Where to stay in Bláskógabyggð for Golden Circle waterfalls
Bláskógabyggð is the municipality that holds most of the Golden Circle, so sleeping here puts Gullfoss, Brúarfoss and Faxi within a short drive instead of a day trip from Reykjavík. The seven stays on this page are all cabins, villas and holiday homes rather than hotels, five of them with a kitchen or kitchenette, which matters in a rural area with few restaurants open late. They average 9.37 out of 10, but across only 189 reviews in total, so each one has a small track record. I would come here for the falls at the edges of the day, outside the day-trip schedule from Reykjavík, and for the quieter Brúarfoss and Faxi that most tours skip.
Bláskógabyggð is not a town but a rural municipality of farms, summer-house areas and small villages such as Laugarvatn and Reykholt, stretching from Þingvellir to Gullfoss. Its rivers, the Hvítá, the Brúará and the Tungufljót, carry the Golden Circle's waterfalls. Staying here means a cabin among birch and farmland, a car for everything, and quiet nights.
Which Golden Circle falls deserve an overnight stay?
Bláskógabyggð covers Gullfoss, Geysir, Laugarvatn and the Brúará and Tungufljót rivers, so a cabin here turns the Golden Circle falls into evening and early morning visits.
Gullfoss is the obvious one: the Hvítá river drops in two stages, 11 m and then 21 m, into a narrow canyon, 32 m in total. The name means golden falls. Its survival has a name attached: in the early 20th century, Sigríður Tómasdóttir fought a lease that would have allowed a hydroelectric dam on the Hvítá. Geysir lies on the same road, so the two pair naturally. Day tours from Reykjavík fit both into one round trip, while a cabin in Bláskógabyggð lets you see Gullfoss in the long summer evening light.
Brúarfoss is the falls people search for by colour, a low cascade of bright blue water on the Brúará. Access changed recently: a gravel road of about 3 km now leaves Route 37 near Hótel Efstadalur for a paid car park a short walk from the falls. The older free trailhead on Route 37 is still there, but from it the walk is about 3.5 km each way, roughly an hour, flat along the river and muddy after rain. I would take the long path on a dry day; it is the better walk.
Faxi, also called Vatnsleysufoss, sits on the Tungufljót about 9 km from Reykholt and sees a fraction of the Gullfoss crowd. It also lies about 60 km from Þingvellir National Park, a reminder of how spread out the Golden Circle really is. It is only about 7 m high but some 80 m wide, and a concrete salmon ladder runs along its left side as you face the falls. In the right months you may see fish using it. The Tungufljót is also one of the better fishing rivers in the region, with salmon and sea trout, and fishing there follows its own rules and permits.
The stays themselves are small and self-catering, and none is a full-service hotel, so breakfast is yours to make. Sóltún, a renovated cabin in Klettaholt, rates 9.8 from 73 reviews, the most on this page. The Cosy cabin with amazing view on the Geysir has three bedrooms, a fireplace and a full kitchen, rated 9.7. Three stays have a hot tub: Brekkugisting Villa in Efri-Brekka, Dalsmynni and Cozy Cottage On The Golden Circle, which also has a family restaurant on site. With so few reviews per property, I would read the latest ones closely before booking.
A traveler's takeI would book two nights in a cabin here rather than do the Golden Circle as a day trip. Evening one: Gullfoss after the coaches leave. Morning two: the long riverside path to Brúarfoss from Route 37, then Faxi on the way back. For a couple, I would choose Sóltún, with its 9.8 from 73 reviews. For a family, the three-bedroom Cosy cabin with amazing view on the Geysir, or Brekkugisting Villa if a hot tub matters. Buy groceries before you arrive; this is self-catering country.
Waterfall viewBrúarárbyggð A2
Spacious apartment with mountain views, ideal for families and pets
Why guests love itBrúarárbyggð A2 is a three-bedroom apartment in Bláskógabyggð with mountain views and a balcony. The kitchen is fully equipped, there is a washing machine and a garden, and WiFi and private parking are free. The listing mentions hiking and walking tours in the surrounding area, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it a perfect 10 from a single review. Our editorial verdict: a roomy, pet-friendly base for a family, with a rating that is still early.
