Norwegian House Museum (Norska húsið)
About Norwegian House Museum (Norska húsið)
The Norwegian House (Norska húsið) is a black timber house from 1832 on Hafnargata in Stykkishólmur, and it is home to the regional museum for the Snæfellsnes area. It was the first wood-frame home in Iceland with two full stories, built from timber cut to size in Norway and shipped over, which is where the name comes from.
Árni Ó. Thorlacius, a merchant and farmer who also ran fishing boats, built the house and lived there with Anna Steenback and their family. The county bought it in 1970 to turn it into a museum, and the restoration took 36 years. Parts of the house have been restored to their original 19th-century style.
Inside, the top floor is an open storage area where you can browse the collection of about 6,000 objects, mostly from the early 20th century and tied to trade, fishing and island farming around Breiðafjörður. The main exhibition looks at what life was like for young people on Snæfellsnes from 1900 to today, and the ground floor hosts changing shows and a shop selling local crafts.
Admission to the Norwegian House is 1,800 ISK for adults and 1,250 ISK for seniors and students, and visitors 18 and under get in free. In fall the museum opens only on a few weekday afternoons and Saturdays, so check its current schedule before you go. An hour is enough for most visitors.
The museum sits a short walk from the harbor, so it fits easily into a stroll around the old town and a climb up Súgandisey. It also hands out the access code for the Library of Water, the glacier-water art installation a short walk away. Stykkishólmur is about three hours by car from Reykjavík.
Good to know
What is the Norwegian House in Stykkishólmur?
The Norwegian House (Norska húsið) is a two-story timber house built in 1832 from wood shipped from Norway. Today it is the regional museum for Snæfellsnes, with a merchant's home, exhibitions and open storage.
Why is it called the Norwegian House?
The timber was cut to size in Norway and shipped to Stykkishólmur, where the house was raised in 1832. It was the first wood-frame home in Iceland with two full stories.
How much does the Norwegian House cost?
Admission is 1,800 ISK for adults, 1,250 ISK for seniors and students, and 1,500 ISK per person for groups of 10 or more. Visitors 18 and under get in free.
When is the Norwegian House open?
Hours change by season. In fall 2026 the museum opens on a few weekday afternoons and on Saturdays from 12:00 to 15:00, so check the current schedule before your visit.
Where is the Norwegian House?
It is at Hafnargata 5 in Stykkishólmur, a few minutes' walk from the harbor on the north side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
How do you get into the Library of Water?
Ask at the Norwegian House, which gives out the access code for the Library of Water installation nearby.
Trip planning — free, no commitment
Put Norwegian House Museum (Norska húsið) on your route
Tell us your dates, pace and can’t-miss list — a local planner builds the route, stays and tours around it, and stays a text away while you travel.