Hótel Egilsen, Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Located in the fishing village of Stykkisholmur, Hótel Egilsen is a historic property on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, 2.5 hours away from Reykjavík. Its location is ideal for exploring nature and history, as the village has restaurants, galleries, and even a shark museum. Walk five minutes to the harbor to grab a boat to the islands in Breiðafjörður Bay or drive to Helgafell, a sacred hill steeped in folklore, just eight minutes away. Snæfellsjökull Glacier, known as the portal to the earth's core in Jules Vernes' "Journey to the Center of the Earth," is just under 1.5 hours away by car, while Snæfellsjökull National Park is an hour away.

An entrepreneur built this country-style house in 1867, which opened as a historic family-run hotel in 2012. It has retained original features, such as the bright red facade and wooden floors, and the design blends the traditional with the modern. Blue accents call the sea and fishing culture to mind, and amenities like in-room iPads and COCO-MAT mattresses add contemporary comforts. The rooms are cozy in size and style, so book a Superior Double if you need more space. Since this historic space follows its original layout, there's no elevator here, so be prepared to take some stairs to your room.

The hotel's strength is its mix of history and warmth, which you can experience in common areas like the lounge. Grab a book from one of the library's shelves lined with international titles and curl up in an armchair, or have a night in with one of the board games. Breakfast is served in the library, and while there's no on-site restaurant, you can find a good mix of places to try out in the village, all within 10 to 15 minutes on foot.