Traveling goes hipster, when hipsters go traveling!

The 5 most hipster cities around the world, and how to visit them in style

The hipster trend is no news, but here at HostelsClub.com it is a daily conversation subject, thanks to some of our staffers who like to wear their extravagance to work every day.

After a while, we stopped making fun of them and questioning their fashion sense. Instead, we asked them to list their 5 favourite hipster cities (and districts): you’ll find plenty of ideas – and some surprises - for your travels and city breaks!

Let’s start from the beginning: if you are still not sure what hipsters are, here is a little history. The world “hipster” came into use in the US, around the 40’s, to describe well-off white kids who had a bohemian lifestyle, and enjoyed the be-bop scene (as opposed to the then much more popular swing scene). Since then, the word survived through time, but its meaning changed and gained new nuances (and some square shirts, too) along the way.

Nowadays, a hipster is somebody who is an anti-conformist, so much that his fashion choices remind more of anti-fashion (which is why “extreme vintage” is the hipsters’ style and, apparently, a thing). Hipsterism also means making certain cultural choices (music, photography, art.. anything as long as it is not mainstream), and lifestyle choices, too: a strange mix of egocentrism, hedonism, and also a respect for the environment and the nature.

Now that you are briefed on the hipster scene, let’s find out the top 5 hipster cities, according to our hipster colleagues!

London is one of the coolest cities in the world, always ahead of the bunch when it comes to fashion and trends. No wonder it has a famous hipster district! Actually, it has 3: Hoxton, Brick Lane, and our favourite, Shoreditch. It is a former industrial area turned, through the years, in an open-air lab for street art and design. The old-looking brick walls, typical of the area, were turned into supports for writers of all sorts (you’ll find some of Banksy’s stencils around). Nowadays, Shoreditch is a small Mecca for contemporary artists and you can find many art galleries here. Shops, cafes and pubs are all influenced by the creative, alternative atmosphere: they are decorated with crazy attention to details and design, and pieces of furniture often come from modified post-industrial artefacts.

No wonder, then, that a boutique hostel opened in the heart of Shoreditch: The Dictionary Hostel is located in a converted plywood factory, and it retains a stylish industrial atmosphere. Inside you’ll also find a wonderful bar, serving cocktails and snacks… organic only, of course!

Prenzlauer Berg is a district in Berlin east of Mitte, where the best preserved buildings of pre-war Germany can be found. Strolling through the avenues while gazing at the 19th-Century palaces is enough to fascinate you, but don’t forget the allure of an area which is turning into Berlin’s hot spot: vintage clothes and furniture shops, bookshops, theaters, art galleries… everything here looks enchanted, and Prenzlauer Berg is now famous well beyond Berlin, with tourists from all over the world visiting. The Mauerpark (Wall Park – yes, THAT wall) is worth visiting, particularly in the summertime. It is the liveliest and most beloved park in Berlin: you’ll find a flea market full of bargains, and some very crowded karaoke exhibitions. You can sleep in this area (for only a few Euros) at Generator Prenzlauer Berg.

Mission District (or, as it is called, simply “Mission”) is an old borough of San Francisco, with a newfound popularity thanks to the avant-garde scene that took over its streets. The whole city itself is a heaven for creative people and free-thinkers, but Mission is where it all comes together. The streets are tapered with graffiti; there is even a museum of street-art works (the Precita Eyes Museum). The area has a permanent atmosphere of partying and craziness: in the above pic you can see a proud member of the “Mission Pony” project, aiming to bring back the joy of horse-riding: if you can forget that it is an electrical toy-pony, you can even rent it for an unforgettable ride. In the northern part of the Mission District, steps away from the famous Union Square, you’ll find USA Hostels San Francisco, the perfect accommodation for a flashpacker like you, thanks to its wide range of services to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Hundreds of canals cross Amsterdam, but there is a bigger one that separates the urban texture in 2: it is called Ij. North of this waterway is the borough of Amsterdam Noord: it used to be a busy commercial port, but is lost most of its traffic and revenues as years went by: its warehouses were mostly empty and desolate. Luckily the area was converted, and today the warehouses are full of new cool activities, such as original restaurants, young design firms, creative start-ups and festivals of every kind. The top happening of the district is the huge IJ Hallen flea market, the biggest in Europe. Lots of bargains can be found here, and vintage lovers should never miss it. The market only opens once a month, and entrance costs 4.50€. Check the official IJ Hallen website for the dates! Our suggested hostel in Amsterdam is Hostelle, a real backpacker’s paradise: well-lit themed rooms, graffiti art on the walls, vintage furniture. The only problem is that hipster guys might have a hard time getting in: the hostel is for women only, so “hipsterettes” welcome!

Gràcia is a borough rich in personality, with a history of poverty and anarchy. Nowadays, the streets belong to young creative Catalans trying to escape the bustle and crowds of the city centre. There is a relaxed, classy atmosphere. The area looks like a Barcelona in minor, a small niche full of nice bars, great restaurants and innovative design shops. Many just come to Gràcia to see Gaudì’s works, Parc Güell and Casa Vicens, but it is worth stopping by for longer to enjoy the streets and squares that, starting from sunset, turn into meeting points with concerts and happenings all around. There is a self-appointed hipster hostel in Barcelona, tough it is not located in Gràcia. The “Hipstel” is in the charming district of Eixample, near Gaudì’s Pedrera, and the name says it all. The Hipstel tries to balance a social and open atmosphere, low prices and the class and style required by a hipster-approved hostel. Prices start a 22€, and ratings are way up at 93%!

This ends our "hiptop5"! Just like any list, it is incomplete and open to suggestions: here are some more hipster destinations around the world!

• NEW YORK, U.S.A. (Williamsburg/Brooklyn)

• PORTLAND, U.S.A. (north-East districts)

• LOS ANGELES, U.S.A. (Echo Park)

• CHICAGO, U.S.A. (Wicker Park)

• MONTREAL, CANADA (Mile End)

• MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (Fitzroy)

• TALLIN, ESTONIA (Kalamaja)

• RIGA, LATVIA (Miera Iela)

• HELSINKI, FINLAND (Kallio)

• STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN(Södermalm)

• MADRID, SPAIN(Malasaña)

• VIENNA, AUSTRIA (Absbergasse)

• ROME, ITALY (Pigneto)

• TOKYO, JAPAN (Shimokitazawa)

Think we forgot something? Let us know, send us a picture (a Polaroid, of course) of your favourite hipster place and we’ll publish it… but don’t worry, we just won’t spread the world too much: we swear we’ll keep it among true hipsters only! We know how you feel when you hear your favourite hipster band airing on the radio, we don’t want you to feel like that about your favourite hangout spot!