Hotel Kriunes - A city hotel by the lake

We stayed here for a few days at the end of our Ring Road trip so we could do a few day trips from the area and have a home base. In some ways, it was a little inconvenient being outside the city (the drive is a bit twisty/turny), as there was one evening we would have liked to go explore the city a bit. However, in other ways it was really nice having a quiet home base on the lake. On our last evening in Iceland I just sat on the deck enjoying the sound of at least 5 different birds (probably more). Especially as we got quite a spacious room for our family of 4 - had both a sleeping are and a den for watching TV, and opened to the deck. The bathroom had a large heated radiator that was good for drying clothes/laundry/bathing suits.||The lake is great for bird watching or just sitting on the deck, although beware of the extremely thick clouds of midges! Our room also had a binder to help identify some of the birds.||The staff were very friendly, and helpful. Sometimes they didn't see present (the front desk would be unattended) but if you rang the bell they came right away and were always quick to help, and would even notice us coming in and offer to help carry things, etc. Overall I'd say they were quite responsive and seemed to recognize us by the end of our stay.||There's a little spa area downstairs - and outdoor sauna and hot tub which were very nice to use! We also very much enjoyed the soft robes provided in our rooms.||The decor is interesting and does seem a little dated (a bit dark and gloomy in some places), and strangely enough, has a Mexican theme. A little weird, but it's unique!||We paid for breakfast which was overall quite good although it wasn't always very organized. It seemed like things were spread out across several areas, and not always logically. Like, yogurt in one place, and fixings in a different place, and the containers for hot food were set up in such a way you couldn't fully open them. It just didn't seem like the space was well designed for that purpose. Still, we enjoyed our breakfast in the dining room looking out at the birds and scenery!

This boutique hotel is a true gem. It's close to Reykjavik but its location is such that you feel like you are staying in the country. The views over lake Ellidavatn is wonderful and the surroundings charming. The hotel is so nice, with delightful little sitting nooks here and there. The decor is quaint, charming and personable. You never get the feeling that the design was done by some interior design business but that the owners have lovingly chosen what to place there. I have stayed here 2 times, for one night each, both times in Luxury Family room. It's a great room, really well equipped with a big table where we could play boardgames. The view over the lake was amazing and we sat for a long time outside and admired it. The beds were really comfortable (something I really experience in hotels!) and the bathroom was big and luxurious. We had dinner at the hotel and it was delicious. Also not a given at a hotel. They really have a great chef. The bar is cozy and nice. Our breakfast buffet was great, with a huge selection. I tell all my friends about this place :) I will definitely come again. And if you want a romantic spot, this is it!

We stayed here for our first ever visit to Iceland. Could only stay 3 nights as we were doing the whole ring road tour, though this was our final stay of the trip. From friendly check in to great service and food throughout you can see the passion they have for putting customers at the heart of their business. A great breakfast selection to suit all needs so absolutely zero complaints. Great room with lots of space and nice big patio doors overlooking the lake.

Hotel Kriunes has a good location 20 min outside the city. It is a quiet place with a great view of the lake. The Hotel has a crossover interior berween mexican and islandic which is a bit strange, and the rooms i the old part needs to be modernized. Netflix or any similar streaming service is to be expected in 2025. The breakfast was good, but every day one thing dissapeaed and was not replaced :)

Nice small hotel by the lake. Very nice service with very friendly staff. Quiet. It’s said that one could see northern lights in this hotel when there is. Nice in-house restaurant with a good variety breakfast

Beautiful hotel in a beautiful location. The staff are super friendly and helpful but also genuine with it. We highly recommend eating at the restaurant, the food is incredible. I can certainly recommend the trout.

Beautiful, quiet and tranquil. We were greeted by a very friendly staff member who was incredibly helpful. The rooms are spacious the bed is really comfortable, it is a firm bed hybrid mattress. The views from the room are breathtaking lots of birds to see here if you're a birder. The hot tub is geothermaly fed there's a sauna and a massage chair. This is the first hotel in iceland ive stayed in were I think the cost reflected the actual value of the place.

We stayed at Hotel Kriunes for just one night and were assigned room 13—which felt strangely memorable as it’s the first time in all my travels I’ve ever had that number! The room was spacious, clean, and offered a stunning view—truly a “wow” moment, especially from the lovely hot tub overlooking the water. Staff were warm and welcoming, and breakfast was simple but satisfying. The hotel itself isn’t as luxurious as some 4 or 5-star properties, but it has a calm, cozy charm perfect for a peaceful Icelandic escape. One note for future guests—our bathroom water had a strong sulfur smell, reminiscent of boiled eggs. I suspect it’s due to the natural geothermal system that’s common in Iceland. It was harmless, but brushing my teeth felt like a bit of a challenge. Tip: bottled water might be your best friend for that task 😬 All in all, we had a pleasant experience and would recommend it to travelers seeking quiet comfort and beautiful views.