The best hotels for visiting Skógafoss, Iceland

Iceland

Sep 16

Our first view of Skógafoss was one of the most memorable parts of our road trip around Iceland. As we drove down a seemingly ordinary road (other than the incredible mountains all around us), the massive waterfall suddenly appeared in our windscreen.

We could see why it’s one of the most iconic places in Iceland. It falls powerfully over a wide cliff, creating a 60 metre awe-inspiring stream. You can feel its power as you walk right up to the thick misty cloud at the foot of the waterfall, making it one of the more accessible waterfalls in Iceland.

Skógafoss is a popular tourist attraction for day trips from Reykjavík, South Coast road trips and Ring Road itineraries. During the peak season in summer, Skógafoss attracts around 1,000-2,000 visitors daily. However, the early mornings and late afternoons are usually much quieter, making for a completely different atmosphere. Finding the right accommodation nearby means you’ll be able to visit without the crowds and in different lights (sunrise and sunset).

We’ve put together this guide with everything you need to plan a trip to Skógafoss, and compared the best hotels within walking and driving distance of the waterfall.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to hotels and tours that we genuinely recommend. If you book similar experiences, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you which helps support our blog.

Quickly compare the best hotels near Skógafoss

Here is a quick overview of the 7 best hotels near Skógafoss, with more details on each one below. The prices per night can vary greatly based on the season and room type, but we’ve included a starting range for easy comparison:

Within walking distance of Skógafoss (Skógar)

Hotel Skógafoss: The closest hotel to Skógafoss, just a few minutes’ walk away, where you can even see the waterfall from some rooms.
- Prices from US $390 per night.

Fosstun Guesthouse: A two-bedroom apartment with well equipped kitchen, a private bathroom, private terrace and carpark.
- Prices from US $430 per night.
Hotel Skógá: A countryside hotel with an outdoor hot tub, sauna and restaurant
- Prices from US $290 per night.
Guesthouse Skogafoss: A simple guesthouse and more affordable option close to Skógafoss.
- Prices from US $210 per night.

Within driving distance of Skógafoss (Vík)

Hotel Katla: A peaceful hotel below mountains near Vík, with comfortable rooms, an outdoor hot tub and sauna.
- Prices from US $290 per night.
Hotel Kria: A more modern choice in central Vík, with views across surrounding mountains.
- Prices from US $430 per night.
Black Beach Suites: A stylish, private suite just outside of Vík with unbeatable views of Iceland’s dramatic black-sand coastline.
- Prices from US $570 per night.

How to book the best hotels in Iceland

We’ve narrowed down the best hotels near Skógafoss based on their location and ratings, and would recommend checking the reviews to see if they suit your trip.

Skógafoss is a very popular destination in Iceland and the hotels within walking distance can be booked out quite far in advance. We’d recommend comparing the options in this post and checking your travel dates as early as possible. If you book through Agoda, most hotels will also offer free cancellation for a certain period in case you need to change plans.

We’d also recommend using Agoda’s search filters if you’re looking for specific things in your stay, like kitchens, onsite restaurants or private terraces.

Tips for travelling to Skógafoss, Iceland

How to drive to Skógafoss, Iceland

Skógafoss is around a 2 hours’ drive from Reykjavík, roughly 155km via Route 1. We drove to Skógafoss on day 2 of our Ring Road trip around Iceland, but it could easily be reached on day 1 as well.

If you’re also planning to drive, we’d recommend booking a car in Iceland through Rentalcars.com because it compares prices across all of the major hire companies. You can check for available hire cars here:

Driving in Iceland

Driving in Iceland is not difficult and honestly the best way to get the most out of your time in Iceland. Everything you need to know about driving in Iceland is:

Iceland drives on the right side of the road;
most of the roads on the Ring Road are paved, and pot holes are rare (any sized vehicle will work);
you may have to be conscious of the wind when you open the doors sometimes, but it will be obvious when;
most attractions will charge for parking which can be done through the QR codes or parking metres at each parking lot (don’t overcomplicate your trip with needless phone apps);
the left lane has right of way in roundabouts, but the road markings make this clear.

The best time of year to visit Skógafoss

Skógafoss can be visited all year round, but the best time is during the shoulder seasons from May to June and September to October. These periods avoid the peak summer crowds and still have fairly good weather.

By September, there is a higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland. In winter, snow and ice can affect driving and access around Iceland, but the waterfall looks very unique.

Where to stay near Skógafoss

There are two main options for staying near Skógafoss: Skógar and Vík. Skógar is the best choice if you want to stay very close to the waterfall, with several small hotels and guesthouses located within walking distance.

