German Youth Hostel Association

DJH: One for all and strong together

The organisation: One for all

The German Youth Hostel Association – Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk in German, or DJH for short - is a one-of-a-kind organisation. Its fundamental concept of being a place for the peaceful encounter of young people from all over the world is as up to date as ever.

The Federal Association: Primary responsible

The Federal Association has its office in Detmold. Its fields of responsibility include, among others, public relations and marketing, and it also acts as a representative of the Association at the national and international level.

The Regional Associations: Stronger together

The 14 Regional Associations take care of the construction and operation of and staff in Youth Hostels and put together the programmes offered by the Hostels.

Committed to the common good

The German Youth Hostel Association is the only supraregional non-profit provider of accommodation that is open to all children, adolescents, young adults, families and educationalists for congresses or stays. Youth Hostels are oriented towards providing children and youngsters with valuable experiences and fulfilling educational tasks.

With their primarily educational approach, the German Youth Hostel Association's regional organisations act as competent and reliable partners for schools, teachers and parents.

The Regional Associations are independent non-profit associations and fulfil all the tasks of the German Youth Hostel Association within their own area, unless tasks have been expressly assigned to the Federal Association in the statutes. These include, among others, the construction of new Youth Hostels or putting together activity programmes.

There are 14 DJH Regional Associations all together: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin-Brandenburg, Hanover, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Nordmark, Rhineland, Saxony, Thuringia, to name just a few.

Unique, sustainable, structured

A unique association

The German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) is a one-of-a-kind organisation. Its fundamental concept of being a place for the peaceful encounter of young people from all over the world is as up to date as ever.

A sustainable association

The German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) supports Agenda 21. The Agenda's goal is to ensure the sustainability of our livelihoods and chances for development for current and future generations.

A structured association

The German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) consists of the organisation at the Federal level, the associations at regional level, local and district associations, the individual Youth Hostels and its 2 million members.

Youth Hostels - 100% Relaxation

Youth Hostels are

✓ everywhere

✓ international

✓ different

✓ family-friendly

✓ educational

✓ professional

✓ and inexpensive

FAQs on Youth Hostels

Where can I find Youth Hostels?

There are Youth Hostels all over Germany. The German Youth Hostel Association runs about 450 Youth Hostels, making it the largest provider of accommodation for young people.

Do Youth Hostels only exist in Germany?

Youth Hostels are international, and marked by an open and tolerant atmosphere that includes everyone. International youth exchanges in Youth Hostels promote social learning, tolerance, and international understanding. Becoming a member of the German Youth Hostel Association gives you access to a global network of about 4,500 Youth Hostels.

Are all Youth Hostels the same?

A large number of Youth Hostels have developed a special range of offers. Youth Hostels with a profile, such as the "Environmental|Youth Hostels," "Sport|Youth Hostels," "Family|Youth Hostels,""Cultural|Youth Hostels," and "Feel Good|Youth Hostels" work with their own quality management systems to cater for various groups of guests.

Numerous Youth Hostels offer special services for different groups of guests. People with a disability are particularly welcome – almost all Youth Hostels have areas that are particularly suited for people with mental or physical disabilities.

What do Youth Hostels have to offer for families?

Families with children are very welcome in Youth Hostels. A large number of Youth Hostels have won a special certification as being "particularly family-friendly," offering accommodation and food that is particularly suitable for families plus leisure programmes usually preferred by families. But all families are met with a casual and child-friendly atmosphere in every Youth Hostel.

What can you learn in a Youth Hostel?

Youth Hostels offer a broad variety of programmes with holistic concepts for every target group. Programmes are carried out with our own trained staff or with local cooperation partners with the respective qualifications. Youth Hostels provide space for educational experiences. This makes them places that actively support and facilitate social, academic and extracurricular learning.

Can anyone manage a Youth Hostel?

Youth Hostels are managed by trained educationalists and service-minded, professional employees. The German Youth Hostel Association offers an internal continued education scheme to ensure staff qualification and service quality.

Are Youth Hostels inexpensive?

Even in the lower price bracket, Youth Hostels offer good rates. Offering great value for money, they are ideal for school and class trips, group or family holidays. Normally, the use of common rooms is free of charge in Youth Hostels for any larger group.

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