The Hostelz.com Review
Navio Gil Eannes is a thoroughly different hostel experience! The ship was built in Viana do Castelo in 1955 as a hospital ship for Portuguese fishermen in Iceland and Newfoundland, but it ended its duty in 1973 and was sold for scrap. The Viannese, proud of its history, rescued it and turned it into a museum open all day and a hostel open at night.
We had the opportunity to stay part of the time in a very spacious and luxurious individual cabin and part of the time in a rather cramped dorm, so we got the full experience, and it was an adventure. The floor shifts slightly with the rise and fall of waves coming upriver from the ocean, and there's a foot-high barrier at the edge of each compartment, so at night it's a little like being rocked in a cradle and squawked at by seagulls, though a person with a little too much to drink might get a little queasy and could break his neck trying to get to the toilet (not that we would know anything about that). The linens, common room, and cabins are clean, though everything smells a tad moldy. The view of the river through the portholes is stunning. There's no kitchen or fridge, and there's no eating allowed in the rooms, but there's a common room with tables for on-board picnics with a TV and some couches.
The only drawback is the long lock-out throughout the middle of the day. The town shuts down for mid-day siesta, and the sleepy hosteller has little choice but to doze in a cafe all afternoon or sleep on the nearby ocean beach (accessible by ferry). Of course there's plenty to see in Viana, a gorgeous old city full of interesting buildings, huge pots of petunias, and shops selling tourist junk, shell-art, and beach towels. There's also a three-story mall with a McDonald's and all the usual mall shops, and there's the hilltop St. Luzia with its spectacular view dubbed "the most gorgeous view in the world" by the National Geographic, according to the tourist literature. (During our stay, the tram up the mountain was out of service, and we walked the five kilometers straight up to the church, a definite mistake. Take a cab.)
The ship attracts every kind of traveller: young, old, coupled, single, and en famille. This is definitely a hostel experience to write home about!
We had the opportunity to stay part of the time in a very spacious and luxurious individual cabin and part of the time in a rather cramped dorm, so we got the full experience, and it was an adventure. The floor shifts slightly with the rise and fall of waves coming upriver from the ocean, and there's a foot-high barrier at the edge of each compartment, so at night it's a little like being rocked in a cradle and squawked at by seagulls, though a person with a little too much to drink might get a little queasy and could break his neck trying to get to the toilet (not that we would know anything about that). The linens, common room, and cabins are clean, though everything smells a tad moldy. The view of the river through the portholes is stunning. There's no kitchen or fridge, and there's no eating allowed in the rooms, but there's a common room with tables for on-board picnics with a TV and some couches.
The only drawback is the long lock-out throughout the middle of the day. The town shuts down for mid-day siesta, and the sleepy hosteller has little choice but to doze in a cafe all afternoon or sleep on the nearby ocean beach (accessible by ferry). Of course there's plenty to see in Viana, a gorgeous old city full of interesting buildings, huge pots of petunias, and shops selling tourist junk, shell-art, and beach towels. There's also a three-story mall with a McDonald's and all the usual mall shops, and there's the hilltop St. Luzia with its spectacular view dubbed "the most gorgeous view in the world" by the National Geographic, according to the tourist literature. (During our stay, the tram up the mountain was out of service, and we walked the five kilometers straight up to the church, a definite mistake. Take a cab.)
The ship attracts every kind of traveller: young, old, coupled, single, and en famille. This is definitely a hostel experience to write home about!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2006
Their Description
A floating Youth Hostel? That's right. The Gil Eannes ship anchored at the old sea dock in Viana do Castelo has recently been turned into a magnificent Youth Hostel. This ship was one of the city's landmarks for many years, when it was used as a hospital for cod-fishermen. It now has 55 beds and a common room. Viana do Castelo is not just about the river, or the sea. There are plenty of monuments to see, lots of shops, gardens and of course good local wine (vinho verde) and splendid food. Try the Gil Eannes cod dish and the mouth-watering romaria (procession) sweets.
HI - Viana do Castelo - Navio Gil Eannes Hostel Details
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HI - Viana do Castelo - Navio Gil Eannes Hostel Reviews on Other Websites
The location is very good and the character of the hostel is amazing. Price was low and staff were very helpful.
— Customer review (2011-05-05)
Hostelbookers
in the summer, it would probably be fun to be on the deck of the ship. The staff were friendly and helpful
— charlotte bowie (2010-01-31)
Hostelbookers
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