🇩🇪 Aachen, Germany
Hostel Aachen
📍 Mauerstraße 116, 52064 Aachen, Germany
Your stay — Hostel Aachen
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Aachen.
The Property — Hostel Aachen
Hostel Aachen is a no-frills, budget-conscious option right next to the main train station. The lobby feels like a functional youth hostel crossed with a low-cost hotel, with laminate floors, a small reception desk, and a breakfast room that does the job. It suits solo travellers or groups who want a cheap base for exploring the city centre, a 10-minute walk away. You won’t find character or comfort here, but the location is unbeatable for catching early trains or quick stops.
Chronicles of Aachen
Aachen was founded as a Roman spa town called Aquae Granni around the 1st century AD, prized for its hot springs. Charlemagne made it his imperial residence in the 8th century, building the Palatine Chapel that now forms the core of the Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city became a free imperial city and was a key coronation site for German kings for over 600 years. Its 19th-century industrial boom gave it a solid engineering identity, which persists with RWTH Aachen University. Today, it’s a mid-sized, student-heavy city that balances Roman history, Carolingian architecture, and modern tech—and the spa culture still thrives in the Carolus Thermen.
Best Time to Visit
Full Aachen guide →Best months
May, June, September: mild temperatures (17–22°C), long daylight hours, and lower tourist pressure than midsummer. City festivals like the Printenmarkt in May add local flavour without overwhelming crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July and December. July is part of the main summer holiday period, so many visitors combine Aachen with nearby Maastricht or Cologne. Hotel prices jump 20–40% above the annual average. December’s Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt is one of Germany’s best-attended, driving huge demand and higher room rates.
Budget shoulder season
September and November. September offers decent weather with fading crowds; November sees the city empty out before Christmas markets start, with hotel rates dropping noticeably. Pack for changeable weather.
Weather & packing
Aachen sits in a rain-shadow-ish pocket near the Dutch border but still gets frequent drizzle—don’t leave without a waterproof jacket. A lightweight fleece or layers work for July mornings that can start at 12°C even before afternoons reach 23°C.
Live City Briefing — Aachen
- The Aix-La-Chapelle Christmas market runs through December; July sees a quieter city but the Carolus Thermen remain open with limited summer promotions.
- Major construction on the Aachen Hauptbahnhof forecourt continues into 2026; expect temporary barriers and rerouted pedestrian access from the station side.
- The RWTH Aachen summer semester ends in July, so some student-friendly bars and eateries may have reduced hours or a calmer vibe.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostel Aachen, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise from Mauerstraße, and the courtyard side avoids the tram rumble on the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those at the front, as Mauerstraße has daytime traffic and occasional nighttime delivery trucks. Also skip rooms near the stairwell or lift shaft on any floor, as that generates slamming and mechanical noise.
Best views
At 116 Mauerstraße, the front rooms look onto a residential street with old buildings — pleasant but not scenic. The real view is from upper floors on the courtyard side: a quiet, green outlook over back gardens.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors (EU numbering: first floor above ground is floor 1) — these are above street bustle but below any roof-level equipment or terrace activity.
🔊 Noise notes
Mauerstraße is a secondary road with bus routes and occasional bin collection in early morning. Trams run on neighboring streets; you may hear a low hum in front-facing rooms. The lift is a slow hydraulic type — audible from adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. Request a courtyard room at booking; they're consistently quieter. 2. The hotel doesn't have on-site parking, but there's a public garage two minutes' walk away (Parkhaus Karlsgraben) — ask reception for a discount voucher.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hostel Aachen
Free WiFi throughout, 50 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up, no login password needed – just accept terms on captive portal
No lift – stairs to all floors (ground floor is reception/lounge, first floor and second floor are bedrooms)
No physical papers delivered; free digital access to AZ/Medienhaus Aachen news via QR code at reception
Standard check-in 15:00–22:00; keypad code for arrivals after 22:00; early bag drop from 10:00 free; late check-out until 13:00 for €10
Free luggage room behind the reception desk, accessible during staffed hours 08:00–22:00
No step-free access; three steps at entrance, no wheelchair-accessible toilet or bedroom; small spiral staircase to first floor
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parkhaus Büchel (€1.50/hour, €12/night, 5-min walk). No EV charging on site; public 22 kW AC charger at Rathaus Aachen car park (6-min walk)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (hostels in Aachen are exempt from the culture tax; private hotels charge €3–5 per person per night)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit for standard bookings; at check-in a €10–€20 credit card hold for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St. Jakob (220 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Roskapellchen (385 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Luisenhospitalkapelle (SELK) (453 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: St. Paul (772 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Elisengalerie — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Westpark — 555 m · ~7 min walk
Domschatzkammer — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
THEATERSCHULE AACHEN E.V. — 592 m · ~7 min walk
Spielplatz Stromgasse / Mühlenberg — 273 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 79 m · ~1 min walk
Westpark-Apotheke — 320 m · ~4 min walk
Asia Shop — 253 m · ~3 min walk
Aachen Schanz — 126 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs in the city centre for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport and main train station as they charge high fees and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and shops; contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are common; some small cafes and bakeries may still prefer cash.
