KEX Hostel

KEX is one of the best-known places to stay on a budget in Reykjavik. It occupies a former biscuit factory on Skúlagata, the road that runs along the seafront on the northern edge of the city centre, and the name itself means biscuit in Icelandic. It calls itself a social hostel and hotel, and its vintage design and social spaces give it a distinctive character.

There are two kinds of room. Hostel rooms are shared, with bunk beds, and suit solo travellers and groups of friends on a budget, while the hotel rooms are private and have their own bathrooms, for couples and anyone who wants more privacy without paying central hotel prices. Both share the building's social spaces, which are the real reason to stay here.

Breakfast is served at BAXTUR every morning from 07:00 to 10:00, and the bar serves local beers and cocktails until 23:00. It is an easy place to meet other travellers, plan excursions or simply warm up after a day outside. Hostel prices still feel high in Reykjavik compared with many European cities, so a bed at KEX is one of the more affordable ways to stay this close to the centre.

KEX suits backpackers, solo travellers, young couples and groups who value atmosphere and location over quiet and luxury. Because the bar and common areas are lively, light sleepers should bring earplugs or choose a private room. Book well ahead in summer, when beds go quickly, and check the room type carefully if you want your own bathroom.

As in most hostels, it pays to travel light and bring a padlock for any lockers, as well as a towel if one is not included with your bed.

The hostel is a short walk from Laugavegur and Hverfisgata, with their cafés, bars and shops, and the seafront path outside leads east towards the Sun Voyager sculpture and west to Harpa within minutes. Hallgrímskirkja is up the hill behind. Many tour operators pick up from central bus stops, so KEX also works well as a base for day trips; check the nearest pick-up point when you book a tour. If you arrive by the airport bus, ask the operator which stop is closest to Skúlagata.