In the heart of Akureyri, Akureyri Backpackers offers a cozy retreat with a warm coffee shop/cafe and lively arcade/game room. Explore local art at the nearby Centre for Visual Arts or unwind in the sauna after a day out.
Hof - Cultural Center and Conference Hall - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
Akureyri Botanical Garden - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
University of Akureyri - 3 min drive - 2.0 km
Getting around
Akureyri (AEY) - 5 min drive
Restaurants
Ketilkaffi - 2 min walk
Centrum Kitchen & Bar - 1 min walk
Vínstofa Eyja Bistro - 1 min walk
Strikið - 1 min walk
R5 Beer lounge - 2 min walk
About this property
Akureyri Backpackers
Akureyri Backpackers offers a fantastic location, putting you just a 5-minute walk from Centre for Visual Arts and Akureyri Church. The coffee shop/cafe is perfect for a bite to eat, and you can unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge or visit the sauna for a relaxing end to the day. A snack bar/deli and a terrace are other highlights.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
23 rooms
Arranged over 4 floors
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Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 11 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 10 AM
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Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open Monday - Thursday (7:00 AM - 11:00 PM) and Friday - Saturday (7:00 AM - noon)
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions and lockbox information; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
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Children
No cribs (infant beds)
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Pets
Pets not allowed
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Secured onsite extended parking
DONE
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Continental breakfast (surcharge) each morning 8:00 AM–10 AM
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Coffee shop
Snack bar/deli
What to do
Ski passes
Horse riding nearby
Ski runs nearby
Whale-watching nearby
Fishing nearby
Services
Tour/ticket assistance
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Facilities
1 building/tower
Built in 1923
ATM/banking
Picnic area
Terrace
Arcade/game room
Sauna
100% renewable energy
Accessibility
Grab bar near toilet
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Room amenities
Home comfort
Heating
Sleep well
Bed sheets provided
Freshen up
Shower only
Stay connected
Free WiFi
More
Housekeeping once per stay
Fees & policies
Optional extras
Continental breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately EUR 15 per person
Towels are available for an extra charge of EUR 4 (or guests may bring their own)
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
This property uses geothermal energy.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector on site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Does Akureyri Backpackers offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Akureyri Backpackers does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at Akureyri Backpackers?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Akureyri Backpackers?
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 11 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM.
What is there to do at Akureyri Backpackers and nearby?
During the winter, enjoy nearby recreation like skiing and return when the snow melts for fishing and horseback riding. Enjoy amenities like a sauna, an arcade, and a picnic area.
Are there restaurants at or near Akureyri Backpackers?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant.
What's the area around Akureyri Backpackers like?
Akureyri Backpackers is in Akureyri City Center, a short 3-minute walk from Akureyri Church and 6 minutes' walk from Hof - Cultural Center and Conference Hall.
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Reviews
Akureyri Backpackers Reviews
8.4
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
8.6
Cleanliness
9.4
Location
8.4
Staff & service
8.2
Property conditions & facilities
Popular mentions
Location
Bar
Service staff
Cities
Reviews
Verified
8/10 Very good
Sep 21, 2025
Excellent location
Benedetto
Benedetto, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 10, 2024
Charming backpackers hostel. Clean and centrally located. Restaurant/bar on first floor
Roxanne Abder
Roxanne Abder, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Apr 19, 2025
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.
Lisa
Lisa, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 14, 2025
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!
Elissa
Elissa, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 30, 2025
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!
Christie
Christie, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
May 12, 2025
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!
Michele
Michele, 3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Feb 9, 2025
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!
Leigh
Leigh, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 21, 2025
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.
Matthew
Matthew, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 24, 2024
super great place
Buffy
Buffy, 1-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Oct 4, 2025
You have to rent a towel for $5 to take a shower in the basement.
John
John, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 7, 2023
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.
Rebecca
Rebecca, 1-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Jul 1, 2025
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.
Jennifer
Jennifer, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 26, 2023
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!
Kristen
Kristen, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 8, 2023
Welcoming atmosphere
Barbara
Barbara, 2-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Sep 15, 2025
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.
Anastasiya
Anastasiya, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 28, 2023
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.
Alex
Alex, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Sep 23, 2025
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.
Tsvi
Tsvi, 1-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Sep 15, 2023
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
Aazon
Verified
2/10 Poor
Aug 17, 2022
It was a terrible stay. Worst place we ever stayed. I wish I could give a negative rating. Very noisy, cannot sleep at all.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
Verified
2/10 Poor
Aug 19, 2024
Very noisy and not clean
Rana
Rana, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Sep 13, 2023
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!
Lauren
Lauren, 1-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Mar 28, 2023
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.
Scott
Scott, 2-night trip
Verified
2/10 Poor
Jul 11, 2025
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.
Duanjun
Duanjun, 1-night trip
Verified
2/10 Poor
Jul 4, 2023
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.