Guesthouse vs Hotel in Iceland?

Booking accommodation in Iceland is no rocket science, but it is good to keep some things in mind.

Four different kind of accommodations

There's about four different kind of accommodations and I'll explain what to expect of them in Iceland:

1. Guesthouse

2. Hotel

3. Hostel

4. Summer house

And sometimes they overlap a little bit.

1. Guesthouses

First of all, guesthouses are very popular in Iceland. When looking at all the accommodations in my guide, you'll see quite a few guesthouses. Let me explain what makes them different from hotels.

What makes a Guesthouse a Guesthouse?

Guesthouses can be actual (summer)houses close to the home of locals. But they can also be a bigger building with several rooms, very similar to a hotel. In that case, the one thing that (often) distinguishes it from a hotel is the fact that there are shared bathrooms. But some guesthouses offer both rooms with shared or private bathrooms. Yes, it can be a bit complicated.

For many people the shared bathrooms are a reason not to book a guesthouse, but let me tell you why I would still advice to book a guesthouse:

1. They are usually a little cheaper than hotels, so if you are in a budget, these are worth a look.

2. The shared bathrooms are kept very clean. They are cleaner than your hotel bathroom, because they can be cleaned when you are in your room and therefore usually get cleaned very often.

3. I have never had to wait for a shared bathroom. They really make sure here are enough bathrooms for the amount of people staying.

I have never had any issues with shared bathrooms when staying in Guesthouses, so I can still highly recommend it.

Examples of amazing guesthouses with shared bathrooms:

Guesthouse 1x6

Sjávarborg

2. Hotel

Hotels are usually the priciest option, but of course also the most fancy one. Hotels in Iceland are very similar to hotels anywhere in the world. In some areas in the countryside it can be harder to find actual hotels, so just be aware of this.

Examples of fancy hotels:

Hotel Rangá

Skálakot Hotel

Sigló Hótel

3. Hostels

The cheapest option out of the four. But don’t expect hostel prices like in the rest of the world. The hostels in Iceland are still a little expensive. They often have rooms with several bunkbeds, but some also offer private rooms (with or without shared bathrooms). Hostels are of course the perfect way to meet fellow travellers.

My favourite hostels:

Midgard Base Camp & Restaurant

Kex Hostel Reykjavik

4. Summer / holiday houses

This option is especially interesting if you are traveling with your family / a group. In that case this often becomes the cheapest option. There’s houses for all size groups, so definitely check these out as well. In the countryside it’s great to get yourself a little cabin to enjoy the Icelandic serenity to the fullest.

Great summer house options:

Miðhraun - Lava Resort (10% discount code)

Skeiðvellir Villa

Sunnuhlíð

>> Check all accommodations in my map here <<

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