Do I need to be a hostel guest to use the terraces?

Yes — both terraces are guests-only. The Stayokay riverside terrace is for booked guests (and their friends if they come up to the bar with you); the Green Elephant courtyard is internal to the building.

Are the terraces open year-round?

Stayokay's runs May to October properly (heated lamps in shoulder months); the Green Elephant courtyard is open in shoulder seasons but the BBQ and outdoor seating peak May–September.

Can I drink Belgian beers there?

Yes, both bars run Belgian taps (Westmalle, Tripel Karmeliet, Leffe Brun) plus Limburg local pours and Dutch jenever shots. Belgian beer prices in Maastricht are about 30% cheaper than Amsterdam.

What time does the basilica light up?

Civic floodlighting on the basilica of Saint Servatius runs from sunset until 23:00 — best Stayokay-terrace view is 21:00–22:00 in summer.

Rooftop Bar✻Maastricht✻2 hostels✻Handpicked✻Real reviews✻Rooftop Bar✻Maastricht✻2 hostels✻Handpicked✻Real reviews✻Rooftop Bar✻Maastricht✻2 hostels✻Handpicked✻Real reviews✻

Maastricht Rooftop BarRanked guide

Best Hostels with Rooftop & Terrace Bars in Maastricht

Maastricht's terrace season runs longer than the rest of the Netherlands — Vrijthof and Markt fill from late March, and locals stretch the apero into October. Both of the city's two real hostels lean into that culture: Stayokay Maastricht has the wide private terrace facing the Maas with the basilica towers across the water, and The Green Elephant runs a courtyard garden in Wyck where the BBQ comes out from May. Pick Stayokay for the river-sunset view; pick the Green Elephant for the quieter, walled-garden version a block from the train station.

◉ Ranking · 2 picks

01Stayokay Hostel Maastricht€32
02The Green Elephant Hostel & Spa€30

§ 01 — Traveler's take

“I arrived at Maastricht Centraal at 19:30 on a Friday in June, dropped the bag at the Green Elephant (two minutes from the station), grabbed a Tripel Karmeliet from the courtyard bar and watched a couple from Antwerp finish their game of pétanque next to the BBQ. Walked over the Sint Servaasbrug at 21:00 to the Stayokay's riverside terrace just in time for the basilica towers to catch the sunset light, ordered a Brand Pilsener and a bitterballen plate, stayed until the 22:30 close. Two terraces, ten minutes' walk apart, completely different feels — and the only two hostel-attached terraces in the city.”

§ 02 — The ranked list

Our Top 2 Picks

★ 8.11,854 reviews€32/night

Stayokay Hostel Maastricht

Stayokay Maastricht is the city's largest and most social hostel, set on the west bank of the Maas with a wide riverside terrace and the basilica of Saint Servatius eight minutes' walk inland. It is part of the Dutch Stayokay chain (the country's HI-affiliated network), so the formula is familiar: clean dorms, half-decent breakfast buffet for a small surcharge, evening programme that runs movie nights, themed dinners and live music. With 1,854 reviews and a steady 8.1 rating, it's the safe pick for first-night-in-Maastricht arrivals who want to meet people.

8.1 rating across 1,854 reviews — the largest review base of any hostel in the city
Pod-style bunks with curtains, sockets and reading lights at every bed
Wide private terrace facing the Maas — sunset views of the basilica towers
On-site bike rental for the Belgian border + Sint-Pietersberg caves day trips

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★ 8.03,326 reviews€30/night

The Green Elephant Hostel & Spa

The Green Elephant is the boutique-leaning hostel option in Maastricht, two minutes' walk from Maastricht Centraal in the Wyck quarter where Rechtstraat's indie cafés and design shops sit. The unusual draw is the on-site spa (sauna, steam room and wellness packages) tucked inside the converted townhouse, which makes it the rare backpacker stay where you can unwind a long train day with a sauna session before dinner. With 8.0 across 3,326 reviews — the largest review base of any property in Maastricht — it's the safe pick for couples and solo travellers who want quiet, central, and a touch more comfort than the standard Stayokay.

On-site Finnish sauna + steam room (free for guests, 30-min booking slots)
2 min walk from Maastricht Centraal — train-arrival hostel by design
Cabin-style dorm bunks (more enclosed than pod curtains)
Proper shared kitchen with hobs, ovens and labelled fridge shelves

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§ 03 — Tips

Tips for Choosing a Hostel with Rooftop Bar in Maastricht

Tip Nº 01

Stayokay's terrace closes at 22:30 sharp because Maasboulevard is residential — there's no extension, even on summer Saturdays. The Green Elephant's courtyard runs until 23:00 (sheltered by the building, less complaint risk).

Tip Nº 02

Bisschopsmolen on Stenenbrug is 6 minutes' walk from Stayokay and bakes the local spelt vlaai pies — coffee + slice for €5.50, the breakfast move before heading to the terrace later.

Tip Nº 03

Both hostels rent bikes (€10/day) and the Belgian border is 20 minutes via Kanne — pedal across, drink a Westmalle at the source, pedal back for the sunset terrace at the Stayokay. Closes the loop nicely.

Tip Nº 04

If André Rieu's Vrijthof concerts are running in July, terrace prices across the city spike and both hostels book out months ahead. Check the Vrijthof concert calendar before fixing dates.

§ 04 — Other vibes