I have been working in or traveling to Iceland since summer 2019 – including many trips during COVID. While during my stays, I’m usually at a home, I have traveled around the country a lot and strongly prefer hotels to campers. (Other sites might have info on camper rentals but it is just not for me!)
Below are some suggestions about hotels in the capital, listed in no particular order. Some I’ve stayed at, some my family and friends have stayed at, others I’ve just visited.
- Radisson 1919 – Good location at a reasonable price for central downtown. On-site restaurant, Brut, looks nice; breakfast got decent reviews from my family who stayed there. https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-reykjavik-1919
- Reykjavik Marina Iceland Hotel – Just a little bit further from downtown, but in a cute location by the marina, with views to the water. Also, an easy walk to the Grandi area – which has the best ice cream shop, Valdis, and other restaurants such as Flatey pizza or Marshall House. https://www.icelandhotelcollectionbyberjaya.com/en/hotels/reykjavik/reykjavik-marina
- Hotel Parliament – Part of the Hilton Curio collection, this one opened in 2023 and is in a good location on the main square and just next to the Icelandic parliament complex. The restaurant looks nice, but I’ve not had a chance to try it yet. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/rekpsqq-iceland-parliament-hotel/
- Hotel Saga – This is also a new(ish) hotel downtown in a convenient location near the pond, city hall, tour bus and airport shuttle pick up stops. I’ve not been inside yet; will update when I get a peek!. https://www.islandshotel.is/hotels-in-iceland/hotel-reykjavik-saga/
- Canopy by Hilton – I’ve never set foot in this hotel, but it is in a good location downtown along the main shopping streets and looks cute. Part of Hilton group, if you have those points. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/rekcapy-canopy-reykjavik-city-centre/
- Kex Hostel – It is a hostel with shared rooms and I’ve never stayed there myself. It is also a super cool place for local music and has a great bar, so it is kind of a good scene. Tip – During the annual Iceland Airwaves music festival, it is one of the main off-venue sites for performances, as well as usually being the Reykjavik headquarters for Seattle-based (and my favorite!) radio station KEXP, so it can be quite crowded in early November. You’ve been warned. https://www.kexhostel.is/
- Special shout-out to Hotel Holt, which has an amazing Icelandic art collection on view in the lobby and a cozy stylish old-school bar. https://www.holt.is/en
- Note: The Grand Hotel and the Hilton Nordica are larger hotels which both offer plenty of parking and are located close to the Reykjavik botanical gardens, the Asmundarsalur sculpture museum and the Laugardalslaug pool, but are farther from downtown shopping and tourist sites.