Waterfall viewSóltún -A cozy modern cabin in Klettaholt by the Golden Circle
Modern cabin with mountain views, perfect for Golden Circle adventures
Why guests love itI would choose Sóltún for a modern cabin base near the Golden Circle. The recently renovated holiday home in Klettaholt has a cosy living room and a fully equipped kitchen, with free Wi-Fi, free private parking, and garden and mountain views. Guests rate it 9.8 across 73 reviews, which is a very strong score. It is a private cabin without hotel services, so I would pick it for couples and families who want an independent base for the Golden Circle sights.
Waterfall viewBrúarárbyggð B1
A comfortable, pet-friendly holiday home with a sun terrace and modern amenities
Why guests love itBrúarárbyggð B1 is a three-bedroom holiday home in Bláskógabyggð with a sun terrace and free WiFi. The kitchenette, balcony, patio and dining area give a family room to cook and eat outside, and a picnic area adds more. Family rooms are listed, pets are welcome and private parking is free. Guests rate it 9.7 from 6 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a roomy, pet-friendly house for a family or group wanting a private base.
Waterfall viewCosy cabin with amazing view on the Geysir
A cosy cabin with striking views, perfect for family stays near Geysir
Why guests love itThis cabin in Bláskógabyggð gives a family three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a living area with a fireplace, which makes evenings in easy after a day on the Golden Circle. Its draw is the location close to Geysir and Gullfoss, so you can see the geysers early before the tour coaches arrive. The garden and sun terrace give children space outside. The single bathroom is the trade-off for a family of five or six.
Waterfall viewBrekkugisting Villa
Elegant villa with hot tub, play areas, and scenic views
Why guests love itBrekkugisting Villa at Efri-Brekka is built with families in mind: three bedrooms, a living room, play areas for children and a hot tub for the adults once the day is done. The sun terrace and garden look out over a lake and the mountains, so evenings outside are a pleasure in summer. I would book it for a family of five or six touring the Golden Circle region from Bláskógabyggð. Rated 9.6 by 34 guests, it is a safe choice.
Waterfall viewDalsmynni
A comfortable holiday home with a hot tub, close to Golden Circle attractions
Why guests love itThree bedrooms give each part of the family its own room at Dalsmynni, and the kitchenette and barbecue mean dinner can happen at home after a day at Geysir and Gullfoss, both close by on the Golden Circle. The private hot tub is the reason I would choose it over a roadside guesthouse: children and parents can soak outside in the evening without driving to a public pool. A washing machine helps on longer stays, and guests score it 8.4 from 22 reviews.
Waterfall viewCozy Cottage On The Golden Circle
A cozy cottage with a hot tub, perfect for Golden Circle adventures
Why guests love itA two-bedroom cottage on the Golden Circle with a living room, a garden and a sun terrace, and a hot tub for the evening. What sets it apart for families is the family-friendly restaurant on site, serving lunch and dinner with outdoor tables looking over the garden and mountains, so nobody has to cook after a long day at the geysers and waterfalls. I would book it for a short Golden Circle stay; guests rate it 8.4 from 17 reviews.
Local tips
- 1See Gullfoss in the evening or early morning: Golden Circle day tours from Reykjavík squeeze it into a single round trip, and a local cabin frees you from that schedule.
- 2For Brúarfoss, decide between the paid car park reached by a 3 km gravel road off Route 37 and the free trailhead with a 3.5 km walk each way.
- 3Wear boots on the old Brúarfoss path: it follows the Brúará for about an hour each way and turns muddy after rain.
- 4Stand facing Faxi and look to the left bank for the salmon ladder, a concrete channel where fish can sometimes be seen climbing.
- 5Choose Brekkugisting Villa, Dalsmynni or Cozy Cottage On The Golden Circle if a hot tub matters: they are the three stays here that have one.
- 6Stock up before you arrive: all seven stays are cabins or holiday homes, and five have a kitchen or kitchenette for evening meals.