Thingholt by Center Hotels Reykjavik: Boutique Hotel and Spa Guide

What Is Thingholt by Center Hotels in Reykjavik?

Thingholt by Center Hotels is a 52-room boutique hotel in downtown Reykjavik, operated by the Center Hotels group. It sits on a quieter side street just off Laugavegur, the city's main shopping street. That puts it closer in spirit to Reykjavik's hidden gems than to downtown's loudest blocks. Center Hotels positions the property in its boutique tier, distinct from other hotels in the same portfolio, and it also appears in the Michelin Guide's hotel directory. Its name comes from the surrounding Þingholt district, though the hotel itself is a single building rather than a scattered set of apartments. A short list of what's included with a stay appears below.

• Breakfast
• Bar
• Spa
• Gym
• Meeting room
• Concierge
• Disabled access
• Free WiFi

The Design Story: Gulla Jonsdottir's Icelandic Vision

Icelandic architect Gulla Jonsdottir designed all 52 rooms at Thingholt, working nature-inspired materials such as lava stone, leather, and wood into a single interior language. That material choice separates the property from generic chain hotels, which often repeat an identical decor package across every location. The contrast plays out in the specifics. Lava stone brings in the color and texture of Iceland's terrain. Leather adds warmth to seating areas, and wood grounds the palette in something tactile. Public spaces, including the lobby and the Lounge & Bar, carry the same design thread as the guest rooms, so the aesthetic doesn't stop at check-in. Travelers who care about design-forward stays often pair a night at Thingholt with a look at unique things to do nearby, since both reward attention to local craft over big-brand polish.

Þingholt Rooms: Choosing Your Stay

Every room at Thingholt shares a base set of features, regardless of tier, listed below. Room tiers then scale up in space, moving from compact Small Double rooms through Standard and Deluxe rooms to Junior Suites with room to spread out. A Junior Suite typically suits a longer stay or a couple who wants a separate spot to sit beyond the bed. A Small Double works for a short city break, where the room is mostly for sleeping. Confirm exact square footage, bed configuration, and current rates directly on the official Center Hotels booking page before reserving, since inventory and pricing shift by season.

• Hairdryer
• Shower
• In-room safe
• Free WiFi
• Flat-screen TV
• Mini-bar

Þingholt Spa: A Cozy Hideaway in the City Center

Þingholt Spa gives guests a large hot tub, a rainwater shower, and on-site massage therapies, plus weights and cardio machines for a workout. It's built as a wind-down space after a day exploring the city rather than a full destination spa with an extensive treatment menu. In scale, it matches the hotel. It's intimate rather than sprawling, with facilities meant for guests rather than a public wellness draw. Access details can vary by room package and by season, so the table below flags what to confirm before you book. Published information doesn't specify whether non-guests can book spa access separately, so confirm directly with the hotel if that matters for your visit.

Dining and Sips: The Þingholt Lounge & Bar

Þingholt Lounge & Bar pours a wine list chosen by the hotel's own team, alongside cocktails that mix classic recipes with local twists. It reads as a quiet spot for an evening drink rather than a nightlife venue, in keeping with the hotel's side-street setting. Breakfast is included with a stay, but for lunch and dinner, most guests head out on foot rather than eating on-site every meal. Beyond the Lounge & Bar, the local restaurants near Þingholt guide covers options within walking distance of the hotel.

Sustainability: What Green Key Certification Means for Guests

Thingholt holds Green Key certification, awarded by Tún, the national operator for the Green Key program in Iceland. Green Key is an internationally recognized environmental certification for the tourism industry, and Center Hotels cites it as evidence of responsible environmental practices. For travelers, that generally points to a property audited on measures such as energy and water use, waste handling, and staff training. Certification renews rather than staying permanent, so properties are expected to maintain standards year over year. Exact criteria are set by the certifying body rather than by the hotel itself, so ask staff on-site if a specific practice matters to your booking decision. Guests who prioritize sustainable stays can weigh this certification alongside the hotel's central, walkable location. Arriving without a rental car already cuts down on the trip's overall footprint.

