If I have one regret about my stay at Silfurberg farm and guesthouse in Iceland’s East Fjords, it’s that I didn’t stay longer. The cozy, modern accommodations on the family farm are among the best I have ever experienced in three trips to Iceland – and it’s not just the adorably fuzzy sheep and gorgeous views of the valley that made me fall so in love.
Silfurberg’s sheep, rounded up in mid-September, usually wander the valley freely
Located in Breiðdalur valley in East Iceland, about 45 minutes south of Egilsstaðir, the farm is tucked into an impossibly green valley. Though a volcanic fog had settled in thanks to the Bárðarbunga eruption, the valley still made for a gorgeous setting for the small farm. On the property, there’s the main house where owners Guðrún and Jón live, as well as the guesthouse, built out of a renovated barn.
The bar in the barn house
Though Guðrún and Jón were in Reykjavik when I visited, I was left in the care of their daughter and son-in-law, who proved to be delightful hosts, welcoming my husband and I as though we were family and showing us how Guðrún and Jón redesigned the barn into a stylish and modern hotel while repurposing some of the existing materials to retain the barn’s original character.
The main barn
The guesthouse is dominated by the main barn space, which is now a common room that separates a large suite/apartment and the bar on the east end and four double rooms on the west end (two double bedrooms are also available in the main farmhouse). In the main barn space, traditional Icelandic dresses – family antiques – are on display.
Old and new touches in the modern renovated barn
Inside, a cozy sitting area, dining table, and kitchen round out the communal guest space.
The cozy communal space
Throughout the farm, small touches add personality as well as comfort.
Art in the hallway
Breakfast is included and served in the common room or in the host’s dining room in the farmhouse. Dinner can be arranged; often it’s fish from a nearby lake, the farm’s own lamb or local reindeer but on the night of my visit it was a tender chicken in a rich, creamy garlic sauce.
Slippers for guest use
Rooms are simple but with the same “farmhouse chic” aesthetic as the rest of the property. Wood-paneled walls compliment handmade art while sleek white-lacquered cabinets balance out heavenly soft beds.
Bedroom at Silfurberg
My room had a private ensuite bathroom, which was small but more than adequate, with a basin sink and chrome fixtures and a lovely rain shower.
Ensuite bathroom
Spotlessly clean, comfortable, warm and inviting, the room and the entire guesthouse were unmistakably Icelandic and offered plenty of reminders of the surrounding area’s beauty – from the small sheep figurines that perched in the window, to the view just beyond, and even the little sheep that wandered freely around the property.
Toy sheep in the window
Outside, a small glass-domed hot tub and a sauna were available on-demand for guest use. After dinner, my husband and I enjoyed a hot soak under pitch black skies – and wished our stay would have coincided with a clearer night as viewing the Northern Lights from the hot tub would have been an experience to remember. Even without the light show, it was a great way to relax on a cold night.
The sauna and hot tub with a view
As soon as we arrived at Silfurberg, I regretted only planning a one-night stay on our way around Iceland. Not only was another night at the guesthouse so enticing but there was more to do nearby than I’d realized. Hiking to a volcano in the Breiðdalur valley, looking for reindeer, trout fishing in the Heiðarvatn lake, and horseback riding are just a few of the activities available nearby – as well as simply driving around the beautiful East Fjords.
Beyond that, I could have spent at least another day or two relaxing at the farm, enjoying the delicious food and generous hospitality, and stargazing from the hot tub. If you want to feel like you’re a part of an Icelandic family, there’s no better place to stay than Silfurberg, where you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
The view from my room
If you go:
Silfurberg is open from June to mid-September (the annual sheep roundup takes place in mid-September). Room rates range from 27000-38000 ISK per night and include breakfast and free wifi.
