(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.)
When considering lodging options in Iceland, it’s best to start booking months in advance. The summertime brings tourists in droves, so lodging options can fill up fast. Even in the off-season (winter) when we visited, it was hard to find accommodations the longer we waited, because some locations in the more remote parts of the country are closed down for winter, leaving fewer options.
Iceland offers a wide-variety of accommodations both in the city and out in the country. Traditional hotels are plentiful in the capital city of Reykjavik. You can also look into renting a room or an entire apartment through websites such as Airbnb. Outside of the city and throughout the country, there are hotels, farmhouses, and guesthouses to choose from, depending on your lodging-style and budget. Many people choose to camp throughout the summer months. (Campgrounds are normally open from the beginning of June until the end of August or middle of September depending on location.)
For our first 3 nights in Reykavik, we stayed at the Best Western, located near the heart of downtown.
We did not pick this hotel, as it was part of a package deal we booked with Gate 1 Travel, but we certainly weren’t disappointed. It wasn’t the nicest hotel we’ve ever stayed in, but again, we really had nothing to complain about.
Our room was spacious and the bed—very comfortable.
Our room was equipped with the basics that made our stay away from home a comfortable one. We had a mini-fridge, coffee/tea maker (w/ supplies), and complimentary WiFi connectivity.
A full traditional Icelandic breakfast buffet was included in the price of the room, so we were able to head out for each day’s adventure comfortably full!
During our first night in the south (east) side of the country, we stayed at FossHotel Nupar, near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
The hotel may not look like much from the outside, but is surrounded by lava fields and has a spectacular view of Vatnajökull (glacier).
The hallways aren’t fancy and the rooms just come with the basics, but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here! The bed was insanely comfortable!
We did find it rather a bother to have to sit in the lobby area to access the Wi-Fi, rather than being able to use it from the comfort of our room. However, the lobby area was quiet and inviting.
The breakfast buffet, again included in the price, was outstanding!
I even got to make my own waffles!
If you are looking for a place to stay for a night or two along your journey on the south side of Iceland, I strongly recommend FossHotel Nupar.
For our final night in Iceland, we traveled a little further west on the south coast to be closer to Jökulsárlón (glacier lagoon) and stayed at Guesthouse Skalafell (located about 45 minutes west of the lagoon).
We stayed in one of the cozy cabin rooms, and while the bed was not as nice as the other places we stayed, it certainly did the trick after a long day of exploring!
We could occasionally hear our neighbors, as the wall between the rooms in the cabin was a little thin. The shower was somewhat of a nuisance and got water all over the bathroom floor, but other than these minor disturbances, overall it was a pleasant stay.
A wonderful, fresh breakfast was included in the price.
And an outstanding traditional Icelandic dinner, with fresh ingredients from the family farm, was served for an additional cost.
Due to the remote location of Guesthouse Skalafell, we were privileged to experience an absolutely breathtaking Northern Lights show from right outside the door of our cabin.
That same evening, a winter storm blew though the entire country, dumping inches of snow and turning Iceland into a winter wonderland for our last day in this beautiful country.
Although beautiful, the snowfall made our long drive back to the airport a slow and somewhat nerve-racking journey! We made it to the airport safely, with little time to spare, and wouldn’t have changed a thing about our experiences in Iceland!
For a (printable) quick-reference destination guide to what we did during our entire stay in south Iceland (where we stayed, where and what we ate, activities, money saving tips, etc.), click here.