Best Iceland Hotels for Glacier Views — Biggest Selection & Lowest Prices Guaranteed

Iceland is one of the few places on earth where you can fall asleep looking at a glacier and wake up to the same view. With over 11% of the country covered in ice, several glaciers are close enough to hotels that the view from your window is the main event.

Staying near glaciers in Iceland also puts you in the best position to actually get on it. Most glacier tours in Iceland depart from small towns or car parks right at the glacier's edge. The same goes for snowmobiling tours and ice caving in Iceland, both of which are far more accessible when you are already based nearby rather than driving in from a distant town.

Below we have listed the best hotels near the glacier. Each section covers what makes that glacier worth staying near, what is on your doorstep, and what to expect from the hotels themselves.

Many of the hotels on this list sit on or near the Ring Road, making them easy to fold into road trips in Iceland without adding a long detour. If you are still planning your transport, sorting car rentals in Iceland early is a good idea, as availability fills up quickly in peak season.

Hotels with Views of Vatnajokull Glacier

If you're looking for hotels in Iceland with views of Vatnajokull Glacier in the South Coast, you're in the right place. Vatnajokull is Iceland's most spectacular glacier and the one most visitors plan their whole trip around.

• Most famous for: Being the largest glacier in Europe

• Attractions nearby: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Skaftafell Nature Reserve

• Activities: Ice cave tours, glacier hiking, snowmobile tours, boat trips on the lagoon

• Best time to visit: February to March for ice caves, June to August for hiking and long daylight hours

• Recommended stay: 2 to 3 nights

Here are the best hotels with views of Vatnajokull Glacier, chosen for how close they sit to the ice and what they offer for guests who want to explore it.

Hotel Skaftafell

A solid base for exploring Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the wider Vatnajokull National Park, with easy Ring Road access and glacier views from the rooms. 

• Views of Vatnajokull Glacier: Yes, several rooms have views of the ice cap

• Distance to glacier access: 3 miles (5 kilometers) to Skaftafell, where glacier hikes depart

• Nearest attraction: Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Svartifoss Waterfall

• Room types: Twin, triple, and quad with en suite bathrooms

• On-site facilities: Restaurant, bar, breakfast buffet, free parking, and tour booking assistance

Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon

The hotel sits in open countryside with unobstructed views of Vatnajokull, Hvannadalshnukur Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean all at once.

The hot tub and sauna are included at no extra cost, so you can soak while looking out at the glacier after a day on the ice.

• Views of Vatnajokull Glacier: Yes, plus views of Hvannadalshnukur Mountain and the ocean

• Distance to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Around 18 miles (30 kilometers)

• Room types: Economy, standard, ocean view, triple, family deluxe, suites

• On-site facilities: Restaurant, bar, spa, sauna, hot tub, fitness center, EV charging, free parking

• Reception: 24 hours

Hotel Jokulsarlon - Glacier Lagoon Hotel

When booking, you can specifically choose a room that faces the glacier rather than leaving it to chance on arrival. The suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, which means the glacier is essentially the fourth wall of your room.

• Views of Vatnajokull Glacier: Yes, guests can choose rooms facing the glacier or the mountains

• Distance to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Around 7 miles (11 kilometers)

• Room types: Standard doubles, triples, suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, family suites

• On-site facilities: Restaurant (seats 180), two outdoor hot tubs, sauna, fitness gym, free parking

• Reception: 24 hours

Hotels with Views of Snaefellsjokull Glacier

Hotels with views of Snaefellsjokull Glacier in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula are among the most charming in Iceland. They may be small, but they are character-filled, and just two hours from Reykjavik.

• Most famous for: Inspiring Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth

• Attractions nearby: Kirkjufell Mountain, Budakirkja Black Church, Arnarstapi Sea Cliffs

• Activities: Glacier hiking in Snaefellsjokull, snowmobile tours, seal watching

• Best time to visit: May to September for clear views and open roads, February to March for northern lights

• Recommended stay: 1 to 2 nights

These are some of the best hotels in Snaefellsnes with views of Snaefellsjokull Glacier, all within easy reach of the national park.

Arnarstapi Hotel

This is the closest hotel to Snaefellsjokull Glacier on the entire peninsula. Step outside, and the glacier is right there on the horizon. The open setting around the property means nothing blocks the view, whether you are having breakfast, walking to the edge of the water, or watching the light change in the evening.

• Views of Snaefellsjokull Glacier: Visible from around the property and the surrounding village

• Distance to the glacier: 6 miles (10 kilometers) to the glacier’s visitor center

• Room types: Double, twin, triple, and family apartments for up to 6

• On-site facilities: Two restaurants, free Wi-Fi, free parking, campground

• Reception: 24 hours

Hotels with Views of the Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull Glaciers

Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull sit side by side on Iceland's South Coast, separated by just a few miles. No hotels in the area offer direct views of either ice cap from the rooms, but the South Iceland hotels below are the closest bases for visiting both glaciers, exploring the South Coast, and joining Katla Ice Cave tours that run year-round.

