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Reykjavik hotels: 10 of the best places to stay

Wrap up warm for your trip to Reykjavik: only Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is further north than Reykjavík: istock
Wrap up warm for your trip to Reykjavik: only Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is further north than Reykjavík: istock

In the last decade, visitor numbers to Iceland have grown by 500 per cent as appearances on Game of Thrones have spread news of the wonders of this isolated island nation, which is home to otherworldly landscapes, steaming hot springs and waterfalls around every turn. That boom in visitors has also led to a boom in hotels, with plenty of comfortable, stylish options at a variety of price points.

Here are the top hotels in Reykjavik.

The Independent's hotel reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and book, but we never allow this to affect our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

Best for a social scene: Kex Hostel

Neighbourhood: Mioborg

The bar area at the sociable Kex Hostel (Kex Hostel)
The bar area at the sociable Kex Hostel (Kex Hostel)

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48 hours in Reykjavik: Where to go and what to see

Kex is branded as a hostel, but this renovated biscuit factory offers a range of stylish accommodation options, including private doubles with en-suite bathrooms and ocean views. Ample communal space – a guest kitchen, gym, barber shop and heated outdoor patio that fills up when the weather’s nice – creates a buzzy atmosphere that encourages mingling; and the gastropub Saemundur attracts as many travellers as it does working locals who come for wifi, coffee and craft beer.

Doubles from KR24,600 (£151)
kexhostel.is

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Best for luxury: Hotel Borg

Neighbourhood: Mioborg

The art deco Hotel Borg dates back to 1930 (Hotel Borg)
The art deco Hotel Borg dates back to 1930 (Hotel Borg)

Located in the heart of downtown, the 99-room art deco Hotel Borg has set the standard for Reykjavik luxury hotels since it opened in 1930. It’s since been renovated, though many original fixtures, vintage accents and black and white photos of Reykjavik remain. Rooms feature lacquered tables, heated bathroom floors, high ceilings and stylish Bang & Olufsen TVs. There’s an onsite Jamie’s Italian and a spa with a steam bath, sauna and hot tub.

Doubles from KR31,290 (£197)
keahotels.is/en/hotels/hotel-borg

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Best for a clean conscience: Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel

Neighbourhood: Hlemmur

Sleep easy in the knowledge that the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel is committed to environmental sustainability (Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel)
Sleep easy in the knowledge that the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel is committed to environmental sustainability (Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel)

Set a few steps off Laugavegur, the city’s main shopping street, is the 65-room Eyja. It's part of Guldsmeden Hotels, a Danish group with a focus on sustainability. It’s also the only Icelandic hotel to be Green Globe certified. Rooms feel earthy and organic, with rough-hewn-wood four-poster beds, sheepskin throws and natural fabrics like cotton, wool and leather throughout. Eyja uses at least 90 per cent organic produce in the food it serves and employs a 360-degree sustainability management system with an emphasis on environmental responsibility.

Doubles from KR27,300 (£172)
hoteleyja.is

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Best for dining: Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina

Neighbourhood: Harbour

One of the suites at the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina (Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina)
One of the suites at the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina (Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina)

The nautical-themed Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina is set on the edge of the downtown harbourfront, and is home to the chic bar and restaurant Slippbarinn, a perennial favourite among locals. Serving breakfast, brunch and an all-day menu of modern Icelandic fare, such as langoustine flatbread and soup with the day’s catch, it’s a popular spot any time; but especially during happy hour when its creative cocktails, like the bourbon-based Whiskey Sour Par Excellence, are half price.

Doubles from KR18,500 (£117)
icelandairhotels.com/en/hotels/marina/about-reykjavik-marina

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Best for Icelandic culture: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre

Neighbourhood: Mioborg

Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre used to house a furniture factory (Hilton Hotels)
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre used to house a furniture factory (Hilton Hotels)

Composed of six interconnected houses that were part of a furniture factory from 1937-1963, the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre has been fully renovated, but still nods to its past – and Iceland’s unique natural setting. Rooms are decked out in muted versions of the country’s natural colours: slate grey reminiscent of volcanic rock, pale blue the colour of the sea and pastel green like the moss-covered countryside. Local artwork lines the walls, the snack shop sells Icelandic artisanal chocolate and the library is stocked with books from Icelandic authors.

