Hotel Viking — Hotel in Hafnarfjordur

We enjoyed our one week stay at this Viking themed hotel and, having read the customer reviews beforehand, we knew what to expect. Yes, there are negatives but we are pleased we stayed there because it was different to your average hotel. It made our time in Iceland that bit more special.||The staff were friendly and helpful and wear traditional costume. No horned helmets because that would be silly. They share duties between the hotel and the neighbouring restaurant, which is also Viking themed. Always good to come out of a restaurant and walk 10 metres to your hotel. The food was good but everything is expensive in Iceland. Expect to pay around £8 for 500 ml glass of lager.||We made use of the hotel geothermal hot tub and you can hire a towel-gown for the week for 1000 ISK (approx. £5.50). Very relaxing and recommended.||We enjoyed the choice they offer on their continental breakfast. You help yourself to what you fancy. Porridge is available, unlimited coffee, and they also have a waffle-making machine which was fun seeing I have never made them before.||The hotel is situated by the harbour. Quite scenic, the area feels safe, and there are some nice walks. One evening, we walked along the harbour side promenade to find a dark area in which to view the northern lights. Not ideal due to light pollution but we did get to see them. On the way back to the hotel we also saw, in the reflection of the harbour lights, a couple of whales break the surface. We could see and hear their waterspouts so that was a special moment.||The hotel is handy for local amenities. To your left, a walk of less than 10 minutes along the harbour side will bring you to a small supermarket. To your right, a 5-minute walk will bring you to a small bus terminal where you can get the No.1 to central Reykjavik which is a 30-minute journey. Tickets cost 650 ISK (approx. £3.50) and if you are using cash, bus drivers do not give change. However, everything appears to be cashless in this city.||The hotel's location in Hafnarfjordur, which is en route from Keflavik airport to the city, convenient if you use the FLYBUS because of its immediate proximity to the bus stops. On arrival, the bus drops you a very short walk to the hotel; on departure, the bus stop is directly opposite. Always useful if you don’t want the hassle of struggling with luggage, and cuts down the journey time to those staying central.||However, the flip side of staying outside central Reykjavik, unless you have a hire car, is the commute and you need to factor journey time and bus fare into your schedule. Tour companies that offer excursions do not always travel that far south to pick up passengers. For us, that occurred three out of four occasions. The tour bus will have various central based hotels and bus stops that they do their pickup. We used ‘Bus Hostel’ which is just off the bus route, (about a 20-minute bus journey) and, once there, you can relax in the warm reception area with a coffee while waiting for your tour bus. So, this was not such an issue as far as we were concerned. ||All good. However, the biggest negative is the size of the room. It was “cosy” and we had to find some creative solutions on how to arrange our clothes and belongings. Having had a history of back-packing, we got used to it. The room had the usual accompaniments of Wifi; TV; kettle; and a useful bar-fridge. The ensuite shower/WC was a small box and, as mentioned in previous reviews, the shower does smell of Sulphur but you get used to that. My wife commented that her skin had never felt softer.||So, to conclude, we recommend Hotel Viking as a place to stay as long as you are aware of the points I have...

Pay attention to door sign. Unlike me (I'm the idiot here) I saw one side which said do not disturb. I didn't think for one minute to turn it over. Where it states if you want housing keeping to visit then out this on your handle. Altho house keeping had to be told to actually clean the room and do rhe beds rather than just empty the bins. As I clarified what they did and after coming back to the same room I left and noticed they hadn't done anything I had to request the room to be done properly.||Breakfast is continental. Lovely selection. Constantly refreshing even if it's not required. Selection of meats, cheeses, breads, toaster available. Butter, jam, peanut butter and chocolate spread too. Yoghurt also. And a waffle maker. Coffee machine and orange/apple juice and water machine. ||Restaurant for evenings meals is fun. 2 singers pop up every now and then and do a couple of songs. They are very jovial. All wearing viking era clothing throughout. Great selection of meals to choose from. Fabulous pizzas. And lamb steaks. And beef tenderloin is 10/10. And cook things very well especially to your liking.||Lovely viking atmosphere. Beautiful koi pond out front. They are currently working on expanding ready for 2026. Lots of things to take pictures of around the hotel and inside. Lovely statues.||Staff are as helpful as they can be and friendly. All in viking clothing to give the authentic feel.||Now to the not great parts.||•Curtains too small for the windows.||•Mattress moves when you move (if you turn like a rotisserie chicken like me be prepared for that)||•Sink next to shower tiny gap. It's from a elbow to tip of middle finger. It also has a soap dispenser and hair dryer on the wall making it have less room.||•Windows very hard to open and close. ||•Very cold in waiting lounge area.||•Toilet roll used when arrived and was left with like 10 sheets if that. In the 38 years of going to hotels I many countries never have I ever come across this. I've always arrived to a fresh unused toilet roll.||• Only 4 coat hangers, so no where to place clothes. It's OK if your by yourself in a twin room and you can use the second bed to place suitcase and live put of that way. Not practical at all for 2 people. I assume a singles person's room wouldn't be much better either.||•Walls are thin you can hear next door snoring and movements. And hear them go to the toilet. Thats fun....NOT!!||•Shower head extremely stiff and tough to adjust. ||•My god the water stinks awful. This is apparently because the water comes from the volcano so has sulphur in it. Just to pre warn you. There is a sign about this in the lift but no one verbally points...

At first, the distance from the centre of Reykjavik sempt quite a way, however, the excellent bus service made for a more real experience of Iceland, being amongst the daily life, allowed a glimpse of how the people of Iceland go about their daily routine. This gave an insight to the amazing respect they hold for their surroundings, their way of life and the acceptance of visiting tourists, the ability to be relatively fluent in English from an early age. The Hotel Vikkng we found to be warm, welcoming and very friendly, all staff happy to support, fulfil your request and provide good service as a matter of course. The room we had, 27, was basic but comfortable and sufficient. The breakfast was extremely good and plentiful with a wide choice. We enjoyed a meal in the restaurant each night and thoroughly enjoyed every dish, the Viking Wrap and the Lamb Shank where extremely good and the portions very satisfying for the biggest appetite; on the first night we both had the restaurant bacon burgers which seriously hit the spot and satisfying. I must be honest, I didn't think the food was as expensive as I had anticipated based on the rumours you come across prior to arrival, if you go to any capital or major tourist spot at home or abroad, if you're realistic in your perspective, they are not any more expensive than anywhere else. If I'm equally honest when it comes to alcohol, then the rumors are accurate, a pint can range from the cheapest at £7 to £11 , if you enjoy wine with your meals, be prepared to be shocked, a glass will be around a tenner with bottles ( Rosemount Estate Shiraz £9 at Tesco) costing £75 YES £75! Having said this, in all my time in Iceland/Reykjavik, I only saw 1 police car, no beat Bobby, never came across any disobedience or potential for any, not one drunk or homeless person. The respect for pedestrians was astonishing, when you puased to cross the road anywhere at all, motorists pulled up to allow you to safely cross without exception. We will definitely return due to poor weather on our stay restricting our experiencing the awesome landscapes and unique scenery and natural waterfalls etc. as well as the aurora....