Review of Hotel Ranga Iceland

Iceland consistently ranks as one of the top destinations to visit thanks to its shockingly beautiful landscapes and opportunities for adventure. The island attracts nature enthusiasts and outdoorsy types, many of whom camp while traveling the Ring Road. However, luxury travelers will quickly realize that luxury accommodation in Iceland is limited. We sure as heck were not planning on cramming into a tent or camper van with our 2 wild kids during our summer visit to Iceland. So our hunt for the best places to stay in Iceland led us to Hotel Ranga. One of the few luxury hotels in Iceland outside of Reykjavik, Hotel Ranga is the only 4 star hotel in South Iceland. Read our Hotel Ranga Iceland review to see why this small luxury hotel makes an ideal base for your south coast adventures in Iceland. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel in Iceland, you’ll find it at Hotel Ranga.

**Our WTA score represents our own views based on our personal experience with the entity being reviewed.

Hotel Ranga Iceland- Remote 4 Star Luxury

Did you know that there are currently no 5 star hotels in Iceland? Of the 4 star hotels in Iceland, most of them are located in the capital city Reykjavik. Although Reykjavik is a great place to spend a day, we recommend getting out into the countryside to fully enjoy the natural splendor of Iceland. Hotel Ranga is located 96km east of Reykjavik just past the town of Hella off the main Ring Road, which is Route 1. You can’t miss the entrance that looks like you’re entering a ranch when you drive on the Ring Road. This is the most luxurious of the hotels in Hella Iceland and even of the hotels in southern Iceland. We already mentioned that of all the hotels South Iceland has to offer, it’s the only one with 4 stars! With its log-cabin style and themed suites, it’s also one of the coolest hotels in Iceland. Hotel Ranga is the perfect place to stay during luxury holidays to Iceland.

This is where to stay in Iceland to see the Northern Lights!

If you’re visiting during the winter and want to see the Aurora Borealis, then book a room at Hotel Ranga. With its secluded location far from light pollution, it’s where to stay in Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Guests can even ask for a Northern Lights wake-up call so they don’t have to stay up for hours watching the sky. That sounds pretty amazing to us. During our earlier visit to Iceland in the winter we never managed to spot the elusive Northern Lights, so wish we had stayed at Hotel Ranga on that visit. Since we stayed at Hotel Ranga during the summer, we didn’t get the opportunity to utilize this fantastic service. That just means we need to come back for another winter visit to Iceland.

A Warm Welcome at Hotel Rangá

Guests receive a very warm welcome at Hotel Ranga with a complimentary drink at the bar after checking in. Nothing says welcome to us like a glass of wine or a beer to get your vacation off to a great start! The bar is not the only place to enjoy your welcome drink. The cognac lounge upstairs is THE PLACE to unwind after a day of sightseeing in the plump leather chairs and couches. We loved the cozy vibe of the lounge and could’ve spent hours relaxing in there…if there weren’t so many other fun things to do at the hotel. The kids thought the giant polar bear in the lobby was pretty cool!

Game Room at Hotel Ranga

On the way to our junior suite, we passed the game room. This room has a pool table and an assortment of board games, which makes this hotel kid-friendly and perfect for family bonding time. Hotel Ranga is also a great place for couples to spend time relaxing and having fun. A little healthy competition gets the blood stirring and you know what that means. 😉 There’s also another cozy room next to where you exit for the hot tubs with books to borrow. At Hotel Ranga, there’s no shortage of places to cuddle up and chill.

Geothermal Hot Tubs

Our absolute favorite way to relax at Hotel Ranga was soaking in the hot tubs filled with geothermal water. There are 3 outdoor hot tubs overlooking the salmon-filled river and pastoral countryside. The famous volcano Mt. Hekla in the distance makes a stunning backdrop. It was still topped with snow during our June visit and made for the most serene view. We had to peel our kids, with their prune fingers, out of the hot tubs or they could’ve spent all day splashing around.

