Icelandic Cottages Around Selfoss: A Practical Base for South Iceland

Why Selfoss Works as a Cottage Base

Selfoss is a working town of around 9,000 people on the banks of the Ölfusá river, about 57 kilometres and roughly 45 minutes' drive from Reykjavík on Route 1. That position puts you within an hour of Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, and within 90 minutes of the south coast waterfalls and Vík. Cottages cluster in the surrounding countryside — Ölfus, Hraunvellir, the lanes toward Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri on the coast — usually as small wooden or prefabricated houses with a kitchen, a hot tub and parking beside the door.

Most are booked by families and small groups who want self-catering and space rather than a hotel corridor. The trade-off is real: many sit on gravel tracks a few kilometres off the main road, so a normal car works in summer but a four-wheel-drive is worth it in winter, roughly October to April. Groceries come from the Bónus and Krónan in Selfoss; buying dinner there rather than eating out is what makes cottage stays economical. Summer, June to August, gives the longest days and easiest driving; May and September are quieter and still open.

Distances, Roads and What to Skip

From a cottage near Selfoss, Kerið crater is about 15 minutes up Route 35, and the Geysir geothermal area about 50 minutes. Flúðir, with its Secret Lagoon, is roughly 35 minutes east. The coast road to Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri is a 15-minute run and worth an evening for the harbour and the older timber houses. The airport at Keflavík is about 100 kilometres away, around 1 hour 20 minutes by car. There is no train in Iceland, and public buses along Route 1 run but rarely serve the rural lanes where cottages sit, so plan on driving.

Skip the temptation to day-trip to the Westman Islands or the Snæfellsnes peninsula from here — both make long days and are better from other bases. Also skip the Blue Lagoon on your Selfoss days; it is far to the west near Grindavík and best done on arrival or departure. Instead, use a cottage day for the less-visited interiors: the road up to Þjórsárdalur and Háifoss, or the hot river at Reykjadalur above Hveragerði, a 20-minute drive and a 3-kilometre walk.

Which Cottage to Book

For a first trip, I would book a cottage within 10 minutes of Selfoss town, in Ölfus or along the road toward Hveragerði. You keep easy access to shops, fuel and the swimming pool at Selfoss, and you are on tarmac in winter. If your priority is quiet and a view, the farms toward Flúðir and the valley above the Ölfusá give more space and darker skies, at the cost of a longer gravel approach. Studios suit couples; two- and three-bedroom houses suit families.

Book early for July and August and for the shoulder weeks around the September equinox, when demand for self-catering is highest. Check whether the cottage has a hot tub that runs year-round, whether linen and final cleaning are included, and whether the access road is cleared in winter. Ask for the exact location rather than a town name — 'near Selfoss' can mean five minutes or forty. If you are arriving late off a flight, choose somewhere with a key box rather than a reception desk.

Practical Notes for a Cottage Stay

Icelandic cottages are usually self-catering and self-check-in. Bring or confirm basics: many provide bedding and towels, some charge extra. Tap water is drinkable everywhere. Weather changes fast in the interior, so check road conditions on road.is and the weather on vedur.is each morning before committing to a highland track. The F-roads north of Selfoss toward Kerlingarfjöll are open only in summer and require a four-wheel-drive; do not attempt them in a small car.

For meals, Selfoss has cafés and a food hall, and the tomato farm at Friðheimar near Reykholt takes bookings for lunch. The swimming pool and hot pots in Selfoss are a good rainy-day option and a local habit. Keep to marked paths near Geysir and the coast, and never walk on glacier outlets without a guide. Book your cottage for the middle of the trip, with a Reykjavík night either side, so you are not driving far after a long flight.