Auberge de Jeunesse

If you squint, you might be able to argue that the Auberge de Jeunesse is a Bauhaus-style building, but the truth is, there’s no discernible aesthetic to this cement-and-iron hostel. Yes, this strictly no-frills zone may look like a large public school, but it has to get props: The manager informed us that, with dorm beds starting at just CHF 29, this is the cheapest hostel in Switzerland (even though Geneva is one of the most expensive cities in the world).

The Auberge de Jeunesse (which means “youth hostel,” but everything sounds so much fancier in French!) offers 350 beds in its doubles, quads and six-bed dorm rooms. The immaculately clean doubles are bright and spacious even by Geneva standards. The mattresses here aren’t exactly cushy, and the thin curtain won’t filter out all the light, but the wooden flooring shines and there are surprising bonuses like in-room safes.

Dorms are standard hostel affairs, albeit with natural light. They have wooden bunk beds, with absolutely no special feature other than individual electric sockets.

Dorms and some doubles and quads share communal bathrooms with biggish individual shower stalls, complete with a private changing area (a definite plus for anyone who’s ever exited a hostel shower with soggy clothing). The tiled toilets are kept clean and feature those long European dividers that provide plenty of privacy.

Doubles and quads with private, tiled bathrooms cost only CHF 12 more than those that share facilities—and they make a much more appealing (and cheaper) option than rooms in some of the one- or two-star hotels we saw in Geneva.

The hostel was recently renovated, and its central yet quiet location in Paquis, just steps from the lake, makes this place a no-brainer for backpackers and families looking for a convenient, affordable option.

A very basic breakfast is included in the room rate. There is no communal kitchen, but dinner is available in the hostel’s huge dining room for an additional CHF15. Wi-Fi is available for an additional fee, and though there are no TVs in the rooms, there is a television lounge.