Hotel Ranga is a gorgeous countryside hotel that is the only 4-star hotel in southern Iceland. It is an hour from Reykjavik and is close to some of the most impressive waterfalls we saw in Iceland. It was a great location to call our home base as we did the Golden Circle. Hotel Ranga has the perfect blend of luxury and serenity. The hotel offers 52 lovely rooms that you can choose from to find the one that best fits your family’s needs.
The hotel has a log cabin feel, and the woodwork gave it a homey atmosphere. Just look at how beautiful the hallway was on the way to our room.
Take a peek at our suite…
We were lucky to stay in one of the eight luxurious suites the hotel offers.
Our suite was elegant and had a cozy log cabin feel that made me want to move in. First of all, it was HUGE! On one side of the room was a large bed that was the most comfortable one we slept in while in Iceland.
Centered in the room was a large jacuzzi and the hotel gave us bath salts and bath tea bags to make the experience even more relaxing. The best part was you could open the double doors so you felt like you were outside. One night after dinner, my girls put their bathing suit on and watched some television while taking a tub. It was adorable.
On the other side of the room was a living area with another large television, couches, and a coffee table.
There was a spacious desk, and a wonderful espresso machine and hot water pot. My girls especially liked the complimentary hot chocolate each day.
Here was so much space on that side of the room that my daughters each got to sleep on their own pull-out couch next to one another. They said the beds were so comfortable they didn’t feel like pull-outs and they thought the pillows were so soft. They had two fabulous nights of sleep and looked forward to the Icelandic chocolates left on their pillows each night.
Our room had a private porch with a beautiful wooden bench where you could enjoy the view while being protected from the wind.
We also had a separate patio that had an amazing view.
The large bathroom had a spacious double vanity and a shower with two rain shower heads. The hotel also offered many bath amenities including nail files, razors, shave cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Time for a soak
Feel like relaxing? The room also offers cozy bath robes and slippers. These were perfect to use when we used the outdoor hot tubs.
As if we didn’t feel welcomed enough, the suite had beautiful long-stemmed red roses. It was a lovely gesture.
Time for dinner…
I must say that before I got there I was a little unsure about whether I would bring the kids to dinner. My girls are well-behaved but I wasn’t sure if it would be too fancy of a restaurant for them. I also didn’t want to waste money on food they may not eat. After the first glance of the restaurant I knew we would have to try it and I was so happy that we decided to dine here.
First off, I thrilled by how welcomed my girls were by the restaurant staff. The restaurant has a nice blend of elegance and comfort, so it was definitely family friendly. The next wonderful surprise was the kid menu! Fish and chips, hamburgers with fries, ham and cheese sandwiches, and pasta with red sauce are all on the menu. Many restaurants in Iceland do not offer a kid menu, so this was convenient.
Dinner in the hotel was such a treat. The entire staff was accommodating and they were all wonderful with the girls. Our waitress heard my youngest daughter talking about how puffin is on the menu so she insisted on having them try it and brought them each a sample for them to taste!
The manager of the hotel was friendly and made a point to speak to each table both nights. He would engage in conversation with the adults as well as the kids. One night he brought my girls Hotel Ranga journals so they could take notes on their time in Iceland and the next night they received activity books. It was so kind.
The hotel has a “farmers market” concept and they use local, seasonal ingredients in their dishes. Their menu is inspired by Nordic cuisine. My husband and I had the spring tasting menu one night, which started with the best mushroom soup we’ve ever had. So many people request the recipe that the front desk keeps copies to hand out.
We also had a salmon course as well as a lamb course.
We ended with an amazing chocolate mousse. It was our best meal throughout the trip!
Breakfast was amazing because in addition to a buffet, you can order a breakfast dish, like omelets. I had a delicious eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. They also had a mimosa bar that was fabulous!
The hotel bar offers a welcome drink and is a great place to stop for a cocktail before dinner. These stools were the best!
You can never predict when the Northern Lights will start their show. Three variables affect your chances: solar winds, local weather, and the moon. Unfortunately, we were here in May, which is outside of the timeframe the lights usually show up. However, based on its secluded location, I can’t imagine a more perfect place to see the Northern Lights than the Hotel Ranga. The hotel turns off their external lights at night to give guests an even better view of the lights and there are plenty of places to get outside to enjoy them. These chairs are perfect for viewing the night sky.
Afraid you will sleep through them? The hotel has a sign-up sheet where they will wake you up if the lights show up. They even have snowsuits and blankets guests can borrow to make the viewing more enjoyable!
Observatory
To get up close and personal to the Northern Lights, or to the starry night sky, the hotel offers an observatory with a roll-off roof. The observatory has two high quality astronomical telescopes available for guests to use. Since light pollution around the hotel is minimal, it is the perfect place to view the night sky.
Game room
The game room features a pool table and an impressive chandelier. It had a rustic, woodsy feel to it with the polar bear rug.
Hot tubs
Hotel Ranga has three hot tubs for their guests to enjoy. The hot tubs face the river and it is the perfect place to relax after spending the day out exploring southern Iceland. I imagine they are especially wonderful at night. My girls and I immediately went for a long soak when we arrived since we had spent the day horseback riding. The water felt incredible.
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There are many places to sit and relax throughout the hotel. In this quiet area, they provide games, puzzles, books, and art supplies. It’s a sunny location where you can enjoy the view.
Upstairs there is a second bar and there are two rooms filled with couches. They are all situated near windows so once again, the view is the backdrop.
What else did we do in the area? Check out my blog posts about Iceland:
A 1 Week Itinerary for a Perfect Week in Iceland
Tips for Doing the Golden Circle
Exploring the Southern Coast of Iceland
10 Tips for Doing the Blue Lagoon with Kids
Jokulsarlon, the Iceberg Lagoon
The staff of the hotel made our stay comfortable and welcoming. They went out of their way to make the girls smile and you can tell they have pride in their hotel. It is a hotel we will always have fond memories from.
Where do you fly in?
The best place to fly in to is Keflavik International Airport
CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT
Things to see/do nearby
Golden Circle Super-Jeep Tour and Snowmobiling
South Coast Adventure with Glacier Hike Full-Day Tour
Search for Northern Lights Super Jeep Tour from Reykjavik
Crystal Blue Ice Cave – Super Jeep From Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Blue Lagoon & Reykjavík Sightseeing
Black Sand Beach Horse Riding Tour from Vik
Classic Whale watch from Reykjavik
Tips for Planning Your Stay
-There is free Wi-Fi in each room.
-The hotel offers laundry service.
-There is 24-hour room service.
-The hotel offers a wake-up service.
-The hotel is only two hours from Keflavik airport.
-There is a computer for guests to use.
-Lunchboxes are available upon request, which is perfect to bring along on explorations.
Address: 851- South Iceland
Phone number: (354) 487-5700
Email: hotelranga@hotelranga.is
Website: https://hotelranga.is/
Check-in 3:00 Check-out: 12:00
A warm thank you to Hotel Ranga for having my family as guests of your hotel. Your hotel had a comfortable elegance that made us all feel welcome. I can’t recommend this hotel enough! As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% my own.
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