Gljúfrasteinn
About Gljúfrasteinn
Gljúfrasteinn is the home of Halldór Laxness, Iceland's Nobel Prize-winning novelist, and it's the closest you'll get to meeting him. Laxness and his wife, Auður, built the white house on the banks of the Kaldakvísl river in 1945, ten years before the Nobel came in 1955.
Auður sold the house to the Icelandic state in 2002, and it opened as the Gljúfrasteinn museum in September 2004. Inside, the walls carry paintings by 20th-century Icelandic artists such as Jóhannes Kjarval and Nína Tryggvadóttir, along with work by the Danish painter Asger Jorn. An audio guide covers the ground floor, and in summer the living room hosts concerts.
The house is in Mosfellsdalur, part of Mosfellsbær, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík on Route 36, the road to Þingvellir National Park. That makes the Laxness museum an easy first stop on a self-drive Golden Circle day. Plan on about an hour for the house, plus time for a walk along the river.
From June through August, Gljúfrasteinn is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. In spring and fall (March to May, September and October) it opens 10:00 to 16:00 Tuesday to Sunday, and from November to February only Tuesday to Friday. Admission is 1,500 ISK for adults and 1,200 ISK for seniors and students, while children get in free.
Good to know
What is Gljúfrasteinn?
Gljúfrasteinn is the former home of Nobel Prize-winning author Halldór Laxness in Mosfellsdalur. It has been open to the public as a museum since 2004.
How do you get to Gljúfrasteinn from Reykjavík?
Drive about 20 minutes on Route 36 toward Þingvellir. The museum is in Mosfellsdalur, beside the road on the way into the valley.
What are the opening hours of Gljúfrasteinn?
From June to August it's open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. In March to May and September to October it opens 10:00 to 16:00 Tuesday to Sunday, and from November to February 10:00 to 16:00 Tuesday to Friday.
How much does it cost to visit Gljúfrasteinn?
Adult admission is 1,500 ISK, and seniors and students pay 1,200 ISK. Children and disabled visitors get in free.
Is Gljúfrasteinn wheelchair accessible?
The ground floor, where the audio guide runs, is wheelchair accessible, and the building has accessible toilets. The upper floor is not accessible.
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