Urban hostels in Europe have passed to an elegant transformation over the last decade, creating a viable alternative to the boutique hotel. The picture displays the Urbany in Barcelona. Rooms here have private baths, Wi-Fi and air-conditioning.

A particular room at the Urbany in Barcelona.

The rooftop terrace at Urbany, where the view includes the Agbar Tower, left.

A room in the modern London Central Youth Hostel. Located five minutes from Oxford Street and Regent’s Park, this hostel also has a 24-hour Internet cafe, group tours around the city, entertainment (D.J.’s, live music and karaoke nights) and kitchens where you can make your own meals.

The picture shows the Circus Hostel in Berlin’s lively Mitte neighborhood, located in the heart of the city.

One of the apartments at the Circus in Berlin. Every room has Wi-Fi.

The youth-oriented Yellow hostel in Rome only accepts guests in their late teens to age 40. Dorm rooms are all mixed gender and some have private baths. Foosball in the common room at Yellow, which is near the central railway station in Rome.