Rounding up the bill by 5-10% is standard in restaurants; for taxis, round up to the next euro; hotel staff appreciate €1-2 per bag or per night for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Standing at the counter in a bakery or café: a regular filter coffee or espresso costs around €2.50-3.00.
A takeaway Döner kebab or falafel wrap from a snack shop costs about €5.00-6.50; many bakeries offer lunchtime soup or quiche for under €5.00.
A main course at a simple Italian or Greek restaurant (like spaghetti or gyros plate) typically runs €10-14.
The area around Aachen central station has several kebab and Asian noodle stalls; the weekly market at the cathedral square on Saturdays offers local bratwurst and baked goods.
Aldi, Lidl, and Netto are the cheapest supermarket chains; Rewe is slightly pricier but has a bigger selection.
Primark and H&M near the main shopping street (Krämerstraße) offer budget clothing; the weekly flea market at Pontdriesch occasionally has second-hand clothes.
A single bus/tram ticket within Aachen costs about €2.90; a day pass for the city zone is around €5.50 and covers all buses and trams; from the airport (e.g., Cologne/Bonn), take the regional train (€22-25 one-way) rather than the direct airport shuttle bus (near €40).
Buy a day pass for public transport if making more than two journeys; fill up a water bottle at public fountains (Pfennigbrunnen near the cathedral has drinkable water); avoid eating directly on the main market square — walk a street or two away for better prices.
Good to know — Aachen
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
AachenWhere to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Aachen, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostel Aachen
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 79 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Westpark-Apotheke — 320 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Aachen central bus station (Kaiserplatz) → Hotel Buschhausen, Aachen
💡 Use ASEAG buses line 33 or 6. Validate your ticket in the machine on the bus – drivers won't remind you.
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) train station → Hotel Buschhausen, Aachen
💡 From Aachen Hbf take bus line 33 to 'Amstelbach' stop – two-minute walk to hotel. Buy a Rheinisches SchönerTag-Ticket if you have company.
Aachen Hbf → Hotel Buschhausen, Aachen
💡 Fun for a scenic ride, but don't rely on it for early or late connections – it's seasonal. Get off at 'Ronheide' and walk 5 min.
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) → Hotel Buschhausen, Aachen
💡 Book with Taxi Aachen (Tel. +49 241 4441) for fixed rates; avoid meter-only casual cabs at the rank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostel Aachen?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise from Mauerstraße, and the courtyard side avoids the tram rumble on the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostel Aachen?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those at the front, as Mauerstraße has daytime traffic and occasional nighttime delivery trucks. Also skip rooms near the stairwell or lift shaft on any floor, as that generates slamming and mechanical noise.
Is Hostel Aachen noisy?
Mauerstraße is a secondary road with bus routes and occasional bin collection in early morning. Trams run on neighboring streets; you may hear a low hum in front-facing rooms. The lift is a slow hydraulic type — audible from adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostel Aachen?
At 116 Mauerstraße, the front rooms look onto a residential street with old buildings — pleasant but not scenic. The real view is from upper floors on the courtyard side: a quiet, green outlook over back gardens.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostel Aachen?
1. Request a courtyard room at booking; they're consistently quieter. 2. The hotel doesn't have on-site parking, but there's a public garage two minutes' walk away (Parkhaus Karlsgraben) — ask reception for a discount voucher.
What time is check-in at Hostel Aachen?
Check-in at Hostel Aachen is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostel Aachen have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, 50 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up, no login password needed – just accept terms on captive portal
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostel Aachen?
None (hostels in Aachen are exempt from the culture tax; private hotels charge €3–5 per person per night)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostel Aachen?
A takeaway Döner kebab or falafel wrap from a snack shop costs about €5.00-6.50; many bakeries offer lunchtime soup or quiche for under €5.00.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostel Aachen?
A single bus/tram ticket within Aachen costs about €2.90; a day pass for the city zone is around €5.50 and covers all buses and trams; from the airport (e.g., Cologne/Bonn), take the regional train (€22-25 one-way) rather than the direct airport shuttle bus (near €40).
When is the best time to visit Aachen?
May, June, September: mild temperatures (17–22°C), long daylight hours, and lower tourist pressure than midsummer. City festivals like the Printenmarkt in May add local flavour without overwhelming crowds.
Top Attractions in Aachen
💡 Bring an empty bottle. The water tastes strongly of egg; locals swear by its health benefits. Best visited at dusk when the building is lit up.
💡 For a dirt-cheap lunch, try the currywurst at Imbiß am Büchel (€3.50). The square usually has free live music on warm Friday evenings from May to September.
💡 Arrive just after morning mass (around 8:30am) to avoid tour groups. The treasury is worth the €5 if you're interested in medieval relics.
💡 Follow the spiral path near the café up to the top—less steep than the main steps. Pair with a visit to the nearby Bismarckturm if you want views.
💡 The ground floor pharmacy is the highlight. Ask at the desk about the guided 20-minute audio tour included in the ticket—it's not obvious.