Picolo recommends · Northern lights hotel near Þingvellir
ION Adventure Hotel: northern lights over Iceland's lava fields
A hotel on stilts in a lava landscape, a glass-walled bar facing the northern lights and a hot pool steaming from the earth. ION Adventure Hotel is Iceland at its wildest.
Northern lights
Autumn and winter are northern lights season in Iceland.
The frozen moss crunches as you step outside. No city lights, just the long dark building on stilts behind you and steam rising from the hills around. Then the sky starts to move, first a grey streak, then green. You do not even need to go far: the aurora dances just as well over the glass-walled bar, where the other guests already have their noses pressed to the window.
ION Adventure Hotel stands at Nesjavellir in south-west Iceland, in an area of hot springs and geothermal activity not far from Þingvellir National Park. It is roughly an hour's drive from Reykjavík, yet it feels like another planet. The hotel is a member of Design Hotels, and the architecture is raw and simple: concrete, wood, glass and lava.
Below you will find what makes ION special, plus two more places in Iceland where the hotel is half the experience. The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The building
It stands on pillars above the lava.
The steam
Geothermal steam right by the hotel.
The rooms
Simple and Nordic, with big windows facing the mountains.
The lounge
Room to wait for the sky.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we like ION
Part of the building stands on pillars above the lava, and underneath is a hot outdoor pool where you sit in the steam and look up.
The northern lights bar has floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can watch the sky with a drink in your hand. The hotel stands on its own, so rent a car.
Silfra
The fissure between the tectonic plates at Þingvellir.
Why you should check in at ION
ION Adventure Hotel: built for the aurora and the wilderness
Part of the building stands on pillars above the lava, and underneath is a hot outdoor pool where you can sit in the steam and look up. The northern lights bar has floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can keep an eye on the sky with a drink in hand instead of freezing in a car park.
The rooms are simple and Nordic, with large windows facing the mountains. You fill your days with what lies right outside: hiking trails through geothermal valleys, Þingvellir and the Golden Circle. The hotel works best with a hire car, as it stands on its own.
Book your stay: See rooms at ION Adventure Hotel
Book your stay
ION Adventure Hotel in Þingvellir
Simple Nordic rooms with big windows, a hot outdoor pool and a northern lights bar.
Geothermal valleys
Trails between steam and moss.
When is the best time to go?
You can see the northern lights during the dark season, roughly September to April, when the sky is clear. Summer brings light nights, green moss and open highland roads. Whatever the season, check the weather and road conditions before driving, especially in winter. Read more in our Iceland travel guide and our guide to the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon.
When should you book?
October to March: northern lights season, so book early for rooms with a view.
June to August: peak season in Iceland, and hotels outside the city fill quickly.
Car hire: book it at the same time, as you need a car to reach both ION and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon.
Alternatives
Would you rather stay somewhere else?
Two other remarkable hotels in Iceland.
Frequently asked questions about ION Adventure Hotel
Where is ION Adventure Hotel?
ION Adventure Hotel is at Nesjavellir in south-west Iceland, in a geothermal area near Þingvellir National Park. The drive from Reykjavík takes about an hour.
Can you see the northern lights from ION Adventure Hotel?
Yes, the hotel is far from city lights and the northern lights bar has glass walls facing the sky. You need darkness, clear skies and aurora activity, so the season is roughly September to April.
Do I need a hire car?
In practice, yes. ION stands on its own, and a car gives you the freedom to drive the Golden Circle and chase the aurora yourself.
What is the most unusual hotel in Iceland?
It depends on what you want: ION for the aurora and the wilderness, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon for a private lagoon in the lava, and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon for being close to the ice cap and Jökulsárlón.
How many nights should I stay at ION?
Two nights gives you two chances at the northern lights and time for Þingvellir and the trails around the hotel.