Hostel Simbol Castle is located right on the Ljubljanica River near the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most) near the centre of town and is a great place to stay in Ljubljana. The dorms are somewhat unconventional but useful self-contained units with kitchenette, toilet/shower, washing machine and dryer, and table and chairs. The staff are friendly and the place is quite homey despite being a fairly new/newly renovated building.
The Location
Hostel Simbol Castle is about seven hundred fifty meters from the main bus and train stations and a ten-minute walk to old town and most of the sites -- Ljubljana Castle is a (steep) twenty-minute walk up the hill but right near the hostel.
The hostel isn't well signed -- look for white buildings around a courtyard and a wrought iron gate with a bell marked "Hostel" and a common area/reception (if you can see through the blinds). The area seems safe and there's a Spar right across the river a few minutes walk away. Note that there is another hostel called Hostel Simbol (the same owner) in Ljubljana which differs from this Hostel Simbol Castle -- make sure you have the correct address! This one is right across the river from the Castle.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Our dorm was really a six-bed, self-contained unit with en-suite, kitchen, washing machine/dryer, quality bunk beds, decent storage, and lockers (though we had to go back to reception to ask for a locker key and it seemed to open more than one locker). Apparently the lockers are to be changed soon. The heating is great (almost stifling on a winter morning) and the colourful quilts are softer and thicker than you'd expect for a hostel. Each dorm has a secure locked door and numerous but secure windows. The place felt homey but clean. Washing and drying is free during winter and costs a bit during busier times and summer (they lock up the washing machine/dryer cabinet within each dorm).
Within each dorm there is a common sitting area with chair and tables and a kitchenette that fits at most two people and unfortunately blocks the door to the combined shower bathroom. The rooms are cosy but reasonable sized for six people provided they aren't all cooking or all sitting down.
Common Spaces
In addition to the common area in each dorm, there is a reception/TV room with two free internet computers complete with headsets, and some books. There is also free wireless. Upstairs in the reception building is another common area with larger kitchen and table and chairs though we weren't told about this during check in. The external common areas aren't big and with a full hostel would likely be overcrowded but there's plenty of opportunity to meet people in these and whilst hanging out in the dorm common areas. The kitchenettes in the dorms are small but reasonably well equipped -- we didn't use the larger kitchen as we didn't find out about it. There is no breakfast, tea, or coffee provided but it's easy to make use of the kitchens and Spar right near the hostel.
Summary
Once you find it, Hostel Simbol Castle is great hostel at a good location with clean, comfortable dorms at a great price in Ljubljana!
— Recensione esclusiva Hostelz.com
January 2008
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