Carpe Noctem, Budapest, Hungary Youth Hostels, Szobi utca 5, 3/8a

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The most fun and sociable hostel in Budapest for travellers who want to meet people, have a good time and 'seize the night' as recommended by Let's Go 2009

Carpe Noctem will change the way you thought about travelling. You expect a hostel but you arrive at a mate’s place. You expect a reception desk and you get greeted with a cup of coffee. You arrive alone but you go out with 22 friends. You book in for two nights and you stay two weeks. And that's just the beginning...

If you’re a sociable or a solo traveller and want to meet other people in a welcoming, friendly environment, please read on! Hostelworld guests rated us the most fun hostel the world in 2009!

Do you want to feel like you are staying at a mate's house, chilling on bean bags and drinking free tea and coffee until beer o'clock? Do you want to stay in a place that doesn't believe in hidden charges and wants to give you as much for free as possible? We’ve travelled widely and know what you want to feel comfortable.

There’s free padlock hire, free lockers, free use of our electronic staff safe, free Internet and Wi-Fi, free use of our Skype headsets, free towel hire and free tea and coffee – not just when you arrive, but all the time! And it’s not this European yellow label tea, either; we get the good shit imported from the UK. You’re totally welcome to borrow our guidebooks for free and we have a book exchange as well.

Our top-floor apartment is newly renovated and we have added our personal touches. Our handmade bean bags mean you can chill wherever you want around the house. There’s also a large corner sofa to watch films on, tables to eat on or play drinking games (depending on your mood), plus murals of the sights of the city across most walls so you can decide what to see that day (if our 30-minute run-through of everything hasn't been enough info for you!).

Do you want to feel like you are staying in a social place not just a bed in a room? We’ve got free bed linen (who charges for that anyway?!), plus orthopaedic mattresses and air conditioning.

We have a fully equipped kitchen for you to use, apart from the times when we are cooking up roast dinners, gypsy gulyas (goulash), breakfast of champions or whatever else we think the hostel needs to prepare for a good night out or to deal with a hangover!

There’s also 24-hour check-in, no curfew and very relaxed check-out times – you can check out any time you like but you can never leave! Laundry service is available and we use an electronic entry system with a keypad and cards.

Do you want to save money by taking staff recommendations for cheap places, and using the specially negotiated food and drink deals for you? Do you want to be given all the help, advice and assistance for your entire stay in Budapest and beyond if needs be? Do you want to be taken out by staff to cool underground places unseen on the common traveller's route? Do you want to have live-in native English/Australian English-speaking staff who have all moved to Budapest because they came and fell in love with it and are passionate to show you why? You’ve come to the right place!

Do you want to meet other similarly like-minded people in a lively and social atmosphere? Do you want to go out every night on pub crawls, karaoke nights, cheap drink nights, live music nights? Do you want to be given a warm welcome and a detailed introduction of the city with all the hot spots for pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs and sightseeing? Do you want to be introduced to other guests so you can instantly make friends for your travels...if not life? Carpe Noctem ('seize the night', for those who rightly gave up Latin just after it died) is the perfect hangout and base for single travellers and young, sociable people who want to be part of an interactive and lively hostel experience as well as maximising the city in the day time and seizing the night when the sightseeing has ended.

We have organised events every night so get involved!

We’re located within walking distance of the House of Terror, Oktogon, Szechenyi thermal baths, the city park, Andrassy Avenue, St Istvan's Basilica, Freedom Square, the Danube and parliament - all within 10-15 minutes.

For lazy travellers, public transport is in our immediate location; the blue metro (for direct metros from Nepliget coach station) and yellow metro are only a few streets away. The trolley bus and tram are one street away and the night bus route is at the bottom of the road. We even have a direct train from the airport just two streets away!

We’re just off the main road which has pubs, cafés, bars, restaurants, 24-hour shops and clubs on it so there is no need to stray far for whatever you need. Despire this, we’re located on a quiet cobbled side street so you don't have to listen to the noise from traffic.

We’re set in a 19th-century heritage-listed building. We have a very cosy and intimate set-up which means it is impossible to not meet people and make instant friends.

Were located on the top floor, and due to the status of the building we have no lift...so if you are lazy or a smoker, you may be better off going to a ground floor hostel or one with a lift! We are ideally suited to single travellers, or groups of two or three who wish to meet people so if you just want an isolated stay with just a bed in a room, groups who don't wish to mingle or couples who want alone time only, we are probably not for you.

Please note that we do not accept guests over the age of 40 or groups of more than four people.

On a final note, we are from commonwealth lands and often miss certain things from home...if you want to bring us something from home to put a smile on our faces or potentially knock a euro or two off your stay, please email us after booking!

Directions

Address: 1067 Budapest (6th district) Szobi utca 5, 3/8a

From Nyugati train station:
Come out of the station and turn left along Terez Korut. You pass straight over Podmaniczky utca and then when you get to the next corner, take a left onto Szobi utca. We are on Szobi (not Szondi) utca number 5 (the building opposite 'Parazs Presszo' with the orange fire sign) on the top floor (up 100 steps so tell us if you want a hand with your bags!), Please ring doorbell number 13. Please note, as we are in a heritage-protected building, there is no sign on the door.

From the airport:
Get tickets from information and get the 200e bus headed for Kobanya Kispest. From here you can get the blue metro line to Nyugati Palyaudvar. Take the exit at the metro marked Szent Istvan (not Vaci Ut) and see above.

From Keleti station
Exit the station and turn right past the construction on your left hand side onto bethlen gabor utca. Take the first left and you will see a trolley bus stop. Get on trolleybus number 73 and get off at terez korut/ nyugati station. there is a side road to your right, walk down there and the hostel will be in front of you. Please note that most international trains come in to this station, so check before departing! then see above

From Nepliget bus station
Get the blue metro line to Nyugati and see above

If you are coming in late at night, please contact us to check the best way of getting to us. You can get a fixed-price taxi from the airport from around 5500 HUFs or there are night services from all stations to get to us. Should you wish to call a cheaper taxi, please call 003612000000 (taxi 2000) for around 4000 hufs and they should be there within 10 minutes or so). Do not pick up taxis from the street!

Facilities

Internet Access, Laundry, Linen Included, Towels, Security Lockers, Luggage Storage, 24 hour reception, Travel Desk/Travel Info, Key Card Access, Common Room, 24 Hour Check In, Air Conditioning