Höfn is the largest town in southeast Iceland - which admittedly means a population of around 2,200 - but it punches above its weight as a travel base. It is the natural overnight stop on the Ring Road between the south coast and the east fjords, and its position roughly 75km east of Jökulsárlón means an early start from Höfn puts you at the glacier lagoon before the tour coaches from Reykjavík have finished their 4-hour drive. The langoustine fishing harbour and the panoramic views of Vatnajökull across the Hornafjörður lagoon are compelling reasons to linger.
This guide covers the full range of accommodation in and around Höfn, with prices, airport information, and the seasonal dynamics that make a significant difference to what you pay.
Getting to Höfn - Airport and Road Options
Hornafjörður Airport (HFN) is 8km from Höfn town centre. Eagle Air operates domestic scheduled services from Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RVK), with flight time around 1 hour. A taxi from HFN to town costs approximately ISK 2,500–3,500. Car hire is available at the airport - from Budget and a local operator - which is worth arranging in advance given that a car is essentially mandatory for visiting the glacier attractions.
Flight frequency on the HFN route is limited - typically one or two departures per day - and the route is weather-sensitive. Mountain turbulence on the approach is more frequent than on longer Icelandic domestic routes. Book early and hold the flexible ticket option if your schedule allows it.
By road from Reykjavík, Höfn is approximately 460km on Route 1 - a 5–6 hour drive under good conditions, significantly longer in winter when the Öræfasveit stretch west of town can have closures. The Ring Road east of Höfn toward Egilsstaðir covers the dramatic east fjords and takes another 3–3.5 hours.
Town Centre and Harbour
Höfn town sits on a peninsula that extends into the Hornafjörður lagoon, with Vatnajökull visible to the north across the water. The town is small enough to walk entirely - the main commercial strip (Víkurbraut and the harbour area) holds the supermarket, petrol station, tourist information, and the best restaurants. The harbour langoustine restaurants are the culinary event of any stay - Höfn is the centre of Iceland’s langoustine industry and the restaurants here buy directly from the boats.
The N1 supermarket and Bónus both operate in town, which means self-catering is straightforward. This matters because food costs in rural Iceland add up - the ability to buy breakfast supplies and lunch ingredients cuts daily expenditure meaningfully.
Hali Area - Between Höfn and Jökulsárlón
The Hali area, approximately 35km west of Höfn on Route 1 (around 20km east of Jökulsárlón), is where Hali Country Hotel operates on a working family farm. Staying here positions you at the midpoint between Höfn and the glacier lagoon - a genuinely useful location for travellers whose primary goal is the glacier landscape rather than the town’s restaurants.
The farm has been in the same family for generations and the hotel is one of the better rural accommodation operations in southeast Iceland. It is also near Skaftafell (within Vatnajökull National Park, approximately 20km west), which holds the most accessible glacier hike trailheads and the Svartifoss basalt column waterfall.
Budget Accommodation in Höfn (Under ISK 20,000)
Höfn HI Hostel is the primary budget option in town. Dorm beds start from approximately ISK 6,500 per person; private rooms, where available, run higher. The hostel fills fast in summer - it is consistently the cheapest fixed-roof accommodation in the area and demand reflects that. Book as early as you can for July and August; last-minute availability is rare.
Höfn Camping (open approximately late May through early September) charges ISK 1,800–2,200 per person per night. The facilities are basic but functional - showers available, kitchen shelter on site. The campsite is close to the town centre and positioned to give views across the lagoon toward the glacier on clear mornings. Cold is a factor even in midsummer at this latitude; a good sleeping bag and a tent rated for wind matters here more than at the southern campsites.
Mid-Range Hotels and Guesthouses in Höfn (ISK 28,000–55,000)
Guesthouse Dyngja is a locally run property in the town centre offering double rooms in the ISK 28,000–38,000 range in summer. It is the kind of guesthouse that appears in every Ring Road blog post - comfortable, unpretentious, well-positioned, and run by people who know the south east well. Breakfast is typically included or available as an add-on. The main limitation is room availability - the property is small and books up faster than larger hotels.
