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Voykit pocket guide · Iceland
Hella
Stay 1 night in Hella as a base for highland day trips (Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk); 4‑5 h drive from Reykjavík.
Hella is a small South‑Iceland village (≈750 residents) on the Ring Road, ideal for a single overnight stop before heading into the interior highlands. Most visitors spend one night and use a hired car or the limited bus service to reach nearby attractions such as Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk.
- Country
- Iceland
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Winter (road closures, snow)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ISK
- Money
- Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK, kr). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including remote petrol stations and toilets. About 145 ISK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget ISK 12,000–18,000 excl. bed · Mid ISK 18,000–25,000 excl. bed · High ISK 25,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU/EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Police / general emergency 112 · Non‑urgent medical 1700
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected.; Tour guide: Optional; ISK 1,000–3,000 for an excellent guide.; Taxi: Nothing.
- Water
- Cold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it.
- Toilets
- Few on long drives; petrol stations and paid toilets (ISK 200–500) at sites.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ISK 350–500 |
| Lunch buffet (Kanslarinn) | ISK 1 200–1 800 |
| Petrol (per litre) | ISK 210–230 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KEF · Keflavík International Airport
- ≈ 120 km (75 mi) west, 1.5 h drive via Ring Road≈ 75 mi (120 km) west, 1.5 h drive via Ring Road
Typical fares
- Reykjavík → Hella (bus, Bílar og Fólk)
- about ISK 3 500, 4 h (check schedule)
- Car rental (compact, 1 day)
- ≈ ISK 15 000–20 000 (check rates)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent a car (most flexible for highland roads). Limited bus service (Bílar og Fólk) runs a few times daily between Reykjavík and Hella; check schedule.
See and do
Known for
- Gateway to Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk
- Rangá river swimming pool
- Views of Hekla volcano
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Landmannalaugar | 4×4 rental from Hella, 1 h 30 min drive on F‑road 225 | ≈ 3 h round‑trip |
| Þórsmörk | 4×4 rental, 1 h 15 min via F‑road 26 | ≈ 2 h 30 min |
| Hekla volcano viewpoint | Drive 30 min east on Route 1, then short walk to Hóllinn viewpoint | ≈ 1 h |
| Vík | Ring Road east, 1 h 20 min drive | ≈ 2 h 40 min |
Sleep
- Fosshotel Mosfell
- Hotel on the Ring Road, good for one night; easy parking for rental cars.
- Árhús Bungalows
- Riverside bungalows, self‑catering, walk to pool.
- Brenna Guesthouse
- Family‑run guesthouse, close to town centre.
- Hotel Rangá
- Upscale lodge 6 km (3.7 mi) west, popular for fishing trips.Upscale lodge 3.7 mi (6 km) west, popular for fishing trips.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallóhallo |
| Thank you | Takktahk |
| How much? | Hversu mikið?hvair-su mik-te? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Hvar er klósettið?kvar er klo-se-tith? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Using titles or surnames — there usually is no family name
- Pools: Shower naked first, keep the hot pot conversational; avoid: Swimwear in the showers
- Driving: Pull into lay-bys for photos, dip lights on single-lane bridges; avoid: Stopping on the road
- Nature: Stay on paths, carry litter out; avoid: Stone stacks, walking on moss
- Conversation: Ask about books, music, weather and the elves with good humour; avoid: Lecturing on whaling
Scams and watch-outs
- Highland roads (F‑road) require a 4×4 and may be closed by snow; check road status before departure.
- Weather can change rapidly; bring warm layers even in summer.
- Pool entrance fee ≈ US$3; cash preferred.
Hella is safe for tourists; main risks are weather‑related road closures and cold water in the river.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hella yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gateway to Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk
- Rangá river swimming pool
- Views of Hekla volcano
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Icelandic Tourist Board – South Iceland: www.visiticeland.com/regions/south-iceland
- Wikivoyage: Hella, revision 5272869 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5272869
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hella). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.