Sleeping in Iceland
- jaime de sousa
- Sep 29, 2015
- 4 min read
With colorful mountains, moss covered rocky terrain, milky geothermal pools. trolls and fairies, Iceland truly is a magical country. It's a country that reminds you that one of the World's greatest artist is Earth, herself. Irregardless of the time of the year you visit, it's possible to spend your entire trip sightseeing and still feel eager to promptly plan you’re return trip just to experience everything you missed. And with various tour companies like Reykjavik Excursions and Extreme Iceland offering a number of nature excursions, it's really easy to enjoy Iceland's diverse landscape.
Like many others who travel here, you'll find your schedule pretty fully packed. Waking up at 7am, leaving for a tour around 8am and returning at 8pm or later is commonplace for many excursions. Even if you're renting a car, this may still look like your schedule. Iceland doesn't have the sunny sandy resorts of tropical islands, nor the super touristy strips like Vegas. Most of your day you will want to spend exploring the island's extraterrestrial terrain. And that's just the thing. Spending money on ritzy hotels will prove to be a wasted expense, especially when Reykjavik has quite a large number of hostels and rentable apartments. In fact, a private room in some of Reykjavik's hostels will make you feel like you're in a hotel, only now you'll be able to spend the extra money on that spa treatment you wanted to get at the Blue Lagoon.
These three hostels are some of my favorite in Reykjavik - and will give you everything you need and more.
Iceland has some really hip and nice hostels. Loft Hostel is definitely one of them. With an amazing top floor space including a full length bar, fit for any casual imbiber; a private balcony, making a perfect place to watch Iceland´s midnight sun or northern lights; and multipurpose dinning-hangout-concert area room, where they host occasional Game of Thrones viewing parties or evening concerts, you will have a lot to do when your not exploring Iceland´s natural beauty. The rooms are nice with a modern hip feel. Single rooms even come with their own bathrooms, giving it more of a private hotel feel but still with the community of a cool hostel. Loft is roughly in the middle of the heap, in terms of prices for hostels in Reykjavik. It´s also part of Hostelling International, a global network of Youth Hostel Associations which ¨meet assured standards, which guarantee a range of good quality, safe accommodation, in friendly surroundings at affordable prices.¨
Although summer is probably the most comfortable time of year to visit, winter offers a very different experience. If you're up for the challenge, assistant manager, Edda Hrund Guðmundsdóttir, definitely recommends visiting Iceland in the winter. The summer is amazing, but "during winter Loft is seeing adventurous travelers who are staying for a longer period, participating in everything from extreme sports to cozy warm evenings with northern lights and music events [at the hostel]."
There is plenty to do, see and eat around Loft. As for food, consider trying out nearby traditional Icelandic food at Café Loki and Japanese - South American sushi fusion chain, Sushi Samba, they're both reasonably priced and well liked. This is definitely a place for the social and outgoing adventurer.
One of the most well put together hostels I have experienced. It has an almost, "too cool for school vibe" that you'll want to be part of, blending hipster with neo-vintage industrial design. Situated in a little bit of an awkward part of Reykjavik, it definitely has its really big positives. It's within minutes of the famous "Sun Voyager" sculpture which at the perfect light will provide you an amazing amount of mysticism and sick pictures. KEX has everything from a buzzing restaurant, to a old styled boxing gym they use as a conference and event room, and even a barber's chair (that's used to provide haircuts for those who wish) in it's facility. And with it being on the lower price range of hostels in the area, I would definitely recommend this place.
While you are there, KEX employees recommend checking out the Thermal Pools, Dufnaholar 10 (also known as D10, a bar sure to stretch your imagination), and the Old Harbor.
Like Loft, KEX seconds the notion of visiting Iceland in the winter. Luke Ryan, head of reception, keeps it simple, "less crowds, northern lights and ice caves!" I'm sold.
Walking into Reykjavik Downtown Hostel you feel like you're walking into a cozy café. It's clean, modern look flow throughout the space. If everyone is not out exploring Iceland, they are sure to be seen socializing, playing games and enjoying a warm drink in the café area. Thomas Banakas, head of reception describes Reykjavik Downtown Hostel as "a social place, for people around the world to meet and share their travel experiences, and even start new adventures together." Like Loft, Reykjavik Downtown Hostel is also part of the Hostelling International network. In fact, it was nominated the 2nd Friendliest Hostel in the hostel network.
Banakas recommends visiting Iceland all year, but autumn, he mentions, is a way to get a taste of the two drastic worlds of Iceland. "The weather is still good to travel around the ring road but the winter is around the corner and you may see beautiful white snow sceneries along the trip. [It may be dark enough to] maybe spot the Northern Lights and with some interesting festivals like the Reykjavik International Film Festival (October) and Airwaves (November), it's an extra reason to be around the city."
Bankas also offers some alternative things to see and experience that you won't always hear about. Kolaportið Flea Market, a weekend indoor flea market is a great place to find local products, dried fish and handmade Icelandic Sweaters.
Vesturbæjarlaug, a local small and friendly neighborhood pool, said to be one of the best hot tubs in the city. The old harbor, a place full of local activities and traditional atmosphere. "Go for whale watching or try the best Lobster soup in town at Sea Baron. Visit the Víking Maritime Museum or grab some (Icelandic inspired) fish and chips, sit in one of the benches and enjoy the sounds of the sea," Bankas recommends.
So, what are you waiting for? Save your wallet, save your time and enjoy everything Iceland has to offer.
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