Zavod Šouhostel, press release

Hostel Celica in Ljubljana, Slovenia was proclaimed for hostel #1 by Lonely Planet and awarded the title of ‘Hippest Hostel in the World’.

Hostel Celica has been artistically transformed from a former prison into an artistically designed youth hostel. Celica (meaning cell in English) offers accommodation in 20 artistically renovated former cells with bars on the door and on the window. Each cell is unique and had been artistically designed by its own author or a group of artists. Because its extraordinary interior, Celica has made it also on the list of most unusual places in Lonely planet's Blue list. According to Tomaž Štefe, director of Šouhostel, this is one of the reasons Celica has become a Ljubljana landmark, and why it boasts one of the highest occupancy rates.

Established in 2003 by the Student organisation of the University of Ljubljana, Šouhostel has already proved itself as a reliable partner - expert in youth travel and tourism as much in Slovenia as abroad.

The organisation’s primary mission and activity is running Hostel Celica. Apart from that, Šouhostel arranges youth accommodation and tourist services in other youth hostels and similar facilities in Slovenia.

Received awards and recognitions:

-          2004: Souhostel received a golden award “Sejalec” from the Slovenian tourist board for the most innovative tourist product: Hostel Celica.

-          2006: Hostel Celica was proclaimed world’s “Hippest hostel #1”

-          2006: Souhostel received the recognition form the mayor of Ljubljana, Mr. Zoran Janković for the innovative tourist product: Hostel Celica and the contribution in the promotion of the city of Ljubljana