Bab El-Silsileh Hostel

As someone said before...I was also very impressed by the pictures that shows old, cool, historic place to stay in the heart of Jerusalem, but experience was a bit more worse than expected. Very noisy place, hard to rest during the night and not very clean. On the other hand location is more than good but all the time you have to explain to police that you going to hostel, as it is Muslim only area. Not too bad price, but do not expect luxury.

At first when I booked at Chain Gate Hostel many month before flying to Israel I was fascinated with the old stones and the medieval touch of the premises. When we arrived there we saw that we were really back in the middle-age! After an exhausting and very long walk with our luggage on the cobbled stones of the Old City (no taxi can drive there) we were stuck with the dampness of the premises. The room was without a single window and without any airing so the air was full of humidity. There was water dripping on the floor of our room due to poor air conditionning system. The bedsheets and pillow sheets were not clean and we could see stains and the mattresses were dating back from the middle-age with questioning stains. The private "bathroom" was a very tiny space with the shower hose directlly plugged on the sink tap and dripping water evacuating through a hole on the floor and water everywhere. Under the bed it wasn't clean since the crusades and the "breakfast" isnt worth it. On top of this there is a total lack of service or interest by the owner of the place. The description on the add is 100% untrue, nothing corresponds. If I can give you an advice : Avoid

Positives: amazing location, old stone walls keeps cool in summer. functioning wifi, outdoor street terrace with cafe, hot water, clean, great price considering location. Negatives: no breakfast (waited over an hour on said terrace), wobbly bunk beds.