Name: Akureyri Backpackers
Address: Hafnarstraeti 98, Akureyri, IS

6/10

Pleasant

05 Jun 2026

Patrice

We were there for two nights, and the first night was OK.

Noisy location, with people yelling on the street right in front of the hotel until 1:00, during our second night at the hotel. Then heavy machinery started operating on the street at 6:30, during one hour. Earplugs made no difference.

The same night around 22:00, there was a fire alarm, that made us go downstairs to evacuate the building. On the first floor at the bar and restaurant also serving as the hotel reception, life continued as normal. One employee was busy consulting the alarm control panel, trying to understand the reason for the alarm and to make it stop. The other employees didn’t seem to be concerned about the alarm, keeping serving drinks and meals as usual. Several hotel guests like us just stood up near the front entrance, waiting for some instructions of some sort, that never came. We even saw a group of 8 tourists or so going to the upper floors with their backpacks, as if everything was normal. Many hotel clients didn’t evacuate the building at all. When the alarm finally stopped, I inquired from the same busy employee who confirmed that it was a false alarm. No employee ever went to the floors and rooms to explain the situation to the clients. I saw the same employee coming from the evacuation stairs at the back on the third floor, perhaps to check if someone was still there.

Good luck to anyone staying at this hotel, if there is a real fire alarm someday.

6/10

Pleasant

18 May 2026

Tripp

This is my own fault for not doing more research, but the property is connected to and above a bar. To use the showers you have to walk through the bar and since we were only only the 2nd floor we could hear everything below and didn't have very sound sleep.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2026

Alisha

Super clean

4/10

Poor

04 Oct 2025

John

You have to rent a towel for $5 to take a shower in the basement.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Sep 2025

Tsvi

Overall it was ok. We stayed at the fourth floor, which was quiet, but the showers were in the basement and one had to go thru the bar at the ground floor to get there. The reception was at the bar counter and it was noisy and hard to understand house rules. Lastly the receptionist wasn’t too interested or inclined to provide additional details.

Family

8/10

Excellent

21 Sep 2025

Benedetto

Excellent location

6/10

Pleasant

15 Sep 2025

Anastasiya

So-so hostel

This is a hostel. With four floors and no elevator. It has no bathrooms in rooms, only on the floor, but they information about showers being in the basement was not disclosed prior to the trip. Yes, you can have shower going all the way downstairs in the basement passing the bar. The whole place smells like kitchen, and because of the bar downstairs. The rooms were dusty, but overall acceptable.

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

11 Jul 2025

Duanjun

The conditions at this hotel are extremely poor. The rooms lack basic amenities, including toilets, washbasins, chairs, and towels, and provide only two beds. The second floor has about eight rooms, accommodating over 50 people, but everyone shares just two toilets and washbasins, which is highly inconvenient. A noisy bar downstairs adds to the discomfort. User reviews on Travelocity rate the hotel as “Excellent,” but these likely refer to the bar rather than the accommodations. Most unacceptable is the pricing policy: the earlier you book, the higher the price, and reservations are non-cancelable. I booked a room six months in advance for $300, while a week-long stay was only $150. I strongly advise against booking here. This is not a standard hotel; it’s the worst I’ve ever stayed in—overpriced, poorly equipped, and far below typical hotel standards. The booking price does not reflect the abysmal facilities and conditions.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

01 Jul 2025

Jennifer

Room and bathroom good but fighting seagulls at 2 am in the back alley was very unpleasant.
Also no kitchen facilities - essential if you call yourself a hostel and showers in the basement through the pub no great situation.
Fun place, nice atmosphere and great pub in the middle of it all.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2025

Matthew

Decent Price & Stay

Booked a private room with shared bathroom at the hostel.

I arrived very late but had received the self check in instructions via email. All was good and I was able to get to my room without incident.

The room was spacious, clean and comfortable. The communal washing area and toilets were close which was helpful. I had a good nights sleep with the only problem being that all my electronics that I had put on charge overnight failed to charge. The next morning I discovered that when I turn the bedroom light out the socket I had them plugged into also turned off. Frustrating but what can you do. If anyone from the hostel is reading this then it would be a good idea to label these sockets with a warning.

Most parking in the centre of Akureyri is paid so I left my car in a car park over night and used the Easy Park app to work out how much I had to pay and pay for it. Worked perfectly.

