Hostel Celica

The hostel is clean and modern and in a good location. Unfortunately, we had a very negative experience with a member of the bar staff because she refused to serve us drinks at 10:30pm because she was ‘too tired’ and it was ‘too late for her’. We were instead ‘told to have something more simple like a white wine’ which we did not want. We then walked away and were shouted at by the same bar lady. It ruined our experience and we won’t be returning.

What can you say: this is just a great, unique budget place. The rooms are really small (we stayed in a four-bed room) but the beds are comfortable, everything was clean and we had our own bathroom. On the same floor as our room, there was a kitchen and a washing machine. I think it cost 10 euro to use it. In the old prison yard there now were nice tables and hammocks. We talked to several of the other guests, as you often do at hostels. The breakfast was really good for being a hostel with a lot of fruit and fresh bread. It is about 10 minutes walk to the city center, and 7 minutes from the train station. But don't miss the area around the hostel: "Ljubljana's Christiania". We stayed here for two nights, four people, and I think we payed 300 euro for that, including breakfast - in a European capital.

The hostel had good communication and were able to fix my issue on the phone prior to me arriving a few weeks before with a double booking. Upon arriving, I was told I couldn't get into my room until 3pm and so I left my luggage there in their secure room. When I returned I got checked in by 2 friendly staff and got everything set up. I had a room for myself which was nice. The halls were clean and my room was as well. Not a lot of room as the only one I could get was a 3 bed private one. It had 1 bunk bed and the 3rd bed was way up in the loft and I can't imagine how that would be climbing up there and down in the middle of the night without injury. Bathrooms were clean, though people did tend to leave shampoo and soap in the showers, which isn't all that unusual for a hostel with shared bathrooms. The property has games you can play in any of the sitting areas or cafe. The cafe has beer and pizza you can order as well as a few other things I think. In the basement are older stone cells which is interesting and there are some fun sitting room areas for people as well as an outside patio that I saw. Cool experience, room was pretty warm and this was in May, couldn't get the thermostat to really do much though, but never bothered to mention it. Staffed 24 hours so easy to check out early in the morning. The area around it Metelkova has a lot of interesting art and at night bars there which is fun. In the day time and when the bars aren't open though, it can be pretty sketcy and there are signs posted around the area warning about drug use and not to encourage them by buying ***** there. Seemed to be the most sketchy in the daytime actually as when the bars open, it's pretty busy with the bar crowds like me. Sleepwise was the only big downfall. The noise from upstairs in the communal sleeping area was loud and depsite the quiet times mentioned at the hotel, people were up and very loud until 2-3am and you could hear everything, entire conversations, laughing, partying and so on. Don't know how anyone could sleep up there let alone in the single rooms without ear plugs. All in all a fun one night experience...

Stayed here in room 207 for 4 nights. Check in was quick and efficient as I had already booked and filled in my information online. The staff let me know about the setup and then gave me instructions to my dorm. My room was on the second floor and there's no lift. If you're not comfortable with stairs, then this place is going to be a problem. The dorm had four beds and a private ensuite. Two of the beds were bunk beds and there were two other singles. The door into the dorm has glass panels, which let light in. One of the singles faces the door and the hall lights come on automatically. Unfortunately, this was my bed. I hardly slept that first night, but the staff were kind enough to let me change beds. The dorm and bathroom were clean, and were cleaned everyday. The only weird part of the ensuite is that the hand basin is located outside of the bathroom. The upside is that you can use it even if someone is in the bathroom. There's also a hairdryer next to the sink. It works. Breakfast was included. Is fairly typical European fare with cheese slices, cold cuts, various types of cereals, juices and coffee. I thought it was about average by hostel standards. Location wise, it's about 10 minutes walk into the centre. The building is located in the Metelkova area. It does look dangerous on the maps, but I found it quite safe. It's an alternative lifestyle area, so there's a lot of "smoking" going on. The hostel also has a bar, a laundry room and a mini kitchen on the second floor (no microwave). The whole building is actually pretty clean. The staff are friendly and helpful. Overall, I had a good stay. If I hadn't been allowed to change beds, it would've been miserable.

A visit to Ljubjana would not be the same without spending at least one night staying in an actual prison cell. Our one was cell 110, the Slovenian Cell comes with wireless Internet access, twin beds, free bed linen and towels, actual prison bars and you have to use communal bathroom facilities end of corridor. They have Self-service breakfast buffet, this is available to all guests and open to visitors. It had local and fresh ingredients daily and opens 7.30 -10.30 Available to hostel guests and other visitors. This hostel also has few cafes inside and out or common rooms as you could call them serving hot and cold food, alcoholic and soft drink beverages. If you fancy a night away somewhere different, you fancy locking yourself away in prison then this is the place, it's a once in a lifetime thing to do.