Skriðuklaustur
About Skriðuklaustur
Skriðuklaustur is a historic estate and cultural center in Fljótsdalur, East Iceland, at the inner end of Lake Lagarfljót about 40 kilometers south of Egilsstaðir. It combines the grand house of the writer Gunnar Gunnarsson with the excavated ruins of a medieval monastery in the field below.
Gunnar Gunnarsson returned from 30 years in Denmark as a famous author and built the house in 1939, to a design by his friend, the German architect Fritz Höger. Building it cost about as much as ten family homes in Reykjavík, and it still ranks among the ten largest private residences in Iceland. He and his wife Franzisca lived here for only nine years before giving the whole estate to the Icelandic nation in 1948.
Below the house lie the foundations of an Augustinian monastery founded around 1493 and dissolved in 1554, during the Reformation. Archaeologists dug the site between 2000 and 2012, and you can now walk the ruins for free at any time of year, with signs explaining what the buildings were used for.
Inside the house, exhibitions cover Gunnar's life and the monastery, and a virtual reality station lets you walk through the medieval buildings. Admission for adults is ISK 1,800 in 2026 and includes a short guided tour of the museum floor, while anyone 18 or under gets in free with an adult. Downstairs, the Klausturkaffi restaurant serves a lunch buffet and an afternoon coffee buffet with local food.
Skriðuklaustur is open daily from April to mid-October, with longer hours in summer, and hours vary in winter. The drive from Egilsstaðir takes about 40 minutes, and Hengifoss, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, is only 5 kilometers away. Pair the two and plan an hour or two here, more if you stay for lunch.
Good to know
What is Skriðuklaustur?
Skriðuklaustur is a cultural center in Fljótsdalur, East Iceland, set in the 1939 house of the writer Gunnar Gunnarsson. Next to it are the excavated ruins of an Augustinian monastery from 1493 to 1554.
What are the opening hours at Skriðuklaustur?
It opens daily 11:00–17:00 in April, May, September and until October 15, and 10:00–17:00 from June to August. Winter hours vary, so check before you go.
How much does Skriðuklaustur cost?
Adult admission is ISK 1,800 in 2026, including a guided tour of the museum, and students, seniors and disabled visitors pay ISK 1,000. Visitors 18 and under enter free with an adult, and the monastery ruins outside are free to all.
How far is Skriðuklaustur from Egilsstaðir?
Skriðuklaustur is about 40 kilometers from Egilsstaðir, a drive of roughly 40 minutes along Lake Lagarfljót. Hengifoss is 5 kilometers away.
Is there a restaurant at Skriðuklaustur?
Yes. Klausturkaffi, on the lower floor of the house, serves a lunch buffet from 12 to 2 PM and a coffee buffet from 3 to 5 PM in summer. It keeps the same opening days as the museum.
Who was Gunnar Gunnarsson?
Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975) was an Icelandic novelist who spent 30 years in Denmark and came home a famous and wealthy author. He built the house at Skriðuklaustur in 1939 and gave it to the nation in 1948.
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