Snorrastofa is an independent research centre and museum in Reykholt, West Iceland. Its work is the medieval period, and above all Snorri Sturluson, the chieftain and historian who lived at Reykholt from 1206 until 1241. The exhibition tells his story through panels and text. Staff guide visitors through it, the shop sells books on Snorri and the sagas, and the building also hosts events. Come for the man and the place rather than for the objects on display.
Snorrastofa
The opening ceremonies in Reykholt on 6 September 1988 were attended by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, President of Iceland, and King Olaf V of Norway.
- Entrance
- Entry to the exhibition is ticketed.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance, toilets and parking spaces.
- Parking
- Free car park at the centre.
- Transport
- Self-drive — Reykholt (off Route 518)
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–17:00.
- Address
- Hálsasveitavegur, 320 Reykholt
What makes it special
The draw here is the ground the centre stands on. Reykholt was Snorri Sturluson's home from 1206 to 1241, and Snorrastofa is both a museum about him and a working research institute on the Icelandic Middle Ages.
The exhibition itself is plain: wall panels, a great deal of reading, few objects. What lifts the visit is the guiding. Staff take visitors through Snorri's life and his works, and the tour runs well beyond what the panels say. The shop is stocked with books on Snorri, the sagas and the period.
The building is also used for events, and a choir rehearses there. Outside, signboards and a map beside the old hot bathing pool set out the basics of Snorri's life.
Good to know
- Exhibition: mostly wall panels and text, with few objects. It suits a stop along the way, not a day out.
- If the centre is shut: signboards and a map by the hot bathing pool outside cover Snorri Sturluson's life.
- Guided tours: staff guide visitors through the exhibition, and the tour goes further than the panels do.
- Toilets: there are toilets on site.
- Shop: books on Snorri, the sagas and medieval Iceland.
Getting there
Reykholt lies inland in West Iceland, and Snorrastofa is reached by car. The car park is beside the building, so nothing is left to walk except across it. The entrance is at ground level. The church and the old hot bathing pool stand on the same site, so the whole visit is done on foot from one place.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Snorrastofa?
An independent research centre in Reykholt, West Iceland, with a museum exhibition open to visitors. Its research covers the medieval period and, in particular, Snorri Sturluson and his works.Who was Snorri Sturluson?
An Icelandic chieftain and historian, 1179–1241, and the author of the Prose Edda and Heimskringla. Reykholt was his home from 1206 until his death.Is there a guided tour?
Yes. Staff take visitors through the exhibition and through Snorri's life and writing. The tour covers considerably more than the wall panels.Is there anything to see if the museum is closed?
Yes. Signboards and a map next to the old hot bathing pool outside give the outline of Snorri's life and of the site.Is it worth a visit with children?
The centre welcomes children, but the exhibition is built on text rather than objects. Younger children will get more from the churchyard, the pool and the shop.