3 Best Hostels in Catania, Italy

Best Hostels in Catania

Looking for the best hostels in Catania? we’ve got you covered.

The beautiful city of Catania is well known for displaying a rich cultural legacy. Roman sculptures and baroque architecture with window decorations and marble flooring are featured prominently in many monuments surrounding the historic district.

This port town, located on the island’s east side, is also known for being an excellent starting point to explore Sicily.

You’ll also obviously need a place to rest in (that will also hopefully enhance your visit to this town), which is why we’ve written this guide on the best hostels in Catania.

Good To Know: We also have a detailed guide to the best hostels in Sicily.

Our favorite hostels in Catania are:

  1. The Yard Hostel - best for couples
  2. Ostello degli Elefanti - best for solo travelers
  3. Casa Verdi - House of Travelers - best for female solo travelers

Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.

If you’re planning on backpacking throughout Italy, we also have other guides that will come in handy, like our best hostels in Italy guide and the one on the best hostels in Palermo.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…

  • are tired of crappy hostels!
  • want a social Hostel to actually meet people
  • are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Catania

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Catania cost $19- $29 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $62 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com.

Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Transport in Catania: The public transportation system of Catania consists of buses and a one-line metro system. The metro may take you from Piazza Stesicoro to the main railway station and the Museo Storico, although most of it extends well beyond the city’s heart.

Although generally safe and comfortable, public transportation requires you to pay close attention to your belongings, especially on packed buses. You might get a cab if you feel like buses aren’t a convenient way to get you from one point to another.

Additionally, if you want to go by car, be prepared for chaotic traffic because few drivers in Catania adhere to traffic laws and tend to drive quite aggressively.

Best time to visit Catania: Due to the hot season and heat, July and August are less popular travel months. Visiting Catania is best done in the late spring or early fall. Traveling there between the middle of March and June or the middle of September and November, you’ll escape the city’s busiest times while enjoying pleasant weather.

You may also discover cheaper hostels and tours available during these shoulder seasons.  Alternately, winter is unquestionably the least expensive and busy time to travel, but it has disadvantages. Be prepared for chilly temperatures and shorter daytime hours during that time!

🎁 New to Hostels? Read my guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. I especially recommend reading:

The 3 Best Hostels in Catania are …

Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Catania.

  1. The Yard Hostel – best for couples
  2. Ostello degli Elefanti – best for solo travelers
  3. Casa Verdi - House of Travelers – best for female solo travelers

These are our favorite hostels in Catania. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler: Ostello degli Elefanti
🙎‍♀️ Female Solo Traveler: Casa Verdi - House of Travelers
👫 For Socializing:Ostello degli Elefanti
👩‍❤️‍👨 Couple Hostel: The Yard Hostel
🧘 Cozy Hostel: Casa Verdi - House of Travelers
🌆For Best Views:Ostello degli Elefanti

1. The Yard Hostel

First on our list of best hostels in Catania is the lovely The Yard Hostel in Catania, providing guests with free Wi-Fi, a bar, a common area, and a beautiful garden! You will find spacious dormitories inside the hostel with 4, 6, and 8 beds and a double or single room.

This hostel also offers family rooms as well as a patio for its guests. A communal kitchen, a tour desk, and baggage storage are also available.

The neighborhood is known for cycling, so if you plan on renting a bicycle, the property will provide free parking. And if you want to indulge in entertainment, you can play darts or use the PlayStation.

The Yard Hostel is close to popular attractions, including Le Ciminiere, Villa Bellini, and the Catania Amphitheatre.

The best choice in Catania for

  • Couples
Check Prices for The Yard Hostel

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

The Yard Hostel Bar The Yard Hostel Lounge The Yard Hostel

2. Ostello degli Elefanti

Next on our list is the most lovely and conveniently located hostel in the city! Ostello degli Elefanti is situated close to Catania’s best-known squares.

It features private rooms and dorms with free Wi-Fi access and unique fresco decorations! Also, there is a sun patio where visitors may unwind.

The rooms are large, filled with a lot of sunlight, and furnished with desks, tables, chairs, and cupboards.
Although this is a non-smoking property, they have a designated area for smokers.

Find Prices for Ostello degli Elefanti here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Ostello degli Elefanti Balcony

The roof, which also houses one of Catania’s most popular cocktail bars, offers spectacular panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, the city, and Etna, Europe’s biggest and most active volcano. The baroque architecture and famous paintings will surely leave you speechless.

