Brilliant
Hotel Ranga
Iceland
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This Hotel meets our standards
What We Love
- Location feels remote, but you’re only an hour from Reykjavik and on the doorstep of southern Iceland’s best natural wonders
- Geothermal outdoor hot tubs – when the Northern Lights put on a show, they’re the best seat in the house
- Free WiFi
- All the heating and electricity for the property come from green geothermal energy
- The 24-hour aurora borealis watch and wakeup call – just sign up, and if the Lights appear, the hotel will let you know
- Right on the banks of Iceland’s premier salmon river, the on-site Eystri-Rangá Restaurant 4 is excellent
What To Know
- The design and decor are log-cabin-rustic
- Choose carefully the time of year you visit. This is the far north, so extreme daylight and equally extreme darkness can predominate in summer or winter
- Optimum Northern Lights viewing is from September to April
- No nearby restaurants
- You’ll need to rent a car to make the most of Iceland’s attractions, but it can be a long, unforgiving way between towns, so carry emergency provisions with you
Amenities
- Spa
- Restaurant
- Parking on site
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Availability
Overview
The Review
Only after I’ve had a taste of the harsh Icelandic weather does the interior of Hotel Rangá start to make complete sense. Clad in stripped pine on almost every surface, with matching furniture, it’s not dissimilar to the inside of a sauna, and it would look (and feel) out of place almost anywhere else in the world.
But here in the raw wilderness of southern Iceland, surrounded by rumbling glaciers, sulphurous pools of steaming water and the dance of the Northern Lights, I feel warm and welcome as soon as I enter. The warmth is fast compounded by the friendly, charismatic staff, who buzz around efficiently taking care of check-in and telling me all about my prospects for seeing the Northern Lights.
{"type":"img-inline","src":"/static/images/product/properties/1807/prop-64890-1318004790-full.jpg","width":"275","caption":"Hotel Ranga is built as the perfect location from which to see the Northern Lights."}An extensive renovation in 2008 saw the Rangá furnished with 51 rooms and suites. Good-size Standard and Deluxe Rooms continue the log-cabin-cum-sauna theme, but with modern amenities like satellite TV, free WiFi, Jacuzzi baths, and views of either Mount Hekla or the Rangá River and the hot tubs. The ground floor river-view rooms also have private balconies.
For something a little different, the Rangá also has seven suites that make up its “World Pavilion,” a journey of decors around the continents. These unique, extraordinary suites use ethnic art and design to create a bespoke and very heavily themed space. I was desperate to stay in the penguin-themed Antarctica, but alas, it was prebooked. Next time.
The on-site eatery Restaurant 4 offers sweeping views of the Rangá River, from which it catches its signature wild Atlantic salmon. The food is locally produced and smoked, and it includes some of Iceland’s more interesting culinary creations (try the puffin – it’s delicious) alongside the best wine list outside Reykjavik.
And after a day of exploring natural wonders, hiking glaciers and gorging on flavorsome foods, nothing could have felt better than slipping into that steaming hot tub to watch Mother Nature’s most spectacular masterpiece swirl through the night sky above me. Lifelong ambition fulfilled.
Hotel Ranga
851 Hella
Mt. Hekla, IcelandHow to Get There
Flights are available to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) from major U.S. cities on a variety of carriers. The property does not offer transfers to/from KEF, which is about 87 miles away. It is recommended that guests rent a car at the airport.
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