Hotel Budir

Rooms

The 49 rooms and suites at Budir are split between two wings: the original building (which was, in fact, rebuilt in 2002 after the true original structure burned to the ground) and the high-spec new wing. They have very different styles and don't have an equal share of mod-cons, but all come with vast picture windows for viewing the sights.

Rooms in the new wing ooze with contemporary cool. A calming, neutral palette runs throughout: eggshell walls, pale marble bedside tables, and blonde wood floors. Boucle chairs and smooth linen bedspreads add a little softness to the minimalist design. We're yet to see the new rooms for ourselves, but we love the romance of the Master Suite, set in the eaves of the new wing; there's an in-room bathtub and a balcony with panoramic views across the water.

Those in the original wing feel notably older, thanks to their antique bedframes, merchant chests and historic photographs in gilded frames. They're more traditional, darker in design, but still with big windows for soaking in the scenery. On our last visit, we particularly liked one of the Loft Rooms with a bath and a view of the black church nearby, and the Deluxe Rooms with wraparound vistas of the sea and the rocks where seals come to bask.

Those travelling with kids should take a Family Room, which has two connecting double bedrooms, each with an ensuite. If twin beds are a must, book a Standard Room and request two single beds.

Bathrooms are compact and functional. All rooms come with a shower and lovely toiletries, and several have bathtubs. Satellite TVs and hairdryers also come as standard, but you'll need to book one of the newer rooms if you'd like to make your own coffee or tea in the morning.

Features include:

• Central heating
• Cots available
• DVD player
• Hairdryer
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Eating in the restaurant in full view of the glacier is a delight. Small candles adorn the tables even through the endless summer light, and warm homemade bread and freshly roasted nuts welcome you at your table.

Budir's imaginative cuisine is reputed to be among the finest in the country. The ‘chef’s ‘special’ menu has an Icelandic feel, so it’s heavy on local lamb, fresh fish and whatever else is in season. For dinner our creamy fish soup with fluffy pieces of cod was perfect, the lamb was tender and our delicious desserts were finished with a touch of ‘lava’ (grey-coloured meringue).

It goes without saying that it isn’t cheap (a major drawback if you’re staying for more than a couple of nights) and you don’t get much choice (if you’re vegetarian or likely to be choosy then phone ahead to check what’s on offer). But, as romantic restaurants go, it’s hard to beat.

Breakfast is a generous buffet of cheeses, cold meats and smoked salmon, bread, homemade jam, cereal and pastries, plus a hot station (scrambled eggs, bacon, beans, porridge, pancakes etc) and vegan options. Lunch is available every day and there’s an extensive wine list and a cocktail menu in the well-stocked bar.

As for options for eating out, there’s a café called Fjöruhusið (open in the summer only) in the nearby town of Hella which is known for its excellent fish soup, and a few other places in Stykkisholmur.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant

Activities

• Take a drive to Snaefellsjökull, the legendary glacier just a few km away. It’s reputedly a seat of ‘new age’ energy and was the fictional starting point for Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. If you want to splash out, you can view it from the air on a helicopter tour
  
• Go snowmobiling - you can rent snowmobiles, snow-suits, gloves and helmets and go on organised trips from the neighbouring hamlet of Arnarstapi (a 15-minute drive away). The journey up and down the glacier only takes a couple of hours, but the view on a clear day is truly breathtaking
  
• Follow the numerous hiking routes along the shoreline and around the craters of extinct volcanoes
  
• Visit Stykkisholmur (about 1.5 hours from the hotel) and take a boat trip out to the islands in the Breidafjordur fjord. They’re particularly good for bird-watching - you might spot puffins, black guillemots, eider ducks, kittiwakes, fulmars, black-backed gulls and white-tailed eagles
  
• Go whale-watching - the waters around the peninsula are considered Europe's best place for spotting blue whale, and you may also see Humpback whales, minke whales, orcas and dolphins
  
• Spot seals at Iceland’s largest seal colony at Ytri-Tunga, which lies a short drive down the coast
  
• Head off pony trekking over the moon-like landscape - the Budir stables, called Gobbedi gob (meaning ‘clackety-
  clack’) offer short riding trips on Icelandic ponies along sandy beaches and the ancient riding tracks of the Budir lava flow
  
• Watch the northern lights paint the evening sky with streaks of green and purple (November to April) or party under the midnight sun (June to August)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Snowsports
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Whale watching
• Wildlife

Kids

Children are welcome and will make friends easily with the staff’s children, who play in the sea and kayak in the summer. There are no specific children’s facilities, but who needs them when nature is all around? Kids will enjoy playing hide and seek in the lava fields, watching seals and going on boat trips.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Family Room is perfect for families of 3-4; it has two connecting double rooms and two bathrooms. Several rooms can fit extra beds, but the Suites offer the most space.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1.5 hours
• Hospital: 1 hour
• Doctor: 30 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hotel Budir is set in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland, around 200 km (around 2 hours by car) from Reykjavik.

By Air
Reykjavik's Keflavik (250km away) is the closest airport and has daily flights from Europe, the US and the UK. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
Transfers (including by bus or helicopter) can be arranged (see Rates), however a car is recommended (see below).

By Car
Driving is by far the best option as you’ll need a car to explore. For car hire, see our car rental recommendations - a regular compact car is sufficient as the road from Reykjavik to the hotel is paved all the way, but be prepared for a few bumps if you venture onto the smaller country roads. We suggest you spend your first night in Reykjavik and drive to Budir during the day - it's a stunning journey.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Iceland and getting around