What is the legal age to stay in a hostel in Europe
This is one of those questions we get asked a lot. We hear it from parents wanting to travel with their kids, we hear it from young people dreaming of a trip away from their parents, we even hear it from grandparents planning trips with their grandkids. We wrote this article to help you out in figuring this important question. So here’s our blogpost about the legal age to stay in a hostel in Europe.
The legal age to stay in a hostel in Europe
The answer is: It depends. Annoying, we know.
The legal age of majority in most European countries is 18 years old, with a few exceptions. For example, in Scotland, individuals are considered to have full legal capacity from the age of 16.
But does this mean a minor can’t stay in a hostel?
Well, if you are traveling alone, unfortunately, you can’t. However, if you are traveling with an adult who will be responsible for you, then you are welcome. Does that adult need to be your parent? No. Your older sibling will do! So will your aunt, grandparent, legal guardian, or godparent… You get the point!
Why must an adult be responsible for you? While hostels are generally safe and welcoming spaces, they are also places where guests may consume alcohol, socialize late, and occasionally (though rarely) experience some minor chaos. We want to ensure you don’t get into trouble, so it’s always best to have a reliable person on your team. It’s also a necessary precaution for the hostel: If anything were to happen to you, they need to know exactly who is there to support you and ensure you are not left alone. Furthermore, in case of a police inspection, they must be able to prove that although you are a minor, a responsible adult is present to vouch for you.
The legal age to stay in a hostel in Europe
All of this is to say: If you are 18 years old or older, please come over! We would be so happy to meet and welcome you into the family. If you’re under 18, invite your favorite responsible adult and come visit us anyway.
We hope this helps and can’t wait to see you soon. In the mean time, make sure you follow us on Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news.
…
