For a short Iceland visit, the accommodation decision is whether to return to Reykjavík every evening or move east along the South Coast. Reykjavík offers restaurants, museums and organised-tour departures. Coastal overnight stops reduce repeated driving and give you more flexibility around waterfalls and weather. Neither approach is universally better; choose according to the trip you actually intend to make.
Compare the main arrangements
| Base pattern | Best for | Main advantage | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík throughout | City breaks, guided day tours, non-drivers | One room and broad evening choices | Long return journeys on eastern outings |
| Reykjavík plus southern town | Short self-drive introductions | Less backtracking with manageable moves | More check-in and luggage planning |
| Several South Coast stops | Longer routes reaching further east | Better distribution of driving | More bookings and less freedom to change overnight location |
Before reserving rooms, decide your eastern limit. A route ending near Vík needs a different pattern from one continuing towards Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón.
Reykjavík: useful when the city is part of the trip
Stay in Reykjavík if you want museums, food and neighbourhood time alongside one or two guided outings. Keeping one base can be particularly comfortable on a short winter visit when you prefer not to drive.
Check the exact pickup arrangements for tours. Central accommodation does not necessarily mean a vehicle can collect you at the door, and the walk to a designated meeting point matters with luggage or poor weather.
For self-drive stays, compare parking charges and the route out of the city. A room that is convenient on foot may add practical complications for repeated early departures. If most days are planned far east, the city base can become an expensive place to return simply to sleep.
Ask about noise from streets and venues, room cooling or ventilation and luggage storage if you will leave for part of the trip. For apartments, inspect the cooking facilities rather than assuming a kitchenette supports every meal.
Selfoss, Hella and Hvolsvöllur: different southern reference points
These towns can help divide a route between the capital, Golden Circle and South Coast, but they are not interchangeable addresses. Selfoss sits further west; Hella and Hvolsvöllur place you further along the southern corridor.
Choose according to the previous and following days. A room slightly further east can reduce the next morning’s drive, but only if you can reach it comfortably after your planned stops. Avoid booking so many activities that check-in becomes another deadline.
Town accommodation can provide easier access to shops and meals than an isolated guesthouse. Check actual opening and food arrangements for your dates, particularly outside the busiest season. A restaurant shown on a map may not serve dinner when you expect.
Vík: a useful limit for a short first route
Vík suits travellers spending time around the black-sand coast and nearby southern sights. One night can prevent a tiring return to Reykjavík after a full waterfall day.
Do not interpret the booking as a reason to keep driving east. Further destinations belong in the itinerary only if the remaining nights and return journey support them. For a short trip, staying around Vík and then returning west can provide plenty of variety.
Check room availability early when your dates are fixed, but compare cancellation conditions as carefully as price. Weather disruption can change travel plans, and an inflexible booking should not pressure you to drive through unsuitable conditions.
Rural guesthouses: compare the whole evening
Room descriptions deserve close reading. A private bedroom may use a shared bathroom, while a cottage may have different linen, cleaning or meal arrangements from a hotel. Confirm all sleeping spaces and whether adults are expected to share a sofa bed or bunk arrangement. For a family, reliable heating, a dry place for outdoor clothing and a straightforward route from the car can matter more than a larger terrace. If you need a late arrival, obtain explicit confirmation rather than assuming a rural property has reception throughout the evening.
A countryside setting can provide quiet and broad views, with fewer nearby services. Confirm the access road, vehicle suitability and arrival instructions, particularly in winter or after dark.
Check whether dinner is available, must be booked, or requires driving elsewhere. Ask about shared bathrooms, kitchen access, linen and breakfast times. A room rate alone may not reveal the total practical cost of the stay.
If northern lights are part of the appeal, remember that darkness and a rural location do not guarantee a display. Choose a room you would enjoy even during an ordinary cloudy evening.
Protect the airport end of the trip
Keflavík Airport is separate from Reykjavík, so assess the final transfer independently. For an early flight, a westward final night or airport-area stay can be more comfortable than returning from far along the coast that morning.
Use the five-day road trip to compare a modest pattern of stops. Check the driving basics before choosing isolated accommodation, and leave enough flexibility that reaching the next room never becomes more important than a safe travel decision.
