Top Pet-Friendly Stays in Egilsstadir
Egilsstadir is the main town of East Iceland, set on the Ring Road beside Lake Lagarfljót, and it is a practical base for a road trip with a dog. The three stays I list here all accept pets. Hotel 1001 Nott is the hotel choice, with outdoor hot tubs looking over the lake, while Ábót and Við-Bót are two riverside cottages with terraces and room to cook. The cottages put Hengifoss and Gufufoss within a short drive, and the open land around town makes daily walks easy to fit around the sightseeing.
Egilsstadir is a service town more than a sight in itself: a crossroads on the Ring Road with shops, fuel and an airport, set beside the long Lake Lagarfljót. Its appeal lies in what surrounds it, from the forest at Hallormsstaður to the waterfalls at Hengifoss, and in the calm that comes with being far from the capital.
Where to stay
Three ways to stay with your pet
A pet-friendly stay in Egilsstadir means sleeping somewhere that accepts your animal while you explore the lake, the forests and the waterfalls of East Iceland. Here that comes down to a choice between a lakeside hotel with hot tubs and two self-catering cottages with outdoor space, which suit a dog that needs a garden and a routine.
Hotel 1001 Nott is the strongest pick on reviews, rated 9.2 across more than a thousand guests, and it states plainly that pets are welcome. Opened in 2018, it is a modern hotel near Egilsstadir with outdoor hot tubs that look over Lake Lagarfljót, mountain views from the rooms, private bathrooms and an on-site bar. Horse riding and fishing are available nearby. I would choose it when you want hotel service at the end of a long drive on the Ring Road and a soak in the evening, while your dog rests in the room after a walk along the lake shore.
Við-Bót Riverside Cottage is the option I would pick for a dog that needs space. It is a two-bedroom holiday home with a garden and a terrace, a kitchen and a kitchenette, a dining area and views over the lake, the garden and the mountains. There is a barbecue, a picnic area and free private parking, so loading and unloading the car with a crate is simple. Rated 8.2 from 246 reviews, it suits a couple or a small family who want to keep meal times and walks on their own schedule rather than fit around a hotel restaurant near Lagarfljót.
Ábót - Riverside Cottage is the neighbouring alternative, also a two-bedroom holiday home with a terrace, outdoor seating, a fully equipped kitchen, barbecue facilities and free WiFi. Its description places it close to Hengifoss and Gufufoss, two waterfalls that make easy half-day outings from town. It holds an 8.0 rating from 257 reviews. If Við-Bót is booked for your dates, I would treat Ábót as an equal swap: the layout and the self-catering setup are very similar, and both cottages give a pet a terrace and open ground nearby, which matters more than a hotel lounge when you travel with an animal.
The setting does a lot of the work for pet owners. Egilsstadir sits on the Ring Road, so it fits naturally into a drive around the country, and Lake Lagarfljót, the forest at Hallormsstaður and the trails towards Hengifoss give plenty of room for walks. Keep in mind that bringing a pet into Iceland from abroad requires an import permit and a quarantine period, so these stays suit residents and travellers who have already arranged entry. I would also keep dogs on a lead near farms and grazing sheep, which you pass on almost every road out of town.
A traveler's takeI would book Hotel 1001 Nott if the hot tubs over Lake Lagarfljót and a high review score matter most, and Við-Bót Riverside Cottage for a dog that needs a garden and a kitchen for its own routine. Ábót is my backup when Við-Bót is full. Since these three are the only pet-friendly stays listed in Egilsstadir, I would book early in summer, when the Ring Road brings most of the traffic through East Iceland.
Pet-friendlyHotel 1001 Nott
Modern hotel with hot tubs overlooking Lake Lagarfljót
Why guests love itHotel 1001 Nott opened in 2018 near Egilsstaðir, and its outdoor hot tubs look over Lake Lagarfljót. Rooms have mountain views and private bathrooms, there is an on-site bar, and pets are welcome. Horse riding and fishing are available nearby. Guests rate it 9.2 across 1,005 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a modern, well-reviewed hotel for couples and families who want to soak in a lake view after a day in the east.
Pet-friendlyVið-Bót Riverside Cottage
A pet-friendly riverside cottage with mountain views and a garden
Why guests love itVið-Bót Riverside Cottage is a two-bedroom holiday home in Egilsstaðir with a garden, a terrace and views of the lake, the garden and the mountains. The kitchen and dining area are fully usable, and a barbecue, a picnic area, free WiFi and free private parking are included. Pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.2 across 246 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a quiet cottage for a couple or a small family, with or without a dog.
Pet-friendlyÁbót - Riverside Cottage
A comfortable riverside cottage with outdoor spaces for families and couples
Why guests love itI recommend Ábót - Riverside Cottage to families and couples who want a whole two-bedroom holiday home near Egilsstaðir. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a terrace with outdoor seating, barbecue facilities and free WiFi, and pets are welcome. Hengifoss and Gufufoss are within reach for day trips. Guests rate it 8.0 across more than 250 reviews, a good score for a roomy, self-catering stay that gives a group its own space.
Local tips
- 1Arrange the import permit and quarantine before travelling if your pet comes from abroad, since Iceland applies strict entry rules to animals.
- 2Book Hotel 1001 Nott when you want hot tubs with a view of Lake Lagarfljót and a bar on site after the drive.
- 3Pick Við-Bót or Ábót for a dog that needs a garden or terrace and a kitchen to keep its feeding routine.
- 4Use the free private parking at Við-Bót to load a crate or travel kennel close to the door.
- 5Plan a walk to Hengifoss or Gufufoss as a half-day outing from the cottages, both listed as nearby.
- 6Keep your dog on a lead around farms and grazing sheep, which line most roads around Egilsstadir.