First Solo Trip to Germany: My Experience Staying in a Hostel

Intro

After a jam-packed summer semester at university, I was desperate for a break. I usually travel with family or friends, but I had always wanted to try a solo trip and stay in a hostel. Fear of loneliness kept me from acting. I reminded myself that waiting for someone might mean missing out. My family and friends wouldn't have imagined me staying in a hostel - I couldn't even imagine it myself! But I wanted to try it, hoping to meet new people and push beyond my comfort zone. My trip was spontaneous. It came right after finals, so I didn't have the energy to plan every detail as I usually do. Instead, I decided to be spontaneous and see where things took me. When I travel, I always picture European cities like Paris, Rome, and Lisbon. So, for this trip, I chose Munich!

I booked four nights at Wombats City Hostel Munich Werksviertel for only €20 a night! It was a mixed-gender dorm, but the bunk beds had privacy curtains, making a small personal space. The hostel’s location was ideal; under two miles from the city center, with the train station a 5 min walk away. It had lockers and a private bathroom. Wombat’s Werksviertel boasts a 9/10 rating and won the 2024 HOSCAR for Most Popular Hostel in Munich. My stay was extraordinary, and I recommend it with excitement to any solo traveler.

Arrival & First Day in Munich

I landed at Munich International around 1:30 PM local time (time difference: 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles). Clearing customs was a breeze, much calmer and less congested than LAX. Finding my way through the terminal signs was tricky. Language barriers are real! After taking a few wrong turns, I found the information desk. The staff directed me to the train station ticket booth, where I bought a one-way ticket to Munich East for $19 USD. As an American, I usually avoid trains. My experiences in Miami, Chicago, and Seattle have left me feeling unsafe. But Munich was different. Everyone was in their own world; AirPods in, reading a book. I felt completely safe as a solo female traveler.

After I checked in at the hostel, I freshened up. Then, I made small talk with two of my roommates. I then headed to Marienplatz, the city center. This historic square used to display the Nazi flag. It’s also home to Munich’s first and most famous beer hall, Hofbräuhaus. The area is full of gelato stands, shops, and landmarks. I booked a Third Reich & WWII tour for day 4. It covers the history of Marienplatz in detail. I didn’t book it immediately because I wanted to save space for a castle tour that was available for the next day. I recommend taking this tour early in your trip. It gives you important context for exploring the city! I got a pretzel at Dallmayr Delikatessenhaus. Then, I enjoyed a strawberry gelato nearby. After that, I walked around the city. Then, I returned to the hostel before sunset. I took the train to Ostbahnhof station and walked five minutes from there.

Day 2: Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Palace

My day began next door at Boulangerie Dompierre, a cozy French café beside my hostel. Despite wanting to try a German bakery, the convenience won me over. The pastries were super fresh. Bees buzzed around the cinnamon buns, attracted by their sweetness. I grabbed a latte macchiato, a croissant, and a cinnamon bun. The bees still buzzed around my tote as I headed to the train station. I booked a day trip to Linderhof Palace, King Ludwig II’s home, and Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle inspired Walt Disney for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in 1955. It later became the official Disney company logo in 1985. I booked the tour on GetYourGuide for $156 USD. This price covered entrance and guided tours to both palaces. We rode on a double-decker bus with a glass sunroof. It was great for enjoying stunning views of the Bavarian Alps. The two-hour drive each way was scenic, with a guide explaining it all. On the bus, I sat with another solo traveler. She was a teacher from Australia, traveling through Europe for three months. We became friends in a short time and exchanged numbers. The village below the castle, 3,000 feet up the mountain, had restaurants, shops, and ATMs. I had lunch at Dorfwirt Hohenschwangau, then took the trolley up. I waited in line for about 30 minutes to reach Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge). The view of Neuschwanstein Castle from there is iconic. It was worth the wait! After touring the castle, I hiked back down (about 20 minutes) instead of returning by trolley. On the bus ride back, I even enjoyed an artisanal beer. This tour was a full 10.5 hours of epic storytelling and scenery.

