Where to Stay on the Iceland Ring Road

Planning a trip around the Ring Road in Iceland can be very daunting! Picking what areas to stay in then finding the best accommodation for your budget is a lot to figure out. I’ve rounded up places to stay around the entire Ring Road to help you choose the best place for your travel needs! You’ll want to book pretty far in advance because tourism is very high in Iceland now and places book up fast!

I personal stayed mainly in guest houses (such as airbnbs or vbros) but I have included the best hotels to stay in too!

Types of Accommodations in Iceland

Hotel- Hotels in Iceland are more or less like your standard hotels in the USA or Europe. One thing I did notice while looking for hotels is most hotels only sleep 2 people and don’t offer rooms with 2 double or queen beds.

House Rentals- You can find short term house rentals on Booking.com, Airbnb, or Vrbo. What they offer will depend on the place but most have similar amenities that a house would have.

Hostels- In a hostel you rent a bed instead of a whole room. This means you will likely be sleeping on a bunkbed with other strangers in the beds next to. These place share common areas and bathroom. This is a great option if you are traveling solo or just with one other person and are looking to save money.

What Areas to Stay in Along the Ring Road

• Hveragerði
• Vik
• Jökulsárlón Region
• Egilsstaðir
• Akureyri
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula
• Reykjavik

Prices listed below are the average for summer month, when tourism is the highest. If you travel during the shoulder season, April/May or August/September, prices are typically a little lower.

Getting around Iceland

Before you can hit the road you’ll need to pick up your rental car! We rented an automatic, AWD Suzuki Vitara through Go Rental Cars. You can opt for contactless pickup, meaning you’ll just take a short walk from the airport and your car keys will be waiting for you in a lock box! Depending on your itinerary you might be fine with a 2WD, however we felt more comfortable going down the gravel roads in an AWD that was a little higher off the ground.

If you plan on booking through Go Rental Cars, be sure to use my code Caitlyn5 for 5% off your car!

Hveragerði

Hveragerði is the perfect homebase for exploring the Golden Circle. It is centrally located to many spots in the area and the town itself has everything you need. Use this article to plan the perfect stay in this area!

Vik

Vik is located around 2 hours from Hveragerði, with many incredible sites to see along the way. The town of Vik is pretty small, with a handful of restaurant’s, shops and hotels. The options below vary in distance of town, with one just 5 minutes from the famous black sand beaches. This article details what to do, and eat, in Vik!

Jökulsárlón Region

Vatnajökull National Park isn’t surrounded by large cities or towns, making it a bit challenging to find accommodations nearby. Before reaching the park, you’ll come across the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where you’ll find a few restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and gas stations. There are hotels available here, but it’s about an hour’s drive from the park. Another nearby town is Höfn, located about an hour from Jökulsárlón, just past the glacier.

There are a few hotels/house rentals scattered around the area, the best which I have listed below, but none of them are in town. Make sure you have a few groceries/snacks on hand before checking into your accommodation since the nearest grocery store/restaurant may be 30 minutes – 1 hour away. Check out this article for helpful tips on making the most of your stay in this region!

Egilsstaðir

As you move farther East finding accommodation does get a little harder and there will be less options to choose from. We stayed in Egilsstaðir, which is a fairly large town located on a river but you can also find accommodation in surrounding towns such as Seydisfjordur. Use this article as your guide to exploring all the activities the East has to offer!

Akureyri

Akureyri is the second largest city, right after Reykjavik, so it makes sense to stay here for a night or two! You’ll find lots of restaurants, shops and hotels here. You might also notice its a little busier than other cities around, that’s because its a major port for cruise ships and they bring lots of people in. Checkout this article for the top 5 sights in north Iceland.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Snaefellsness Peninsula is pretty large and spread out, with a few different areas to stay. A few options include: Helgafellssveit- just under an hour from Snæfellsjökull National Park, Arnarstapi- popular stop that used to be a fishing village, or Grundarfjordur- the town Kirkjufell is located in. Explore this article as your guide to the Peninsula.

Reykjavik

There are lots of hotels and rentals to choose from in Reykjavik since it is where most tourist tend to stay. It’s best to find something in the center of the city, because walking around is much easier than driving and trying to find a parking spot. Use this guide to plan the perfect day in Reykjavik- including what to do and where to eat!

Planning a Trip to Iceland

Planning a trip to Iceland is incredibly exciting! With so much to see and do, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Luckily, I have plenty of resources to help make planning your adventure easier!

• 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Iceland: Essential Tips for a Smooth Trip
• How Much a 2 Week Trip to Iceland Really Costs
• Ultimate Iceland Ring Road Itinerary: The Complete Guide for Your Adventure
• The Ultimate Summer Iceland Packing List