Glacier Lagoon
Modern Nordic minimalist — clean lines, natural materials, huge windows that bring the landscape in. Feels design-forward without being precious about it.
Request the Northern Lights wake-up call at check-in — staff monitor the sky overnight and will call your room if auroras appear
Why It Matters
One of the only large hotels on this stretch of the Ring Road. If you want to wake up 30 minutes from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon — with a real restaurant, spa, and beds topped with Icelandic wool blankets — this is essentially the only answer for miles.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon opened in 2016 and became one of the only full-service hotels on Iceland's remote southeast coast. The pitch is location: it sits roughly between Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, putting guests within a 30-minute drive of two of Iceland's most dramatic natural attractions. The building is striking — dark wood cladding, geometric lines, almost brutalist from the outside — then softens into Nordic minimalism once you're inside. 125 rooms spread across the property, most around 20 m², with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto mountain or ocean views. And the complimentary spa — two hot tubs, sauna, gym — is a genuine perk after a long day on a glacier.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
Deluxe Family Room
At 40 m², this is the room built for families. Sleeps three and includes a proper sofa seating area — which the standard rooms don't have. More counter space, more breathing room. Still a shower-only bathroom but the extra square footage makes a real difference after a long day outdoors.
Double + Single · 40 sqm
Economy Room – Twin
The budget-friendliest option, still around 20 m² with twin beds. Same standard amenities — TV, WiFi, shower bathroom, blackout curtains, safe — but expect a smaller or less elevated view. Solid for Ring Road travelers who just need a clean, comfortable base.
Twin · 20 sqm
Executive Suite
The top of the house at 45 m². Bathtub with panoramic glacier views if reports from guests are accurate, sofa seating area, more space than the standard suite. This is the room to book if you want to actually linger in your room, not just sleep in it. Limited availability — book early.
Double · 45 sqm
Ocean View Room – Double or Twin
Same footprint as the Mountain View standard (~20 m²) but oriented toward the ocean. A step up in scenery for the same size room. Blackout curtains, in-room safe, shower-only bathroom, and the full standard kit.
Double or Twin · 20 sqm
Standard Room – Double or Twin (Mountain View)
The entry-level double at about 20 m² — compact but not cramped. Large windows frame the mountain view. Beds come with Icelandic wool blankets. Bathrooms have standing showers only. Every standard room includes a flat-screen TV, in-room safe, mini cooler, tea and coffee maker, work desk, and blackout curtains.
Double or Twin · 20 sqm
Standard Room – Triple
Slightly larger than the standard double at 23 m², configured for three guests. Can be set up as one double and one single bed, or three singles. Good for families with one child or a group of three. Shower-only bathroom; same amenity set as standard rooms.
Double + Single or Three Singles · 23 sqm
Suite
Same 40 m² footprint as the Family Deluxe but configured for two — which means more space per person and a proper bathtub instead of just a shower. The upgrade that actually changes the feel of the room. Views are stronger from the suite level. Icelandic wool blankets, work desk, sofa, all standard amenities plus the tub.
Double · 40 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The Svínafellsjökull glacier tongue — part of Vatnajökull — stretches down to the green fields of Skaftafell. Guided walks covering crevasses, ridges, and glacial ice run March to December and can be arranged through the hotel's tour desk.
Skaftafell within Vatnajökull National Park is about 27 km west. Self-guided trails lead to Svartifoss waterfall, which drops 12 metres past black basalt columns. Multiple difficulty levels. The hotel tour desk can assist with route planning.
Register at check-in and the night staff will call your room if the aurora borealis appears. In rooms facing north, strong displays can sometimes be seen directly from the window. Minimal light pollution at this remote location makes it one of the better hotel set-ups for Northern Lights viewing in Iceland.
Front desk staff can book a wide range of local tours including glacier walks on Svínafellsjökull (March–December), ice cave tours, Diamond Beach visits, and boat tours on Jökulsárlón. The Ingólfsöfðli puffin tour pick-up point is approximately 10 minutes away.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Concierge/tour desk at reception can arrange glacier hikes, ice cave tours, whale watching, and other local excursions.
Available throughout the property including basement rooms. Reported as fast and reliable.
Electric vehicle charging point located in front of the hotel.
Ample free parking in front of the hotel. A genuine perk in Iceland where parking costs in Reykjavík can be frustrating.
Dogs allowed in restricted/designated rooms. Must be requested at time of booking via comment box; contact hotel directly to guarantee a pet-friendly room. Surcharges may apply.
Certified August 2024 as part of Íslandshótel becoming the first fully sustainability-certified hotel chain in Iceland. Runs on 100% renewable energy.
BUILD YOUR FOSSHOTEL GLACIER LAGOON PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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