Nordic House
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About Nordic House
The Nordic House (Norræna húsið) is a Nordic cultural centre in Reykjavík, set on the edge of the Vatnsmýri wetland beside the University of Iceland, about 15 minutes' walk from the city centre. It opened in 1968, is run under the Nordic Council of Ministers, and exists to strengthen cultural links between Iceland and the other Nordic and Baltic countries.
The building is the main reason many visitors come. It was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and it is his only building in Iceland: a low white structure with a blue-tiled roofline, with Aalto's typical timber interiors, skylights and furniture inside. The house is part of the Alvar Aalto Route, and the autumn 2026 exhibition, Embodying a Building: Bodies in Aalto Buildings, opens on 4 October 2026 in the Hvelfing exhibition hall.
Inside there is a library of books in the Nordic languages, a children's library, the Hvelfing exhibition space, the Elissa auditorium for concerts and talks, and a restaurant and café. The programme runs all year and covers art, literature, music, film and public debate, with events in several Nordic languages and English; some concerts and talks are ticketed. The house is also the secretariat for the Nordic Council's literature prizes. Outside, paths lead into the Vatnsmýri nature reserve, a nesting area for birds in summer, and on towards Tjörnin.
The Nordic House is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. It is at Sæmundargata 11. City bus 15 stops at Íslensk Erfðagreining, and routes 1, 3 and 6 stop at the University of Iceland. A wheelchair ramp leads into the building and a lift goes down to Hvelfing, though the children's library is reached by stairs from the main library or step-free from Hvelfing.
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Good to know
What are the Nordic House opening hours?
The Nordic House is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays.
Who designed the Nordic House in Reykjavík?
It was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and opened in 1968; it is his only building in Iceland.
Where is the Nordic House?
It is at Sæmundargata 11 beside the University of Iceland, about 15 minutes' walk from the city centre.
Which bus goes to the Nordic House?
Bus 15 stops at Íslensk Erfðagreining, and routes 1, 3 and 6 stop at the University of Iceland.
Is the Nordic House wheelchair accessible?
Mostly, with a ramp to the entrance and a lift down to the Hvelfing exhibition hall, although there are stairs between the library and the children's library.
What is there to do at the Nordic House?
You can see exhibitions, use the Nordic library, attend concerts and talks, eat at the restaurant and café, and walk into the Vatnsmýri nature reserve outside.
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