In the summer, the midnight sun allows for a unique hot tub experience at night. During winter, the hot tub is the ideal place to watch for the aurora borealis. It’s no wonder why Hotel Ranga has received awards for being one of the most romantic hotels in Iceland.

Hotel Ranga Suites

What makes Hotel Ranga one of the most unique hotels in Iceland is the themed decor in the suites. Suites are decorated in the style of each of the seven continents, which makes the experience fun for world travelers like us. The Antartica Master Suite is their signature suite, with black and white decor. They also offer a Royal Suite and an Icelandic Suite.

Amentites include bathrobes and slippers, flatscreen TVs, free wifi, telephones, minibar, nespresso machine, tea and hot chocolate, 24 hour room service, laundry service, and turndown service.

Asia Junior Suite

We stayed in the Asia Junior Suite, which was decorated in traditional Japanese style. We loved staying in this style room after our recent visit to Japan, which reminded us of our travels. We especially loved having a private balcony to sit outside and take in the fresh air while the kids slept soundly in their beds.

The hotel brought in two rollaway beds for our kids to sleep on since our suite only had one bed. The hotel also provides cribs free of charge. Thankfully the hotel doesn’t charge extra for children under the age of 7, which is great for families with young kids like us. Comparatively, our hotels in Reykjavik allowed one rollaway bed for free but would’ve charged for a second one. In fact, none of the other hotels we stayed in had enough space in our room for 2 rollaway beds. The spacious suites at Hotel Ranga are another reason this hotel is a great choice for families. However, after adding 2 rollaway beds, our junior suite did feel a bit crowded. Connecting rooms are another option for families with children who want more space and privacy.

Amenities in the room include complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. There is also a mini bar with wine, drinks, and snacks to purchase. Bath robes and slippers are also available to use during your stay, which came in very handy for wearing to the hot tub.

Bathroom of Asia Junior Suite

The bathroom was also decorated according to Asian traditions with a wooden tub and hand-held shower. The kids thought it was very exciting to take a shower in this unique tub with a bench inside. I personally found it difficult to keep the water from going all over the bathroom while showering the kids. I clearly haven’t mastered the correct technique for a hand-held shower without a shower curtain.

Something we really appreciated at Hotel Ranga was the ample supply of bath products. They left us numerous bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bath salts and soap. In comparison, we received only one small bottle of each at our hotels in Reykjavik, which was not enough for 4 people. Little touches like making sure we’d have plenty of toiletries (without having to call and ask for more) make a difference for traveling families.

Hotel Ranga Standard and Deluxe Rooms

The hotel also has standard and deluxe rooms that are decorated more like a traditional log cabin. The standard rooms are equipped with 2 twin beds that can be joined together upon request. The deluxe rooms include a king size bed or a twin bed. Both of these rooms are on ground level with views of the river or Mt. Hekla.

Hotel Ranga Breakfast

Breakfast is included at Hotel Ranga, which is a rare treat for luxury hotels in Iceland. We were very impressed by the breakfast buffet which is served in the beautiful dining room with floor to ceiling windows. Breakfast also includes a selection from the menu, including breakfast classics like porridge, eggs, bacon, and sausage.

The breakfast buffet includes your choice of juice, coffee and tea. We were pleasantly surprised to see a bottle of champagne and orange juice to make mimosas. We love a little champagne to get the day started while staying at a luxury resort!

The buffet also included pastries, fresh fruit, make your own waffles, fresh bread and spreads, cheese, meat, smoked salmon,  salad, cereal, yogurt, cookies, and gluten-free products. Those brave enough can also take a drink of cod liver oil, which is an Icelandic staple at all the breakfast buffets we visited in Iceland. We skipped that but filled up for our day of exploring the amazing attractions in south Iceland.

