Budget Stays in Djúpivogur, East Iceland
Djúpivogur is a small harbour village on a peninsula in the southern Eastfjords, below the pyramid-shaped Búlandstindur mountain, and it was the first town in Iceland to join the Cittaslow network. The three budget stays listed here each keep costs down with a shared kitchen. Framtid Hostel has 559 reviews and private rooms in a separate house, Fossardalur Guesthouse offers family rooms with kitchenettes and river views outside the village, and Helgafell Hostel serves a continental breakfast. The granite eggs of Gleðivík and boat trips to Papey island are the local highlights, and Route 1 is a short drive away.
Djúpivogur is a fishing village of a few hundred people, the first in Iceland to join Cittaslow, the network of towns that favour a slower pace. Its harbour, timber houses and coastal paths give it a calm, human scale. It serves travellers as a supply and rest stop on Route 1 between Höfn and the northern Eastfjords.
Where to stay
Harbour village stops on a budget
Djúpivogur is a natural overnight stop between Höfn and the northern Eastfjords, and its budget stays make the long Route 1 drive cheaper without losing comfort. A shared kitchen lets you cook fish bought in the village, and the harbour, the eggs of Gleðivík and the old Langabúð warehouse are all within walking distance. I would choose Framtid Hostel for its central position and its record, or Fossardalur Guesthouse if a kitchenette in your own room matters more.
Framtid Hostel is the most established address, with an 8.4 score from 559 reviews. It offers private rooms with free WiFi in a separate house, while the shared kitchen, the shared bathrooms and a lounge are in the main building. Bicycles can be rented on site, which is a cheap way to explore the village, the harbour and the coastal path to the eggs of Gleðivík. Route 1 is about a five-minute drive away. I recommend it to travellers who want a private room in the village itself and plan to cook most of their meals in the shared kitchen.
Fossardalur Guesthouse lies near Djúpivogur rather than in the village, and it scores 8.5 from 558 reviews. Its family rooms have mountain and river views, a kitchenette and a dining area, which makes self-catering easy without queuing for a shared stove. Guests also have a shared kitchen, an outdoor fireplace, free WiFi and private parking. The setting suits hikers exploring the Eastfjords, and the outdoor fireplace is a pleasant extra on a bright summer evening. I would choose it if you travel as a family and prefer countryside views to a village street.
Helgafell Hostel offers family rooms with garden and mountain views, each with a kitchenette and soundproofing, plus a shared kitchen, free WiFi and private parking. A continental buffet breakfast is served daily, which is rare among budget stays in the area and saves time on driving days. It scores 7.9 from 240 reviews, the lowest result here, so I would weigh the breakfast and the private kitchenette against that score. For a family crossing the Eastfjords in one push, a soundproofed room with its own kitchenette can matter more than a slightly higher rating.
Whichever stay you pick, Djúpivogur rewards a slow evening. The sculpture Eggin í Gleðivík lines the harbour road with 34 granite eggs, each representing a local bird species, and the Langabúð warehouse, one of the oldest buildings in the village, houses a café and small museum. In summer, boats leave for Papey, a small island known for its puffins and its old church. Búlandstindur, the pyramid-shaped mountain that dominates the view, frames every walk, and the village is compact enough to leave the car parked all evening and explore it on foot.
A traveler's takeIf I were driving Route 1 through the Eastfjords on a budget, I would book Framtid Hostel in Djúpivogur for its private rooms, its shared kitchen and its 8.4 score from 559 reviews. I would rent a bicycle on site and ride to the granite eggs of Gleðivík, then keep the evening for the harbour and the view of Búlandstindur.
Budget & guesthouseFossardalur Guesthouse
Family rooms with kitchenettes and mountain views near Djúpivogur
Why guests love itFossardalur Guesthouse works well for families who like to cook and keep their own rhythm near Djúpivogur. The family rooms each have a kitchenette and dining area, and a shared kitchen is also available. Mountain and river views frame the stay, and an outdoor fireplace gives the evening a focus once the children are fed. Free Wi-Fi and private parking are included, and an 8.5 rating from 558 reviews is solid.
Budget & guesthouseFramtid Hostel
Private rooms in Djúpivogur with shared kitchen and easy Ring Road access
Why guests love itFramtid Hostel is in Djúpivogur village, with private rooms in a separate house, free WiFi, a shared kitchen in the main building and shared bathroom facilities and a lounge. For families on a budget the shared kitchen is useful, but private rooms do not come with a private bathroom. The Ring Road is a 5-minute drive away, and bicycles can be rented on site. Guests rate it 8.4 across 559 reviews.
Budget & guesthouseHelgafell Hostel
Family rooms with kitchenettes and mountain views in Djúpivogur
Why guests love itHelgafell Hostel in Djúpivogur has family rooms with garden and mountain views, each with a kitchenette and soundproofing. Wi-Fi, a shared kitchen and on-site private parking are free or included, and a continental buffet breakfast is served daily. Guests rate it 7.9 across 240 reviews, a modest score, so I would read recent reviews and pick it for families who value a kitchenette over polish.
Local tips
- 1Cook in the shared kitchens at Framtid Hostel, Fossardalur Guesthouse or Helgafell Hostel to keep daily costs down.
- 2Rent a bicycle at Framtid Hostel to reach the eggs of Gleðivík and the harbour without the car.
- 3Book Helgafell Hostel if you want breakfast included before a long driving day.
- 4Choose Fossardalur Guesthouse for a kitchenette in your room and countryside views outside the village.
- 5Plan a summer boat trip to Papey island for its puffins, weather permitting.
- 6Stock up in Djúpivogur before heading north, since the Eastfjord villages are spaced far apart.