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No more mud and sleeping bags: the a&o Hostel is your festival upgrade
From someone who finally had a change of heart after a night in a soggy sleeping bag.
It was the Hurricane Festival, day three. I was lying in my soaked tent; the air mattress had already given up the ghost on the first night, my wellies were standing in water, and I was trying to use a damp towel to achieve something that could be described as personal hygiene. Rain outside, rain inside – rain everywhere. It was the last time I went camping.
Since then, I’ve completely revamped my festival game – and the magic word is: a&o Hostels.
The camping fairy tale and reality
Yes, camping at festivals has its charm. The sense of community on the campsite, the spontaneous games of beer pong, bonding through shared misery – it all sounds brilliant. And sometimes it is – for the first 24 hours.
After that, reality sets in: three days without hot water, no proper bed, no power socket for your mobile, queuing for a shower that’s basically a garden hose – and all that for a camping pass that usually costs just as much as staying in a hostel. The disillusionment reliably kicks in around day two, usually in the morning, when you’re supposed to start the next day of concerts stiff and sleep-deprived.
That’s why it’s wise to consider alternatives right from the start when planning your festival trip. And this is exactly where a&o Hostels come in – Europe’s largest hostel chain, with over 40 hostels in more than 30 cities. After all, there’s an a&o Hostel in a surprising number of festival cities. And once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to go back to a tent.
Festival cities with a&o at a glance
Let’s take a look at where an a&o hostel really makes for the perfect festival base camp:
Nuremberg – Rock im Park
One of Germany’s best-known rock festivals takes place every year at Zeppelinfeld in Nuremberg – right in the city centre. Rock im Park 2026 runs from 5 to 7 June. The headliners are Linkin Park, Iron Maiden and Limp Bizkit – a line-up that leaves nothing to be desired. They’ll be joined by Electric Callboy, Papa Roach, Sabaton, The Offspring, Volbeat, Alter Bridge, Tom Morello, Breaking Benjamin and many more. The a&o Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof is centrally located and is conveniently connected to the festival site by S-Bahn or tram. No trudging through mud, no hours-long walk to the campsite – just hop on the train after the last song and 20 minutes later you’re already under a hot shower.
Cologne – Summerjam
Cologne is a real festival hotspot. The Summerjam at Fühlinger See is regarded as Germany’s biggest reggae festival. In 2026, it will celebrate its 39th edition – from 3 to 5 July, right by the lake. Burning Spear, Gentleman and Julian Marley have been confirmed as headliners, alongside Bonez MC, Bausa, Dexta Daps, Ky-Mani Marley, Disarstar, SSIO and many more. With three a&o Hostels in Cologne, the choice is huge. Cologne also offers great opportunities to round off the festival day with an evening in the old town – without having to trudge three kilometres back across a muddy campsite afterwards.
Leipzig – Highfield Festival
The Highfield Festival on Lake Störmthal is one of the most traditional festivals in eastern Germany. The setting is idyllic – indie, punk and hip-hop right by the water. Highfield 2026 takes place from 14 to 16 August. Headliners include Beatsteaks (you need to see them playing live at least once in your life), Kraftklub and Marteria. Friday features SDP, BHZ and Giant Rooks; on Saturday, Dropkick Murphys, 01099 and Zartmann take to the stage; and on Sunday, the festival wraps up with Feine Sahne Fischfilet, $oho Bani and Nura. The a&o Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is perfectly situated: there’s an official festival shuttle from the main station that runs to the site every 20–30 minutes.
Hamburg – MS Dockville & Reeperbahn Festival
Hamburg isn’t just a world-class city when it comes to music – with four a&o Hostels in Hamburg, it also boasts a dense network of affordable accommodation. MS Dockville in Wilhelmsburg is just a few minutes’ journey by S-Bahn from the main station. The Reeperbahn Festival (16–19 September) is regarded as Europe’s most important club festival and takes place practically on the doorstep of the a&o Hamburg Reeperbahn – literally just a few hundred metres away. Anyone wishing to experience Hamburg’s legendary nightlife after a long day at the festival needs central accommodation – no car, no taxi, just a short walk.
Berlin – Lollapalooza
Berlin, the Mecca of electronic music and home to Lollapalooza at the Olympic Stadium. Lollapalooza Berlin 2026 takes place on 18 and 19 July. The line-up features confirmed acts including Pitbull, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Ayliva, Lily Allen, Zara Larsson, Tom Odell, Teddy Swims and many more. With four a&o Hostels in Berlin, there’s something to suit everyone. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn run through the night, so you can get from the Olympic Park to your hostel easily and cheaply.
Munich – Superbloom & Tollwood
Munich has developed enormously as a festival city in recent years. Superbloom in the Olympic Park will take place from 29 August to 4 September 2026. Lorde, Kygo and Ayliva have been confirmed as headliners, alongside Lewis Capaldi, Bastille, Zara Larsson, Tash Sultana, Tom Odell and many more. The Tollwood Summer Festival will be bringing concerts ranging from Deep Purple to Wincent Weiss to the Olympiapark all summer long. With three a&o Hostels in Munich, there is an excellent base – the underground goes straight to the Olympiapark.
Dortmund – the Ruhr region as a festival hub
The a&o Dortmund Hauptbahnhof is located in the heart of the Ruhr region – an area that is literally awash with festival energy in the summer. Parookaville in Weeze (Lower Rhine, 17–19 July) is Germany’s largest EDM festival, attracting over 225,000 visitors – and easily accessible by train from Dortmund. The Ruhr Reggae Summer in Mülheim is practically on our doorstep. Anyone kicking off the festival season from Dortmund can base themselves centrally and affordably, commuting back and forth to the events.
