Iceland Travel Guide - Accommodation

The most deluxe hotels are in the capital Reykjavík and some of them also have hairdressers, shops and beauty parlours. Hotel or hostel accommodation is available in most areas.

Grading: All accommodation is classified from 5 star (luxurious) to 1 star (basic) and is managed by the Icelandic Tourist Board. Visitors should look for the blue and red sign near the entrance to a hotel for the current grading. For further details on accommodation contact the Icelandic Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).

These are available in the larger towns. Rooms are also available in private houses with breakfast included in the cost.

Icelandic Farm Holidays is a chain of 150 farmhouses where farmers offer accommodation to travellers in their homes, guest houses, country hotels and cottages. The accommodation is diverse, some having shared or private bathrooms, some requiring sleeping bags and some offering recreational activities. Breakfast is always included, and there are self-catering facilities in the cottages. Reductions are available for children.

There are over 100 registered camping sites. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, camping grounds are normally open only between June and late August or mid September. The best-equipped camping grounds are to be found in Akureyri, Eglisstadir, Fossatún, Höfn, Heidarbær, Husafell, Isafjördur, Laugarvatn, Myvatn, Reykjavík and Skaftafell. In some places camping is restricted to certain specially marked areas. It is also possible to camp in national parks, supervised by the Nature Conservation Agency. Camping outside designated areas is not allowed.

There are several youth and family hostels throughout Iceland, including Fellshlíd, Korpudalur, Njardvik, Reykholar, Reykjavík, Skógar, Stykkisholmur and Ytralón. All have a well-equipped kitchen and family room. Hostelling International (HI) Iceland offers packages which consist of car hire or bus tickets and hostel overnight vouchers. Many country hostels provide overnight accommodation for travellers bringing their own sleeping bags or bedrolls for a fee. In uninhabited areas there are a number of huts where travellers can stay overnight. They must observe regulations posted in the huts and bring their own sleeping bags and food. HI Iceland also offers a travel service to help with bookings, tours and travel arrangements.

Icelandic Farm Holidays
Sidumuli 2, IS-108 Reykjavík, Iceland 
Tel: 570 2700.
Website: www.farmholidays.is

Hostelling International Iceland
Sundlaugavegi 34, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland 
Tel: 553 8110.
Website: www.hostel.is