Must-see hotels in Southwest Iceland

  • Fljótsdalur HI Hostel

    The South

    It's very basic, but if you’re looking for a peaceful, remote base for highland walks, with a beautiful garden, homey kitchen, cosy sitting room and…

  • Héraðsskólinn

    The Golden Circle

    A beautifully unique lakeside boutique (originally built in 1928 by Guðjón Samúelsson) identifiable by its distinctive peaked green roofs. The interiors…

  • Icelandair Hotel Vík

    The South

    This sleek black-window-fronted hotel has merged with the former next-door Hótel Edda. It sits on the eastern edge of town with 88 rooms, some suitably…

  • Hótel Geysir

    The Golden Circle

    This four-star, 77-room hotel is minimalist cool. The facade has an entirely wooden front with only a small single doorway, which opens into a grand lobby…

  • The White House

    The Golden Circle

    In a quiet residential area, this big white wooden house is immaculate – and looks like a building straight out of the US. Classic design is used…

  • Vík HI Hostel

    The South

    Vík’s small, cosy, year-round hostel is in the beige house on the hill behind the village centre. Good facilities include a guest kitchen, and several…

  • River Hotel

    The South

    Relax and watch the river glide by through giant plate-glass windows in the lounge areas of this immaculate hotel on the banks of the Ytri-Rangá river…

  • Buubble Hotel

    The Golden Circle

    This once-in-a-lifetime sleeping experience offers you a clear bubble tent in the countryside near the Golden Circle. Recline and watch the midnight sun…

  • Þakgil

    The South

    The simple, idyllic campsite at Þakgil, a green bowl among stark mountains and dramatic rock formations, makes a convenient base for exploring the…

  • Hótel Fljótshlíð

    The South

    This attractive white farmhouse with a blue-tin roof has smart hotel-style rooms, guesthouse rooms (with shared facilities), four- to six-person…

  • Efstidalur II

    The Golden Circle

    Located 12km northeast of Laugarvatn on a working dairy farm, Efstidalur offers wonderfully welcoming digs, tasty meals and amazing ice cream. Adorable…

  • Hótel Rangá

    The South

    Just south of the Ring Road, 8km east of Hella, Hótel Rangá, with its stuffed polar bear in the lobby, looks like a log cabin but caters to Iceland’s high…

  • Stóra-Mörk III

    The South

    About 5km along Rte 249 beyond the cluster of traffic at Seljalandsfoss falls, a dirt track leads to the historic Stóra-Mörk III farmhouse (mentioned, of…

  • Grand Guesthouse Garðakot

    The South

    Set on a pastoral sheep farm, this small, tidy house is rented out as a whole. It holds four beautiful rooms, two with private bathrooms and two that…

  • Skógar Guesthouse

    The South

    This charming white farmhouse is tucked in a strand of trees, beyond the Hótel Edda, almost to the cliff face. A friendly family offers quaint, impeccably…

  • Julia's Guesthouse

    The South

    Friendly Julia from Switzerland runs this charming guesthouse in the countryside to perfection. A menagerie including birds, cats and a bunny fill this…

  • Hamragarðar

    The South

    Camp right next to the hidden waterfall at Gljúfurárbui at the start of Rte 249. There's a small cafe (9am to 11pm June to August) that sells cake and…

  • Geirakot

    The South

    Sweet Geirakot is a nice alternative to Selfoss town. A friendly family on a dairy farm has renovated the grandparents' small farmhouse into a cosy…

  • Garðar

    The South

    At the end of Rte 215, to the west of Vík, Garðar is a magical, view-blessed place. Friendly farmer Ragnar rents out five self-contained beachside huts:…

  • Frost & Fire Hotel

    The South

    This lovely little hotel sits on a bubbling stream and beneath fizzing geothermal spouts. The comfortable rooms with subtle Scandi-sleek details and…

  • Icelandic Cottages

    The South

    These ubercool modern cottages dot the lava fields 18km east of Selfoss, just north of the Ring Road on Rte 30. They're beautifully kitted out (with…

  • Bella Apartments & Rooms

    The South

    This sparkling-clean property on the main street has comfortable double rooms and luxury two-bedroom apartments, complete with balconies and furnished…

  • Sea Side Cottages

    The South

    Living up to their name, these two quaint cottages are just metres away from the pounding Atlantic, behind a protective berm. Each is tricked out in fine…

  • Fagrilundur Guesthouse

    The Golden Circle

    A flower-pot-lined walk through the forest leads to a fairy-tale wooden cottage. Cosy rooms have patterned quilts and there's a shared porch. The…

  • Guesthouse Carina

    The South

    Friendly Carina and her husband Ingvar run one of the best lodging options in Vík. Neat-as-a-pin, spacious rooms with good light and clean shared…

  • Skógar Campsite

    The South

    Basic grassy lot in a superb location, right next to Skógafoss. The sound of falling water makes a soothing lullaby to drift off to. There’s a no-frills…

  • Midgard Base Camp

    Midgard Base Camp

    The South

    Smart bunk beds, crafted by local iron smiths, in dorms of four to six. Private rooms have fabulous views, also enjoyed from the communal rooftop with hot…

  • Retreat Hotel

    Reykjanes Peninsula

    Each of the 62 rooms in this exclusive hotel come with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can gaze at the mineral blue waters and lava formations outside…

  • Ion Adventure Hotel

    The Golden Circle

    Ion is hip, ultra modern and remote. Using sustainable practices throughout, it has a geothermal pool, organic spa and a restaurant with slow-food local…

  • Hótel Grimsborgir

    The Golden Circle

    Hótel Grimsborgir offers fully kitted-out luxury rooms, suites and apartments with terraces or balconies, flat-screen TVs, hardwood floors and high-end…

  • Blue Lagoon – Silica Hotel

    Reykjanes Peninsula

    The Blue Lagoon's chic hotel is a 600m walk across the lava field from Iceland’s most famous attraction. The 35 rooms are soothing and sleek, with heated…

  • Gljasteinn Skálinn

    The Golden Circle

    This beautiful farm in the widening sweep of the valley between Geysir and Gullfoss has a clutch of tidy houses, one of which has sleeping-bag…

  • Guesthouse Denami

    The South

    Stay on a lovely family-run farm in the lush rolling countryside on the northern edge of Árnes. The nine rooms are simple but tidy, and views of the…

  • Mengi

    The Golden Circle

    This freshly renovated farmhouse in the countryside 10km south of Geysir has 10 rooms with sweeping pastoral views. Each is stylish with colourful artwork…

  • Fagrahlíd Guesthouse

    The South

    This pretty clutch of white buildings clusters on a slope with sweeping views of the valley and the volcanoes in the distance. The friendly owner keeps…

  • Laugarvatn HI Hostel

    The Golden Circle

    This large, clean and friendly hostel is housed in a renovated two-storey building with plenty of kitchen space (great lake views while washing up or from…

  • Hótel Skógafoss

    The South

    Nineteen well-put-together, modern rooms (half of which have views of Skógafoss) and good bathrooms. There's a well-located bistro-bar, with plate-glass…

  • Harbour View Cabins

    Reykjanes Peninsula

    Next to Grindavík's campground, on a small hill overlooking the harbour, sit 10 perfectly kitted out cabins. Each sleek minimalist-designed unit has a…

  • Guesthouse Nonni

    The South

    Run by friendly Nonni, who loves cooking a large breakfast (fresh bread and flower-shaped waffles) for his guests, this small guesthouse on a residential…

  • Spói Guesthouse

    The South

    This impeccable family-run guesthouse has a collection of pristine rooms grouped around a large dining room with a broad wooden table where a lavish…