Axel's take on Laugardalur: #5 of 5 in Reykjavik, 6.4/10
Choose pools, parks and sport over downtown convenience. Good hotels and pool-and-park appeal suit specialist trips, but fewer nearby restaurants and longer downtown journeys weaken its all-round ranking.
Laugardalur is for a different rhythm: swimming at Laugardalslaug, walks through the botanical garden, children at the Family Park and Zoo, and sport around Laugardalsvöllur. Ásmundarsafn adds sculpture without a trip downtown. The hostel and campsite give budget travellers a reason to look here beyond the park, especially on longer stays.
The trade-off is returning downtown for the classic Reykjavík evening. This is not a convenient base for repeated trips between your room and Laugavegur, and buses require timetable awareness, especially on Sundays. Stay for family activities, sport or quieter evenings; skip it for a short first visit built around restaurants and nightlife.
- Best for: families, travelers on a budget, a quiet stay, sports fans
- Skip it if: You want to walk home from downtown nightlife; Your short visit centres on Old Town sightseeing
- Getting around: Bus 14 serves Laugardalslaug, with routes 2 and 5 useful elsewhere nearby; pool and park attractions are walkable; KEF: Flybus via BSÍ with a confirmed onward transfer; RKV: taxi.
- After dark: Expect pool-going rather than bar-hopping: Laugardalslaug opens into the evening, while the district's appeal is its calmer recreational setting.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $229 a night
Where to stay in Reykjavik: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Laugardalur
- Sundlaugavegur by Laugardalslaug. Start around the pool for swimming and park-focused days; this recreational setting suits families better than downtown nightlife seekers. Hotels here: Nordurey Hotel City Garden, Hotel Cabin.
- Suðurlandsbraut near Reykjavegur. Choose the park's southern approach for sports events and nearby restaurants, rather than repeated trips back from downtown. Hotels here: Hotel Lotus, Reykjavik Lights by Keahotels, Hilton Reykjavik Nordica.
- Ármúli–Hallarmúli. Look south of the park for a practical base near places to eat; drivers suit this setting better than nightlife-focused visitors. Hotels here: Hótel Múli, Hotel Ísland - Spa & Wellness Hotel, Urban RVK studios.
How to choose
- Choose Hotel Lotus if you are driving and put warm personal service and included breakfast ahead of walking downtown.
- Choose Reykjavik Lights by Keahotels if you want included breakfast and parking for a Laugardalur event stay.
- Choose Urban RVK studios if you want the lowest rate here and a kitchenette, and are comfortable relying on remote support.
What paying more buys
Urban RVK studios is cheaper than most here and provides kitchenettes, but support is uneven. Paying more for Hotel Lotus buys warm personal service and included breakfast; Hotel Ísland adds a restaurant, gym and spa, though spa admission may cost extra. Independent self-caterers will gain less from those upgrades, and none removes the downtown journey. Typical rates with Axel here run from $158 a night at Urban RVK studios to $273 at Hotel Ísland - Spa & Wellness Hotel (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Laugardalur, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Hotel Lotus 9.1/10, small, family-run 3-star hotel outside central Reykjavík. Excellent small-hotel hospitality and breakfast, with a less convenient location for sightseeing on foot. Why it's here: warm small-hotel hospitality and included breakfast for drivers avoiding downtown bustle. Accept: a substantial downtown walk; arrange arrival codes ahead.
- Reykjavik Lights by Keahotels 8.8/10, simple, modern 3-star beside Laugardalur, outside downtown. A strong-value base with excellent breakfast, provided downtown isn’t your doorstep. Why it's here: included breakfast and parking at a cheaper-than-most rate beside Laugardalur. Accept: compact rooms and showers, roughly half an hour from downtown.
- Hótel Múli 8.6/10, straightforward 3-star hotel outside central Reykjavík. A strong-value Reykjavík base if you don't need downtown on your doorstep. Why it's here: free laundry and parking make longer, practical stays easier outside downtown. Accept: a long downtown walk and limited staffed reception hours.
- Nordurey Hotel City Garden 8.2/10, simple 3-star hotel in a residential area outside central Reykjavik. A clean, practical base with free parking, best suited to travelers with a car. Why it's here: a cheaper residential base near Laugardalslaug with free parking and straightforward self-check-in. Accept: compact, sometimes warm rooms and limited immediate staff assistance.
- Hilton Reykjavik Nordica 8.1/10, full-service 4-star business hotel outside Reykjavik’s sightseeing core. A comfortable base with strong service, but check transition details before booking. Why it's here: full-service facilities for business and conference stays, with parking and helpful staff. Accept: outside the sightseeing core; renovation notices need confirmation.
- Hotel Ísland - Spa & Wellness Hotel 7.9/10, practical 4-star spa hotel outside central Reykjavík. Comfortable beds and a worthwhile spa, but sightseeing requires a longer walk. Why it's here: a post-excursion spa option with comfortable beds and free parking. Accept: a long downtown walk; spa access may cost extra.
- Urban RVK studios 7.3/10, simple 3-star self-service aparthotel outside central Reykjavik. Useful kitchens and free parking, but compact rooms and uneven support limit the appeal. Why it's here: the cheapest self-catering option here, with kitchenettes and free first-come parking. Accept: tight studios, entry-code problems and uneven remote support.
- Hotel Cabin 6.9/10, no-frills budget hotel near Reykjavík’s waterfront, outside the downtown core. A practical budget base, but tiny rooms and noise are real compromises. Why it's here: a cheaper staffed base with free parking for travelers spending their days out. Accept: tiny rooms, sometimes without outside windows, and thin walls.