HOTEL REVIEW · BORGARTÚN 32 / REYKJAVÍK
Hotel Cabin earns a place on the shortlist when the car needs an easy overnight home or the evening is in Laugardalur. The calculation changes if your night is built around central restaurants, a large amount of luggage, or quiet natural light. The lower rate only helps when it survives the trip back from town and the room you actually book.
ICENAVI HOTEL FIT · HOTEL CABIN
Best for Parking and Laugardalur Logistics
Scores reflect room specs, parking, activity access, and recent Booking.com/Tripadvisor signals rather than headline price alone.
High value for drivers and event days; the distance to central dinners and limited room space can erode the price advantage.
Saves the hassle of finding central parking, but availability and specific terms should be confirmed for your dates.
Good proximity to the pool, sports fields, and eastern exits; always verify event-specific entry and shuttle details with organizers.
Standard/windowless rooms (~10m²) are tight for two large suitcases; 18–19m² rooms offer much more usable space.
Factor in the cost and time of walking, bus, or taxi to Laugavegur and Harpa for evening plans.
Reviews mention corridor noise, wall insulation, and daylight intrusion; light sleepers should be cautious.
What guests consistently praise
The real benefits
- Free parking is a genuine practical advantage for drivers, saving the hunt for central spots.
- Close to the bay, Laugardalur, the pool, and several activity directions.
- Staff and front desk service are frequently described as friendly in recent reviews.
- Breakfast is simple but functional for early departures.
- Superior and view rooms offer more space, fridges, or scenery, making the upgrade logic clear.
Don't assume before paying
Where the answer might flip
- Standard/Budget rooms are ~10m²; two large suitcases may not open simultaneously.
- "Windowless" rooms often face a corridor; don't expect natural light or a view.
- Recent reviews repeatedly mention corridor/neighbor noise, a risk for light sleepers.
- Some guests find breakfast basic or rushed; verify inclusion and times on your specific booking.
- Free parking is not a reserved spot; late arrivals may need to find alternative paid parking.
Signals from 2026 Booking.com, Tripadvisor reviews, and Hotel Cabin room/parking specs. Individual room experiences vary.
When Hotel Cabin Is the Wrong Fit
Hotel Cabin serves a different trip: parking and northeast-city access rather than central nightlife. Rule out the wrong nights first, then compare prices.
- Dining and nightlife are your main event: The hotel is about a 20-minute walk from the centre. In rain or after a long day, that distance doesn't disappear just because a map shows a straight line.
- You need to unpack a lot of gear: Standard/windowless rooms are ~10m². Two large suitcases plus winter coats might make the room feel cramped before the price difference even matters.
- You expect the front desk to handle everything: While not a self-check-in hotel, you should still verify breakfast, parking, and room terms against your specific order and the hotel's current policies, not just platform summaries.
Conversely, if you're attending Laugardalur events, driving to the next leg of a ring road trip, or just want a quiet night to dry gear, this location has a practical edge. If you have no car and want to hand your nights over to the city centre, read Reykjavík City Centre vs. Harbour Stays first. Treat the lower rate as useful only when the location also fits your evening and next morning.
Check free parking before comparing rates
Hotel Cabin is at Borgartún 32 and offers free parking. For drivers, this is more useful than "X km from the port": you don't need to circle the centre at night, and you can load luggage directly into the car the next day. "Free" doesn't mean guaranteed availability on every date, so check on-site signage and current hotel arrangements.
