Hótel Búðir, Snæfellsnes Peninsula

• If you're after dramatic scenery, this is the spot—ocean, lava fields, and Snæfellsjökull glacier all right outside your window.
• Vintage-style furnishings (in contemporary spaces), a fireplace lounge, and framed sepia photos create a warm, countryside-inn feel.
• The hotel's restaurant is one of the best places to eat on the peninsula, especially if you love seafood. Guests drive up from Reykjavík just to dine.
• It's a fantastic base for wildlife lovers—seals, seabirds, whale tours are all within easy reach.
• With next to no light pollution, you'll have a solid chance of seeing the northern lights when conditions are right.
• There are plenty of family-friendly options, including extra beds, connecting rooms, accessible ground-floor units, and a kids' menu.

• Given its remote location, there are limited services nearby; you'll need to drive about 20 minutes to the nearest town (Ólafsvík) for shops and restaurants.
• Weather can be harsh and unpredictable (even by Iceland standards): high winds and coastal conditions may affect plans, especially in winter, and be sure to pack your earplugs if you're a light sleeper.

Authenticity

This remote property began as a 17th-century trading post and later opened as a family-run inn in 1948, long before the Snæfellsnes peninsula became a traveler favorite. Although the original structure burned down, the rebuilt (and still family-operated) hotel intentionally preserved its rustic character through hardwood floors, dark woods, a fireplace, and vintage furnishings. Large windows frame views of the surrounding lava fields, the Atlantic, the tiny 19th-century Búðir church, and the Snæfellsjökull glacier, grounding the interiors firmly in the landscape. The restaurant also leans into local culture with creative, modern interpretations of Icelandic cuisine, making the food as much a nod to regional tradition as the setting itself. 

Location

Perched between the Atlantic, a rugged lava field, and the glacier-topped Snæfellsjökull, Hótel Búðir's remote base gives views of stirring scenery at every turn. The black-timber Búðakirkja church next door is the only other building in the area, while the nearest town, Ólafsvík, is situated about 20 minutes away and offers the essentials, including a grocery store, alternative dining options, shops, and whale- and puffin-spotting tours. You're about a 2-hour drive from Reykjavík.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Rooms are minimalist, done up in earthy tones, with polished hardwood floors, sepia-printed pictures, soft lighting, and large windows that open up to views of the sea, glacier, or lava field. Bathrooms are spacious, with either shower-tub combos or freestanding tubs. The newer wing offers larger, more contemporary rooms with boucle furnishings and cream-colored walls, while the older suites lean cozier, with worn-in leather furniture and moodier green walls.

Amenities

Amenities match Búðir's remote setting—guests can unwind by the fireplace in the lounge after a coastal hike, enjoy meals in the acclaimed restaurant serving fresh local seafood, or sip drinks in the recently refurbished bar that doubles as a lounge during the day. A modest laundry service is available, as well as in-room meal delivery for nights when guests prefer quiet evenings. There's not much in the way of classic hotel amenities—no spa or gym—so it's more about the setting than the facilities.

Family-Friendliness

Hotel Búðir welcomes families with flexible accommodation options, including adjoining rooms in the newer wing, and rollaway beds are available upon request. The Family Room, Suite, and Master Suite options can accommodate up to four people, with the Family Room having two separate bedrooms. Ground-floor rooms offer grab rails and lift access, a plus for young children or strollers. Mealtimes are easy thanks to a children's menu with kid-friendly classics like fish and chips, cheese sandwiches, or chicken. 

Wildlife

Guests often spot seabirds or seals from dawn hikes or cliffsides.