Alternatively, there is a larger range of accommodation, restaurants and services in Vík, which is often used as a base for exploring more of the South Coast. From Vík, Skógafoss is around 30 minutes’ drive, but back towards the Reykjavík direction. Alternatively, there are several stays and guesthouses around key attractions in the area such as Seljalandsfoss which are also within 30 minutes’ drive to Skógafoss.

Mobile data in Iceland

We compared many mobile data plans for our trip and found the best options are Holafly’s Iceland and Europe eSIMs which come with unlimited data.

Phone coverage with Holafly was very good all over Iceland, even in some of the more remote areas. You can use our code ‘LINGANDJACE’ for 5% off Holafly’s eSIM for Iceland or Europe with this link.

Tours to Skógafoss, Iceland

It’s very easy to reach Skógafoss in a one day trip from Reykjavík, but not all tours of the South Coast include it on their itinerary.

If you’d like to visit, we’d recommend booking this small group tour through GetYourGuide which is the best flexible option from Reykjavík and includes more time at the waterfall than others.

Longer tour options are also available and we’d recommend this highly rated two-day South Coast tour if you have more time.

The best hotels near Skógafoss

Hotels within walking distance (Skógar)

Hotel Skógafoss

Hotel Skógafoss is the best accommodation option if you want to wake up right next to Skógafoss. It’s right next to the waterfall—a short five minute walk.

We’d recommend staying here if you want to experience Skógafoss in the early morning and late afternoon, outside of the crowds from day trips and tours. The hotel also has free parking and a restaurant, which makes it convenient if you’re driving along the South Coast or Ring Road.

Hotel Skógafoss has a number of rooms to suit different types of travel, including options with views of Skógafoss, an apartment with a terrace, and a more spacious family room. However, each room type is limited and the hotel often gets fully booked out well in advance, so we’d recommend reserving your travel dates on Agoda as early as possible.

Fosstun Guesthouse

Fosstun Guesthouse is a great option near Skógafoss if you’re looking for more space or privacy in a home-style stay, rather than a hotel. It’s a self-contained, two bedroom apartment with a well equipped kitchen, a private bathroom, private terrace and carpark. This stay is suited to groups or families travelling together and can fit up to five adults.

Fosstun Guesthouse is located near Skógafoss, around 500 metres away from the waterfall. It also offers access to nearby hiking trails (ranging from leisurely to challenging) which will take you to some of Iceland’s less-explored scenery.

Hotel Skógá

Hotel Skógá is a countryside hotel with an outdoor hot tub, sauna and restaurant. It’s also within walking distance of Skógafoss, around 600 metres away from the waterfall. There are 12 rooms, with some offering mountain or garden views.

Hotel Skógá and Hotel Skógafoss are both owned by EJ Hotels, a family-owned hotel group in Iceland. However Hotel Skógá is a slightly more understated and affordable option near Skógafoss.

Guesthouse Skogafoss

Guesthouse Skogafoss is one of the more affordable accommodation options still within walking distance of Skógafoss. It has a number of private rooms, free parking, Wi-Fi and a shared kitchen. It is a simple option for staying on the Ring Road if you’re after something convenient, rather than a full-service hotel.

Hotels within driving distance (Vík)

Hotel Katla

We stayed in Hotel Katla, a peaceful hotel surrounded by dramatic mountains just outside of Vík. It has a cosy feel with comfortable rooms, as well as an outdoor hot tub and sauna. There is a restaurant with one of the best ranges for dinner and breakfast that we had on our trip.

Hotel Katla is only 30 minutes’ drive away from Skógafoss, making it a convenient stop on a South Coast or Ring Road trip.

Hotel Kria

Hotel Kria is a very modern hotel in central Vík, with impressive views of the surrounding mountains. It has a much more contemporary feel than some of the older hotels in Vík as it was built more recently.

The hotel has a bar and Icelandic restaurant on site, but is also within walking distance of the main village where you can find other restaurants and stores. The hotel also offers a Northern Lights wake up call if you happen to visit in the right conditions.

Hotel Kria is roughly 35 minutes’ drive from Skógafoss.

Black Beach Suites

Black Beach Suites is one of the most stylish accommodation options on Iceland’s South Coast, located just outside of Vík. It has spacious, modern rooms with kitchens and impressive views of blacksand beaches. The peaceful setting makes it feel more like a private retreat than a traditional hotel.

There 20 apartments and suites in total, ranging from Standard Studio Apartments, Deluxe Studio Apartments and Deluxe King Studios. Black Beach Suites is a very unique option for experiencing Iceland’s South Coast and is located around 30 minutes’ drive from Skógafoss.

Ling McGregor