Just 20 minutes walk from Reykjavik’s city center, is the Reykjavik city hostel and campground. My family camped for two nights and slept inside the hostel on the last night. Unfortunately due to last minute reservations, there wasn’t an available room in the hostel for all 3 nights. However, we had a comfortable stay in the campground.
It’s mentioned that the hostel is a 20 minutes walk from the city center, but I felt it was longer. There is a bus that stop in front of the hostel, but we didn’t try using it. The last day, we were too tired to walk back that we used a taxi, which was about $20 from the city center.
Right next to the hostel is Laugardalslaug, the largest geothermal pool in Reykjavik. For a small entrance you can relax and take a dip with the locals. Sadly, we never got to visit it.
Campground
The campground is from the same company as the hostel, and as a result some of the amenities are shared. It is located right behind the hostel. To check in, go to the back of the hostel or follow the sign pointing to the campground. You will find the office inside a white building.
Some basic information:
The price is 1200 isk per person, per night. There’s plenty of space, and you can pitch your tent anywhere. They also have cabins available. There’s free wifi available. You can book excursions at the front desk, which arranges pickup from the hostel on the day of the activity. It is also right next to a big geothermal pool.
The kitchen consist of 4 stoves, in a small cramped space. There are time where you may have to wait your turn. This is the campsite where its recommended you bring your own stove. The hostel has two big kitchens, but only available to those staying in the hostel. A big perk is the donated food, and non perishable items donated by past campers. It saved us money from buying condiments for only a days use. There’s plenty of picnic benches available.
There are plenty of toilets, but 3 shower stalls. However, I never had to wait, and it was clean. A big plus is that, a warm shower was free.
Hostel
On our last night we checked in to the hostel. The hostel itself is very clean, and modern. There’s a lounge area, bbq grills, 2 kitchens, computer stations, and plenty of chairs. The price is per person and varies depending on the type of room your getting.
A big plus to checking in to the hostel for us, was that we could FINALLY use the well equipped kitchen. We also like having the bathroom just a few steps away, instead of walking outside in the cold. The wifi access is pretty good in the lounge where you can watch movies and play games. We liked the hostel, and highly recommend staying there.
During our stay in Reykjavik, the weather was beautiful and the temperature very mild. Camping in Reykjavik city was more comfortable compared to other campsites, but we found it more crowded. You can stay in the hostel if you prefer the comforts of a room. Either ways, Reykjavik City Hostel and campground is a good choice for the budget traveler.
