Ostello degli Elefanti Hostel Catania

Strongly recommend! Great location, comfy rooms and beds, clean, SUPER STAFF!!! Extras that add a LOT of value: Discounts on happy hours on the FANTASTIC rooftop bar, pasta for guests every day and breakfast included.

Staff is so friendly, and everyone we met in our room was super kind! Met such great people- the vibe was so welcoming! Rooms themselves were very clean and well kept. Beds are bunk beds with curtains. Plenty of tables and chairs, and there were small lockers (but didn’t fit our small suitcases…but the room was safe enough to leave things out, which most people did). We did the 8 person female dorm and loved it. Free pasta and breakfast, along with happy hour (4 euro drinks!) rocked. Bathrooms also very clean. Big common areas to eat and play ping pong and foosball. Rooftop bar has lovely view of Etna. Also has a 5 euro yoga class! Walls are thin so you can hear music and sirens from outside. Overall- Loved it!

Situated in a superb location, close to public transport links, in a central location, nearby supermarkets and attractions. The building is historic with frescoes and paintings and charming interior. As with most hostels, it felt safe, welcoming and had a good vibe from both staff and other visitors. Good kitchen facilities, excellent breakfast (including gluten free, egg & dairy free options) in the evenings free pasta was offered too. I booked it specifically because it had a female only dorm. Privacy curtains and really comfortable mattress made it ideal. Not many hostels offer the female only option anymore. We were a good mix and the others were respectful when returning late.||Staff and volunteers were easy to talk to, they seemed interested in me as an individual and were accommodating and friendly. ||Sadly, the external environment was too noisy to have a good night sleep. It abated around 01.00hrs, but started up around 05.30hrs. I didn't sleep well despite earplugs.

T his place left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. I’ll give credit where it’s due: it was clean, safe, and the basic necessities were met. But beyond that, my experience was frustrating and misleading. First, the so-called “elevator.” When I arrived a lady told me the elevator doesn’t work. I mentioned this at check in, the receptionist told me it “doesn’t work, this is how old building in Europe are” as if I haven’t been to a hostel before. Without 5 minutes of this, as I was leaving, 2 woman entered the elevator and rode it up. Then, at checkout, another staff member (a Canadian or American worker) finally explained that the elevator is actually only for residents of the building — not hostel guests. So it’s not broken at all, it’s just not available to you. The receptionist’s initial explanation wasn’t truthful, and it took me until the end of my stay to realize the situation. Thankfully, he did carry my bag up on arrival, and the other worker upon leaving. Second, the rooftop bar. The hostel advertises it as a feature, but it’s really just a public bar with no real connection to the hostel, other than a small happy-hour discount from 9–10 p.m. (the worst, most overcrowded time to go). It came off as hostel guests not being welcome — I was told I could only sit in one corner spot, which was already occupied by a friend of the bartender who wasn’t even from the hostel and wasn’t very agreeable as you expect from fellow travelers. Later, I watched a group of other hostel guests get told they could buy drinks but weren’t allowed to sit anywhere because they were “with the hostel and we are very busy.” I had to tell th they could sit with us but some had already left before I got the chance. It’s hard not to feel like you’re being pushed out of a space that was advertised as part of your stay. And finally, the noise. Being right next to the Square means it is extremely loud all night long. Musicians with amplifiers set up in the street right outside the windows, playing well into the night. If you’re hoping for restful sleep, this is not the place. Overall, if all you need is a clean bed and safe place to stay but don’t care about anything else, this hostel will do. But if you’re booking based on the advertised rooftop bar, or expecting a restful night, you’ll probably leave disappointed

Super nice team, place, services ! Amazing rooftop. I had very young girls speaking loud in the room quite late and music downstairs was really loud, I had it get up at 6am so not the best to rest. I think it would be nice to ask for quiet environment from 10pm. Other than that, really cool!

The location and the rooftop are awesome, but just those... Unfortunately, cleaning is poor, the rooms are VERY old and horrible maintained and the staff is not very nice... They are always fully booked and are very expensive because of the location and the rooftop with Etna views, but the rooms are terrible and need maintenance URGENTLY, which despite clearly been a profitable hostel, the owner doesn't care about maintenance since it is always fully booked, which is sad for the customers... It didn't change a bit since the first time I stayed there back almost 10 years ago...

I really enjoyed this hostel, great experience staff were really friendly and approachable. Breakfast was great and the pasta in the evening, the hostel is well situated in the centre of Catania. Local bus station is about 3 min walk and plenty to do in the area.

Stayed there 4 nights very nice and clean hostel. Staff and other guests of the hostel very friendly welcoming and willing to help. Would stay again for sure

I stayed 1 night to see Mount Etna. The staff are really nice and very helpful. BREAKFAST It was better than other hostels by just a little bit. They offer a variety of fruits (peach, apple, etc) and small yogurt. That's all I ate. They have cereal, bread, milk, and other things. SHARED BATHROOM - The female bathroom down the hall looks a little worn down and could use some renovation. It also lacks ventilation. - After one showers, there is no where fast way for the hot air to pass through other than opening the entry door. - The curtains were cheap and do not provide full coverage. - There wasn't side chairs or enough wall hooks to put away your items. ROOM - I stayed in the 8-bed female dorm. Quite Spacious. - I like that each bunk bed comes with a 2-port USB outlet and curtain. - The beds are covered with a black plastic film. I was lucky enough to have an unoccupied single bed in the room, so I slept on that, instead of the bunk bed. (I think I was less restless than any other hostel bed I slept on within Italy) - This room has 2 balconies so you will hear noise from the busy square. - The lockers come with a keyed lock. And there are 2 shelves. - It was difficult to find a wall outlet. Not sure how many there are in the room. The roof terrace offers good views. There is a bar there. You can see part of Mount Etna. It's the highlight of the hostel. I wasn't sure if there is an elevator but you have to walk 2 or 3 levels of stairs. It's a 15-minute walk from the Catania Centrale Train station. There is a kitchen with a fridge, so I'm sure you can cook.

You have to know the environment you're about to enter when you stay at a hostel. I think I just forgot. It had been over five years since my last stay in one, so this was a bit of a shock. I don't think I really have the right personality for sleeping with strangers. I had some random girl above me in a bunk-bed format (she seemed nice, but it was still too weird for me!), and there's no privacy aside from a curtain that you can put up around your bed. Unless, of course, you book a private room....which I should have done! Shared bathrooms are down the hall. For a hostel, they're quite clean and tidy. They even stock hair dryers! Many of the budget properties we stayed in this month did NOT have such lush accommodations. A light breakfast is included in the rate, but you do need to pay 2 euro to rent a towel. You'll get a locker for your belongings. Staff here was very friendly. One of the current staffers is even from Philly! Keep in mind that this hostel is situated right on the main square in Catania. You'll have beautiful views from their rooftop terrace, but you'll also deal with a crapton of noise in the middle of the night. Bring earplugs. I'd always prefer a hotel to a hostel, but if you're trying to keep to a budget, this property is a good option in Catania.