Hótel Búðir

The Best Hotels in Iceland, From Rural Lodges to Reykjavik Boutiques

"One of Iceland’s greatest draws is the isolation you can find, the feeling of being alone in the middle of an incredible landscape, intimidated, insignificant. The soul-stirring nature so often leaves us shaking in our hiking boots, in awe at the overwhelming beauty of it all. It’s the reason why Iceland is now one of the most popular destinations in the world; it makes us feel things we don’t often get to feel. The best hotels in Iceland embrace that quality, elegant backdrops that let the location do all the talking. Hotel Búðir is one such place, marooned on a remote beach on the southern shores of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Originally a Danish trading outpost, on all sides the arresting Icelandic landscapes capture your gaze, from the views across the bay to the moody glacier at the center of Snæfellsnes National Park. A dreamy place, the interiors match the mood of the outside perfectly, nothing overdone, everything cozy, soothing, and sophisticated. The vintage-style furnishings add a timeless appeal to the entire property, while the restaurant is famous with Icelanders around the country."

"Hotel Budir About a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, Hotel Budir’s remote location makes it popular with visitors hoping to spot the Northern Lights. Situated near a windswept beach beside the mighty Snaefellsness glacier, the property’s raw natural surroundings contrast beautifully with its romantic interiors, which pair features like leather and velvet furnishings and polished wooden floors with decorative touches that include sepia photos, stocked bookshelves, and picture windows perfect for enjoying the scenery. The rooms skew more modern, with earthy tones and contemporary furniture. The hotel restaurant is by far the best in the area, and the bar is cozy enough to encourage lounging. Upstairs is a common area with sofas, a fireplace, and yet more great views."

"Located on the breathtaking Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a couple of hours north of Reykjavík, Hótel Búðir has been operatingsince the 1940s and is one of the best places to stay in the region—as well as one of the best places to dine. The restaurant is simply decorated with wooden tables and chairs, lace curtains, traditional paintings, and—the main draw aesthetically—huge windows that look out onto the magnificent landscapes of the peninsula. Framed in those windows are moss-covered lava fields, the glistening ocean, and the Snæfellsjökull glacier itself. The gourmet menu focuses on local goods: fresh fish and meat (lamb, veal) from nearby farms, with fresh, seasonal vegetables. Staff are welcoming and always happy to guide you through the very decent wine and cocktail lists."

“Hótel Búðir, on the Snæfellsness peninsula, is one of my favorite places on earth. It's just the right amount of remote: a few hours out of town, in a cove from which you can see glaciers to the west, the sea to the east, and a tiny black church just up the hill. The rooms are simple, but not in a kind of sleek Scando-minimal way—rather, what you might find in somebody's home, with framed prints and sensible fixtures. Heaven for me, though, is the lounge area downstairs, with a spectacular view through two walls of windows over the comforting but severe landscape. In the winter, one often has the place to oneself, with a real sense of being at the edge of the world but somehow cozy in a familiar luxury.” —Nico Muhly

"French Vogue recommended Hotel Budir, a chic farmhouse hideaway complete with roaming sheep and a surrounding marsh. The fine-dining restaurant on the main floor draws people from all over the region for its world-class wine and upscale food (hotel hits are the fancy "loaded" fries and, of course, the fresh-caught fish)."