I had my own breakfast which I ate in my room and then checked out, which was just matter of closing the door behind me. My experience was good overall and I would definitely use again, especially if the price is right.

Self

8/10

Excellent

12 May 2025

Michele

An original Akureyri building. In the middle of the shopping strip. Free parking one block away from 4pm-10am; totally free on weekends. Walkable to see all of the sights including the Harbor or Old Towne. They will also make Tour Arrangements for you. Close to the Forest Lagoon, which is open 10am-12am. Convenient to Husavik for Whale Watching and Puffin Sightings. Please note that shower facilities are in the basement. Each floor has multiple WCs and sinks. For a fee, there is a Laundry. It really doesn’t get dark in Akureyri so bring an Eye Mask. The Bar can get a little loud since there is outdoor seating. If this bothers you, bring earplugs. It did not bother me; I live near an airport and usually sleep with a lamp on! The only minus would be the rude Guests who don’t flush the toilets during the night. Not cool!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

30 Apr 2025

Christie

Very unique and convenient being above a restaurant! Bathrooms were clean. Bedroom was minimal and quiet! All check-in and check-out is online. Note: dinner stops at 8pm, but the bar stays open until 10pm. The staff was VERY friendly, which was so nice to talk to fellow travelers who happen to live and work in Iceland. HIGHLY recommend staying here for a night or two!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2025

Elissa

The shared facilities were the best for camping. The pods we slept in felt great although we flipped the mattress, the space the had many outlets, ample heat and insulated walls. Surrounding the area with cool walking paths to a lake and the waterfall by the restaurant was amazing! It's a dark zone to see the sky perfectly at night!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Feb 2025

Leigh

3 nights in Akureyri

I had the double room. It is very basic, a bed, a small table with 2 chairs, 2 bedside tables, a bin, a mirror on the wall and some hooks for hanging clothes.

The bed was very comfortable, you can adjust the heating to your liking so my room was always comfortably warm.

The shared toilet facilities on my floor (3rd floor) were great...clean and always stocked.

I cannot comment on food or the showers as I did not use those options. But the showers are accessible next to the bar, but you will have to go down the stairs and past the restaurant/bar to get there.

Be aware this is a hostel and it will get very noisy on a Saturday night, there is no soundproofing.
Bit the Sunday and Monday I had the floor to myself so it was quiet.
Overall I had a good stay there.
If you book any tours with a pickup service, they will pick you up outside the entrance.

And do have a hotdog or two from the van down the road, they are good!

Self

2/10

Poor

19 Aug 2024

Rana

Very noisy and not clean

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2024

Roxanne Abder

Charming backpackers hostel. Clean and centrally located. Restaurant/bar on first floor

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2024

Buffy

super great place

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

15 Sep 2023

Aazon

According to other reviews, this hostel used to have a kitchen (which was ripped out) and the restaurant below plays music till 11pm. Facilities are below par for a hostel - please avoid

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

12 Sep 2023

Lauren

Decent place for cheap

Good cheap spot for a night. Definitely had a college vibe to it, people up partying late. The room was nice and big with lots of outlets. The showers were not so great. I didn't mind them being in the basement so much, but it's the kind of shower you want to wear flip flops in, and mine completely flooded out into the main area, luckily I was the only one in there. At least the shower stalls are large!

Partner

2/10

Poor

04 Jul 2023

Ehab

One of the worst stays in a hostel, especially in Iceland.

On the property details it lists a guest kitchen and a laundromat but neither are actually available there. They listed free parking but the one they suggested was actually paid and a bit far. The place was also very noisy and creaked a lot when people passed through. It doesn't help that the hostel is above the bar which can get very loud.

Even the soap outside the toilets was empty and the WiFi was a but dodgy.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2023

Alex

Great place to stay if you are looking for a hostel to make friends, have a great location within the city, enjoy Iceland. A little loud at times but that is to be expected.

Leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

28 Mar 2023

Scott

It's a wonderful property but this is NOT family friendly. It is really clean and location is really convenient to shopping and dining. Double edged sword - there is a bar on the main floor and it is extremely loud, until 1am or later on weekends making it nearly impossible for children to sleep. Might be quieter during the week but would certainly not recommend with kids on the weekend (maybe I should have known better). However, if a party atmosphere with some friends is what you are looking for I would imagine this spot would be a blast.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2023

Kristen

My boyfriend and I had a fantastic stay! The staff was unbelievably friendly and easy to talk to. The dorms were spacious and clean and we had the best time! I highly recommend it!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Mar 2023

Rebecca

It was a homey atmosphere and right at the center of everything in the city. The staff was very helpful and kind and check in was very easy.

Family

2/10

Poor

17 Aug 2022

Verified traveler

It was a terrible stay. Worst place we ever stayed. I wish I could give a negative rating. Very noisy, cannot sleep at all.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Awesome spot right in the heart of town!
Can’t wait to come back!

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

The staff was less than enthusiastic, but helpful. The rooms were clean, the common areas comfortable. The dorm was very spacious. The toilets clean, but the showers could have used an additional scrub. The hostel was well located and convenient to all the things in the town that I was interested in.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2017

Angela

Screaming fans

We had an amazing time staying in Akureyri. The only thing I would complain about is the location of our room/window. We were located above a very popular bar that was playing loud music and had screaming customers till 2am. Other than that it was a great place to stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Aug 2017

David

Northern Delight

Outstanding hostel, if you like activity and meeting people.Great cafe/restaurant/pub, best in town. Akureyri is a fantastically fun and beautiful town!

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jan 2017

Dennis

Akureyri Backpackers

Great little town and just a great area to get around and see the sights of northern Iceland. Everyone is very friendly!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Oct 2016

William Jonathan E

Great place in a great location.

It was great. Clean and well-maintained. Drink tickets upon check in were very nice. Just wish the showers weren't in the basement. We stayed on the 4th floor and had to walk all the way down. Also, they were packed at 9am.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

07 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

We would have liked them to be more informative online about policy and payment, as there was some surprises. Interesting environment.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jun 2016

bw

Centeral Place in the City

The place was nice, clean, and affordable for the area. The beer was reasonably priced, and the atmosphere was great during the soccer match we watched in the front area. It was an all ages hostel, so there were people of every walk of like inside.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2016

Verified traveler

It was quite pleasant stay - clean room, well equipped kitchen, laudromat and lively atmosphere. What I expect from hostels.

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2016

Jennifer

Great little hostel!

This was a great place to stay for a night! I stayed in a woman's only 4 bed dorm and it was perfect. The hostel was immaculately clean, the workers were friendly, the decor was lovely and the location was great. They also give you coupon for a free beverage (beer, tea, or coffee) upon arriving. Very well worth the price. I would definitely stay here again and suggest to anyone traveling through Akureyri.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2016

Verified traveler

Excellent place to stat

This place was awesome to stay at, everything was perfect except for the dude at the top bunk.. He was a terrible sleeper but that's not the hostel's fault.. They probably could've screwed the bunk tighter so his restless sleep could have been less affecting towards us all but like I said it's beyond their control.. It's a great place to stay at and I recommend you to stay there :)

6/10

Pleasant

05 Jun 2026

miguel angel

I

6/10

Pleasant

12 Nov 2025

Juan Jesús

Hotel para pasar una noche no mas

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

26 Sep 2025

Tobias

Das Ganze erinnert eher an einen Irish Pub mit Gästezimmern im OG. Nichts gegen Irish Pubs, wir lieben Irish Pubs und auch dieser Laden ist als Kneipe wirklich top und cool. Aber man muss wissen, dass es direkt ohne Tür aus dem Gastraum in den offenen Flur geht. Sämtlicher Lärm und der harte Geruch von Frittenfett und gebratenem Fisch zieht einmal schön durch das Treppenhaus in alle Rtagen, bis nach oben durch. Es riecht überall in den Fluren nach Imbiss, was wir ziemlich ekelig fanden. Die Zimmer sind davon verschont. Ganz oben hört man auch nichts mehr vom Lärm, nur ganz leicht Musik und manchmal Stimmen. Weiter unten muß es fies sein. Und die Wäbde sind so dünn, dass man jede Unterhaltung aus dem Nachbarzimmer hört. Alle Böden sind aus Holz, man hört jede/n der nachts auf Toilette geht oder morgens um 5 mit dem Rollkoffer daa Backpackers verlässt. An Schlaf ist dann nicht mehr zu denken. Mag sein, dass es für eine Jugenherberge reicht aber wir würden nächstes Mal immer ein Hotel in Akureyri bevorzugen.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

