Woodstock Hostel

The 80-bed Woodstock Hostel offers a cheap night's sleep and a young, fun scene. Conveniently located two blocks south of Montmartre and Pigalle, the hostel has worn its playground vibe and shabby-chic look on its sleeve since 1995, long before any other hostels in Paris followed suit with similar funky décor.

Quick read

Pros: Funky ‘60s vibe. Complimentary breakfast. Clean rooms and facilities.
Cons: Very basic amenities. Some showers are outdoors.

The hostel

A twisting, wooden staircase with recently painted walls leads to dorm-style rooms equipped with basic furnishings, sinks and mirrors. There are no amenities in these simple rooms. All rooms (including doubles) share showers and toilets. Some of these showers are located in the outdoor courtyard (which could be an issue in cold weather). Rooms, toilets and showers are spic-and-span and tidied twice a day.

An homage to Woodstock, Flower Power, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles, the Woodstock’s lobby is equal parts bar, Internet café and shrine to the “Groovitational” pull of the '60s. Sometimes a nod to peace, love and understanding is infectious. (We found ourselves humming The Fifth Dimension’s "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in" while waiting for Jesus, the hostel’s mascot kitty, to return.) The hostel’s psychedelic color scheme in green, purple and orange lent a helping hand, too.

Breakfast is included in the room rate. The hostel also offers free Wi-Fi and a guest kitchen.

Note: The Woodstock accepts cash only and does not have an elevator.