SOUTH CENTRAL GUESTHOUSE
A home before it was a guesthouse
The Guesthouse has always been a place for people
— long before it was ever a place for travelers.
The story begins in the 1980s, when a farmer’s widow named Ingibjörg Jóhannsdóttir decided to do something unexpected. Tired of farm life, she sold her farm but kept part of the surrounding land. Instead of slowing down, Ingibjörg chose a new path and built a privately run retirement home for people who had spent their lives working the nearby farms.
Many thought she was a little crazy — and perhaps she was, in the best possible way. In her late sixties, Ingibjörg built the home herself and ran it single-handedly for years. The home quickly earned respect and admiration, not only from its residents and the surrounding communities, but from the wider Icelandic society. Ingibjörg was later awarded the Order of the Falcon by the President of Iceland, the country’s highest civilian honor.
As Ingibjörg grew older, her daughter Hildur gradually took over the home and continued to run it for many years after her mother passed away. Although it was formally an institution, everyone who stayed there described it in the same way: it felt like home.
In 2016, changes in government regulations made it impossible to continue operating the building as a retirement home without turning it into something closer to a hospital. Neither Ingibjörg nor her daughter ever wanted that. This house was meant to be a temporary home — nothing else.
In 2017, Ingibjörg’s grandson took over the property and chose to give it new life, once again as a home — this time for travelers.
That is exactly what you will find when you stay with us: the feeling of an Icelandic country home, shaped by care, independence, and a long tradition of welcoming people in.
Exceptionally clean and the beds are very comfortable! There are two kitchens and several tables, so you didn’t feel you were impinging on others. Also, 3WC/showers with excellent water pressure.Easy access to Hwy #1 or inland to Geysir etc. Staff were friendly and helpful. As I was there during the snowstorm Oct.27.2025 they provided snow clearance of roads and scrapers for your car
Checkin & Checkout
You will receive SMS and an Email two days before your arrival, with your apartment number and a pin code to open your door.
If this reservation is made within two days before arrival, you will receive your apartment number and pin code information within one hour.
Cancellation Policy
There are many kinds of rooms in the house.
- Rooms with twin/double beds
- Rooms with bunk bed
- Family room that sleeps four
- 80″ TV
- In and Outside common areas
- Gazebo
- Big kitchen and common seating area.
- Three bathrooms
- Three Showers
Arrival information
You will receive an SMS (text message) and Email two days before arrival with your apartment number and a pin code to open your door.
If this reservation is made within two days before arrival, you will receive your apartment number and pin code information within one hour.
2 person rooms
6 person rooms
Large kitchens
Comon areas
SouthCentral
SouthCentral is privately owned and family-run.
The owners have run SC for many years now. Starting with a small apartment in Selfoss (the Furugrund Apartment)
Then taking over the Brautarholt campsite while remodeling and opening the South Central Apartments in 2012.
The Guesthouse is the latest addition
The property was built by the owner’s grandmother close to 40 years ago, as a rest home for the elderly.
The current owners remodeled it as a guesthouse, keeping the home-like charm of the house.
The Guesthouse was formally opened in 2018.
Hermann & Ragnhildur / your hosts
The bedroom
The guesthouse offers a range of bedroom options, making it easy to find a setup that suits your group. Whether you’re traveling together as a larger group or as a family, the layout allows for both shared rooms and private bedrooms. Parents can enjoy their own space while children stay nearby, and groups of different sizes can be comfortably accommodated.
★★★★★
I love the bed
I love the bed and the bathroom is very clean, full kitchen equipment We can make great dinners and breakfasts.
Sidd – Netherlands
Amenities
The apartment comes fully loaded and then some. But just as a reminder the nearest store is about 25 km away so do your shopping on the way.
NO SMOKING | NO PETS | NO PROBLEMS
2 to 4 beds
There are 2 beds in all the apartments. In five of them, there are additional bunkbeds 90X200
Wifi
Highspeed internet with no real limitations even though we are out in the country
TV
There is a big flat screen Tv. But hey you are in Iceland! go out and enjoy nature
Spa
Just outside the door! open all year round. Perfect for spending evenings relaxing and watching the northern lights.
Kitchen
Fully loaded! Both for eating and cooking. Most importantly a Coffie maker
Dishwasher
YES! of course, there is a dishwasher, Who wants to spend their holiday doing dishes?
Shower / Bathroom
The bathrooms are big, private, clean, and have an awesome shower.
Sight Seeing
There are a lot of places to see around here, and we are listing some of them. But just going for a walk around here is also worth your time.
Hiking and biking
Both biking and hiking are of course close by. In Iceland, we call hiking a “Labbitúr” and it is basically just going for a walk, which you can do almost anywhere.
The biking part is also an option, but we want you to remember to be carefull. Off road biking in the wrong places can be both dangerous an costly if you go of the path and end up ruining nature. Also there are no official bike paths along our highway so you are close to traffic. So that being said remember to be well light up, have reflective gear, let someone know exactly where you are going, chek in often and enjoy.
And in both cases remember to prepare for any kind of weather. You know the old Icelandic saying.
If you dont like the weather now -wait 10 minutes.
What Our Customers Are Saying
