Adventures In Southern Europe and North Africa

If you’re looking for true adventure in Southern Europe and North Africa, why not switch your travel itineraries up a bit to take in some of their precious gems? The following three locations promise authentic escapes, so take a look at our suggestions for an alternative adventure in Southern Europe and North Africa.

Bilbao

Bilbao is fast becoming one of the top destinations in Spain, and not only for art and architecture enthusiasts.

Gritty and until very recently wholly industrial, Bilbao has seen a lot of investment and has become the capital of cool in Spain. Not only is the city home to the incredible Guggenheim Museum, but the streets of the old town are lined with bars offering the Basque version of Tapas ‘pintxos’ and plenty of fantastic local wines.

There are still plenty of down-at-heel neighbourhoods to get to grips with though; San Francisco is one of our top picks for getting a good idea of what Bilbao is really about!

Ganbara Hostel, Bilbao

Ganbara Hostel is the only hostel in Bilbao to be found in the picturesque Seven Streets area of the old town. It’s perfectly located to explore both the old and the modern that Bilbao has to offer and the owners will be more than happy to give you a personal tour of the city to get you started! The famous Cammino di Santiago also goes directly past their front door.

Naples

Described by some as an acquired taste, you’ll find bella Napoli about an hour’s train ride south of Rome. Though busy with tourists looking to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, Naples has managed to keep to its roots.

A Mecca for all you foodies and coffee enthusiasts, Naples is one of the cheapest places to eat and drink out in the whole of Italy. A massive pizza from one of the most renowned pizzerias will set you back as little as three euros, whereas a famous Neapolitan ‘espresso’ costs around 70 cents.

Despite many overlooking Naples to head straight to the ruins further down the coast, the city is an absolute MUST for anyone visiting Italy. This is where you’ll get your real ‘Italian experience’.

Hostel of the Sun, Naples

Hostel of the Sun is located just seconds’ walk from the main port of the city, and a two-minute walk from one of the city’s most beautiful metro stations. It’s famous for its friendly welcome and the staff are real life travel guides to the city; listen to their advice on restaurants and where to go on nights out and you will not be disappointed!

Marrakech

Action-packed and often chaotic, Marrakech is Morocco’s most-visited city, but remains unspoiled. Split into the old quarter, dominated by the souks in the Medina area, and the ville nouvelle (the modern city), Marrakech is an incredible feast for your senses.

Let yourself be seduced by the contrasts, colours and smells of the Medina. Immerse yourself in the fascinating activities taking on the mythical Plaza Djemaa el-Fna, where you can find snake charmers, dozens of stores selling fresh juice, restaurants, bars, musicians, traditional water-sellers and acrobats every day of the year!

Bartering is a part of Moroccan culture, so make sure you keep a tight hold on your dirhams until you’ve done the right deal! If you ever have enough of the incredible market stalls in the old town, there are plenty of beautiful mosques and ancient Riads to visit, not to mention some world-class art galleries and museums in the modern part of town.

Equity Point Hostel, Marrakech

With a next-to-perfect location right in the winding backstreets of the Medina, Equity Point Hostel is the perfect place to base yourself in Marrakech. Renovated and decorated with incredible attention to detail, Equity Point Marrakech Hostel has plenty of space to relax after long days discovering the beauty of Marrakech plus a roof terrace, spacious and comfortable rooms and even a pool in the beautiful courtyard!

Europe’s Famous Hostels

All three hostels mentioned are part of an association of Hostel called Europe’s Famous Hostels. Europe’s Famous Hostels is an association of individually owned, independent hostels. The association was founded in 1995 when it was made up of just 5 members. As of 2015 we have grown to include 50 Hostels, both in Europe and beyond.

Europe’s Famous Hostels’ purpose is to provide a recognisable stamp of quality in the Hostelling business. Our name comes as a guarantee that our customers will have a great stay at the best value; choosing a Europe’s Famous Hostel is choosing quality and great customer service.

www.famoushostels.com