Albergue de Pobeña

I came to this hostel for lack of alternatives. I've seen many public or basic albergues, but this one really needs renovation. Where does the donation money go? The dormitory is cramped but okay. I'm not trying to have a vacation here. But the sanitary facilities are a disaster. Nearby there are some bars where you can drink and eat.
The hospitalera acts like a sergeant. Accept it and practice acceptance—you won't change her.

Plastic covers. Bring your own sleeping bag and earplugs. Cold shower. Good wifi. Friendly staff. Kitchen and washing machine. No dryer. Lockers available. €10.

I was a little wary how the owner would be but I firmly think she is awesome 😄 she has looked after me and given me a place to sleep on the floor though the place was full. Maya is very smiley, firm and knows good boundaries. I wouldn't want to get on her wrong side but she is very pleasant if you show respect x enjoy!

Friendly atmosphere
Beautiful beach
Get there early to avoid que for albergue

Worst stay on our Camino. The hostess opened early, so if you were counting on a bed at 3, come even earlier. You will be lectured & chastised - the woman is very controlling.
We came back 10 mins before curfew & she was waiting outside for us - lectured us & when I asked to get my clothes from the line, I was called a "puta".
She shut the lights off at 8:30p and came thru to wake us all up at 6am, pushed us all out by 7am (even tho it says open until 8am). She wouldn't let people use the kettle & was literally pushing people out of bed.
Absolutely awful. Stay across the bridge in La Arena. Skip this place, it's not even worth the €10

Yes a donativo, so plenty of camaraderie, which is the heart of Camino. But boy did we need all that support having survived such a sticky, airless, mosquito night!! All queuing outside from noon until 3pm check in which was understandably very slow, as theres only one hospitalera. Plastic covered mattress and pillow with synthetic disposal cover. Which hopefully kept bedbugs away, but the open windows kept us jumping with the mosquitos having a feast on us.😴August 11th completely full with 40 indoors and then 12 outside camping. One toilet, two showers, per gender. Loo roll and soap that was gone within an hour. Good to have lockers as it cautions theft issues. Good to have a donativo as we want to support their existence. But such a great pity that is so neglected, and doesn’t seem to give the respect to Pilgrims, who absolutely want to show the respect to all, most especially the host country and the spirit of the donativo. I would also have grave fire concerns and escape access. Keep safe dear pilgrims🙏🏽🥾🥾

Before 6am this morning six pilgrims were wanting to leave and discovered that the door was locked. We had to wait for the host to get up and open it with a key. This is an unacceptable risk- 40 people in two tiny rooms with barred windows relying on one person with a key to get out in a fire is a disaster waiting to happen. I will report this to the authorities. Please check these details at all albergues and stay safe out there, pilgrims!

Donation based, good facilities. Not sure if there was a washing machine, but when I stayed there were two (hot :)) showers in the female bathroom, and one toilet. Friendly host, just like a lot of the hospitaleros I met he had a particular sense of humour. Adds to the vibe.

A standard albergue, neither better nor worse than others on the way from Irun. The host is a very pleasant and polite gentleman who listens to classical music, which creates a nice atmosphere.
As for the facilities, the mattresses and pillows are covered in plastic, just like in most albergues, and disposable bed sheets are provided. I checked for bedbugs and found none; plus, they can’t really get into those plastic covers anyway.
There is one shower for men and one for women, which is true. The kitchen is equipped with a kettle and a microwave. For laundry, there are outdoor sinks for hand washing and clotheslines nearby. They also provide lockers for your backpacks.
Overall, it’s a perfectly fine albergue. I suspect the negative reviews might be coming from local hotels. I left a donation of €15

As it is a donativo do not expect too much
I think that not every pilgrim contributes as the entire facility needs some updates.
Hostess was very friendly.

Only 3 of us in the Albergue so very quiet & no dinner or breakfast. Fine but very basic (and quite chilly!)

Great albergue. Staff are really kind and helpful and around alot. They were constantly wanting to help or make you smile! Good kitchen space with tea and coffee. Staff brought fresh bread for breakfast. Off season so no pilgrim dinner as others have written about. Great swimming beach and cafes around for food.

The albergue has a nice yard to sit outside, but the rooms are a bit crowded. The beach is only 3 a minute from the albergue and is super nice with lot of Spanish people. The supermarket is not nearby, but the pilgrims dinner was nice and plentiful. The ladies that ran it were very helpful in thinking along about possible places to sleep the next day. There is laundry and a drying line. If visiting with nice weather I would definitely recommend.

Gute Unterkunft und ein offenherziger Empfang.

Die albergue hat seit dem 01.04.2022 wieder geöffnet. Öffnung um 15 Uhr

There were 40 beds a little squeezed in, but otherwise fine
Good bar and restaurant right behind the Albergue.

I had a lovely experience, the area is cozy and the beach is beautiful, so perfect to relax after the rather unpleasant walk out of Bilbao. However, many people didn’t get a bed, even those who arrived before the opening time (in the beginning of August). They were left on their own devices as hospitaleros were not open to letting them sleep on the floor.

Warm for sleeping, but otherwise lovely. Miguel the hospitalero was wonderful.

Two sisters run these cozy quarters. They are warm and friendly and very helpful. We stayed in May, no problems finding beds here at this time :)
There is also wifi!

Have a kitchenette with a microwave, no stove. A spin dryer is available to help ring out clothes before hang drying. There is a place for tents out back. Very nice hostelaros. Rooms stay dark at night and doors close quietly.