Pet-Friendly Stays in Fellabær, East Iceland
Fellabær is the small village on the western bank of Lagarfljót, linked by a bridge to Egilsstaðir and crossed by Route 1, which makes it a practical stop for anyone driving East Iceland with a dog. Five properties listed here accept pets, and all of them score 8.8 or higher with guests. They split into two styles: self-catering bases with a kitchen, such as Hengifosslodge and Finnsstaðir Holiday Home, and hotels with a restaurant and hot tub, such as Hotel 1001 Nott and the lakefront Gistihúsið - Lake Hótel Egilsstaðir. Mjóanes accommodation adds a budget option near Hallormsstaður Forest.
Fellabær is a quiet residential village rather than a sight in itself. Most shops and services are across the Lagarfljót bridge in Egilsstaðir, the main service town of East Iceland. Its value lies in its position: on Route 1, beside the lake, and within a short drive of Hallormsstaður Forest, Hengifoss and the road to Seyðisfjörður.
Where to stay
Lake, forest and waterfalls with your dog
Travelling with a pet in Iceland narrows the choice of beds quickly, so a cluster of five pet-friendly properties around one lake is useful. Fellabær gives you the services of Egilsstaðir across the bridge, the airport close by and Route 1 at the door, while the Lagarfljót valley offers forest, lakeshore and waterfall walks within a short drive. I would pick a kitchen if your dog eats a specific diet, and a hotel with breakfast and a restaurant if you prefer to keep driving days simple.
For a self-catering base, Hengifosslodge is the strongest pick on paper: it holds a 9.8 score from 109 reviews, offers free parking and a fully equipped kitchen, and sits about six minutes by taxi from Hengifoss, one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland, known for the red clay bands in its basalt cliffs. Having your own kitchen matters when you travel with a dog, because feeding times stay under your control and you are not tied to restaurant hours. The lodge also suits travellers who plan to walk the Hengifoss trail early, before the car park fills.
Gistihúsið - Lake Hótel Egilsstaðir is the most established address in the group, with 814 reviews and an 8.8 score. The house dates from 1903 and stands on the shore of Lagarfljót, the long glacial lake that runs south through the valley. Rooms are simply furnished, and the hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a spa with a hot tub. It is a short drive from Vök Baths, the floating geothermal pools on Lake Urriðavatn, and from Egilsstaðir Airport. I recommend it to dog owners who want a lakeside walk straight from the door.
Hotel 1001 Nott suits travellers who prefer a hotel format over self-catering. It scores 9.6 from 324 reviews and includes free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, a hot tub and free parking, so a driving day can end without a supermarket stop. The East Iceland Heritage Museum in Egilsstaðir is about nine minutes away by taxi. For travellers on a tighter budget, Mjóanes accommodation scores 9.8 from 261 reviews, includes free breakfast and parking, and is about five minutes by taxi from Hallormsstaður Forest, the largest forest in Iceland and a good place for long walks.
Finnsstaðir Holiday Home is the practical choice if you fly in or out of Egilsstaðir: it sits about a minute from the airport by taxi and around eight minutes from Fardagafoss, the waterfall on the slope above the town. The three-star holiday home scores 9.6 from 156 reviews and has a hot tub, a fully equipped kitchen and free Wi-Fi, which suits longer stays and families travelling with a pet. From Fellabær, the drive over the Fjarðarheiði pass to Seyðisfjörður, where the Norröna ferry from Denmark docks, is also within easy reach for day trips.
A traveler's takeIf I were planning this trip with a dog, I would choose Hengifosslodge for its kitchen and its 9.8 score, then walk the Hengifoss trail early in the day. My second pick would be Mjóanes accommodation, for breakfast included and easy access to Hallormsstaður Forest, the largest forest in Iceland, where long walks are possible along the eastern shore of Lagarfljót.
Pet-friendlyHengifosslodge
Pet-friendly lodge with kitchen, near Hengifoss waterfall
Why guests love itHengifosslodge in Fellabær is pet-friendly and sits 6 minutes by taxi from the Hengifoss waterfall, a useful base for exploring the East Fjords. Guests have a fully equipped kitchen to use, free WiFi and free parking, so a family can cook and keep costs down. The listing gives few details about room types, so confirm what you are booking. Guests rate it 9.8, though only 109 have reviewed it so far.
Pet-friendlyMjóanes accommodation
Budget-friendly stay near Hallormsstaður Forest with hot tub and pet-friendly rooms
Why guests love itMjóanes accommodation is a budget-friendly two-star stay five minutes by taxi from Hallormsstaður Forest, with free breakfast, WiFi and parking. Guests can use a hot tub, and some rooms include a kitchen, so families and pet owners are catered for. The listing gives few other details, so ask about room types when booking. Guests rate it 9.8 across 261 reviews, an outstanding score on a solid sample.
Pet-friendlyHotel 1001 Nott
Pet-friendly hotel with a hot tub and free breakfast near Egilsstaðir
Why guests love itHotel 1001 Nott in Fellabær is pet-friendly and sits 9 minutes by taxi from the East Iceland Heritage Museum. A hot tub, a restaurant, free breakfast and free parking are listed, which makes it an easy stop for a family exploring the Eastfjords with a dog. Guests rate it 9.6 across 324 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a well-reviewed, pet-friendly hotel where breakfast and parking come without extra charge.
Pet-friendlyFinnsstaðir Holiday Home
Pet-friendly holiday home with a hot tub, close to the airport and Fardagafoss
Why guests love itI recommend Finnsstaðir Holiday Home to families and pet owners who want a holiday home right by the airport in Fellabær. The three-star property is one minute by taxi from the airport and eight minutes from Fardagafoss waterfall, with a hot tub, a fully equipped kitchen and free WiFi, and pets are welcome. An airport shuttle is listed. Guests rate it 9.6 across more than 150 reviews, an outstanding score for longer stays.
Pet-friendlyGistihúsið - Lake Hótel Egilsstaðir
Historic lakefront hotel with a spa and hot tub in Fellabær
Why guests love itGistihúsið - Lake Hótel Egilsstaðir is an informal lakefront hotel in Fellabær dating from 1903, with simply furnished rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a spa with a hot tub. The listing puts Vök Baths and Egilsstaðir Airport a short drive away, and a restaurant two minutes on foot. Pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.8 across 814 reviews. Our editorial verdict: a characterful, unfussy hotel on the lake for travellers who value setting over polish.
Local tips
- 1Plan the paperwork early: bringing a dog or cat into Iceland requires an import permit and a quarantine period, so this page is most useful for pets already living in the country or travellers who have completed the process.
- 2Book a property with a kitchen, such as Hengifosslodge or Finnsstaðir Holiday Home, if your pet follows a specific diet.
- 3Buy pet food and supplies in Egilsstaðir across the bridge, where the shops of the area are concentrated.
- 4Walk the Hengifoss trail in the morning; the climb to the waterfall takes time and the path is busier later in the day.
- 5Keep your dog on a lead in Hallormsstaður Forest and near grazing sheep, which roam freely in East Iceland during summer.
- 6Tell the property in advance that you travel with a pet, since rooms that accept animals can be limited in number.