18 Sep 2025

Agathe

Vraiment pas terrible

Mauvaise expérience globalement. Beaucoup de choses ne vont pas.
Porte d’accès pas claire, on ne sait pas si c’est un hôtel ou un restaurant. La réception se trouve être le bar du restaurant. Accueil agréable mais zéro explications à part « vous êtes à tel étage, chambre à tel numéro ».
On explore donc pour savoir où sont les sanitaires, salle de bain et laverie.
Il y a 3 WC par étage pour plusieurs chambres et dortoirs, donc environ 20 personnes pour 3 toilettes par étage… on fait la queue.
Pas de douches dans les étages, elles sont au SOUS-SOL !!! 4 douches pour les femmes, c’est très mal indiqué donc plusieurs personnes se sont lavés aux lavabos des WC. Attention PAS DE SERVIETTES a disposition, il faut payer pour en avoir!
Pour se rendre aux douches, il faut d’abord passer par la « cuisine »… mettre un micro-ondes + un frigo n’est pas une cuisine.
L’endroit n’est pas hyper propre. On voit bien que les douches ne sont pas nettoyées tous les jours. Le sol est très glissant et souvent inondé par les gens ayant pris leur douche avant vous. Par ailleurs, ce n’est pas agréable de passer devant un bar restaurant bondé le soir pour aller et sortir de la douche… mieux vaut donc se doucher le matin car le restaurant est fermé à ce moment là.
La chambre que nous avons eu était spacieuse mais vétuste. Il y a une porte communicante avec la chambre d’à côté donc on entend TOUT (même la voisine qui éternue).
Odeurs de gras du restaurant dès qu’on ouvre la porte de la chambre.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 May 2025

Franco

Ostello a 4 stelle

Ostello accogliente e ben servito, in zona centralissima. Non è ben chiaro dove sia l'ingresso (direttamente dentro il bar)

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

19 Apr 2025

Lisa

The check-in was uncomplicated. The rooms are equipped with the most necessary and clean. Only the showers could have been a bit cleaner. The hostel has a good location. You can reach many sights in Akureyri by foot.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

18 Aug 2024

Maud

Très bien situé. Par contre bruyant et pas pratique pour les douches qui se trouvent au sous sol.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2023

Barbara

Welcoming atmosphere

8/10

Excellent

13 Aug 2022

gaia

Posizione centrale e senza problemi di parcheggio. Durante il fine settimana molto rumore dalla strada

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Camere spaziose e pulite. Ottima la cucina a disposizione. Sevizio lavanderia (900 corone).

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2018

kit

Central location, good restaurant

Staff are generally nice and friendly, there is a bar downstairs which serves good food, many locals came for dinner so is quite vibrant if you would like to mingle with people from different counties. However the room does not include duvet which means you either have to rent one (1100 isk) or bring your own sleeping bag. You will have to bring your luggage upstairs too.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Sep 2017

Kamal

Lot's of interesting people. !! Clean, not expensive

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2017

ggg

Good autmosphere

The bathrooms were clean, room was comfortable, good kitchen.
A couple of things I wasn't too happy about: breakfast was 1,300 ISK and was very poor selection for the amount of money. The shower room is located only in the basement and I had to pass through the first floor which is a cafe/bar.
Overall I really enjoyed staying here though.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Nov 2016

Silvia

Very nice looking accommodation in the center

The hostel is in the center and during the weekend there's free parking in front of the building, on weekdays you can park free close to the hostel. The hostel looks really good, it has a warm industrial look, I loved it. There is a kitchen where you can cook but they also have a bar / restaurant where you can have a drink or have lunch or diner. The food they serve is very good.
I've stayed at the second floor, which includes the rooms, toilets and sinks. The showers are in the basement and there's also a sauna (free to use). Bring a shower cap if you don't want to get your hair wet when showering.
The staff is kind and helpful and they make you feel welcome. The beds are comfortable and everything is clean.
The only downside was that all rooms face the street and it was extremely noisy during Friday and Saturday night. But nothing that couldn't be stopped with earplugs :)
Overall I've enjoyed my time here and I will stay here again.