo Lennart Bruger. “I though Zagreb was smaller and much poorer. But everybody looks so rich here. People are friendly, open and talkative” – he shares with us his first impressions. Two friends are staying in Zagreb for 2 days and then plan to visit some small and peaceful place on the coast.
It seems that young westerners are especially attracted to the interesting history of south-east Europe and less commercialism than in western countries.
“Everybody is traveling to Greece, Spain or Italy. Croatia is exotic because of a mixture of Mediterranean and Slavic culture” – young American Andrew Brands from Colorado explains us in small hostel
Nocturno (
http://www.nokturno.hr/) in Skalinska street in the very centre of the city. He especially likes the way that Croats dress. “We Americans are always a little bit behind of you Europeans when it comes to fashion. People here dress with style” – says his friend Joey Murray.
Ravnice hostel in ZagrebIt takes only one look at hostel
Ravnice (
http://www.ravnice-youth-hostel.hr/) (
map, contact) (about 30 minutes by tram from the centre) to see that it was designed by a professional. Owner and manager of this 8 years old hostel is an architect Vera Pesjak. For guests she has designed a big family house.
Beside a huge backyard with table and chairs there is also a winter terrace, all in glass, with tables and brown comfortable wicker chairs. The idea to open a hostel she got from reading Lonely Planet tourist guide where she found an information that Zagreb lacks of hostels. Then she decided to transform a house she just bought into a hostel.
Buzz Backpackers hostel in ZagrebHostel
Buzz Backpackers (
http://www.buzzbackpackers.com/) (
map, contact) in Babukićeva Street near Maksimirska street (about 15 minutes by tram from the centre) was opened this year by an American, a Japanese and a Croat. Like Carpe Diem this one is also part of a family house. At the reception desk you can buy football shirts of Croatian team and condoms costing only 3 Kuna!
Cheerful 22 yo Brit Wesley Evans was sitting in the living room accompanied by a friend Anthony Midgley. He decided to visit Zagreb because he wanted to escape far from home and a flight ticket to Croatia was cheap.
Lika hostel in ZagrebTwo years ago hostel
Lika (
http://www.hostel-lika.com/) (
map, contact) in Pašmanska street near the main bus station was opened. Owners, young married couple Marko and Ilona, often prepares barbecue for their guests.
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Original article
here.
Photo gallery
here.
More info on these and other Zagreb hostels, bookings, reviews, addresses, contact information etc, can be found here:
http://www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr/?id=51&l=e&nav=nav4http://www.hostels.net/findabed.php/Croatia-Zagreb-hostelshttp://www.hostels.com/en/hr.za.htmlhttp://www.hostelz.com/hostels/Croatia/Zagreb/Zagrebhttp://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/croatia/zagreb/… and many other web sites (use
Google)
Tvrdja (“Citadel”) is an eighteenth-century complex of cobbled streets, grandiose buildings and open squares, surrounded by parks and Drava river, and it represents the best-preserved ensemble of Baroque buildings anywhere in Croatia. Originally planned and used as a military settlement, Tvrdja is today Osijek’s education centre accompanied by some of Osijek’s the most popular bars, pubs and clubs.
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