Hali Country Hotel (at the Hali farm, approximately 35km west of Höfn) offers doubles in the ISK 32,000–50,000 range in peak season. The farm setting, the quality of the on-site restaurant, and the proximity to Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón make this one of the strongest value propositions in southeast Iceland for travellers on a Ring Road loop. The restaurant’s menu changes with what is available locally - lamb from the farm itself appears regularly. Book well ahead; it is popular with guided tours as well as independent travellers.
Fosshotel Höfn is the largest hotel in town and the most reliably bookable option at short notice. Doubles start from approximately ISK 35,000 in summer and the restaurant on site serves the standard Fosshotel menu - reliable without being especially distinctive. The harbour-view rooms on upper floors are the best in the building. It lacks the character of the smaller guesthouses but has the advantage of availability when everywhere else is full.
Luxury Options in Höfn (ISK 50,000+)
Hótel Höfn is the most established hotel in town and has the best uninterrupted glacier views of any property in the area. Upper rooms look directly north across the Hornafjörður lagoon to the Vatnajökull ice cap - one of the genuinely memorable views available from an Icelandic hotel bedroom. Double rates run approximately ISK 42,000–65,000 in peak summer, with winter rates substantially lower. The restaurant is a serious option; the langoustine dishes are worth ordering here even if you are eating langoustine at multiple stops on a south coast loop.
Farmstay options on the Vatnajökull fringes offer a different kind of high-end stay - direct access to glacier guiding operations, remote settings, and accommodation that often includes meals. These range widely but start from approximately ISK 55,000 per night for the better properties. They book through specialist tour operators as much as directly.
The Case for Staying in Höfn Rather Than Passing Through
The standard Ring Road itinerary treats Höfn as a single-night stop - check in, eat langoustine, check out the next morning for Jökulsárlón. Two nights changes the calculation significantly.
With two nights, you can visit Jökulsárlón early morning (the best light and before the day-trip coaches) - a Jökulsárlón boat tour gets you out onto the lagoon among the icebergs - and return to see Diamond Beach late in the day. A second full day allows a glacier hike at Skaftafell (Falljökull or Svinafellsjökull are both accessible without a guide for the lower sections) or the drive east toward the east fjords as far as Djúpivogur, a small coastal village with an unusual bird egg sculpture installation.
The langoustine restaurants also reward a second evening - Pakkhús and Humarhöfnin are both worth trying on separate nights.
Seasonal Pricing - The Numbers
Southeast Iceland’s accommodation prices track the Ring Road tourist season closely. July and August are the most expensive months, with rates at Fosshotel Höfn and Hótel Höfn running 50–70% above their late-September equivalents. Book 6–8 weeks ahead for July - or further out if you have a specific itinerary.
Diamond Beach is actually better visited October through March, when large ice blocks accumulate on the black sand. This has created a genuine off-peak counter-season demand for Höfn stays, meaning that late autumn and winter weekends - particularly around the new moon when Northern Lights are most visible - can see limited availability at Guesthouse Dyngja and the smaller properties.
Winter driving east of Vík toward Höfn is one of the more challenging sections of the Ring Road. The Öræfasveit stretch is exposed, and closures happen several times per winter. Always check road.is before setting out.
The shoulder months of May and September give the best combination of open roads, lower rates (30–40% below peak), and manageable visitor numbers at Jökulsárlón. Late May has long evenings and the full range of glacier tours running; September has good weather statistics and the autumn colours on the drive from the east fjords are worth timing for.
Useful Links
- Höfn city guide - Jökulsárlón access, glacier hikes, restaurants
- Ring Road accommodation in Iceland - stops across the full route
- Luxury hotels in Iceland - premium picks nationwide