Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel

Until recently, Iceland didn’t have many top-notch design hotels, especially in the windswept countryside. So when the 45-room Ion opened in the midst of Iceland’s lava fields, jet-setters were delighted with the concrete-and-glass boutique, propped up on stilts. Finally, a place to take in Iceland’s most eye-popping natural wonders—hot springs, ice caves, snorkeling the Silfra Lagoon—and retire to a luxury hideaway come nightfall. Request a room overlooking Thingvellir National Park, and a wakeup call, if the Northern Lights are active. Like this hotel, you don’t want to miss them.

A minimalist hotel on stilts rises from the emerald earth.

Buzzing. Ion is intentionally remote.

You want to your travel to have a sense of place. At Ion, that means Icelandic herb soaps in your bathroom, grilled langoustines for dinner, and staffers with names like Stulli.

After a day spent on a guided tour of South Iceland—Seljalandsfoss waterfall and the black sand Reynisfjara beach—there’s nothing more relaxing than sinking your tired self into the hotel’s outdoor geothermal pool. Who needs the Blue Lagoon when you’ve got your own?

Silfra Restaurant - Offers seasonal and contemporary Nordic cuisine with an emphasis on sustainable, farm-fresh ingredients Northern Lights Bar - Local beers and cocktails