Day 3: Day Trip to Salzburg, Austria

My morning began with a pretzel and a latte macchiato from Dompierre. I walked five minutes to Ostbahnhof station. Then, I took the train to the FlixBus pickup terminal for my day trip to Salzburg, Austria. One of the things I love about traveling in Europe is how easy it is to cross borders. With Germany bordering Austria, it’s under two hours from Munich to Salzburg. When I arrived in Salzburg, the driver dropped me off in the middle of nowhere! Gorgeous scenery, yes, but I was thinking, “OMG, what now?!” On the drive there, I had booked a free walking tour via the GuruWalk app for 11 a.m. and had about 40 minutes to spare. With T-Mobile’s international plan, I can use roaming data. This helped me find directions to the meeting point. I could take the train or the local bus, so I chose the bus. After a 20-minute ride, I walked through Mirabell Gardens. I speed-walked to find the guide in that big garden! After a few wrong turns, I arrived 5 minutes before the tour began! 

On the tour, I discovered what makes Salzburg famous. Salzburg, a city woven with tales of the Mercedes-Benz legacy, echoes with history. From Hitler's shadow to its salt-saturated past, this place is rich in stories. Mozart's melodies echo through the charming streets. "The Sound of Music" captures the essence of the city. Our guide unveiled a forgotten chapter—once, fires roamed the town like wild beasts. A single blaze, fierce and unforgiving, swallowed a significant part of Salzburg whole. We learned about the scandal of a love affair linked to Mirabell Gardens. We also found out that Mozart's sister was very talented and might have been his ghostwriter. We visited Mozart’s birthplace and the church where "Silent Night" was first played. True to Salzburg’s fiery history, that church later burned down!

My hostel roommate recommended the GuruWalk app, and it would be beneficial for you as well. I’d never done a free walking tour, and I wasn’t expecting to learn so much! The tour lasted 2½ hours and provided a wealth of information, so I tipped the guide €17. After the tour, I grabbed lunch. I walked across the Marko-Feingold-Steg love lock bridge. I spotted a halal food stand named Stadtkebab. I usually eat local food, but I was craving options beyond pretzels and sausage! The grilled veggies looked great, so I got a takeout container. I ate them on a bench by the bridge! For dessert, I went to Café Sacher. I had a slice of Sachertorte. It's Austria's most famous dessert, created in Vienna in 1832. I have a massive sweet tooth, so I had to try it! After a few bites, I still had hours before my bus pickup in the late afternoon. I wandered along the lovely Getreidegasse. This historic shopping street in the old town is where Mozart was born. Fun fact: This street is so famous that McDonald's had to leave; they couldn’t keep up with the high rent! When it was time to return to the station, maps showed either a 50-minute bus ride or a one-hour walk. I chose to walk, and I’m so glad I did. The cobblestone roads were quaint, and I felt very safe carrying all my shopping bags. When I arrived at the bus terminal, the thought of being stranded struck me, no exaggeration. I discourage using FlixBus and will not choose them again. My bus was 90 minutes late, and I didn’t get so much as a heads-up until ten minutes before it finally arrived! I called customer service twice, hoping for some news, but they told me to wait. I wasn’t alone in my anxiety. A solo traveler from South Korea and a couple from France were with me. We were all worried it might never show. To make things worse, it started to rain! We were stuck on the side of the road, in the rain, in a foreign country! I turned to the comfort of my leftover chocolate cake, finishing it on the sidewalk! When the bus arrived, many people crowded it. Someone took my reserved seat, but I let it go. We cleared customs soon after leaving Salzburg, and I fell asleep for the ride back. We got to Munich at 9 PM. I wanted to avoid being outside alone at that time. Luckily, the solo traveler from Korea hadn’t booked a place. So, we walked together, and he booked at my hostel.

That night, I skipped dinner. After all that cake and bus drama, I curled up with Crown of Midnight and fell asleep!

