A1 Hostel Nürnberg Messe (or the A1 Wohnheime, as the sign on the outside says) is a decent hostel for people whose primary concern is price and who need very few amenities or luxuries.
The Location
A1 is located outside city center, but within five minutes' walk of the U1 Messe subway station with a direct route to the train station and the old town. However, it is quite difficult to find because it is located in an inconspicuous building among many apartment/dorm buildings that all look exactly the same, and there are no signs or maps or directions anywhere. The area is not very well lit in the evening. Be sure to look up and print out a map before you go to help find the hostel.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The double room was quite small, with room for two beds along one wall and about five feet of space between the bed and the other wall. The beds are quite comfortable and the sheets seem new. There is a small table with two chairs in the room, and a sink with a mirror. Bathrooms are located down the hall, and those are also somewhat cramped. There are three WC stalls and five showers for each floor. Outside the hostel is very quiet, but inside the hostel everything echoes, so when people are talking in common rooms all the way down the hall, their voices can be heard clearly in all the rooms.
Common Spaces
Down the hall is a spacious kitchen area with plenty of stoves and a common room with a large flat screen TV. There is also a mini refrigerator for each room. During our stay, there were hardly any people in the hostel, which was strange considering it was a Friday night during the Christmas markets.
Everything is very tidy and clean. There seems to be only one man who works at this hostel, so since he is often cleaning, there is not always someone at the front desk. He also doesn't seem to speak any English at all. However, he is very friendly and helpful, and has instructions in English in case you don't speak German.
Summary
For a cheap place to stay, the A1 Wohnheime is not bad. It does not have much character, it can be somewhat loud, and the rooms are simple but small. However, it is great if all you are looking for is a warm place to sleep and a home base from which you can go out and enjoy Nurnberg. And you sure can't beat the price!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2008
Location/Contact
