Bilbao Akelarre Hostel
Calm family-run hostel in Deusto with bright rooms and the friendliest reception in town
Bilbao Akelarre Hostel is a small, calm, family-run hostel in the Deusto university district, across the river from Casco Viejo. Rooms are bright with private bathrooms in most categories; the shared kitchen, lounge and helpful staff make it the consistent first-time-hostel pick in Bilbao. Pet-friendly, with female-only dorms available.
Bilbao Akelarre Hostel sits on Calle Morgan in Deusto, the university quarter on the left bank of the Nervión opposite Casco Viejo. The name comes from the Basque akelarre — the night-time gathering on Akelarre Larre near Zugarramurdi, made famous by the 17th-century witch trials — and the building leans into the friendly, slightly quirky family-run feel rather than the chain-hostel polish.
The property has 16 rooms across three floors with a small lift, a shared kitchen with full appliances and crockery, and a ground-floor lounge that doubles as the breakfast room. Most rooms have private en-suite bathrooms (rare at this price point), and there's a dedicated female-only dormitory. Reception is staffed during the day and on call out-of-hours; the consistent praise across reviews is for staff who actually answer questions about Bilbao properly — bus times, pintxo recommendations, walking routes.
Deusto puts you 25-30 minutes on foot from Casco Viejo via the Zubizuri footbridge or the Puente de Deusto, both of which pass directly in front of the Guggenheim (which is 10 minutes away). The local Tram A runs along the river and gets you to the Old Town in 8 minutes for €1.50. The neighborhood itself has a working pintxo strip on Calle Lehendakari Aguirre and Calle Iruña — quieter than Casco Viejo, locals only, half the price.
Who it's for: first-time hostel travellers, solo travellers wanting a calm night, couples on a budget who want a private en-suite, and anyone who'd rather stay where Bilbainos actually live than where the cruise tours flood. Who it's not for: people who want bar nights downstairs (there isn't one), or guests prioritising being inside Casco Viejo.
- 01Quiet family-run hostel where the staff actually know Bilbao — not a chain script
- 02Most rooms have private en-suite bathrooms at hostel prices
- 03Female-only dormitory available with the same en-suite layout
- 04Deusto location: 8 min by tram to Casco Viejo, 10 min walk to Guggenheim
- 05Pet-friendly — one of the only options in Bilbao for travellers with dogs
- Family-run small hostel with 16 rooms across three floors
- Most rooms have private en-suite bathrooms
- Shared kitchen with full appliances and dining area
- Female-only dormitory and pet-friendly rooms available
“Staff were friendly and attentive, beds were clean and the rooms were not too crowded. Was so comfortable there I stayed two extra nights.”
“Liked many things. The system was easy to understand, the towel was included, the paper towel in the bathroom, the beds were clean and comfy and the communal space is pleasant.”
“It's a hostel but all facilities are very clean and organised, so for my first experience in a hostel with shared rooms, it was great.”
- Tram A stop (Euskotren)3 min walk
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao10 min walk
- Calle Lehendakari Aguirre pintxo strip4 min walk
- Casco Viejo (Old Town)25 min walk / 8 min by tram
- Funicular de Artxanda viewpoint12 min walk + funicular
- University of Deusto and waterfront promenade5 min walk