Doubles from KR25,175 (£159)
canopy3.hilton.com​

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Best for a view: Hlemmur Square

Neighbourhood: Hlemmur

Spectacular views of the city greet guests on the fifth floor of Hlemmur Square (Hlemmur Square)
Spectacular views of the city greet guests on the fifth floor of Hlemmur Square (Hlemmur Square)

Most of Iceland’s buildings are only a few storeys tall, which means you don’t have to climb high for a great view. The King Terrace and Deluxe King Terrace rooms at Hlemmur Square are only on the fifth floor but offer spectacular views of the city, bay and mountains from private balconies and expansive windows. All rooms have king-sized beds with Lissadell linens, flat-screen TVs and fully stocked minibars. There are upscale dorm-style rooms on the third and fourth floors and a craft beer and cocktail bar in the lobby.

Doubles from KR23,000 (£145)
hlemmursquare.com/hotel

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Best for business: Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel

Neighbourhood: Mioborg

The Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel is ideal for business travellers (Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel)
The Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel is ideal for business travellers (Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel)

The 88-room Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel is set in a century-old building in the heart of downtown, within easy walking distance to visitor attractions like the Harpa concert hall and Reykjavik Art Museum, as well as the city hall, parliament and the prime minister’s office. Rooms offer all the modern trappings, and there’s a fitness centre, three meeting rooms and the 1919 Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Doubles from KR21,500 (£135)
radissonblu.com/en/1919hotel-reykjavik

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Best for history: Sand Hotel

Neighbourhood: Mioborg

History buffs will appreciate the heritage of the Sand Hotel (Sand Hotel)
History buffs will appreciate the heritage of the Sand Hotel (Sand Hotel)

The 67-room art deco-style Sand Hotel is built around three historic buildings on Laugavegur Street. Sandholt Bakery and Gudsteinn Eyjolfsson men’s clothing shop, which have been serving Reykjavik for more than a century, are on the ground floor; the former provides the hotel’s continental breakfast, while the latter offers in-room shopping with delivery to the hotel. Out front, a small plaque commemorates the most important historical aspect: behind the hotel sits the small house where Nobel Prize-winning author Halldor Laxness was born in 1902.

Doubles from KR25,500 (£160)
sandhotel.is

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Best for a home away from home: Reykjavik Marina Residence

Neighbourhood: Harbour

The snowy exterior of the Reykjavik Marina Residence (Reykjavik Marina Residence)
The snowy exterior of the Reykjavik Marina Residence (Reykjavik Marina Residence)

Located next to the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina hotel, the Residence offers a homely environment with all the conveniences of a hotel. Set in a 20th century townhouse, it includes one two-storey suite and six one-room Residence Suites, each with balcony, minibar, Sóley Organics Icelandic toiletries and Lin Design linens. Breakfast is included and all suites share access to the Residence Lounge where complimentary refreshments are offered every evening.

Doubles from KR62,050 (£391)
reykjavikmarinaresidence.is

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Best for budget travellers: Loft

Neighbourhood: Mioborg

Reykjavik isn’t cheap, but the colourful rooms at the Loft are a good budget option (Loft Hostel)
Reykjavik isn’t cheap, but the colourful rooms at the Loft are a good budget option (Loft Hostel)

Another genre-crosser, Loft offers both hostel and hotel accommodations. The Double Deluxe Rooms are basic but cosy, with large windows overlooking Laugavegur, soft beds and small-but-functional tiled bathrooms. Guests also have access to the top-floor balcony cafe for breakfast and light bites, and a self-catering kitchen to save even more on the high cost of dining in Reykjavik.

Doubles from KR17,750 (£111)
lofthostel.is

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