Where to Stay in Iceland Along the Ring Road

Trying to figure out where to stay in Iceland? Well if you’re traveling the Ring Road in Iceland, you’ve made a wonderful decision for your travel plans.

You can expect endless beauty, nature like you’ve never seen before, and quaint towns along the way as you explore these parts of Iceland. Mountains, waterfalls, geysers, fjords, glaciers, you name it- you can find it in Iceland!

My husband Harrison and I just returned from a 9-day Iceland road trip in Europe – and I wouldn’t have changed a thing! Check out our Iceland itinerary here.

Here’s where we stayed along the Ring Road- a new place each night in a new town each night. I’m also including full disclosure of my ratings on things like location, breakfast, and comfort level (or lack thereof).

Map of Places

Where to Stay in Iceland: CenterHotel Plaza in Reykjavik

Center Hotel Plaza Reykjavik

We began our South Coast Ring Road journey at the CenterHotel Plaza in Reykjavik. I highly recommend upgrading your room (it’s only about $30 more) for an incredible view of the city.

Location: A+

The CenterHotel Plaza is within walking distance from plenty of shops and cafes in Reykjavik, as well as a beautiful 10-minute walk away from the famous Hallgrímskirkja church. It’s definitely one of the best hotels for tourists to stay at!

Here’s the gorgeous view of Reykjavik from our balcony.

Breakfast: A+

Fantastic breakfast with a wide array of options, including fresh salmon, pickled herring, and other Icelandic classics

Comfort: A+

Our room came with robes, fluffy comfy beds, and plenty of towels. If you upgrade your room, you also get free laundry and breakfast in bed!

Get more info or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Akugerdi Guesthouse in Olfus

The cutest tiny home I’ve ever been in!

After a day around the Golden Circle, we stayed in the cutest tiny home I’ve ever been in… ever. This guesthouse is impeccably decorated and filled with the cutest touches! You also get a personal hot tub!

Location: A

Located on a farm, you’ll find views of horses when you wake up! You can sign up for riding lessons as well when you book. It is about a 10-minute drive from the nearest town, Selfoss.

Here’s a view of the home from the loft upstairs.

Breakfast: N/A

Drive to Selfoss for breakfast, or make your own in your fully equipped kitchen!

Comfort: A+

This place comes with everything you could need – including free parking and WiFi! It has a small room with a large bed in it, as well as a loft with two separate twin mattresses in it. The hot tub is easy to use.

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Hotel Geirland in Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Location: A

This hotel is a perfect distance between Olfus and Hofn, and I recommend grabbing dinner in Vik as the hotel isn’t near any major towns.

Breakfast: A-

The hotel offers a good breakfast with a lot of options.

Comfort: B

Though it is spartan and somewhat dorm/summer camp-like (such that I forgot to take a photo), the hotel rooms are clean and spacious. It is also charming; that they sell handmade goods made by senior citizens in the area, and are all about local sourcing!

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Hotel Hofn in Hofn

Hofn gets five stars from me!

We absolutely loved this hotel- it was by far one of our favorites!

They have free bikes to use, the town of Hofn is beautiful (the sunset on the water is breathtaking!!), and the breakfast is excellent. More on this in a second…

Location: A+

Hotel Hofn is right off of the water- a very short walk or bike ride away. There’s a gorgeous little path that runs alongside the water- it’s perfect for a bike ride. Restaurants nearby are within walking distance if the weather’s right!

Breakfast: A+

The breakfast options are endless at Hotel Hofn! This was just a small sampling of what they had to offer.

Comfort: A+

Our room was clean, the hotel was gorgeous, and breakfast and amenities like the bike rentals made it absolutely incredible!

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Eskifjordur AirBNB in Eskifjordur

This Airbnb is perfect if you want to meet new people!

Location: A-

While the house is in a good location, the town itself doesn’t have too much to offer. That’s okay though! You won’t find a big city in this area, but that adds to the charm!

Breakfast: N/A

Breakfast is not included but you have full access to the kitchen, so bring your own groceries for an affordable breakfast!

Comfort: B

You have the necessities here, but if you’re looking for a place where the whole living space is yours, you won’t find it. The bathroom is shared among multiple guests, but you do have a private room that locks.

If you want to use the hot tub, it is $5 per person.

On the plus side, this was by far the cheapest place we stayed in Iceland, so it’s definitely affordable.

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Guesthouse Storu-Laugar in Laugar

Looking for a nice, clean place in Northeast Iceland? You’ve found it!

Location: A-

On the plus side, the Guesthouse is located a short ten-minute drive from Godafoss. The only downside we noticed was that the surrounding town doesn’t have many restaurant options.

Breakfast: B

The Guesthouse provides breakfast though the options are limited.

Comfort: A

Our room was fully stocked- including bathrobes which come in handy if you want to use the hot tub! The hot tub is huge and very, very hot.

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Icelandhorsetours AirBNB in Saudarkrokur

This is a shot of the farm; the actual guesthouse is not pictured but is on my right.

This Airbnb is perfect if you want to ride Icelandic horses!

Location: A

Located on a farm, you can sign up for riding lessons at a great price. It is about a 10-minute drive from the second-largest town in North Iceland, Saudarkrokur.

Breakfast: N/A

This Airbnb doesn’t come with breakfast, but drive into Saudarkrokur for great options! We enjoyed fresh pastries at the local bakery!

