River Guesthouse

North Iceland


This huge blue portacabin offers 30 very basic budget rooms with shared bathroom and kitchen. There's little by way of atmosphere or charm. Sleeping-bag beds available (s/d 5100/9500kr). It's owned by (and next door to) Hótel Skúlagarður.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby North Iceland attractions

1. Rauðhólar

10.45 MILES

The Rauðhólar (Red Hills) crater row, just north of Hljóðaklettar, displays a vivid array of colours in the cinder-like gravel on the remaining cones. The…

2. Hljóðaklettar

11.16 MILES

The bizarre swirls, spirals, rosettes, honeycombs and basalt columns at Hljóðaklettar (Echo Rocks) are a highlight of any hike around Vesturdalur and a…

3. Eyjan

11.42 MILES

Eyjan is an island-like mesa covered with low, scrubby forests and small ponds.You can walk a 7km trail around Eyjan from Karl og Kerling to Vesturdalur…

4. Karl og Kerling

11.87 MILES

Karl og Kerling (‘Old Man’ and ‘Old Woman’), two rock pillars, believed to be petrified trolls, stand on a gravel bank west of the river, a 2km return…

5. Mánárbakki Museum

13.78 MILES

At the tip of the Tjörnes Peninsula is the Mánárbakki Museum, home to the eclectic personal collection of friendly farmer Aðalgeir, who will give you a…

6. Gjástykki

16.34 MILES

This remote rift zone at the northernmost end of the Krafla fissure swarm was the source of the first eruptions in 1724, and was activated when…

7. Earthquake Centre

17.09 MILES

On 13 January 1976 Kópasker suffered a severe earthquake that destroyed several buildings and cracked the harbour wall. Today, there’s a small earthquake…

8. Byggðasafn Norður-Þingeyinga

17.18 MILES

South of the village, the folk museum at Snartarstaðir farm highlights local textile and handicraft traditions. Look for cute, fully dressed scarecrows in…