Alone at Easter? Why the hostel is the better substitute for family

For many, Easter is a family celebration. Breakfast together, long walks, cake at the parents' house, perhaps a short trip back home. Spring is coming, the days are getting longer, cafés are putting their tables outside – and suddenly it seems as if everyone is ‘visiting’ somewhere. And you?

Maybe you're an expat and your family lives in another country. Maybe you're single and your friends are scattered across the country for the holidays. Maybe you're not in close contact with your family. The fact is, being alone at Easter often feels stranger than expected. Not dramatic, but awkward.

Because while Christmas is officially set to ‘family mode’, Easter seems more subtle – and that's exactly why it sometimes feels lonelier. Many people don't travel across the country especially for it. Yet somehow, everyone is away. And you sit there with the feeling that ‘you really should be doing something right now’.

Here's a counter-idea: travel alone at Easter – deliberately. Not as an escape, but as a decision. And preferably alone in a hostel. This is not a ‘cheer up’ guide. Rather, it is an honest alternative: how to spend Easter in a way that feels connected – even without family.

Why Easter can be awkward for singles and expats

Let's be realistic.

• There are fewer public substitute formats than at Christmas.
• Your circle of friends is shrinking – many are with their parents or relatives.
• Spontaneous ‘let's do something’ options are disappearing.
• At the same time, there is an expectation in the air: ‘You should make the most of your time.’

And this is exactly where this strange vacuum arises. You don't want to complain. But you also don't want to spend four days binge-watching series while Instagram is full of Easter brunch pictures.

If this sounds familiar, you're not weird. You're just in a phase of life where holidays are being reordered. And that's exactly why travelling alone at Easter isn't a stopgap solution – it's a strategically smart decision.

The counter-idea: hostels not as accommodation, but as community hubs

When most people think of hostels, they think of a bed in a dormitory. Wrong focus.

A hostel is a social filter. People who stay there usually have a similar starting point:

• Not at home
• Open to new contacts
• No traditional family planning
• On the move, curious, available

If you're alone in a hostel, you're not the only person ‘without a plan’. You are part of a group of people who are also on the move.

The difference to bars or apps? You meet people who are having the same experience as you. City trip. New surroundings. No home around the corner. That connects people faster than any profile picture.

Especially in cities like Berlin, Hamburg or Vienna, where a&o hostels are centrally located, this dynamic arises almost automatically. You are right in the middle of the action.

How ‘hostels as communities’ work at Easter – 3 scenarios that really happen

This isn't theory. These are typical situations.n.

Mode A: ‘I want to socialise – but not party’

Where it happens:

In the communal kitchen and at mealtimes, late afternoon or evening. Self-catering is normal in hostels. People chop vegetables, heat up pasta, look for salt, wash up. No one is trying to be sociable – everyone just does their own thing.

Why it works:

You don't need the perfect conversation starter. The situation provides it.

• ‘What are you cooking?’
• ‘Where did you buy that?’
• ‘Is it good?’
• ‘Do you want to join us for dinner?’

Everyday hostel life in real time: someone has too much pasta. Someone else has leftover sauce. Mini interactions lead to conversations. ‘We've made too much anyway – do you want to join us for dinner?’ is more natural than any planned networking.

What realistically comes of it:

Eating together at the table. Afterwards: ‘What are you doing later?’ Maybe a walk. Maybe a drink. Maybe just sitting together. The plan comes about casually – not forced.

Mode B: ‘I want community – but a relaxed evening’

Where it happens:

Common area or lounge, late afternoon to evening. People sit with a drink, laptop, cards, planning their next day or just scrolling. It's about being together rather than putting on a show.

Why it works:

You can sit down without having to perform immediately. Typical hostel moments:

• Someone asks for a power socket → conversation ensues.
• Someone plays cards or Uno → ‘Can I join in?’
• Someone plans the next day → ‘What's really worth seeing here?’

This works particularly well in cities like Munich or Prague, because many guests are there to do sightseeing.

What realistically happens:

‘We'll stay for another 30 minutes.’ And suddenly it's been two hours. Maybe you'll go out later. Maybe not. Either is fine. The important thing is that you weren't alone.

Mode C: ‘I feel like partying – but only in a group’

Going to a party area alone feels strange for many people. In hostels, the trick is to start together.

Where this happens:

Pre-drinks in the kitchen or lounge. Spontaneous group formation: ‘Who else is going out?’

Why it works:

No one needs a perfect plan. Just a shared departure. Typical situations:

• ‘We're heading into the city centre – anyone coming with us?’
• ‘We're just popping in for a beer.’

Non-committal sounds attractive. That's exactly why it works.

What realistically happens:

You set off together. You have a safe way back. No one ends the evening completely alone.

In cities with a vibrant nightlife, such as Cologne or Budapest, these groups form particularly quickly – because that's exactly why many people are there

FAQ: Alone at Easter in a hostel – honest answers

How can I make friends in a hostel without having to force myself to be sociable?

Spend time in communal areas. Kitchen. Lounge. Breakfast room. Don't scroll through your phone in bed and hope for magic to happen. Visibility creates contact. Say simple sentences. No performance. No small talk marathon. One sentence is enough to open a door.

Which hostel moments are best for getting to know people?

• Cooking together
• Breakfast time
• Games in the lounge
• Planning the next day

The kitchen is usually the best place. Food brings people together faster than any icebreaker game.

I feel like partying – but not alone. How do I find a group?

Spend your evenings in the common areas. Ask openly: ‘Is anyone going out tonight?’
In hostels, this isn't a strange question. It's normal.

I want company, but a quiet evening. What works best?

Sit in the lounge with a drink. Laptop open, book in hand. People are more likely to talk to someone who is present than someone behind a closed door.

How easy is it really to make friends in a dormitory?

Surprisingly easy. A ‘Where are you from?’ or ‘How long are you staying?’ is enough. Dormitories accelerate closeness because you share space.

If you want privacy, you can also book single or double rooms at a&o – and still enjoy the community.

Redefining Easter

If you're wondering whether you should travel alone at Easter, take it as a sign. Not as an escape. As a decision to move forward instead of standing still.

Staying in a hostel alone doesn't mean being lonely. It means being open. It means rediscovering a city in the middle of spring – and meeting people who are also travelling.

Whether you're wandering through Berlin, drinking coffee in Vienna or walking along the waterfront in Hamburg – you don't have to spend Easter in waiting mode. Book your a&o hostel, pack light and give yourself the chance to meet new people. Sometimes the best substitute for family is simply a community that happens to be in the same place as you.

More inspiration for your Easter trip:

• City break ideas for spring
• Budget tips for spontaneous short trips
• Experience community moments at the hostel

Discover now and plan your Easter weekend – with a&o travel tips.

Got hooked?

Then book your trip with a&o to Budapest!