HI Iceland

From a converted hospital to a traditional turf house, many of our hostels feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Today we talk about adaptive reuse- how our network practices sustainability through taking old buildings and making them into your home away from home.

Travelling Iceland has become more affordable recently, with more budget airlines making stops here and more tourism companies opening. However, Iceland is still ranked as Europe’s most expensive country to live and travel in- but we have some tips for you on how to save króna!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Heiðmörk to do our annual tree planting. The 480 little saplings we planted will grow into tall Icelandic birch trees and carbon offset the stays of everyone who stayed at our Reykjavík hostels this past year, but they also serve another important purpose- reforesting Iceland.

Iceland is a nature lover’s paradise, full of incredible landscapes and natural wonders that you simply won’t find anywhere else on earth. While there are plenty of reasons to embark on different Iceland tours, the diverse hiking trails in Iceland are icing on the cake. With so many incredible trails to choose from, it can be hard to decide which to tackle during your visit to Iceland. To help make it easier for you, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 short day hikes in Iceland. The best part? You don’t need any permits for these day hikes!

Iceland is the land of ice and fire, but also the land of the Midnight sun, a breathtaking natural phenomenon that occurs during the summer. During this period, there are no clear boundaries between one day and another. The long and bright nights in Iceland have good effects on the local people and affects their everyday life. Icelanders tend to stay longer outside and enjoy the long nights and even the children play outside long past their bedtime ... and it is ok!

From Spain, passing through Iceland, all to way to USA, we want to share our story of how we can make connections through travelling, sharing feelings and food. Our hostels in Iceland have been and will be the theatres of these moments and we will always be here to celebrate the beauty of meeting up, sharing ideas and tips for your trip, be your home for one night or maybe more.

Yes, it is safe to drink the tap water and 95% of all water in Iceland comes from springs. It is in fact one of the cleanest and most delicious drinking water in the world.

Seeing a volcanic eruption with your own eyes, feeling the heat and energy of magma forcing its way to the surface from the center of the earth. It touches you: it touches your soul, your heart, your thoughts, your everything. From HI Iceland, we want to share our sensational experience with the world.