Sometimes the best breaks are the simplest ones. A pair of walking boots, a backpack, somewhere welcoming to stay and a beautiful landscape waiting outside the door can be all you need.
For generations, An Óige – the Irish Youth Hostel Association has helped people experience Ireland this way. Founded in 1931, the organisation’s mission is to provide safe, affordable and comfortable accommodation while encouraging people to appreciate Ireland’s nature, culture and history.
Today, An Óige operates four hostels in spectacular locations: Glendalough, Knockree and Glenmalure in County Wicklow, and Errigal in County Donegal. Each offers something a little different, but they share one important quality: they put some of Ireland’s most memorable landscapes within easy reach.
Whether you want a weekend of hiking, a family adventure, a few peaceful days surrounded by nature or simply the chance to switch off, there’s an An Óige experience waiting for you.
Step into History and Nature at Glendalough
Few places capture the magic of the Irish landscape quite like Glendalough.
Surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Glendalough International Hostel is just a short stroll from the famous monastic settlement and the Upper and Lower Lakes.
Spend your morning exploring the remains of St Kevin’s ancient monastic settlement, follow one of the woodland and lakeside trails or challenge yourself with a hike up the Spinc. Then return to the hostel, cook dinner and relax after a day spent outdoors.
With private rooms and dormitories, a self-catering kitchen and comfortable communal areas, Glendalough works particularly well for families, groups and individual adventurers who want to spend more than a few hours exploring this remarkable valley.
Discover the Wicklow Way from Knockree
Further north, Knockree Hostel offers another way to experience the Wicklow Mountains.
Set in a restored 18th-century farmhouse overlooking the beautiful Glencree Valley, Knockree combines countryside surroundings with comfortable hostel facilities. The Wicklow Mountains National Park provides plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling and exploring, while Powerscourt and Glendalough are also within reach.
It’s an especially appealing destination for walkers, with the Wicklow Way providing the inspiration for anything from a day’s ramble to a bigger walking adventure.
And sometimes you don’t need to go anywhere at all. Sitting outside, enjoying the mountain views and allowing the pace of life to slow down can be an attraction in itself.
Wake Up Beneath Errigal
For a completely different landscape, head northwest to Errigal Hostel in County Donegal.
Located at the foot of Errigal Mountain in the Donegal Gaeltacht, the hostel overlooks Lake Nacung and the Derryveagh Mountains. From here, you can explore Glenveagh National Park, tackle mountain walks, discover nearby beaches or experience the language, music and culture of the surrounding Gaeltacht.
The hostel itself has private rooms and dormitories, a shared self-catering kitchen, lounge area and panoramic mountain views.
Few things make you want to get outside quite like waking up with one of Ireland’s most distinctive mountains on your doorstep.
Go Off-Grid at Glenmalure
For travellers who really want to escape, Glenmalure Youth Hostel offers something increasingly rare: simplicity.
Tucked away above the magnificent Glenmalure Valley in County Wicklow, this intimate cottage-style hostel takes a deliberately rustic approach. Don’t arrive expecting all the conveniences of a modern hotel. Instead, think gas lighting, fresh river water for washing and cooking, mountain scenery and an opportunity to properly unplug.
That simplicity is exactly what makes Glenmalure special.
The hostel sits in a 20km glacial valley surrounded by dramatic Wicklow countryside and is an excellent base for walkers and hikers. The surrounding area is rich in history too, with connections to the 1798 Battle of Glenmalure as well as figures including playwright J.M. Synge and Maud Gonne McBride.
In a world of constant notifications, streaming and screen time, a night somewhere without all the usual distractions can feel like a genuine adventure.
Walk during the day. Cook something simple. Talk to your fellow travellers. Watch the evening settle over the valley.
Sometimes less really is more.
Hostelling Isn't Just for Backpackers
The word “hostel” might still conjure up images of young backpackers travelling around Europe, but An Óige welcomes a much broader community.
Families, couples, solo travellers, school groups, walking clubs and groups of friends can all use the hostels as bases for exploring Ireland. Private rooms are available alongside traditional dormitory accommodation at Glendalough, Knockree and Errigal, while communal spaces and self-catering facilities help create the relaxed atmosphere that has always been part of hostelling.
There is also the question of value.
With accommodation costs taking up an increasingly large part of many holiday budgets, hostelling can be a more affordable way to spend a few days exploring Ireland. Self-catering can help keep food costs under control too, leaving more of your budget for activities, attractions or perhaps an extra night away.
An Óige members currently receive 10% off stays at its Irish hostels as well as discounts across the wider Hostelling International network.
But saving money is only part of the appeal.
Make the Journey Part of the Adventure
What makes an An Óige break memorable isn’t necessarily what’s inside the building.
It’s what’s outside the front door.
It’s waking up beneath Errigal. Walking beside the lakes at Glendalough. Setting off along the Wicklow Way from Knockree. Or spending an evening by gaslight in Glenmalure with the mountains outside and your phone forgotten at the bottom of your bag.
These are places that encourage you to get outside, explore and experience Ireland at a different pace.
You don’t need luxury to have a great holiday. Sometimes all you need is somewhere comfortable to sleep, good company and a little adventure.
And with An Óige, the adventure often starts right outside the hostel door.