Hotel Rangá
Hotel Rangá, Iceland: which room to book, and who it suits
A low timber lodge on the plain east of Reykjavík, with hot tubs steaming by the river and a phone by the bed that rings when the aurora appears. Hotel Rangá is built around the northern lights. Here is what each room gives you, which one to book and who it suits.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: Hotel Rangá
Where: on Route 1 between Hella and Hvolsvöllur, about 90 minutes from Reykjavík and about two hours from Keflavík Airport.
Best for: couples on a northern lights trip who want to be woken when the aurora appears.
Guest rating: 9.6 out of 10 across 272 reviews on Hotels.com.
On site: a restaurant, a bar, an observatory with telescopes and hot tubs by the river.
Our room choice: a Deluxe Room with a bathtub for a couple, a Junior Suite with river view for more space. Check availability and prices at Hotel Rangá
Why Hotel Rangá suits the northern lights
Sign up at check-in, and the hotel calls your room when the aurora appears, so you can sleep until the sky is worth seeing. The reviewer from Business Traveller got four calls between midnight and 3 am on the first night. The hotel also has an observatory with telescopes for clear nights. Geothermally heated hot tubs stand by the river, so you can watch the sky from warm water.
Our advice: check the cloud forecast from the Icelandic Met Office each afternoon, and stay at least three nights to allow for cloud.
Which room to book
Standard Room (about 18 m², up to 2 people): compact, with a mountain view. Enough if you spend the evenings outside.
Deluxe Room with bathtub (about 26 m², up to 3): more space and a bath to warm up in after a cold night.
Deluxe Triple with hot tub access (about 32 m², up to 3): for three friends or a family who want a hot tub close by.
Junior Suite, river view (about 42 m², up to 4): a sitting area and a view of the river.
Suite, river view (about 67 m², up to 4): the largest option. The hotel has seven themed suites, each inspired by a continent.
Our advice: for two, the Deluxe Room is the best balance. Book a Junior Suite if you want a view of the river from the room.
Hot tubs by the river, warmed by geothermal water
Eating and drinking
The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows and a Nordic menu, according to Business Traveller. The Rangá Bar has one of the largest whisky collections in Iceland. With the nearest towns a short drive away, most guests eat at the hotel, so book a table when you arrive.
A Deluxe Room at Hotel Rangá, the best balance for two
Getting there from the UK
Fly direct to Keflavík, which has flights from several UK airports all year, in about three hours. From the airport, Hotel Rangá is about two hours by road, so most guests hire a car or book a transfer. A car also lets you chase clear skies along the south coast.
Alternatives in Iceland
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Suites of about 40 m² next to the Blue Lagoon, about 21 minutes from Keflavík Airport. Choose it for a short trip and spa days. Rated 9.8 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
A larger hotel near Vatnajökull, about 23 minutes from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Choose it to combine the aurora with the glaciers of the south-east. Rated 9.6 out of 10.
Our recommendation
Hotel Rangá: a phone call when the sky lights up
Hotel Rangá stands on the plain between Hella and Hvolsvöllur, about 90 minutes from Reykjavík, far from city lights. Sign up for the aurora wake-up service, and spend the evening in a hot tub by the river while you wait.
Our verdict
What Picolo would choose: a Deluxe Room with a bathtub for a couple on a three-night northern lights trip. For more space and a view of the river, choose a Junior Suite.
Why: the wake-up service, the observatory and the hot tubs make Hotel Rangá one of the easiest places in Iceland to see the aurora without booking a tour.
The trade-off: you are about two hours from Keflavík, so a short trip means a long transfer. For one or two nights, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is closer to the airport.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hotel Rangá good?
Guests rate Hotel Rangá 9.6 out of 10 across 272 reviews on Hotels.com, with praise for the staff, the food and the hot tubs. It suits couples on a northern lights trip who want to be woken when the aurora appears. It suits less well if you want a city break with restaurants on foot.
How does the northern lights wake-up call work?
You sign up at check-in, and the hotel calls your room when the aurora appears in the night. You can then go outside or to the hot tubs to watch. It means you can sleep without missing a display, which matters on a trip of three or four nights.
How far is Hotel Rangá from Reykjavík?
About 90 minutes by road, on Route 1 between Hella and Hvolsvöllur on the south coast. Keflavík Airport is about two hours away. Most guests hire a car or book a transfer, and a car makes it easier to visit the waterfalls and beaches of the south coast by day.
Which room should you book at Hotel Rangá?
For two, the Deluxe Room of about 26 m² with a bathtub. For a family or friends of three, the Deluxe Triple with hot tub access. For a special trip, a Junior Suite of about 42 m² or a Suite of about 67 m², both with a view of the river.
When should you book Hotel Rangá?
As early as you can for December to March, the core of the northern lights season, and especially for the weeks around Christmas and New Year. September and October are often quieter. Choose a rate with free cancellation if your dates may change.
Sources
Room types, sizes, facilities and the guest rating come from Hotels.com. The wake-up service, the observatory, the restaurant and the bar come from Business Traveller. The aurora and cloud forecast is published by the Icelandic Met Office. The room comparison and our choice are Picolo's own. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Happy aurora hunting
Picolo Editorial