For non-drivers, the trade-off shifts from parking to walking. Borgartún is close to the bay path, with natural access to Laugardalur, the geothermal pool, and the TBR badminton hall. For Laugavegur, Harpa, or central restaurants, treat the walk, bus, or taxi as an evening cost. If you're joining the Suzuki Midnight Sun Run, the hotel's value isn't just "close to the start," but whether it reduces post-event parking and transition hassle. Always re-check the specific event logistics for the year you're attending.
| Your main task for the night | Convenience Hotel Cabin provides | What you can't assume before paying |
|---|---|---|
| Park a rental car first | Free hotel parking; direct route to pick up the car next day | Free doesn't mean reserved; check daily signage, car type, and hotel notices |
| Attend Laugardalur events | Closer to pool, sports fields, and eastern exits; less backtracking to the centre | Race/run entry, road closures, shuttles, or meetups don't automatically happen near the hotel |
| One night for two people | Standard or Superior rooms can be compared by actual space and rate | Whether ~10m² fits two large suitcases; don't mix windowless and windowed comparisons |
| Breakfast then leave for the city | Hotel has breakfast, restaurant/bar, and luggage service entry | That your platform rate includes breakfast, or that times align with events/early flights |
Room size changes what "budget" means
The specs page lists Standard and windowless Budget rooms at ~10m²; Standard triple at ~15m²; Superior at ~18m²; and Superior with a view at ~19m². Family rooms can hold up to four, with configurations including double/single beds, bunks, and bench-beds. The numbers aren't glamorous, but they're practical: if you're just dropping a shoe bag and leaving, 10m² might suffice. If two people need to unpack, dry wet coats, organize cameras, and prep lunch, 18m²+ feels like a functional room.
Platform names sometimes separate "Standard," "Economy," and "Budget," or mix bed types in the same search result. My approach: check area, window, bed count, and occupancy first, then ratings. Don't compare a windowed Superior to a windowless Budget and declare a winner based on total price. For groups or longer stays, Reykjavík Residence offers kitchens and apartment space as a different answer. Hotel Cabin solves parking and simple logistics, not long-stay living comfort.
ICENAVI · CABIN STAY FIT
Budget score: deduct the cost of walking back to the centre
Driving logistics: 9/10 Free parking and the Borgartún exit have clear value for a night before/after a ring road trip.
Laugardalur events: 8/10 Good direction for pool, sports, and activities, but verify entry with organizers.
Central dining: 6/10 Doable, but factor in weather, return trip, and group energy.
Room space: 5/10 10m² rooms are tight for large luggage or long stays; upgrading may be worth it.
Price transparency: 7/10 Room specs are clear, but breakfast, cancellation, and platform presentation need same-date verification.
Map Hotel Cabin Against Laugardalur, the Centre and Harpa
The map below uses a real OpenStreetMap base to place Hotel Cabin, Laugardalslaug, the TBR badminton hall, the city centre, and Harpa in the same directional frame. It's not a navigation map from the hotel to each point, but a reminder: if your activity is in Laugardalur, a central hotel isn't necessarily more convenient; if your dinner is at Harpa, Hotel Cabin isn't right by the harbour.
Event days: Are you staying near the venue or near the return trip?
Hotel Cabin has been listed as a shuttle option in official TBR event materials. That's valuable, but don't expand it to "all events have hotel shuttles." Similarly, Laugardalslaug is in the same lifestyle zone, but that doesn't mean all running routes, closures, or bib pickups are near the hotel. When attending events, note the address, check-in times, and departure methods from your confirmation email separately.
If you're running the Midnight Sun Run and want to swim or return to your room afterward, a northeast base might be more practical than a harbour dinner. If you're just watching a show at Harpa, a central hotel might save you a night transport leg. One night usually has one primary job: event access or a city-centre evening. To connect event-week breakfast, return trips, and next-day flights, see Midnight Sun Run 2027 Stay Decisions; for badminton, see TBR Badminton Venue & Stay Split. Don't mix shuttle data between different events.
| Your main task | More likely fit | Real cost to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pick up rental car, park, leave city next day | Hotel Cabin | Dinner and central nightlife require extra movement |
| Walk back to room after Harpa show | Central/Harbour hotel | Higher rate; verify parking if driving |
| Laugardalur sports events | Hotel Cabin or northeast base | Event entry and shuttles still need organizer confirmation |
| Two people, multiple nights, need space for gear | Superior ~18–19m², or look for larger rooms | Compare upgrade price, breakfast inclusion, and cancellation terms together |
Once room type, parking, breakfast, and activity direction align, move to platform comparison. Use the same check-in date, room type, breakfast, and cancellation terms for Hotel Cabin's three booking entries. Don't let a platform compare a windowless 10m² room to a view Superior and conclude based on total price alone.
