Fljótsdalsgrund Guesthouse: Hidden Gem in Iceland’s East Fjords

After another amazing day of experiencing Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the stunning East Fjords, we arrived at our accommodation for the evening. Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse is such a peaceful retreat in a beautiful location. It's like a vacation within a vacation.

This is a lovely accommodation near a calm lake with sweeping mountain views. As there are many sheep farms nearby, we noticed many sheep wandering around as we approached Fljótsdalsgrund. Evergreen trees might be a rarity in Iceland, though they're in abundance in the neighbouring Hallormstadur Forest.

Since you're in the middle of nature without light pollution, Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse can be a wonderful place to watch the northern lights. It's possible to see them right in front of the guesthouse.

Fljótsdalsgrund Guesthouse is close to several natural attractions in Iceland. Hengifoss is Iceland's third highest waterfall. Hallormstaðaskógur (Hallormsstaður National Forest) is the largest forest in Iceland. Nearby Snæfell is the highest mountain not covered by a glacier.

Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse: The Accommodation and Our Room

Staying on a farm, far outside of any towns, meant that it was very peaceful and silent. There were two people camping across the property (camping is also available here), but that was about it. We enjoyed the quiet.

Our room had everything we needed: a private bathroom, a full kitchenette, a large bed, a couch, and free parking. We cooked our dinner here and relaxed for the rest of the evening very comfortably.

The kitchenette had a fridge, a stove top, a coffee maker, a microwave, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans. Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse has complimentary Wi-Fi.

Check in starts at 4:00pm, and check out is at 10:30am. These photos reflected our stay a few years back. The property looks to be updated and modernized a bit since then. You can see new photos over on the booking page.

The Staff at Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse

When we stayed at Fljótsdalsgrund Guesthouse, it was named as such. It briefly switched names to be called Hengifoss Guesthouse, owned by a local family from 2009 to 2023. In 2023, the property was purchased by Kjartan Benediktsson and Sólrún Júlía Hjartardóttir Kjerúlf and was named back to Fljótsdalsgrund Guesthouse.

We stayed at Fljotsdalsgrand before the new ownership and have nothing but wonderful things to say. I'm sure that the new owners are fantastic, too!

We met one of the owners, Helga, at their main office. She provided us with a small tour of the guesthouse, which she co-owned with a fellow farmer. Helga's own property is one farm away from the accommodation.

She was very hospitable and offered to prepare us breakfast in the morning. We had already purchased groceries so it wasn't necessary, but it was so kind of her to offer.

Currently, all guests of this property can dine at the breakfast buffet with a great variety of dishes for all tastes. They use local products and homemade jam. If you are vegan, like us, they have vegan options! I'd just double check upon booking to make sure that vegan dishes are available.

To our amazement, we were the only guests booked at Fljotsdalsgrund on that early June evening. There are several rooms down two hallways. There is also one gigantic main room with couches and a dining space. For that night, we had the entire place to ourselves.

Book Your Stay

If you're looking for where to stay in EastIceland, we highly recommend Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse. It combines the comforts of home with the peacefulness of a farm stay. The staff are friendly and accommodating and there's even complimentary breakfast for all guests.

If you would rather camp, there are campsites for a low price from the middle of May. Camping isn't available all year long, but during the spring and summer.

Campsites contain a grill area, a bonfire place, swings, a trampoline and partial Wi-Fi coverage. It's also possible to use electricity at the campground (limited, needs to be reserved). There are toilets at Végarður, the community center next to the guesthouse.

Though we didn't have time to visit Hengifoss, we would love to return in the future to see this gorgeous waterfall. It's so close to the property. If you drive about 5km down the road, you'll see an access point to a short trail that leads to the waterfall.

Be sure to stay at Fljotsdalsgrund Guesthouse when you travel to East Iceland.