This unique hostel also provides walking tours, movie nights, art galleries, table tennis, and a games room. The staff speaks German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a common language.

The closest attractions within a very short walking distance are Piazza Università, Catania Piazza Duomo, Villa Pacini, and Piazza Dante.

A great choice for

  • Solo Travelers
Find Prices for Ostello degli Elefanti here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Ostello degli Elefanti Dorms Ostello degli Elefanti

3. Casa Verdi - House of Travelers

Third on our best hostels in Catania is the perfectly located Casa Verdi - House of Travelers!

At Casa Verdi – House of Travelers, each of the seven rooms has a balcony and a kitchenette. A refrigerator, a microwave, kitchenware, a toaster, a stovetop, an oven, and a washing machine are also provided for your convenience.

In addition, there are free toiletries in the communal bathrooms. All rooms are furnished with a desk, a coffee maker, a fridge, an oven, a bathroom, and complimentary amenities.

You will find a hairdryer, bed linens, and a shared bathroom in each guest room. For entertainment, the hostel provides live music, cooking classes, walking tours, stand-up comedy, and art gallery tours!

The property is close to several well-known attractions. A short stroll will take you to ancient marketplaces, archaeological sites, and museums.

This is one of the best hostels in Catania for

  • Female solo travelers
Find all Prices for Casa Verdi - House of Travelers here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Casa Verdi - House of Travelers Balcony Casa Verdi - House of Travelers Kitchen Casa Verdi - House of Travelers Lounge

Best Hostels in Catania for Solo Travelers?

We think that the best hostel in Catania is Ostello degli Elefanti. It has an awesome location that will enable you to easily explore what the best of Catania has to offer.

The hostel also hosts a lot of events on a weekly basis that are a perfect way to mingle with fellow travelers, socialize and forge new friendships.

Find Prices for Ostello degli Elefanti here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Ostello degli Elefanti Balcony

More Hostels worth a mention

At the moment, we think you are all set with the hostels we just shared with you. We always try to keep our guides super fresh and up to date. We might add more hostels worth a mention here in the future if we feel that it could enrich your travel and hostel experience.

What about the cheapest hostels in Catania?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Catania.

  1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Catania
  2. add your dates
  3. Order the listings by price

Simple as that.

Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.

Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.

Any Discounts?

From time to time, I receive special promo codes for booking platforms, hotels, or hostels. I will be sharing these here once received. Bookmark this page to get an update.

How to book?

The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

I included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

I recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Catania best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

Hostel Map Catania Nomadic AnnaMy Best Hostels in Catania for Female Traveler on a Map + Sights

We’re listing all the three best Catania hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.

Here are some of our favorite things to do in Catania as well:

If you’re feeling adventurous, consider making the journey to Etna’s Peak’s calderas. The ascent of the volcano circles through deserted towns, reveals an unreal landscape and offers views of the Mediterranean Sea. As it is 2000 meters high, you have the possibility to trek on your own, but if you want to go to the top craters, you’ll need to go with a licensed guide.

Conversely, if hiking isn’t your thing, you can take a vehicle to the peak. The ideal times to visit Mount Etna are in the late spring, summer, or early fall when snowfall is less likely.

Check out Piazza del Duomo: numerous stunning structures, each a superb example of Sicilian Baroque architecture, can be seen around the plaza. Additionally, you’ll notice two palaces at either end of the square: the Palazzo dei Chierici and the Palazzo degli Elefanti, which serve as the location of the Catania Town Hall at the moment. The outstanding municipal icon, known as the Elephant Fountain, stands in the center of the piazza.

The Catania Cathedral of St. Agatha, also known as Duomo di Catania, is another notable structure on Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral, which was repeatedly damaged and rebuilt in the 11th century, first appeared in its current form in 1711, built in the Baroque style that dominates the plaza.

Castello Ursino is one of the stunning castles still standing in Sicily today, dating back to the time of the conquest. It was built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II to protect the east coast of the Kingdom of Sicily. The location of the castle is significant for a reason.

When Etna erupted in 1669, the lava expanded and flowed around it, effectively moving the shoreline previously situated by the sea to the east.

FAQs

Here we share with you the most asked question:

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Catania and the best Catania hostels that are available.

Here are some of our other guides:

Find all our guides to the best hostels in Europe here.

You can find all our new and updated articles for Best Hostels here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list, and more.