Day 4: Third Reich, WWII & Dachau Concentration Camp

My morning began with a trail of bees at Dompierre. I know what you're thinking: "She went to the same coffee shop every morning!" I know, I usually have a list of must-try restaurants and coffee shops. This time, I didn't bother. I wanted the trip to feel easy. This café was sweet and right by my hostel, on the way to the train station. It’s a no-brainer! I made my way to Marienplatz to start the Third Reich and WWII walking tour. This is the tour I mentioned at the beginning of the blog to do at the start of your trip. I had seen some of the places we passed, but with Josh explaining, everything was amazing. I saw two beautiful plaques on the buildings when I arrived. I wasn't sure what they said because they were in German. Josh said both plaques thanked the U.S. for sending soldiers. These soldiers helped liberate them from the Holocaust. He asked us, “Why did the Germans, known for great cars and beer, take 47 years to thank the Americans?” I felt chills when he said this because it was true! The Germans make the cars we drive that, to us Americans, are luxury cars! The beer I had on my couch last night while watching Call Her Daddy is a German beer! So why did it take them so long? They had to wait for a new generation of Germans. The ones who lived during Hitler's time couldn’t talk about him or the Holocaust. Mind-blowing! 

Along the tour, we also walked along a cobblestone road with a beautiful path made of gold. An artist made this to honor those who wouldn’t salute the Hitler flag. They chose to take a different path. The entire tour was $32 USD on GetYourGuide. I left the tour about 20 minutes early. I needed to walk back to Marienplatz for my next tour of Dachau Concentration Camp, which costs $49 USD. Now this tour... no words. We always learn when we travel, and traveling is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer. But looking back on all my trips, this is the one where I learned so much about history. During this tour, I could hardly believe I was there. I walked through the camp. I entered the rooms and saw the ovens that burned people. They assigned time slots for when to report to the crematorium—insane! I walked along the field where they had to do labor. They conducted roll call each morning and participated in experiments! I couldn’t believe I was standing in what once was hell.

My Last Night in Munich

After visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp, I returned to my hostel. I felt so happy to find the bathroom empty each time I needed it! My first hostel experience was the most enjoyable one. I hit the roommate jackpot! I had two American nurses and one German for a networking trip. Our schedules lined up right. I was free for the early tours. The mom-and-son duo chose later times. Plus, my roommate often partied at the hotel bar until late, so I hardly saw him. That evening, I determined to feel "put together" for my night out. After days of touring in humid Munich, I felt sweaty and sticky. But tonight, I wanted to straighten my hair and look nice. By around 6 p.m., the suite was mine alone. While I got ready, I thought about the night of my Neuschwanstein castle tour. My roommate, the son, sat against the wall, chatting with me late into the night. I thought about inviting him out with my new Aussie friend. After I got ready and didn’t see him, I took a notepad from the front desk. I wrote a note and left it on his bunk. It was out of my comfort zone, but also exciting. Then I slipped out to the brewery next door for a beer. With an hour until I had to meet my friend, I decided to explore further. I went to Werksviertel Brau, a brewery, where—get this: a beer and a pretzel together cost €3! I then went to Transit Rooftop & Bar. It sits on an old shipping container and buzzes with energy. The best way to describe the area of my hostel to my fellow Americans would be: a container park! 

Once I’d soaked in the rooftop atmosphere, I took the train to meet my friend in a more relaxed, local neighborhood. We landed at The Moon Bar near Max-Joseph-Brücke; a sultry and cozy bar with great music. I sipped a beer and savored a creamy bowl of carbonara. Then things shifted into surreal awesomeness when my roommate showed up! We headed to Cohibar City, a Latin lounge where the music took me home: Don Omar, Shakira, Oscar De León. As a Cuban American, hearing that in Germany was everything. My roommate bought us drinks, and as I danced and sang, the night felt like a magical experience. Finally, we walked over to Marienplatz and had a drink at a bar, leaning into the historical weight of the place. As I sipped my beer at night, I marveled at our fun. It felt surreal to enjoy ourselves in a city that once required people to salute Hitler’s flag. The contrast felt intense and powerful.

When my friend called it a night, I wasn’t done yet—my roommate and I stayed out past midnight. But that, my readers, is a story for another post…