A Complete Review of Barri Antic Hostel & Pub in Andorra (2024)
Planning on visiting Andorra and considering staying at the Barri Antic Hostel & Pub? If the answer is yes and you’re looking for a more in-depth review that’s longer than the 50-word blurbs you’ll find on most booking platforms, you’ve come to the right place! Within this post, I’ll give you my complete and honest review of Barri Antic Hostel & Pub in Andorra based on my 3-day stay!
Disclaimer: All of these thoughts and experiences are my own. I was not paid or compensated in any way to provide this hostel review.
What Is Hostel Barri Antic?
I know this may seem silly, but before I jump into my review, let me explain what Hostel Barri Antic is. For quick context, I stayed here during the tail end of my 7-week trip through Europe. Up until I got to Andorra, I had pretty much exclusively stayed in hostels. Thus, I was ready to splurge a little extra money for a cheap hotel. I mean, I’m all for budget traveling and taking advantage of all the benefits that come with staying at a hostel, but after more than 5 weeks, all I wanted was a few days in a private room!
When I was researching hotels in Andorra, I found Barri Antic Pub & Hostel. And despite having the word “hostel” in the name, it’s listed as a hotel on booking platforms and functions as one too. My guess is that they were once a hostel and then converted to a low-cost hotel…
They offer rooms that can accommodate up to 5 people. The cheapest room, which consists of two twin beds, costs as low as ~$50 per night. So, unlike hostels, where you book by the number of beds you need. Here, it operates just like any other hotel, where you buy by the number of rooms you want! Thus, my review is based on having my private room at this hostel-turned-hotel! 🙂
Where Is Hostel Barri Antic Located in Andorra?
For those thinking of visiting Andorra for the first time, this particular hostel is located in the tiny principality’s capital city, Andorra La Vella. But, more specifically, within the capital city, Hostel Barri Antic is located in Barri Antic (big shocker — I know! 😅). This is more commonly known as the old quarter of Andorra.
The area exudes both history and charm, and you can easily spend an hour or so wandering through its winding streets and cobblestone lanes. For example, you’ll find a couple of older historic landmarks, such as Casa de la Vall and St. Esteve of Andorra Church. Both of these are definitely worth a visit!
Additionally, the location of the hostel is great as it’s very close to a lot of the local shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars in the area. And for anyone who may be arriving by bus, it’s about a 10-minute walk from the Estació d’Autobuses d’Andorra, which is where you’ll arrive if you’re traveling via public transportation into this parish.
See the location of the hostel in relation to the bus station on the map above. The upper pin is the hostel, while the lower point is the bus station. So in terms of location, I thought Hostel Barri Antic was pretty great, but I’ll elaborate on it more in the next section.
Barri Antic Hostel & Pub Review
Alrighty, now it’s time to dive into my full review!
1. Great Location & View
First of all, as I mentioned earlier, the hostel has an incredibly convenient location! It’s in the quaint Old Town part of Andorra and situated only a few minutes away from several of the main attractions! For instance, I loved only having to walk from the hostel for 3 minutes to find an abundance of options for places to grab a drink or a bite to eat.
That said, for people who aren’t exactly familiar with Andorra, it’s a very mountainous country. As such, to reach the Old Quarter, you have to walk up quite a steep hill from the bus station. I consider myself a pretty fit person as I run most mornings. But even I was gasping and heaving by the time I made it to the top. If I had to guess, I would say that it was probably a 35 – 40° inclination. This isn’t a deal breaker or anything, but it’s something you’ll want to be aware of, especially if you’re someone with limited mobility.
Of course, the flip side of Barri Antic being located on higher ground is that you’ll get to enjoy fantastic views of the cityscape and valley! For reference, my room was on the 5th floor (the equivalent to the 6th floor for my fellow Americans), and I was treated to incredible views right outside my window.
Without a doubt, witnessing the sun rise and set behind the verdant Pyrenees mountains every day was one of my favorite parts. So, even though you have to do a fair amount of uphill walking, the view from your room is well worth it!
2. Themed Rooms
A nice touch that I was pleasantly surprised to discover is that their rooms have themes! Unlike other places where all the rooms have uniform decorations, each of the rooms had different decorations surrounding a unique theme. For example, my room was all about great movie classics. Thus, there were movie posters hung all around the room, and the bathroom was all things Marilyn Monroe!
Meanwhile, another themed room has all things Marvel and features even Hulk pillows! And again, this doesn’t really make or break a place, but I’m a sucker for the small things that make a difference by bringing a smile to your face!
3. Large Bathroom
Speaking of my Marilyn Monroe bathroom, the bathroom is pretty large considering the size of the actual room. To give you an idea, the room has just enough space that you can fully open a carry-on size suitcase on the floor without it bumping into the bed and the wall. That’s about the width of the floor space around two twin beds that were pushed together. This wasn’t a problem for me, but I imagine it would be for people traveling with a couple of large checked bags or those who are used to large spacious rooms.
Circling back to the bathroom, there was plenty of space to change, twirl, or dance… It was great not feeling cramped! The only issue I had was that it had a kinda weird smell. Not like a foul smell, but kinda like a faint sewage smell. Not the biggest deal, but the experience would’ve been better if it smelled fresher.