Room, parking, and activity direction aligned?
Check Hotel Cabin's three booking entries for the same date
These are named accommodation search entries for Hotel Cabin Reykjavík. Event tickets and shuttle arrangements must be checked separately. Fix your check-in date, number of guests, room type, window preference, breakfast, free parking, and cancellation deadline before comparing final totals. Room types, breakfast, parking, taxes, and final availability are subject to the payment page and hotel confirmation.
Before paying, I'd ask these eight questions
- Am I choosing Hotel Cabin for free parking, activity direction, or just because it's cheaper in search results?
- Is the room windowed, windowless, Standard, Superior, or Family? Are area and bed count clearly stated?
- Can two suitcases open simultaneously, and where do wet coats go?
- Does my rate include breakfast? Do the times align with events or early flights?
- Is free parking explicitly offered by the hotel for my dates, or am I assuming based on old data?
- Are the event check-in, entry, exit, and return-to-hotel methods actually in the same direction?
- If it rains at night, am I willing to walk back from the centre, or will I pay for transport?
- Am I comparing the same date, same room type, and same cancellation terms?
If you can't answer two of these, go back to the Reykjavík destination hub and re-decide if this night is an event base, a driving transition, or a city dinner. Hotel Cabin is only worth the price difference if your night needs its specific logistics.
Related Reading
Decide which side of the city works for you
Reykjavík: City Centre vs. Harbour Stays?
TBR Badminton: Venue & Hotel Split
Midnight Sun Run 2027: Stay & Return
More Reading
Connect back to room types & itineraries
Alda Hotel: Laugavegur, Breakfast & Parking
Reykjavík Residence: Groups & Long Stays
Reykjavík 3 Days Without a Car
Q&A: Ask before you go
Is Hotel Cabin suitable for rental car guests?
If free parking and Laugardalur/Borgartún activities are your main line, the location has practical value. If you're going to the old town for dinner daily, factor the round-trip time and parking trade-offs back into the rate.
Does "Family Room" guarantee spaciousness?
No. Check actual area, window, bed count, and luggage space first. Room names can't replace floor plans and official terms.
Should I move to the edge for free parking for just one night?
If you still need the car the next day and parking fees differ significantly, yes. If you're mainly walking in the centre, the return time might eat up the parking savings.
References
Room types, breakfast, parking, check-in rules, event shuttles, and platform availability change. Re-verify for your specific dates before paying.
- Hotel Cabin Official | Rooms (Standard/windowless Budget ~10m², Standard triple 15m², Superior ~18m², Superior with view ~19m², and room amenities).
- Hotel Cabin Official | Find us (Borgartún 32, directions to centre/Laugardalur, airport transfer background, and free parking).
- Hotel Cabin Official | About us (Bay, Laugardalslaug, restaurant/bar, and hotel service background).
- Visit Reykjavík | Hotel Cabin (Hotel city location, free parking, and basic facility background).
- Booking.com | Hotel Cabin, Agoda | Hotel Cabin, Trip.com | Hotel Cabin Reykjavík (Named booking entries; rates, room types, breakfast, taxes, and cancellation terms subject to payment page).
- OpenStreetMap contributors (Base map for hotel, activity, and city direction diagrams; not for navigation).
- Hero image: Real scene of Laugavegur/Skólavörðustígur in Reykjavík, used only to illustrate city scale between Hotel Cabin and the centre, not representing hotel exterior, room types, views, or availability on your stay date.