Ostello degli Elefanti Hostel Catania

I really loved my stay at Ostello Degli Elefanti! Stayed there originally for 3 nights, but kept coming back for multiple nights after! :) The rooms had everything I needed: comfortable beds, enough space, beautiful views on the square and the shower was something I looked forward too every day! The bathroom inside the room was brand new, clean and spacious. The staff was very very nice and very helpful and hospital, I felt very welcome. I enjoyed during my stay the most the Happy Hours at the rooftop, where I met a lot of inspiring travellers while having the most beautiful sunset spot in town. And dont forget: the free pasta and breakfast! I would totally recommend this place and definitely come back when Im in Catania! :)

We absolutely loved staying here!! The location, services, free breakfast AND dinner, and rooftop bar made this the best hostile I’ve stayed in!! The staff is super friendly and even gave us breakfast before the start time as we were journeying to the volcano!! I felt extremely safe with a separate women’s restroom and shower that is scanned by card. I cannot recommend more!

I really appreciate the professionalism of all the staff, the incredibly beautiful bar with an unparalleled view, the comforts and the well-equipped rooms. The breakfast was very good too. It was a very complete stay. Without a doubt the best of all Catania!!

Great location and very friendly staff! I highly recommend this place for a short stay of a few days while visiting Catania or Mount Etna. Just note that music from the street below can be a bit noisy at times, but otherwise everything was excellent. Breakfast and dinner (pasta) are included in the price, and from the balcony or rooftop you can enjoy a beautiful view of Etna.

Out of the 15+ hostels I’ve stayed in, this was by far the worst experience. I informed the hostel in advance that I would be arriving around midnight, and they confirmed that someone would be waiting for me. However, when I arrived, I rang the doorbell for nearly 10 minutes with no response. A stranger on the street even tried to help, but we couldn’t reach anyone. Fortunately, a couple who lived in the same building happened to arrive home and let me inside. This was a serious security concern as a solo female traveler and set a very poor tone for my stay. The facilities themselves are extremely outdated. The rooms have not been renovated in a long time, and because the hostel is located right next to the main square, noise from nearby bars and music continues well past midnight. The walls and doors offer no soundproofing whatsoever. If other guests open the doors, it sounds like a live concert inside. When I arrived, the women’s bathroom door was wide open, which again felt unsafe as this is supposed to be closed and locked. There is very little privacy in the showers. I would strongly recommend adding a curtain or partition so guests can change comfortably without being exposed. Unfortunately, the atmosphere among guests was equally disappointing. There is no quiet time policy enforced, and people were talking loudly and keeping the lights on in the dorm until nearly 2 a.m. Some guests were even smoking in the room, which is against hostel policy — yet staff took no action. If you’re looking for a good night’s rest, I would strongly discourage staying here. However, if your priority is partying late and ignoring house rules, this might be the place for you.

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!

We went to the rooftop bar here for some afternoon drinks. You have to become a member and pay a one-time fee, but you get a voucher in return for a free cocktail. Very nice view from the roof terrace and service and drinks were nice! Worth it!

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.

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.