Best Farm Stays in Northern Iceland

This warm, welcoming and very highly rated farm stay is located in the serene Reykjadalur valley of Northern Iceland, roughly between the town of Akureyri and the famous lake of Mývatn. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has four B&B double/twin rooms, at the geo-thermally heated farmhouse, all of which are comfortable and clean, and come with private bathroom and WiFi throughout. The farmhouse is surrounded by acres of land that contains cows, sheep and hens. They have some horses too and outside of winter horse riding lessons and horse riding trips around the area can be arranged. THE LOCATION: Though in a lovely isolated setting you are still only a few miles from the local village; Laugar where you can find a restaurant, a supermarket, a bank and a post office. Laugar also has its own outdoor geo-thermally heated swimming pool as well as hot tubs. The area around the farm stay is classically beautiful northern Icelandic territory, and great for long hikes into the hills or, as mentioned before horse riding. Nearby you’ll be impressed by Mývatn lake and nature baths, a well known tourist attraction in the area, about 40 mins drive away, as well as Goðafoss waterfall, closer even; about 15 minutes away. The entire region though is spectacular and awe inspiring in a way in which very few other places in Europe can compete. The nearest major town is Akureyri, Iceland’s second biggest urban area, about 40 minutes to the north west of the farm stay, at the bottom of Iceland’s biggest fjord Eyjafjörður.  You can take a 45 minute flight to Akureyri from Reykjavík, and travel on from there, or you can drive the spectacular northern ring road which would land you at Öndólfsstaðir Farm B&B in about 5 hours. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This was by far the best place we stayed while visiting Iceland. Very clean and comfortable, the absolute best food served to us anywhere and our take away lunch was so good. I highly recommend a stay at this B&B….” “Facilities were super good, very comfortable, kind of new and super clean. Excellent breakfast, best breakfast I had while in Iceland. Location is amazing, READ MORE

Bólstaðarhlíð Farm Cottage is a cosy self catering cottage on a family farm way up in the wilds of beautiful northern Iceland. The cottage is modern and clean and can sleep up to four people, and though very near to the main farmhouse it offers a splendid sense of  quiet solitude, and is especially inspiring in winter nights when the northern lights come out. THE ACCOMMODATION: The cottage has been recently refurbished and has a kitchen and lounge area, a double bedroom with queen size bed and a good bathroom. There is also a double sofa bed in the lounge so it can sleep up to 4 people comfortably. You’ll find the place well equipped with modern facilities, there is WiFi throughout plus a smart TV equipped with Netflix in the lounge. The cottage is very near the main farmhouse so, though you can enjoy much peace and quiet, the friendly owners are always at hand to help out with anything you need and are always happy to show guests around the farm. THE FARM: Bólstaðarhlíð has a working farm which has been in the same family for nearly 200 years. They usually have about 100 sheep and a number of horses at the farm these days, along with a friendly dog and cat at the farmhouse.  The setting is a tidy little valley amid green hills and a winding river and with the sheep grazing peacefully it is a beautifully quiet and relaxing place to wander around. The friendly farm owners are always happy to show guests around the farm and you are free to explore yourself, take a walk around the mountains, sit by the river or visit the beautiful little church at the farm which dates all the way back to 1888. THE LOCATION: Though way up in the north of Iceland getting to the farm isn’t all that difficult, being just off the main (road no.1) ring road from Reykjavík. It’s also about 20 minutes drive from the well known town of Blönduos, something of a tourist hub in these parts. and somewhere where you can find shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, a golf course and an Icelandic handicrafts READ MORE

A cosy and very friendly traditional farm stay in Víðidalur, Northwest Iceland, Stóra-Ásgeirsá is a wonderful introduction to Icelandic farm life but with all the comforts and facilities of a modern guest house B&B. The farm keeps horses, sheep, goats hens and ducks and you can spend your days meeting the animals, going horse riding, or exploring the surrounding countryside of this very picturesque and remote part of northern Iceland, while in the evenings you can relax in the outdoor hot tub soothed by the sounds of the nearby waterfall. THE ACCOMMODATION: The farmstay is small and cosy with a choice of double/twin rooms and a larger family room which can sleep up to 4. All the rooms come with flat screen TV and there is WiFi throughout the property. There is a shared bathroom at the farmhouse and a dining room/lounge where you will be treated to a great home made Icelandic breakfast in the morning and where in the evenings you can socialize with the other guests and farm owners in a relaxed and homely environment. THE FARM: It is a fully working farm with some lovely Icelandic horses on which you can take horse riding trips around the farm, as well as a number of sheep, goats hens and ducks, all of which are very friendly and which are a bit hit with children at the informal petting zoo. The horses though are the farm’s main business, with the owners being well known horse breeders in Iceland who have bred many top riding horses. Their horse riding tours are highly recommended, they are open to all levels and can take you around the farm and along the banks of the salmon filled Víðidalsá river or on longer tours of the surrounding countryside. THE LOCATION: The location is really very special; in the small settlement of  Víðidalur, way up the north of Iceland, and surrounded by gorgeous countryside, rolling hills, valleys, rivers and brooding, misty mountains. The area has a wonderfully remote feel to it and is quite an inspiring place. There are many great hiking routes around that the farm owners can advise you about, and plenty READ MORE

