Simple Stays in Hveragerði: Apartments and Guesthouses
Hveragerði is a geothermal town about 45 km from Reykjavík, and its practical stays are apartments, guesthouses and holiday homes rather than large hotels. This page gathers four that keep things simple: Varmi Guesthouse Apartments & rooms, Reykjadalur Guesthouse, Guesthouse Eldhestar and Strýta Guesthouse. I do not quote prices, since the listings here do not carry them, so I describe what each offers: kitchens, private bathrooms, parking, breakfast and extras. The aim is to help you choose a plain, well-reviewed base near the hot springs and know what you are getting before you book.
Hveragerði exudes a relaxed, community-focused personality, distinct from the capital. It's a town where nature's power is palpable, from the steam rising from the ground to the greenhouses thriving on geothermal heat. This creates an authentic Icelandic experience, perfect for travelers who appreciate tranquility, outdoor activities, and a connection to local life. The town's smaller scale means that budget accommodations often feel more personal, offering a genuine glimpse into Icelandic hospitality.
Plain, practical bases near the hot springs
A simple stay in Hveragerði comes down to whether you want a kitchen, whether breakfast is included and what extras sit on the property. The four stays below differ on each point: one is self-catering with a shared garden terrace, one has garden views and breakfast at a nearby hotel, one has a restaurant, bar and spa facilities, and one is a holiday home with a hot tub. None is a large hotel, and I describe each plainly so the label does not oversell it.
Varmi Guesthouse Apartments & rooms is the strongest-reviewed option with a large sample, scoring 9.4 from 617 reviews. The modern, self-catering apartments and rooms are 45 km from Reykjavík, and each unit has free WiFi, a well-equipped kitchen and access to a shared garden terrace. The property is close to local restaurants, shops and a public swimming pool, with volcanic hot springs and hiking trails nearby. It suits a traveller who wants to cook, swim in a public pool and keep the stay simple. A kitchen and a garden terrace also mean you are not tied to restaurant opening hours in the evening.
Reykjadalur Guesthouse is a comfortable guesthouse with garden views, scoring 8.4 from 672 reviews. The rooms have a flat-screen TV, a fridge and a private bathroom, and guests get free WiFi and private parking. Breakfast is served at a nearby hotel, so confirm the arrangement and the time when you book. The listing describes it as well suited to couples and families. It is the plainest of the four, and the right choice when you want a private bathroom and parking without extras. The garden views make it a calm place to return to after a day exploring the town and the surrounding springs.
Guesthouse Eldhestar offers comfortable family rooms with garden views, soundproofing and private bathrooms, and scores 8.6 from 244 reviews. The listing mentions spa facilities, a restaurant and a bar on site, plus free private parking with an EV charging station, a tour desk and luggage storage. For a traveller who wants a simple room but likes having a restaurant and a tour desk close at hand, it is a practical choice. I would confirm what the spa facilities include before you plan around them. The soundproofing helps after a long day, and the tour desk can help plan what to see in and around the town.
Strýta Guesthouse is a holiday home with three bedrooms and a living room, with a ground-floor unit, parquet floors and a fully equipped kitchen. Guests can use a terrace, a hot tub and barbecue facilities, with free WiFi and private parking. It scores 9.3, but from only 70 reviews, so the sample is small. It is the stay for a group or family that wants a whole house with a kitchen and an outdoor hot tub, rather than a single room. Because it is a whole house, it works best for a group that wants to share a living room and a kitchen.
A traveler's takeI would choose Varmi Guesthouse Apartments & rooms for a self-catering stay near a public pool, Reykjadalur Guesthouse for a plain room with a private bathroom and garden views, and Strýta Guesthouse for a group that wants a whole house with a hot tub. Guesthouse Eldhestar suits those who want a restaurant and a tour desk close at hand. My advice is to decide on a kitchen first, then check what breakfast and parking include.
Budget & guesthouseVarmi Guesthouse Apartments & rooms
Self-catering comfort with geothermal hot springs and hiking on your doorstep
Why guests love itVarmi suits families who prefer to cook for themselves. Each unit has a well-equipped kitchen and free Wi-Fi, and a shared garden terrace gives children space outside. It sits in Hveragerði, 45 km from Reykjavík, close to local restaurants, shops and a public swimming pool, with volcanic hot springs and hiking trails nearby. A 9.4 rating from 617 reviews is among the strongest in town.
Budget & guesthouseStrýta Guesthouse
A family-friendly guesthouse with a hot tub and barbecue facilities
Why guests love itI would choose Strýta Guesthouse for a family or a group of friends who want a hot tub and plenty of room. The ground-floor holiday home has three bedrooms, a living room, parquet floors and a fully equipped kitchen, with a terrace, a hot tub and barbecue facilities. Free Wi-Fi and private parking are included. Guests rate it 9.3 across 70 reviews. Hveragerði works as a base for day trips, so I would pick it for stays where you cook and relax at home.
Budget & guesthouseGuesthouse Eldhestar
Family-friendly guesthouse with spa facilities and local dining
Why guests love itI recommend Guesthouse Eldhestar to families and couples who want a base with spa facilities in Hveragerði. The family rooms have garden views, soundproofing and private bathrooms, and the property has a restaurant, a bar, a tour desk and luggage storage. Free private parking comes with an electric vehicle charging station. Guests rate it 8.6 across more than 240 reviews, a good score for a guesthouse with this much on site.
Budget & guesthouseReykjadalur Guesthouse
Comfortable guesthouse with garden views, ideal for exploring Hveragerði
Why guests love itReykjadalur Guesthouse is a practical base in Hveragerði for families who want simple rooms and a calm setting. Rooms come with a private bathroom, a fridge and a flat-screen TV, and the garden views keep the mood quiet. Free Wi-Fi and private parking are included, and breakfast is served at a nearby hotel rather than on site, which is worth knowing. An 8.4 rating from 672 reviews shows that many guests were pleased.
Local tips
- 1Decide on a kitchen first: Varmi and Strýta have fully equipped kitchens, while Reykjadalur and Eldhestar are room-based stays.
- 2Reykjadalur Guesthouse serves breakfast at a nearby hotel, so confirm the arrangement and the time before you arrive.
- 3Guesthouse Eldhestar lists an EV charging station and a tour desk, useful if you drive an electric car.
- 4Varmi Guesthouse Apartments & rooms is close to a public swimming pool and local restaurants, so you can eat out or cook.
- 5Strýta Guesthouse is a whole three-bedroom house, so check the number of guests it sleeps before you book.
- 6Check what the listing includes on your dates, since simple stays vary in breakfast and extras.