About

KEX. It's the Icelandic word for 'biscuit' and social hostel and hotel in Reykjavik. What's not to love?

Housed in an old biscuit factory in the heart of Reykjavik, KEX is just steps from all the bars, clubs, and music venues that give this city its legendary reputation. It's also a painless distance from late-night munchies and a mind-boggling array of coffee houses, shops, and tourist attractions.

Of course, you might not even want to venture outside of the hostel with all its features, including a café and bar, lounge area, heated outdoor patio, tourist information desk and free Wi-Fi.

In addition to our dormitory rooms we offer 5 different hotel rooms types.

Ladies - for your comfort and peace-of-mind, we offer female-only dorms. If you would prefer to reserve a bed in such a dorm, please make sure to do so directly from the reservation window. If none are available, you are welcome to contact us after booking to double-check.

Families - a few of our four-bed dorms are equipped with bunk beds which can be pushed together to form what we like to call a double bunk bed. This has Mom and Dad on the bottom and kids on top. Baby cribs are also available to families traveling with a diaper bag. Please be sure to contact us after booking in order to arrange for this type of room. Space is limited, and family rooms are reserved on a first-come basis.

Two guest kitchenettes facilities are also available. And with a variety of rooms for up to 200 guests, you'll have no problem meeting interesting new travel buddies from exotic places.

Our hostel just oozes personality and soul, just like our guests. Every piece of decor has a story to tell. Using salvaged materials and found objects from various sources, the design is an organic concept blending Iceland's past with a modern, international twist. The raw industrial spaces and vintage furnishings combine to give it a homey, eclectic feel.

With the affordable nightly rates, you´ll still have enough cash left over to enjoy a few pints of Viking beer or sample some local delicacies like hákarl‎ and brennivín.

We're located in the centre of Reykjavik with a view across the bay to Mt. Esja. The old factory that houses KEX is also home to studios of various artists, dancers, and fashion designers. We're within an easy walking distance to the city's interesting nightlife, restaurants, shopping streets, cultural attractions and other points of interest in the city centre. To reach those places a little further afield, the hostel is well connected to the city's public bus system.

Please note that children under 16 cannot stay in shared dorms. Children over 16 years of age can stay in shared dorms when travelling with a guardian.

Lockers are available to secure your valuables. Bring a lock or buy one from us.

Check-in is from 15:00
Reception is open 24/7

We may preauthorise your card to confirm your booking. Reservations of 5 beds or more are considered group bookings and are subject to specific terms and conditions.

House Rules

Check In

15:00 - 24:00

Check Out

until 11:00

  • Taxes Included
View House Rules

Facilities

  • Free City Maps
  • Free WiFi
  • Free Internet Access
  • Free Luggage Storage
  • Airport Transfers
  • Luggage Storage
  • 24 Hour Reception
  • Tours/Travel Desk
View all facilities

Reviews

8.7Fabulous(6412)
  • Value for Money
    8.4
  • Security
    8.9
  • Atmosphere
    8.4
  • Cleanliness
    8.6
  • Staff
    9.0
  • Location
    9.3
  • Facilities
    8.6
Summary of traveller reviews

KEX Hostel and Hotel in Reykjavik offers a fantastic location right by the water, perfect for exploring the city. Guests praise the friendly and helpful staff, comfortable beds, and the unique, cool decor. While some recent reviews mention ongoing construction noise and occasional cleanliness issues in bathrooms, the overall sentiment remains positive, highlighting it as a great base for travellers.

Stayed in Aug 2026
9.7
J
Josh
Male, 31-40, USA
Everything was great, staff was very friendly and helpful. Nice facilities. The only thing was the room I stayed in didn't seem very thoughtfully designed. The main door would close very hard and loud, a soft closing door would go a long way. Better black out curtains for sleeping and the metal lockers should NOT be located inside the room. Impossible to sleep while people are opening and closing the very loud metal lockers throughout the night.
Stayed in Aug 2026
5.1
G
George
Male, 31-40, England
Stayed 5 nights in the 40-bed dorm. Guests routinely kept the door ajar so you never really knew if everyone was meant to be there, and I never saw staff on this level except the cleaners during the specified morning window. The women’s showers were out of service and the sign didn’t mention you can use showers on other floors. Half of the lockers in the dorm were actually broken so they could either be opened even if you put a padlock there, or the handles were just completely missing.
Stayed in Jul 2026
8.9
P
Pamela
Female, 41+, USA
The location is unbeatable. The staff are friendly and helpful. The vibe is awesome; people doing their own thing and coexisting without problems. We saw people here from the age 11 - 60s. It makes guests feel comfortable. We had a room with a double bed one bed on the large sleeping porch. The code to enter the area of the hotel rooms seems the same as each of the hotel doors. Not cool. There is a kitchen where you can prepare and store your own food. There is a luggage room and a bar!
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Location

Skúlagata 28, Reykjavik, Iceland
0.8km from city centre