Somnio Hostels

The Somnio Hostels is a sort of hostel/hostal hybrid. Its private singles and doubles are pricey for a hostel (or even a hostal), but for young travelers willing to crash in a dorm, the place is a good deal. Either way, it’s clean and reliable, if a tad basic. Some doubles have a private bathroom and the rest of the rooms share facilities. Wi-Fi is free and the hostel has an elevator.

The basics

• Reliable services. The Barcelona Somnio is the flagship of a small hostel chain founded by two sisters who wanted to create a new breed of hostels with a high standard of excellence. Accommodations are clean, comfortable and safe.

• Friendly service. Part of the Somnio mission is friendly, attentive service, and guests confirm that the vibe here is cozy and the staff super welcoming.

• A value for dorms. We’ll be honest: We’ve seen other rooms in Barcelona that are cheaper, have more amenities, or both. The dorms, however, are a solid value.

• Great, central location. The hostel is situated on the edge of Eixample, within a few blocks from Plaça Catalunya, the heart of the city.

• Shared bathrooms. The priciest doubles have private facilities, but most bathrooms are shared (and a few guests complain that there are too few bathrooms to service the amount of guests).

• Breakfast is not offered but there are a number of cafés in the area.

• Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

Location

Location is one of the hostel’s best attributes. It’s just steps from Plaça Catalunya, the University and Passeig de Gracia, home to some of Gaudí’s most important works. Las Ramblas and the CCCB (contemporary art museum) are also within easy walking distance.

• Metro: Plaça Catalunya, just a few blocks from the hostel, is a transportation mecca, where you can catch the Red/L1 line and many a bus. Even closer (a block away) is the Passeig de Gracia stop, with access to the Purple/L2 and Yellow/L4 lines.