Location and Logistics: Exploring the Þingholt Neighborhood

The hotel takes its name from Þingholt, the residential quarter that climbs Skólavörðuholt hill toward Hallgrímskirkja. Þingholt is often described as Reykjavik's oldest residential district. Nineteenth-century wooden merchant houses line its streets, and the rainbow-painted Skólavörðustígur runs straight up to the church's front steps. Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, one of the city's older schools, also sits inside the district. For a wider comparison of how Þingholt fits alongside Reykjavik's other pockets, see the guide to Reykjavik's neighborhoods. One distinction is worth making clear. Thingholt by Center Hotels is a separate product from the Þingholt Apartments. The apartments sleep up to six guests and suit families or small groups wanting more space. Because the hotel sits inside this hillside quarter rather than on Laugavegur itself, the immediate blocks around it tend to stay quieter after nearby shops close for the evening.

Practical Information: Costs, Meetings, and Accessibility

Center Hotels runs Thingholt alongside sibling properties Center Hotels Laugavegur, directly on the shopping street, and Grandi by Center Hotels, near the Old Harbour. Comparing nightly rates for all three side by side on the official Center Hotels booking site is the most reliable way to gauge current pricing. Published rates shift with season and demand. Its on-site meeting room comes with a projector, stationery, and complimentary WiFi, plus access to a private patio for breaks between sessions. Listed amenities include disabled access and concierge service. Travelers with specific mobility needs should confirm details such as elevator access to all floors directly with the hotel before booking. Concierge staff can also help with logistics like taxi bookings or timing a day trip around opening hours elsewhere in the city.

Using Thingholt as a Base for Wider Reykjavik

Thingholt's central position makes it a workable base for both in-city neighborhood hopping and longer day trips. Inside Reykjavik, guests can reach several contrasting districts without needing a car. Options outside the city work well as full-day loops from a downtown hotel, covered in the list below. For picking dates, read the guide on when to visit without crowds before booking. Downtown hotel demand tracks the same seasonal swings as the rest of the city.

• The Vesturbær neighborhood, with a different pace than Laugavegur's shops
• The Grandi district, near the Old Harbour, covered in its own guide
• The Laugardalur area, on the other side of downtown from Þingholt
• Day trips from Reykjavik, for a full list of full-day options
• A day trip to Reykjanes Peninsula, one specific full-day loop from downtown
• Grotta Lighthouse, reachable by bus or a longer coastal walk
• Nautholsvik geothermal beach, a heated seawater pool at the edge of the city
• Videy Island, reached by a short ferry ride

Decision Guide: Is Thingholt Right for Your Trip?

Thingholt suits design-conscious travelers and couples who want a central address without the noise of Laugavegur's busiest block. At 52 rooms, it stays intimate by design rather than aiming for resort-scale facilities. Guests who want more foot traffic right outside the door might prefer Center Hotels Laugavegur instead. Those who want a creative, waterfront-adjacent base might look at Grandi by Center Hotels. Spa-focused travelers should weigh the on-site combination of a hot tub, rainwater shower, and massage therapies against dedicated spas elsewhere in the city, since Þingholt Spa is sized for a boutique hotel rather than a stand-alone wellness center. Design-focused travelers get more value from Thingholt specifically, since Gulla Jonsdottir's material choices run through every one of the 52 rooms rather than just the public areas. Trade-offs below summarize the choice.

Walking Times from Thingholt to Reykjavik Landmarks

Thingholt’s downtown address makes most central sights reachable on foot. Walking times are approximate and may increase during icy or windy conditions.

• Hallgrímskirkja: About 10 minutes uphill via Skólavörðustígur, passing shops, cafés, and the Rainbow Street section.
• Harpa Concert Hall: About 10 minutes downhill toward the waterfront, with several routes through the compact city center.
• Reykjavik Old Harbour: Roughly 15 minutes, depending on the route and your departure point within the hotel.
• Tjörnin pond: Around 8 minutes through central streets near Reykjavík City Hall and the surrounding gardens.
• Sun Voyager: About 12 minutes, reached by heading toward the waterfront and following the Sculpture and Shore Walk.

The return from the waterfront involves a gentle uphill walk toward Þingholt. Winter visitors should allow extra time because untreated side streets can become slippery. Reykjavík buses are useful for places beyond the center, but they are rarely necessary for these landmarks.