Green by definition – its energy provided by more than 200 volcanoes and a huge number of hot springs – Iceland is a must-visit for anyone who loves nature in its rawest, wildest incarnation. And the best hotels in Iceland are the perfect place to start if you're planning an adventure to the Land of Fire and Ice.
BEST HOTELS IN ICELAND
One of our favourite cold-weather destinations, along with Rovaniemi for the magic of Lapland and even the Scottish Highlands where the mountains are usually covered in snow from December to March, Iceland is a delight whatever the season.
In Iceland, glaciers loom roadside, waterfalls thunder down within arm’s reach, geothermically toasty rivers invite you to strip off and plunge right in, and whales leap out of the sea beside you - it's a place like nowhere else.
While this country is all about the great outdoors, the best hotels in Iceland respond to the landscape in very special ways, providing alfresco amenities such as hot tubs but also warmly welcoming interiors that emulate rather than try to rival the landscape.
Local stone, wood, grasses and other materials are used in their construction - as seen most dramatically in the Torfhús Retreat with its green-roofed turfhouses - and earthy, sombre palettes echo the colours of the local moss, heather, berries and black-sand beaches.
A world away from this are the cosmopolitan temptations of Reykjavík, one of Europe’s smallest capitals but one that punches above its weight in terms of art, history, shopping and dining. And tucked in among these treasures are some of the best hotels in Iceland – chic but welcoming urban boltholes such as the Sandhotel, where you can hole up in the bar-bistro with cinnamon-spiced buns still warm from the adjoining bakery.
Check out the best hotels in Iceland for 2023.