Dinner at Ranga Restaurant

The highlight of our stay at Hotel Ranga was the incredible meal we had for dinner at Ranga Restaurant. The hotel has earned a reputation for its culinary delights, drawing diners all the way from Reykjavik just for a meal.  Believe us, it is worth a visit for lunch or dinner even if you aren’t staying at the hotel. Since it’s off the Ring Road, it’s convenient for a visit to South Iceland.

Our dinner at Hotel Ranga was the best meal we’ve had in Iceland to date! A word of warning- just like all food in Iceland, it will cost you. Splurge and enjoy delicious food in a gorgeous dining room overlooking the countryside. We even saw a rainbow while we were dining! Talk about romantic and dreamy!

We wanted to try local delicacies unique to Iceland. We started out with smoked puffin and reindeer carpaccio, which were full of flavor and artfully plated.

Next we had Atlantic Char and Langoustine, which is Iceland’s version of lobster. Both dishes were perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. You absolutely must try the langoustine while in Iceland- it is so fantastic!

I ended with Icelandic skyr, a thick nonfat yogurt similar to Greek yogurt, topped with berries and a tasty crumble. Bertaut opted for a rich chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream that was sinfully good.

Each course was expertly paired with wine that brought out the flavors of each dish. We love wine and were impressed by the fantastic selections the chef chose to complement our meal.

The Hotel Ranga menu includes a children’s menu, so our kids both had grilled chicken breast with french fries and salad. We had a taste of their food, and the chicken was moist and well-seasoned. Our server also brought coloring books and crayons to keep the kids entertained while we enjoyed our fabulous meal.

The servers at Ranga Restaurant provided excellent service and were friendly and patient with our kids. We had several questions about the menu and our waiter was very helpful.

Stargazing at the Hotel Ranga Observatory

The hotel boasts the most advanced observatory in Iceland with its computerized telescopes for stargazing and a roll-off roof. We visited in late June when the midnight sun prevented us from seeing any stars, but there are opportunities for solar observing in the summer on clear nights. There’s no other hotel in Iceland that offers a guided tour of the sky with local astronomers in such an advanced observatory.  Make sure not to miss this during your stay!

Other Services at Hotel Ranga

Hotel Ranga also offers on-site massages and specialized VIP packages for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoons. You can order romance packages which include roses, champagne and chocolates delivered to your room. It’s clear why Hotel Ranga was voted as one of Iceland’s most romantic hotels!

Activities near Hotel Ranga in Iceland

Hotel Ranga offers adventure packages including Super Jeep tours, ATV motorbikes, snowmobiling, diving, biking, hiking, golf and more. You can arrange guided tours to visit the nearby waterfalls, black sand beaches, volcanoes, highlands, hot springs, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, glaciers, and Golden Circle. There’s no shortage of things to do in South Iceland, which is the most popular area to visit in Iceland. Hotel Ranga makes a great base for exploring the highlights of Southern Iceland and for the #1 tourist attraction Iceland- the Golden Circle. If you seek luxury and adventure like us, then Hotel Ranga is the best place to stay in Iceland.

Conclusion of our Hotel Ranga Iceland Review

Of the 3 hotels we stayed in during our family vacation to Iceland, Hotel Ranga was our favorite by leaps and bounds. From the complimentary welcome drinks to the hot tubs with serene views, we couldn’t help but relax in the peaceful countryside setting. Ranga Restaurant served us our favorite meal in Iceland to date, where we tried local delicacies in a beautiful dining room overlooking a river and snow-capped mountains. We soothed our worn out muscles in the geothermal hot tubs and enjoyed a champagne breakfast that was included with our room. With a location that’s perfect for exploring South Iceland’s natural treasures, Hotel Ranga is one of the amazing hotels in Iceland you have to experience. If you’re looking for an affordable flight to Iceland, check out our review of flying WOW Air as a family. You may also enjoy seeing some of our best drone shots of Iceland in the winter,10 things to do in Iceland in the summer and an Iceland Game of Thrones tour.

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Disclosure: We were guests of Hotel Ranga but as always all opinions are our own.

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