ION Adventure Hotel: Where the Wild Meets the Wired
A brutalist beauty perched on the slopes of Mount Hengill, where design collides with Iceland’s raw power
Type: architectural hotel, boutique hotel, design hotel
Vibe: quiet, remote
DNA: brutalist, outdoors, wellness, wheelchair accessible
A Hotel on the Edge of the Earth
Just 18 kilometers from Þingvellir National Park, ION Adventure Hotel rises from a moss-covered slope like a futuristic outpost. Its cantilevered silhouette feels more spaceship than hotel, yet its materials—steel, glass, lava stone—tie it firmly to the land. Inside, minimalism meets warmth: reclaimed wood, candlelight, and tactile textures temper the brutal edges, creating a refuge immersed in volcanic drama. Floor-to-ceiling windows turn every guestroom into a front-row seat for Iceland’s natural theater—lava plains, steaming vents, and the surreal hum of geothermal energy.
Flavors Forged from the Land
The restaurant is a love letter to Nordic terroir. Plates feature Arctic char, local lamb, and foraged herbs, prepared with creativity but without fuss. Each dish tells the story of its landscape. Afterward, the glass-walled Northern Lights Bar offers cocktails against a cosmic backdrop of stars—and, when fortune smiles, the aurora itself.
Adventure at Your Doorstep
ION is both sanctuary and springboard. Guests can snorkel between tectonic plates, hike volcanic valleys, or explore the storied terrain of Thingvellir. Back at the hotel, the wellness area offers elemental balance: a geothermal outdoor pool steaming against the cold, and a cedar-scented sauna that cocoons body and mind. It’s the essence of Iceland—icy air, warm water, and moments of absolute stillness.
DNA Hotels Verdict
ION Adventure Hotel is Iceland amplified: bold, elemental, and unforgettable. By fusing brutalist architecture with geothermal landscapes and local hospitality, it creates a retreat where nature is luxury and design is guide. For restless spirits drawn to the edge of the world, ION is where adrenaline and awe converge.