Comfort: A-

This guesthouse-style AirBNB is new and clean. You do share a bathroom with the other two guest rooms in the Airbnb.

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Hotel Stundarfridur in Stykkisholmur

Our spacious yet cozy room with adorable elephant towels!

Hotel Stundafridur is a really cute hotel on the Snaefalleus peninsula. The whole hotel is pretty small, which gives it a quaint, cozy feel. It’s a new hotel with pretty décor and friendly staff.

Location: A

This hotel is a short drive away from Stykkisholmur, a great town on the water that has many great restaurants. Its position on the peninsula gives you plenty of options to sightsee all over the Snaefalleus peninsula.

Breakfast: A-

Breakfast is provided. There is a pretty good variety but it wasn’t our all-time favorite.

Comfort: A

With fresh white linens, pretty décor, and huge windows that look out onto the landscape, Hotel Stundafridur definitely offers a great stay.

The kind woman who greeted us was so sweet and made us feel so welcome.

Get more information or book it here!

Where to Stay in Iceland: Eyja Guldsmeden in Reykjavik

Pictured above is our canopy bed- such a dreamy addition to the room!

The Eyja Guldsmeden was probably our favorite place between the gorgeous décor, eco-friendly focus, and incredible breakfast.

Location: A

Our favorite restaurant, Old Iceland, was about a 10-minute walk away from the Eyja Guldsmeden. The walk to this main part of town isn’t the prettiest walk, but it also isn’t too far.

They also offer bikes to their guests if you’d rather bike instead of walking.

Breakfast: A++ (but at an additional cost)

The best place for breakfast in Iceland, easily. The only downside is you do have to pay an additional cost for breakfast.

Trust me, the breakfast spread is worth it. From fresh smoked salmon to the pastry options, everything is carefully selected and it shows.

This was the first of many plates I got for breakfast (no shame in second/third helpings, right?)

Comfort: A++

Everything is easy at the Eyja Guldsmeden. The hotel has been designed for comfort, with thoughtful touches all around. The eco-friendly toiletries and canopy beds are just two of my favorite things about this hotel. You’ll have to see the rest for yourself!

Get more information or book it here!

While visitors can definitely opt to stay at luxury hotels or other apartments/lodges/hostels, we feel as though staying at our chosen accommodations definitely added something special to our Ring Road Trip. We hope you’ll get to experience the same!

Attractions Near or Around the Ring Road

Since we’ve talked about the best places to stay, let’s also look at the best destinations to go to during your day trips around the Ring Road.

These places are also in my Ultimate Iceland Ring Road Itinerary. Starting from the moment you land at the international airport, my itinerary includes a full schedule of things to do and a map of locations enough for a 9-day itinerary, which can be fully adjusted depending on how much time you have on your hands!

So, without further ado, here is a quick list of some great attractions to visit near or around the Ring Road:

Reykjavik

From Reykjavik making a circle to end up in the Selfoss area

  • Thingvellir National Park (one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, particularly in September or October)
  • Silfra fissure (the gap formed between North American and Eurasian tectonic plates)
  • Haukadalur Hot Springs
  • Gullfoss, or the “v” shaped waterfall
  • Geysir Geothermal Area (with one of the best-known geysers in the world)
  • Brúarhlöð 
  • Secret Lagoon Hot Spring
  • Kerid

Starting in Selfoss, ending in Kirkjubæjarklaustur

  • Seljalandsfoss
  • Seljavallalaug 
  • Skógafoss Waterfall
  • Sólheimasandur plane crash
  • Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach 
  • Eldhraun (largest of the lava fields in the world)

Starting in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, ending in Höfn

  • Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
  • Fagrifoss 
  • Svínafellsjökull
  • Diamond Beach
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Höfn to Eskifjörður or Egilsstaðir, driving inland in East Iceland

  • Lagarfljót
  • SO many waterfalls along the drive!

Eskifjörður or Egilsstadir to Laugar

  • Vatnajökull National Park (where Dettifoss and Skaftafell National Park are)
  • Namaskardh
  • Mývatn Nature Baths

Laugar to Sauðárkrókur

  • Goðafoss Waterfall
  • Akureyri 
  • Whale watching in Dalvik
  • Siglufjörður

Sauðárkrókur to Stykkisholmur

  • Grettirs Pool
  • Hvitserkur

Stykkishólmur to Reykjavik

  • Kirkjufell/ Kirkjufellsfoss
  • Arnarstapi (pictured above)

And if you’re heading to Iceland in August, check out my Complete Guide to Visiting Iceland in August!

Safe travels!

Jasmine

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Jasmine Alley

Jasmine Alley

I'm a Dallas-based, full-time travel blogger with a serious case of wanderlust! Through my website and Instagram, I hope to help others plan picture-perfect trips to the most beautiful places in the world! When I travel, I like to emphasize nature, hidden gems, and unique places.
Jasmine Alley

Jasmine Alley

I'm a Dallas-based, full-time travel blogger with a serious case of wanderlust! Through my website and Instagram, I hope to help others plan picture-perfect trips to the most beautiful places in the world! When I travel, I like to emphasize nature, hidden gems, and unique places.

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Hi, I’m Jasmine! I’m a nature-obsessed, beauty-finding, Jesus-loving dreamer with a serious case of wanderlust. I love to create photo-worthy travel content and hope to fill your travel plans with incredible beauty and breathtaking views! Thanks for following along on my adventures!

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