Eiðar - Hostel & Apartments

Eiðar - Hostel & Apartments

Eiðar - Hostel & Apartments is a newly renovated and conveniently located accommodation in the historic village of Eiðar, offering an ideal starting point for exploring the natural beauty and culture of Northeast Iceland. The hostel is situated only 13 km from Egilsstaðir.

The hostel offers 26 newly renovated rooms with shared bathroom facilities and a fully equipped communal kitchen.

Access to the building is very easy, with plenty of parking available. Each room is equipped with a wash basin, a flat-screen TV, and high-speed internet.

Check-in and check-out are contactless, and guests receive a code to access their rooms.

Eiðar - A historic place

The story of Eiðar goes back a long way, with the earliest known mention of Eiðar in the saga of Droplaugarson dating back to around the year 1000. However, it was on June 20th 1881, that it was decided to establish an agricultural school in Eastern Iceland for 24 students. A suitable land was found for the school, and the decision was made to invest in Eiðar.

The Eiðar church was included with the land, and in 1886 it was decided to rebuild the church and restore it to its former glory. Throughout the 20th century, the Eiðar church was renovated and still stands today next to Eiðar - Hostel & Apartments.

In 1917, it was decided that Eiðar School would become a public school for Eastern Iceland and would be the first of its kind in Iceland, i.e. the first public school established by law, owned and operated by the government. The first school session at Eiðar School took place on October 20th, 1919, and it operated until 1995. The Egilsstaðir College took over the school's operations in 1995 for three years until the school was finally closed down in Eiðar.

For a long time, Eiðar was a small but lively town, with a diverse social life, sports, and a vibrant music scene. Eiðar School played a significant and prominent role in the cultural history of Eastern Iceland, spanning over a century, or until 1998, when the school finally closed its doors.