• Most famous for: Myrdalsjokull covering the active Katla Volcano, Eyjafjallajokull for its 2010 eruption that disrupted air travel across Europe

• Attractions nearby: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls, Vik Village, and Solheimajokull Glacier 

• Activities: Katla ice cave tour, glacier hiking, South Coast day trips

• Best time to visit: June to August for sightseeing on the coast, September to October for northern lights without challenging winter roads

• Recommended stay: 1 to 2 nights

These are the closest hotels to Myrdalsjokull Glacier, all well-placed for ice cave tours, glacier hikes, and the South Coast's main attractions.

Hotel Skoga by EJ Hotels

A small, cozy hotel at the foot of Myrdalsjokull, steps from Skogafoss Waterfall and one of the closest places to stay to the glacier itself.

• Views of Myrdalsjokull Glacier: No direct in-room views, but the hotel sits at the glacier's foot

• Distance to glacier access: At the base of Myrdalsjokull, snowmobile and super jeep tours depart nearby

• Room types: Single, twin, and triple rooms, all with private bathrooms

• On-site facilities: Restaurant with local and seasonal menu, open fireplace

• Reception: 24 hours

Hotel Skogafoss

Sitting right off the Ring Road, Hotel Skogafoss makes it easy to reach glacier tour departure points without adding long drives to your day. Mountain and waterfall views from the rooms mean you still wake up surrounded by the same dramatic landscape the glacier sits in.

• Views of Myrdalsjokull Glacier: No direct glacier views, but mountain and waterfall views from many rooms

• Distance to glacier access: Short drive to Myrdalsjokull glacier tours and Solheimajokull Glacier

• Room types: Double, twin, triple, and family rooms, all with private bathrooms

• On-site facilities: Bistro, breakfast included, Ring Road access

• Reception: 24 hours

Umi Hotel

Umi Hotel‘s central position on the South Coast means you can reach Solheimajokull Glacier in 25 minutes and still have time to visit two waterfalls in the same day.

• Views of Myrdalsjokull Glacier: No direct glacier views, mountain and ocean views from the rooms

• Distance to glacier access: 12 miles (19.5 kilometers)  to Solheimajokull Glacier Tongue

• Room types: Standard, double, and twin rooms with mountain view, or ocean view

• On-site facilities: Restaurant, terrace, 24-hour tour desk, free breakfast

• Reception: 24 hours

Hotels with Views of Langjokull Glacier

No hotels sit close enough to Langjokull Glacier to offer direct views of the ice cap. However, the hotels below are the closest options if you want to base yourself in the area for snowmobiling tours on the glacier. They also sit at the heart of the Golden Circle, whose attractions are the ones most commonly paired with a Langjokull trip, making this the most practical area to stay.

• Most famous for: Being the only glacier in Iceland that you can enter via an ice tunnel

• Attractions nearby: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall

• Activities: Ice tunnel tours, snowmobiling, glacier hiking, jeep tours across the ice cap

• Best time to visit: December to March for snowmobiling, June to August for jeep tours and hiking

• Recommended stay: 1 to 2 nights

Here are the best hotels to use as a base for Langjokull Glacier, all within easy reach of the ice cap and the Golden Circle.

Hotel Geysir

A modern, well-appointed hotel sitting directly across from the Geysir Geothermal Area, with front-row views of Strokkur erupting from the restaurant and easy access to all three Golden Circle stops.

• Views of Langjokull Glacier: No direct glacier views

• Distance to glacier access: Many Langjokull Glacier tours depart from Gullfoss Waterfall, 6 miles (9.8 kilometers) from the hotel

• Room types: Standard, deluxe, junior suites, and the Geysir Suite

• On-site facilities: Five restaurants, including fine dining and casual options, free Wi-Fi, and free parking

Hotel Litli Geysir

A cozy three-star hotel less than 650 feet (200 meters) from the Geysir Geothermal Area, with a restaurant overlooking the hot springs and a fireplace lounge for evenings after a glacier day. The hotel has telescopes set up for guests to watch the northern lights, which makes winter stays here particularly worthwhile when glacier tours finish early.

• Views of Langjokull Glacier: No direct glacier views

• Distance to glacier access: Approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) to Gullfoss Waterfall, where many Langjokull tours depart

• Room types: Standard rooms with private bathrooms, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi

• On-site facilities: Restaurant, bar, fireplace lounge, telescopes for northern lights, and free parking

Hotel Gullfoss

At just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Gullfoss Waterfall, this is the closest of the three hotels to the most common Langjokull Glacier tours’ starting point. The Kjolur Road, which runs across the highland interior straight to Langjokull, is accessible directly from the hotel area for those doing self-drive glacier trips.

• Views of Langjokull Glacier: No direct glacier views

• Distance to glacier access: 2 miles (3 kilometers) to Gullfoss Waterfall, where many Langjokull tours depart

• Room types: Standard and superior rooms, all with private bathrooms

• On-site facilities: Restaurant specializing in lamb and seafood, breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi, and free parking

Ready to Book Your Glacier View Hotel in Iceland?

To enjoy glacier views in Iceland at their best, choose a hotel that sits close to the ice rather than just near the region. The closer you are, the more time you spend on the glacier rather than driving to it. Browse glacier tours in Iceland to plan your time on the ice, and if you are visiting outside of summer, make sure to sort 4WD and SUV car rentals in Iceland before you go.