Vienna – Donauinselfest & Co.
The Danube Island Festival in Vienna, which attracts several million visitors, is one of Europe’s largest open-air festivals – and it’s free. Both a&o Hostels in Vienna are excellently connected by underground. The Danube Island Festival 2026 takes place at the beginning of July – the perfect opportunity to explore Vienna whilst enjoying the continent’s biggest free festival.
Budapest – Sziget Festival
The Sziget Festival on the Danube Island is one of Europe’s most legendary festivals – an entire island is transformed into a festival city. Sziget 2026 takes place from 11 to 15 August in Budapest. The headliners are top-class: Florence + The Machine, Twenty One Pilots, Bring Me The Horizon, Lewis Capaldi, Zara Larsson and Somb. They’ll be joined by Biffy Clyro, Skrillex, Peggy Gou, Wolf Alice, Skepta, Jorja Smith, Sigrid, Richie Hawtin, Dom Dolla and many more across over 60 stages. The a&o Budapest City is centrally located and has excellent metro links to the festival site. If you don’t want to wake up in a sleeping bag after five intense days of festival, this is the perfect place for you.
Manchester – Parklife & More
Manchester is one of Europe’s liveliest music cities. The Parklife Festival takes place every year in Heaton Park and is easily accessible from the city centre by tram. The a&o Manchester City Centre offers the perfect base for everything this city has to offer.
The a&o Hostel is miles ahead of a campsite – 10 honest reasons
1. Warm and dry – always
That sounds obvious, but it isn’t at a campsite. Rain, wind, a drop in temperature at night – the hostel room is warm, dry and comfortable. Coming back to a cosy room after a rainy day at the festival is priceless.
2. A proper bed – deluxe comfort
Not an air mattress that’s gone flat by 3 am. Not a sleeping mat on a hard floor setup. A proper bed with a mattress, pillow and blanket. If you sleep well, you’ll arrive at the next day of the festival feeling human, not like a zombie.
3. Private bathroom with toilet/shower
No queuing for portable toilets. No trek to the toilet block at 7 am. At a&o, there are private bathrooms right in your room. A hot shower after three dusty and/or freezing cold festival days isn’t a luxury, but a basic right.
4. Central location & short distances
All a&o locations are deliberately situated in city centres – often right next to the main station or within walking distance of a public transport hub. That means: no hours-long journeys to the middle of nowhere, no expensive shuttle chaos, no hunting for a parking space. Just hop on a train and you’ll be at the festival in 20–30 minutes.
5. Really affordable
What many people don’t realise: a bed at an a&o hostel is often cheaper than a campsite at the festival. When you factor in the cost of a camping pass, sleeping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, gas hob) and the hassle, the hostel becomes a real bargain. Groups benefit particularly: several people sharing a dormitory or a double room often pay just 20–40 euros per person.
6. Bookable for groups
a&o offers shared rooms and group rates – perfect for a festival trip with friends. You can book together as a group, check in on the same floor and share the journey to your accommodation. And after the festival, simply look back on your experiences over breakfast together.
7. Bar & Lobby – the after-party starts right at the hostel
a&o hostels have their own 24-hour bar right on the premises. If you don’t want to go straight to bed after the final act, you can round off the evening at the hostel with the other guests. That’s sometimes even nicer than the crowded festival area – and best of all: it’s a short walk to bed.
8. Charge your phone, wash your clothes, store your luggage
Electricity is in short supply at the campsite. At the hostel, you can charge your mobile phone, camera and power bank in peace. Many sites have lockers, so you can store your valuables safely. And if you’re planning a longer stay at the festival, you might even be able to do your laundry.
9. No luggage nightmare
If you’re staying at the campsite, you’ll be lugging around: a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, gas hob with spare cartridges, crockery, tins of ravioli, clothes for three days and for all weathers, wellies, and a rain jacket. If you stay in a hostel, you just pack a small rucksack. The difference in quality of life is huge right from the start of your journey – and not travelling by car is both sustainable and cost-effective.
10. Start the festival day relaxed
If you wake up in a hostel room in the morning, you can have a shower, have breakfast (breakfast is available as an optional extra at a&o), plan your festival day in peace and set off feeling refreshed. If you wake up at the campsite, you’ll first have to battle with tent poles, damp socks and the urgent desire to go home.
The smart festival plan: how to combine a&o and the festival perfectly
If you want the best of both worlds, you can also go for a hybrid approach: use the hostel as a safe home base, immerse yourself fully in the festival during the day and return in the evening. This works for all festivals with good public transport links – and that’s the vast majority in a&o cities.
Tip: Book early! During peak festival season, rooms sell out fast – not just hotels, but hostel beds too. If you know your festival dates, you should head straight to aohostels.com and book. With the a&o Club, you can also get up to 25% off bookings – so it’s definitely worth registering for free.
Leave the tent at home
I’m not anti-camping. I get the appeal. But I’m also pragmatic enough to know that a festival takes a lot of energy – and that it’s best not to waste that energy on a poor night’s sleep. The a&o Hostel is the most honest answer to the question of how to really enjoy a festival: well-rested, clean, without luggage stress, and with a bed at the end of the day.
And when the rain comes – and it always does – you just smile, order another beer at the hostel bar and are glad your sleeping bag is at home. Promise.
