HI - Cortona - San Marco Hostel

Cortona

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Guide to Packing

Address

Via Maffei 57, Cortona Tuscany, Italy Map

Location/Contact

Details

This is a Hostelling International (HI) hostel. A membership card isn't required, but an extra fee will apply for non-members. You can get a membership card before your trip here.

Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed above).

Their Description

Features

Free Breakfast
Food/Restaurant
TV
Washing Machine (laundry)
Bike Rental

The Hostelz.com Review

A short but steep hike from the square where the bus will drop you off, the YHA Cortona is a very basic youth hostel, based in an ancient building.

A friendly welcome at the reception and big dormitories are the plus while staying there. There is a washing machine and a spot you can hang up your laundry. Showers and toilettes are separated (but not when it comes to male and female) and there is much open space in the common hall.

Like all Italian YHA hostels, the breakfast is less than basic, scoop your milk, coffee or tea out of a pot and be happy with a bit of bread. June 08, there was no internet or wifi, and the opening times were shortened, which can be a hassle if you run a bit late because of happenings, like a train strike. There are no vending machines or else and TV is only offered when the reception is open. Once you checked in, you will be given a key, so there is no curfew or lockout.

Overall, it is a clean place in a very beautifully situated town.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
June 2008

Ratings & Comments

4 Average from 5 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by frenchie, canadian

August 2007

I hesitate to mention this too much
because it's such a gem, I want to keep it my little secret! I stayed there in sept. 2006, and enjoyed my stay so much, I found myself going back in june 2007 while visiting Italy with my brother. The ostello was almost empty both times, which is hard for me to believe, considering the great location in magical Cortona! Sergio is very friendly and helpful, and so is the little cleaning lady who does a great job. Ask to be in the first dorm on the left, on the top floor: you will not believe the view out of the giant window, over the typical roof tiles and belltower of the church across the street, seeing the mist rising over the countryside all the way to lago Trasimeno, or hearing the swallows' feeding frenzy at sunset. There is a lockout during the day, but you get a key to the door if you get back after curfew. Cortona is picture-perfect, has great cafes and little markets, and feels safe and easygoing. the ostello is so cheap, yet so well-located, it's a great base to explore the region, with easy bus access up and down the hill to the Camucia station, sitting right on a busy train line. Sure, it's not the Ritz, a little rough around the edges, but clean: you have to climb long flights of stairs to get to your room or dorm, but get used to hiking if you plan to visit hilltops!

Comment by Anna

June 2006

Stayed there for two nights this summer. Great hostel, definetely the highlight of any trip. The building is a thirteenth century monastery and the room we stayed in was where the nuns used to do their laundry. It still had a row of stone sinks running against the wall. You can easily get lost in time in that place! Despite the old building, the hostel is very nice and clean. And for the price it charges (thirteen euros) it's a bargain. They even served a small breakfast. I didn't find it to be noisy at all, but then again I was there in early June, not the busiest season. Have fun to all of you who's planning to stay there, Cortona is gorgeous!

Comment by Rayne

April 2005

I stayed here three days in June 2004 and it was great. I met lots of nice people, the town was great and I got to watch football (soccer) with the owner. There was a place to do laundry and the best coffee I have ever had waiting for you every morning.

Comment by Davide Santi

January 2005

I stayed here for three nights in May 2001. Cortona is the best place on earth. It's a pity it has such an old, creepy, noisy hostel. The bedrooms have 20 beds each!!!

Comment by Heather

May 2004

I spent a week here in September of '99 during a solo backpacking journey through Italy. It was one of the best, if not the best, hostel I stayed at. Very friendly, clean, and the food was good too! A great deal.

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