Bólstaðarhlíð Farm has very nice self catering rooms in the middle of a lovely green valley in the north of Iceland. The farmhouse is in traditional style but thoroughly modern and comfortable, with three en-suite double bedrooms, and access to a sociable shared lounge and the large, well equipped, kitchen too. The area and the farm itself is beautifully quiet and serene, and makes for a wonderful place to unwind. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are three double/twin rooms to choose from all of which are simply furnished and extremely clean and comfortable. The shared lounge has plenty of seating space and a smart/satellite TV (with Netflix) and there is WiFi throughout the building. The kitchen is modern and well equipped and the bathrooms are particularly nice. THE FARM: Bólstaðarhlíð has a working farm which has been in the same family for nearly 200 years. They usually have about 100 sheep and a number of horses at the farm these days, along with a friendly dog and cat at the farmhouse.  The setting is a tidy little valley amid green hills and a winding river and with the sheep grazing peacefully it is a beautifully quiet and relaxing place to wander around. The friendly farm owners are always happy to show guests around the farm and you are free to explore yourself, take a walk around the mountains, sit by the river or visit the beautiful little church at the farm which dates all the way back to 1888. THE LOCATION: Though way up in the north of Iceland getting to the farm isn’t all that difficult, being just off the main (road no.1) ring road from Reykjavík. It’s also about 20 minutes drive from the well known town of Blönduos, something of a tourist hub in these parts. and somewhere where you can find shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, a golf course and an Icelandic handicrafts museum. This part of Iceland is also good for whale watching and inland you’ll also find some of the best trout and salmon fishing rivers in the country, many of them quite near the farm. The scenery around here can be quite extraordinary, with so much rugged terrain, READ MORE

Guesthouse Steindórsstadir  is a friendly farm house B&B in a lovely setting near the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls north of Reykjavik, Iceland. The accommodation is fairly basic but lacks nothing in terms of cleanliness or comfort and there is a nice friendly atmosphere around the common areas which include an outdoor hot tub. The working farm dates back nearly two hundred years and has sheep, cows, Icelandic horses and a friendly dog and cat. THE ACCOMMODATION: The farmhouse is small and intimate with a choice of a single room, two doubles/twins and a triple room. All the rooms are spotlessly clean and have very comfortable beds. The bathrooms are shared but you will find them also spotlessly clean, and well equipped. The accommodation is B&B and you can expect a good, generous breakfast every morning. The kitchen is open to guests too so you can also cook for yourself during the day if you so choose and there’s a sociable shared lounge at the property too as well as a hot tub outside. The farm is a working farm and has been in the family for nearly two hundred years. They keep cattle and sheep as well as the ubiquitous Icelandic Horses. Horseback riding can be arranged and there are some lovely trails all around the farm and the local area to be enjoyed for riders of all abilities. THE LOCATION: Near the Hraunfossar waterfalls north east of Reykjavik the location is gorgeously peaceful and scenic, an expanse of open countryside between the ocean and the mountains that has a frontier like feel though it is only 100km from the Icelandic capital. The main attraction in this area is the aforementioned Hraunfossar waterfalls and the Langjökull Glacier, only around 15km away from the farm and very much one of Iceland’s many natural wonders. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This was our fourth stay at Steindórsstadir, this says all. This time we brought five friends with us who liked it as well. Very friendly host, the old farmhouse is very welcoming and cozy, comfy beds, the bathrooms are modern and clean. Breakfast includes all what is needed for a good start into READ MORE

  Brúnalaug is a cosy three bedroom holiday cottage on a family farm near Iceland’s second city, Akureyri and the Eyjafjörður Fjord in its remote north. The accommodation is comfortable and clean, the location very scenic and central to many of northern Iceland’s most lovely natural landscapes. THE ACCOMMODATION: The modern cottage comes with a nice lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, one double/twin room, one with a bunk bed and one single room plus the sofa in the living room can also be pulled out to sleep two more if needed, and cots can be provided for children. The comfortable lounge has a WiFi and a TV & DVD player while outside there is a large porch area with a barbecue and, best of all, a hot tub from where to enjoy some of the lovely scenery that surrounds. The farmer’s house is nearby and you’ll find them very friendly but completely non-intrusive. They grow a large range of fruit, vegetables, herbs etc. at the farm greenhouse though and so you can buy supplies of fresh produce to cook with should you need. Otherwise there are supermarkets in Akureyri, just 13km away, plus plenty of nice cafes, bars and restaurants. THE LOCATION: The nearest town is Akureyri, Iceland’s second city which, with a population of just 18,000, is a lot more sedate than Reykjavik. It also sees a lot less tourists and is therefore, for many visitors, a much more authentic place to be. The region is generally called Eyjafjaroarsveit, or Eyjafjörður Country, after the large fjord of the same name and is a wonderful place for all sorts of outdoor activities; hiking, horse riding, skiing, golf, bird watching etc. Make sure to do some whale watching at Húsavík and admire the spectacular waterfall at Goðafoss too. You can ask the friendly farm owners at Brúnalaug for more advice and recommendations, they’ll have plenty, and they can also help organize tours and excursions. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We stayed for 2 nights and had wonderful time in this warm and cosy house. Anna was so nice and told us many stories about Iceland, it’s culture, nature and people. READ MORE