Simple Stays in Höfn: Hostel, Guesthouses and Farm

Haukaberg House suits families who travel the Ring Road self-catering. The shared kitchen and TV lounge give children somewhere to be in the evening, and the garden and terrace come into their own in the long summer light. Bathrooms need care: some twin and triple rooms share one, so a family that wants its own should book a private-bath room or the studio apartment. Nothing is within walking distance; plan on Höfn, about 7 km away, for dinner, the shops and the outdoor pool, with a children's pool and hot tubs. With young children I would pair a stay here with that pool rather than the Hoffell tubs, reached by a rough dirt track. Not for families who want to walk out to dinner.

Höfn sits just off Route 1 in Southeast Iceland, and Old Airline Guesthouse stands by the harbour with modern rooms, a shared kitchen and lounge, and a washing machine for mid-trip laundry. Bathrooms are shared, which keeps the price down. Our editorial take for families and couples: cook with the local langoustine, dry the hiking gear overnight, and leave early for Jökulsárlón, about an hour's drive west, before the tour buses fill the car park.

Dyngja is a small, self-run guesthouse, and families should treat it that way: there is no reception, arrival is by self check-in from 16:00, and guests contact the hosts for key instructions before they arrive. The studio, with its own bathroom, is the unit I would choose with a young child; the double and twin rooms, which share bathrooms, work for a couple, less well for a family padding down a corridor at night. The garden has a barbecue and a picnic area for summer evenings. Location is the strong point: the centre of Höfn, the harbour and the 25 m outdoor pool, with its children's pool and hot tubs, are all within walking distance. The trade-off is the 10:00 checkout, early for a family packing up after a long drive.

Sauðanes Guesthouse near Höfn is described as an elegant country house, with a sun terrace, a garden and an outdoor seating area. Each room has a private bathroom and sea and mountain views, and guests share a kitchen. WiFi and private parking are free, and pets are welcome. The setting is a country house rather than a town hotel. Guests rate it 9.0 across 656 reviews, a solid and dependable sample.

Vikingcafe in Höfn is a guest house with direct beachfront access and sea views. Family rooms have private bathrooms and soundproofing, and a daily continental breakfast, a bar, outdoor seating and free WiFi in public areas are on offer. A beachfront position is a real draw for families who want the water on the doorstep. A 9.0 rating across 1,893 reviews is a large, reliable sample. I would choose it for a family or couple who value the setting.

Families do well here. Höfn Hostel has dedicated family rooms, linen included, a large kitchen where you can cook for children on your own timetable, and common areas with board games for a wet evening. Free parking, lockers and laundry make a two-night stop easy halfway round the island, and the building is wheelchair accessible, which also helps with a pushchair. The 16:00 to 21:00 check-in is the one constraint: with children asleep in the back after a day at Jökulsárlón, 80 km away, it is easy to run late. I would plan the lagoon in the morning, arrive in Höfn mid-afternoon, and keep the evening for the hot tubs at Hoffell.

Apotek Guesthouse is set in a former pharmacy building in Höfn. It has a shared kitchen and free WiFi, which suits budget travellers and families. Guests can choose rooms with a private or a shared bathroom, all with mountain views, and free private parking is on site. Guests rate it 8.9 across 1,744 reviews, a solid record for a simple guesthouse.

Dynjandi Guesthouse sits on a horse farm along the Ring Road, with bright, basic rooms, mountain views and free WiFi. Breakfast is included, which keeps mornings easy for a family before a day on the road. The Hoffellsjökull Glacier and the Höfn area are the draws, and there are hiking opportunities nearby. A rating of 8.9 across 392 reviews says guests value the setting. I would choose it for a family happy with simple rooms and a farm setting.

Nýpugarðar is a family-run guesthouse on a working sheep farm near Höfn, just off Route 1, with views over Hornafjörður to Iceland's highest mountain. Rooms are simple with shared bathrooms, and the home-cooked breakfast and dinner buffet solves the evening meal far from town. More than 2,200 guests rate it 8.8. Our editorial view for families: eat the dinner buffet, watch the light on the ice caps, and leave early for Jökulsárlón.

Guesthouse Mikael is a family-owned guesthouse in Höfn village, a short walk from the harbour and the public swimming pool. Rooms are brightly decorated with wooden floors and a private bathroom, and free WiFi and parking are included. With 813 reviews and an 8.6 score, I recommend it to families, couples and budget travellers who want a simple, welcoming base for exploring southeast Iceland's landscapes.

Brunnholl Country Guesthouse is a family-run guesthouse on a working farm 30 km from Höfn, with rooms that have private bathrooms and views of mountains and glaciers. There is a common room with free WiFi, and a daily breakfast buffet with farm products and homemade ice cream from the dairy farm. A restaurant is available on site. It is a farm setting, not a town base. Guests rate it 8.5 across 923 reviews.

Dilksnes Guesthouse is a privately run guesthouse just off the Ring Road, 4 km from Höfn town centre. Rooms are simply furnished with private bathrooms and scenic views, and Wi-Fi is free. Guests can use a furnished garden terrace and a small communal kitchen in the main building. Guests rate it 8.5 across 318 reviews, and I would pick it for drivers who want a quiet, simple stop near Höfn.