The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Iceland

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Iceland

Iceland Iceland

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Iceland? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to Iceland, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Iceland to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in Iceland, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting Iceland for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in Iceland for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Northern Light Inn

Grindavik, Iceland
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $268 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Blue Lagoon Road, Northern Light Inn has great rooms from $268 (before taxes). It offers a restaurant, a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, hiking, mountain views, and child care at this relaxing hotel. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Sel - Hotel Myvatn

Myvatn, Iceland
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $149 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Iceland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Sel - Hotel Myvatn which has nice rooms starting at $149. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Skútustaðir. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers hiking, mountain views, laundry services, a free breakfast, and a hot tub which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Siglo Hotel

Siglufjordur, Iceland
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $249 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

We found Siglo Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $249. We loved that is has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.50 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Snorragata 3. You'll also find mountain views, laundry services, golf, city views, and a hot tub which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Apotek Hotel Reykjavik by Keahotels

Reykjavik, Iceland
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $125 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Iceland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $125, Apotek Hotel Reykjavik by Keahotels, at Austurstraeti 16 provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers child care, laundry services, city views, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Breakfast in the room


Hotel Keflavik by Keflavik Airport

Keflavik, Iceland
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $126 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

Hotel Keflavik by Keflavik Airport has a great guest rating of 8.10 out of 10, and offers skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $126 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Vatnsnesvegur 12-14. Furthermore, it also offers a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, hiking, mountain views, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hotel Island

Reykjavik, Iceland
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $121 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Iceland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Pool

The great guest rating of Hotel Island is 8.10 out of 10. This place has a pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $121, and it's located at Armuli 9. We also love the mountain views, laundry services, city views, a hot tub, and a spa and wellness center which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Eyvindara

Egilsstadir, Iceland
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $175 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Hotel Eyvindara because it has great rooms that start at $175. It has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Eyvindara 2. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love mountain views, golf, city views, a hot tub, and free parking at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Fishing


Hotel Huni

Blonduos, Iceland
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $165 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Hotel Huni offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $165 (before taxes). It's located at Hunavellir and has earned a guest rating of 8.70/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, a hot tub, a game room, free parking, and kids meals which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Playground


Diamond Suites Keflavik

Keflavik, Iceland
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $818 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Iceland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Vatnsesvegi 12-14, Diamond Suites Keflavik has great rooms from $818 (before taxes). It offers room service, a water park, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, golf, city views, and a hot tub which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. Spending time at the water park is such a nice activity for kids and adults alike!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hotel Ork

Hveragerdi, Iceland
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $128 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Hotel Ork which has nice rooms starting at $128. Offering an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Breidumork 1C. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers hiking, mountain views, golf, a hot tub, and a game room. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


For more terrific hotel ideas in Iceland, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Iceland, Best Cheap Hotels in Iceland, Best Luxury Hotels in Iceland, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Iceland, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Iceland, Best Hotels for One Week in Iceland, Best Hotels for One Night in Iceland, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Iceland, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Iceland, Best Hotels for Skiing in Iceland, or Best Business Hotels in Iceland.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Iceland?

Iceland Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$143

Travelers to Iceland will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 196 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $143. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Iceland.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $818
  • 4-star hotels: $166
  • 3-star hotels: $146
  • 2-star hotels: $114


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