Reykjavik Downtown HI Hostel

There are senior travelers at Reykjavik Downtown Hostel, backpacking veterans, but the primary guests here are young people, some with small children. Set in a nondescript masonry building in a residential neighborhood that is five minutes on foot to restaurants and shops, this is a hostel with solid security and a quiet vibe with guests turning in early. The reception desk is adjacent to the dining room, where blue-painted walls, sturdy birchwood tables, bright plastic and upholstered furniture, and round colorful sculptures resemble a Scandinavian kindergarten. One spot of elegance is the beautiful wooden staircase with big windows. In a separate building a two-minute walk away, there is a relatively crowded, fully equipped kitchen. Guests report that meal preparation here can be a bit chaotic. Other common spaces at the Downtown Hostel include three small attic rooms, one of which is a playroom for children with bins of toys, while the other two are cozy sitting areas with upholstered furniture and coffee tables, as well as nice views of the harbor. This is a property that attracts a down-to-earth, practical crowd, interested in saving money and the environment. Bicyclists and hikers are frequent guests. 

This hostel is conveniently located in a quiet, residential neighborhood and within easy walking distance of a grocery store, restaurants, and shops. Many sites can be reached on foot or by bike; the Reykjavik Parliament, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, the National Gallery of Iceland, and the harbor are all within a 10-minute walk. The National Museum of Iceland is a 13-minute walk, while the stunning Hallgrimskirkja cathedral can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach is a 10-minute drive from here. There are seven major swimming pools in Reykjavik, including Arvallalaug, which has a water slide and is about a 20-minute drive. The Blue Lagoon, the famed geothermal area, is a 45-minute drive away. Keflavik International Airport is about a 50-minute drive from here. The airport shuttle Flybus can pick guests up in front of the hostel. 

Guest rooms here are simple, but bright and tidy. Freshly painted in 2015, the spaces are clean and feel crisp with IKEA-style contemporary furnishings and pleasant views of the city, harbor, or courtyard. Rooms include private doubles and family rooms that can sleep up to five, as well as shared four- and ten-bed dorms. There's also a female-only dormitory. Walls are either white or slate blue with white trim. Dorms have blonde wood bunk beds with metal ladders, bedside reading lamps, and wooden storage lockers. All rooms have wooden desks or tables with chairs, plus some have attractive wicker armchairs with cushioned seats. All of the rooms include free linens and duvets. Guests report few issues with the shared dorms, though there are occasional complaints of loud snoring. Bathrooms, whether private or shared, are small and basic with white tile, glass or curtained shower stalls, and modern fixtures and fittings. The hostel provides soap. Towels are free with some bookings. Note that some guests report difficulty navigating the stairs with luggage and suggest booking first or second floor rooms.

The Reykjavik Downtown Hostel is a budget property that provides several free amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, and a book exchange. The hostel also provides free luggage storage during guests' stays, and it can arrange for longer term luggage storage, for a fee. Guests have free access to a computer. On the third and fourth floors of the property, there are refrigerators and microwaves. Breakfast is served each morning for a fee, though some remark that it's overpriced. This is an environmentally conscious property so there are many signs and bins encouraging recycling, and guests frequently share leftover food. Use of a washer and dryer is available for a fee. The front desk is staffed 24-hours and can provide information on car and bicycle rentals as well as stringent security checks. Children three and younger stay free and children four to 12 receive a discounted rate.