The MadHouse Prague

Jake Long★★★★★★★★★★1.02 weeks ago

The person on top of my bunk threw up on their bed and then proceeded to sleep in it for two nights. Staff were constantly coming in and out of our room because they had a connecting room/ storage room, so it's hard for me to believe that they didn't notice it. I have stayed at many hostels, including party hostels, but have never had to deal with something like this. The activities were not that fun, and I felt like we were getting yelled at during the drinking games more than anything else. There were some nice staff members here, but the overall vibe was not good. I had high hopes coming here and heard it was one of the best hostels in Europe, but I talked with some other backpackers during my trip, and they had similar experiences, so I feel like this place is mostly banking on its past reputation. Sorry to write such a negative review- It's great if others enjoy this place, but it was my worst hostel experience in three months of backpacking

Hardik Babaria (HDK)★★★★★★★★★★1.05 months ago

Do not be misled by the high ratings. After staying in top-rated hostels in Barcelona, Munich, Vienna, Innsbruck, and even Amsterdam, I can confidently say Madhouse Prague offers the worst value for money. We actually paid less in Amsterdam for significantly better facilities. ​The Space & Layout: The layout is a logistical nightmare. The reception and common areas are on the 1st floor, with rooms from the 2nd floor up. There is no elevator, so be prepared to haul luggage up narrow stairs constantly. Our room on the 3rd floor was poorly designed—split into two tiny levels (5 guests on one, 3 on the other). The rooms are the smallest I’ve encountered in Europe; there is no privacy and no room to move. ​Capacity vs. Reality: The hostel claims a 40-person capacity, but the physical space cannot support it. The "common area" and the tiny kitchen/dining room are so small that if even half the guests tried to use them, they wouldn’t fit. It feels claustrophobic rather than social. ​Lack of Quality Standards: ​No 24-hour reception, which is unacceptable at this price point. ​Silent hours (9 PM) are a joke. Because the rooms are so cramped, you are disturbed by every single person entering or moving within the space. ​Forced Socializing: The only way to meet people is the nightly pub crawl. Unlike high-quality hostels, there is no functional space to socialize naturally. ​Final Verdict: The only thing this hostel has going for it is the location. If you value your sleep, your money, or basic comfort, stay elsewhere. This was a massive letdown compared to the standards of other major European cities.

Stephen D★★★★★★★★★★5.0a month ago

Bit of a delayed review.. I stayed at this hostel back in 2013 for two weeks and it was such an amazing experience, the staff was very hospitable and genuine. I had a crazy night and got locked outside the hostel at 4am and Chris let me in thankfully. They let me write in their guest book regarding the details of my night out and offered me another free night of stay (not sure if this still stands). When I come back to Prague I will pay you guys another visit! - Doyle from Canada

Luke Yaxley★★★★★★★★★★5.08 months ago

This was my first experience staying in a hostel. If you are interested in the nightlife in Prague, it is located within a short walk of a lot of cool bars/clubs. The hostel and all activities are ran mainly by volunteers which creates a really fun informal community vibe to the whole thing. Every night some of the volunteers will cook a 'family style' meal which everyone sits and eats together for 100czk which is around £3. When I was there, I had some really delicious meals such as french toast casserole and pasta alfredo. Every day there is usually some kind of trip out in Prague and in the evenings there are usually trips out to bars/clubs. Often the hostel will get a discounted rate for you through a group booking, you can sign up for tickets for these events at the reception (cash only). I would highly recommend bringing a lot of cash if you are going to Prague anyway as a lot of the local places only accept it as well. Overall I would highly recommend this hostel to anyone who is thinking of travelling to Prague especially solo as it is a really great and welcoming community and a fun and unique way to experience the city.

Abed Hossam★★★★★★★★★★1.08 months ago

I was honestly surprised by all the positive reviews, which made me book this hostel — but unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing, and I do not recommend staying here. Some staff members were friendly, but others were constantly drunk or hungover. When I arrived, the person giving the hostel tour was visibly drunk, which set a bad first impression. The hostel itself is very small and overcrowded. There is little space to move, and opening a suitcase is a challenge. Bathrooms were often dirty, and noise was a constant problem — people snoring, turning on lights at night, using phones on loud, and even taking drugs in the dorms. Sleeping here was almost impossible. Security was also an issue. I noticed theft, and overall the environment did not feel safe. The crowd was mostly large groups of men, and I witnessed behavior ranging from constant unwanted flirting to actual harassment. Although some offenders were eventually kicked out, the situation should have been handled more seriously and reported to the police. Another problem was the hidden fees. They ask for a cash deposit (not mentioned during booking), and most activities also require cash in Czech crowns. For travelers with a euro-based bank account, this means constant ATM withdrawals and extra fees. Even the group dinners were disappointing — one I joined turned out to be just fried eggs and bread, although cheap. Almost every organized activity revolves around alcohol, not in a lighthearted social way, but in a way that felt more like promoting heavy drinking culture. When I decided to leave after three nights of a six-night booking, I was refused a refund. Finally, during one of the hostel’s drinking games, I witnessed staff openly cheering for a guest simply because he was from Israel, expressing political support that felt extremely inappropriate in a professional setting. Hostel staff should avoid promoting political views — especially ones tied to controversial conflicts — as it creates a hostile and divisive atmosphere for guests. The only positives were that some staff tried to be helpful, and the location is excellent — close to many of Prague’s highlights. Overall, however, the environment felt unsafe, unclean, and centered only around alcohol. If you want a good hostel experience in Prague, I suggest looking elsewhere