Hotel Ranga, an SLH Hotel
Hella · Iceland
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Next 365 nights · updated daily
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Reviews
Character and identity
Set on the banks of the Ranga river about 90 minutes east of Reykjavik, this 51-room country property opened in 1999 as a horse-lover's retreat and has been reworked into a low-slung, locally designed lodge geared to Golden Circle exploration and Northern Lights watching. Architecture is rustic and informal, but the seven suites lean theatrical, each themed around a continent and filled with hand-crafted objects from its region. A single restaurant and the adjoining Ranga Bar (home to one of Iceland's deepest whiskey collections) anchor the social life, alongside geothermal hot tubs and an outdoor observatory with a resident astronomer.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples, honeymooners and small groups of design-curious adventurers using the hotel as a base for waterfalls, black-sand beaches and aurora chasing. It suits travellers who want warm, personable service and a serious food and cocktail programme after a day on the road, and who appreciate a Northern Lights wake-up call.
Should look elsewhere:
Families with younger children, despite the game room and hot tubs, will find the atmosphere tilts adult, with the bar and late-night sky-watching setting the tone. Anyone wanting urban energy, multiple dining venues, or a contemporary minimalist aesthetic should book in Reykjavik instead.
Bottom line
What you are really paying for is the combination of remote, light-pollution-free skies and a genuinely hospitable team (often including the owner himself) that turns a rural lodge into something memorable. Book a continent-themed suite for the river terrace and soaking tub, travel between September and April for aurora odds, and budget for at least two dinners in the restaurant.
Location
What this place offers
- Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Room service
- Breakfast
- Breakfast buffet
- Smoke-free property
- Front desk
- Full service laundry
- Game room
