Sólheimar Eco Village
About Sólheimar Eco Village
Sólheimar Eco Village is a small sustainable community in Grímsnes, South Iceland, where just over 100 people live and work together. Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir founded it in 1930 as a home for children, and today it is a mixed community where people with disabilities, staff and volunteers share the same village life.
Sesselja was a pioneer of organic growing, and Sólheimar is generally considered the place where organic farming began in Iceland and the wider Nordic region. That tradition is still visible in the Sunna greenhouses, one of the largest growers of organic vegetables under glass in the country, and in the organic Ölur forestry nursery.
Visitors are welcome to walk the village paths at their own pace. Most people start at Græna Kannan, the village café, and the Vala shop next door, which sells candles, ceramics, weaving and herbal products made in the Sólheimar workshops. Sesseljuhús, the environmental center, has exhibitions on sustainability and green building, and the small Sólheimakirkja church sits among the trees.
Getting to Sólheimar takes about 80 minutes from Reykjavík and roughly 35 minutes from Selfoss by car. From the Ring Road, turn onto Route 35 (Biskupstungnabraut), then follow Route 354 for the last 9 km into the village, where there is parking beside the main buildings.
An hour is enough for coffee and a walk, though two gives you time for the shop and the exhibition. Kerið Crater is about 20 minutes away by car, so Sólheimar slots easily into a Golden Circle day, and the café is open year-round, which makes it a useful stop in winter too.
Good to know
What is Sólheimar in Iceland?
Sólheimar is a sustainable community in Grímsnes, South Iceland, founded in 1930. Just over 100 people live and work there, including many people with disabilities, and it is known for its organic greenhouses and craft workshops.
Can tourists visit Sólheimar Eco Village?
Yes. Visitors are welcome to walk around the village, eat at Græna Kannan café and browse the Vala shop. Groups wanting a guided visit or the Sesseljuhús exhibition should contact the village in advance.
What are the opening hours of the Sólheimar café?
Græna Kannan café and the Vala shop are open every day from 11:00 to 16:00. Hours can change around Easter and Christmas, so check the village's own site before visiting then.
How do you get to Sólheimar from Reykjavík?
Drive east on the Ring Road past Selfoss, turn north onto Route 35 and then onto Route 354. The trip takes about 80 minutes.
Is Sólheimar near the Golden Circle?
Yes. Sólheimar is about 20 minutes by car from Kerið Crater and close to Route 35, the main Golden Circle road, so it adds only a short detour to a Golden Circle drive.
How long should you spend at Sólheimar?
Plan on one to two hours. That covers a coffee or lunch at the café, a look around the shop and a walk past the greenhouses and church.
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