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Hotel Rangá

Hotel Rangá

South Coast, Iceland

Hotel Rangá

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Making the most of its scenic riverside setting, the lodge-style Hotel Rangá is located at the foot of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark and within easy reach of the area’s volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, black beaches, and hiking trails.

Behind the log-cabin façade designed with nature in mind, you’re met with 44 simply decorated rooms as well as eight themed suites that offer more living space. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, minibars, and bathrooms with bathrobes and slippers.

Elsewhere, there’s a games room with billiards table, a library, and three outdoor geothermally heated hot tubs from where you can watch the northern lights when they’re visible. The hotel also has an on-site stargazing observatory with a retractable roof, two high-tech telescopes for solar observing, and guided night sky tours with local astronomers. The highlight, however, is the Rangá Restaurant for its generous buffet breakfasts and à la carte lunch and dinner menus that draw focus on modern Nordic dishes created with fresh and local ingredients. A special seasonal gourmet menu is also available. For end of day drinks, the hotel has a well-stocked bar and lounge offering cocktails, beers, and an extensive wine list.

OUR OPINION:

While its rooms are simply decorated, the exceptional Nordic menu at Hotel Rangá ranks as one of the best on Iceland’s south coast. We also love the stargazing options at the on-site observatory.

OUR RATING: Medium

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Photos of Hotel Rangá

  • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
    Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
  • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
    Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
  • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
    Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
  • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
    Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
  • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
    Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
  • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
    Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur

Rooms

Available in three categories, the 52 rooms and suites all have flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, minibars, bathrooms with bathrobes and slippers, and views of the river or Mount Hekla volcano. The simply decorated but comfortable Standard and Deluxe rooms have all-wood decor, while the larger Superior Deluxe rooms offer river views. The more luxurious suites are themed after the world’s continents and offer brighter decor themes as well as upgraded room amenities such as lounge areas, spacious bathrooms, Nespresso machines, and private balconies. An extra bed can be added to all room types.

Location

On the banks of the Rangá River with views of Mount Hekla to the north and the lowlands to the south, you’ll have the volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and black beaches of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark on your doorstep. You’ll also be within easy distance of the small towns of Hella and Hvolsvöllur. Reykjavík is a two-hour drive from the hotel. 

Food and drink

A light-filled space with floor-to-ceiling windows, Rangá Restaurant offers buffet breakfasts and à la carte lunches and dinners that draw focus on modern Nordic cuisine created with fresh and local ingredients. A seasonal gourmet menu is also available. The hotel has a well-stocked bar for cocktails and an extensive wine list. Please note that dinner reservations are strongly recommended.

Families

Children are welcome at Hotel Rangá and an extra bed can be added to all rooms and suites as needed. The lodge is equipped with board games and has plenty of space for play. The children’s menu in the restaurant offers fish and chips, chicken with French fries and salad, pasta with homemade tomato sauce, and hamburgers. 

Facilities and activities

If you are visiting during the winter and hope to see the northern lights, staff will arrange a wake-up call for when they are visible. The hotel has three hot tubs as well as its own private observatory. Guided tours of the night sky with local astronomers can be arranged.

Accessibility

All rooms at Hotel Rangá are at ground level, with ramps installed where needed. Two rooms have wheelchair-adapted bathrooms.

Tour ideas in South Coast

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Hotel Rangá as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.

    • Full day Þórsmörk private Superjeep tour with BBQ lunch
      Þórsmörk Nature Reserve

      Full day Þórsmörk private Superjeep tour with BBQ lunch

      Full day Þórsmörk private Superjeep tour with BBQ lunch

      Formed by thousands of years of volcanic and glacial activity, Þórsmörk is one of Iceland’s most dramatic hiking and off-roading destinations, where braided rivers weave through black sands and rugged peaks and glaciers lord over a sweeping valley.

      View details
    • Small group glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier
      Glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier

      Small group glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier

      Small group glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier

      This three-hour hike takes you up onto Sólheimajökull to learn about its formation and see the dramatic ice sculptures, ridges and crevasses on its surface. En route, you’ll learn about its structure and get sweeping views of the surrounding wilderness.

      View details
    • Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier
      Glacier tracks

      Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier

      Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier

      Explore Mýrdalsjökull, one of Iceland’s most renowned glaciers, by snowmobile as part of a small-group tour. From the mountain top, you can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and coast and a close-up view of the glacier’s structure.

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    South Coast and nearby places