Picolo recommends · Northern lights hotel near Þingvellir
ION Adventure Hotel
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.
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.
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.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose ION Adventure Hotel
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.
What you get
- Hot outdoor pool under the building
- Northern lights bar with floor-to-ceiling windows
- Nordic rooms with big windows onto the mountains
- Hiking trails through geothermal valleys from the door
A day at ION Adventure Hotel
- Morning
- Breakfast facing the mountains and the lava.
- Late morning
- Þingvellir and the Golden Circle by hire car.
- Afternoon
- A hike through the geothermal valleys nearby.
- Evening
- The hot pool in the steam, then the northern lights bar.
Location
Nesjavellir, near Þingvellir, Iceland
Open in MapsWhen 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.
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.
Questions about ION Adventure Hotel
Is ION Adventure Hotel worth it?
Yes, if the northern lights and the landscape are the reason for your trip. The hot pool and the northern lights bar make waiting for the sky part of the experience. The hotel stands alone in the lava, so you need a hire car and will eat most dinners there.
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.
Would you rather stay somewhere else?
Two other remarkable hotels in Iceland.
Updated 5 Nov 2026All articles
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