4. Excellent Service
In addition to everything previously mentioned, the service was excellent. Sure, you won’t receive the same level of service you would at a 5-star hotel in the area, but the level of service you get here is more than sufficient! From the moment I made my booking, they had great communication, and I had no issues checking in.
Everyone I interacted with at the hostel was so friendly and kind. It was a lively atmosphere and the people were super kind. In fact, when I was talking to one of the staff members, she was apologizing for her poor English. But, it was more than fine. If anything, it was just impressive because she said she spoke 4 languages, which is about 3 more than I can speak!
5. Awesome Value
Finally, Barri Antic Hostel & Pub offers great value for the money it costs. Honestly, most of the housing in Andorra is on the more affordable side. But, when you factor in all the previously mentioned benefits and the fact that the rooms are clean and comfortable, I genuinely believe I got an absolute steal. After staying there only once, I would be more than happy to stay there again for $50 per night.
And just as a reminder, there is a bar on the ground floor, so some noise is expected at night. I normally just closed my window and probably 95% of the noise was blocked out. So, for me, there are hardly any faults and I think that you get fantastic value staying here.
Should You Stay at Hostel Barri Antic Andorra?
Based on my full review, you can likely tell I highly recommend staying at the Hostel Barri Antic in Andorra. But, I can acknowledge that it doesn’t fit every traveler’s style. And while I think it’s great, it probably isn’t suitable for people looking for more amenities or a pool.
Thus, I would only recommend staying here if you’re traveling on a tight budget and looking for a clean and comfortable place that offers just the main necessities — no frills included lol. If this sounds like you, then absolutely check out staying at the Hostel Barri Antic Andorra by using the buttons below.
Want to Stay Somewhere Else?
But, if you think you might fare better somewhere else, don’t worry! I’ve curated a list of other places I recommend checking out based on your budget!
Low-Cost Stay
- Hotel Pyrenees — 3-star hotel in Barri Antic area of Andorra | ⭐️ 8.2 / 10
- Hotel Yomo Cèntric — 4-star hotel long popular Meritxell Street | ⭐️ 8.8 / 10
Mid-Range Stay
- Hotel Starc by Pierre & Vacances Premium — beautiful 4-star hotel | ⭐️ 9 / 10
- Hotel Metropolis — 4-star hotel near the relaxing Caldea Spa | ⭐️ 9.4 / 10
Luxury Stay
- Grand Plaza Hotel & Wellness — excellent 5-star hotel | ⭐️ 8.6 / 10
- Andorra Park Hotel — luxurious 5-star hotel | ⭐️ 9.4 / 10
Feel free to click these buttons to head to your favorite booking platform and see additional housing options there.
Alternatively, you can drag around on the interactive map below to see additional housing options for yourself. The map shows up-to-date prices, and you can enter your specific travel dates for even more accurate information.
3 Tips for Staying at Barri Antic Hostel & Pub
If you decide to book your stay at Barri Antic Hostel & Pub, here are a few tips!
- Request a room on a higher floor: The views outside your room get better and better the higher up you are! When you make your booking, I believe they have a comment section where you can request a room on a higher floor or one with a great view!
- Bring a small bag: Since this is a boutique hotel with literally 9 rooms available, your room key is a physical key that’s tied to a giant cork material disk. I recommend bringing a small bag that you can put your key into when you’re exploring the city during the day. This way, you won’t have to worry about losing it or paying for a replacement!
- Check out the Bar & Restaurant: Lastly, I recommend checking out the bar and restaurant during your stay. Not only do they offer pretty good food for affordable prices but also it’s always super lively down there. This is especially recommended if you’re solo traveling and trying to connect with others!
Hostel Barri Antic Andorra: FAQ
There are three types of rooms available to book at the Barri Antic Hostel & Pub. The twin room consists of 2 twin beds, so one or two people can sleep in this room — I booked this! They also offer a quadruple room with 2 bunk beds that sleeps 4 people and a family room, which has a single bed and 2 bunk beds that can accommodate a total of 5 people.
Some of the property amenities at Barri Antic Hostel & Pub include free toiletries, ensuite bathrooms, a restaurant, a bar, a terrace, free wifi, and an elevator! And surprisingly, the elevator is even decent-sized.
Check-in times are from 3 PM -11 PM or 15:00 – 23:00. Meanwhile, check-out times are from 9 AM – 12 PM.
The area around Barri Antic Hostel & Pub is delightful. It’s centrally located near all the shops, bars, restaurants, and a few of the must-visit attractions in Andorra! But, it’s also worth mentioning that it’s only a short drive away to reach the ski resorts, such as the highly popular Grandvalira.
Yes, you can absolutely travel to Andorra from Barcelona! You can travel to Andorra independently or go via a private tour on a day trip. I have separate posts on both, so feel free to check them out for more information.
Wrap-Up: Barri Antic Hostel & Pub Andorra Review (2024)
Barri Antic Hostel & Pub in Andorra is a little gem that’s a great choice for travelers who are on a budget and want somewhere to stay that’s clean and comfortable without all the extra frills. Not to mention, the property has a restaurant and bar located on the ground floor, so you have easy access to food and a place to grab a drink.
That said, if you’ve read my review and decided that this isn’t the place for you, there are plenty of other places to stay in Andorra! Regardless of where you choose to stay in Andorra, I hope this review has been helpful and you enjoy exploring this wonderful country as much as I did!
