Skriðuklaustur

Centre of Culture & History

Starting October 17th, they will close for the winter season but will remain available for special events and by prior arrangement.

2024 Opening hours
Open daily
- April - May: 11am - 5pm
- June - August: 10am - 5pm
- September - October 16th: 11am - 5pm
- Winter: opening hours irregular, check for information
Location
Kort - Google Maps
- Skriðuklaustur is located in Fljótsdalur valley.
- 39 km from Egilsstaðir.
- 11 km from Hallormsstaður
- 5 km from Hengifoss.
Prices
All prices include admission to exhibitions and personal guidance.
- Adults 1200 kr. *
- Students (ISIC) 850 kr.
- Seniors/Pensionists 650 kr.
- Groups (20+ persoms) 1000 kr.
- Guided tour around the ruins for groups (10+): Adults 700 kr.*
* Free for children 16 years and younger, accompanied by adults.

Skriðuklaustur is a historic site with the ruins of a 16th-century monastery which were revealed by an archaeological excavation between 2002 and 2012.
On site is also the mansion of the famous Icelandic writer Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975), built in 1939 when he returned home after living in Denmark for more than 30 years. The mansion is now a center of culture & history with exhibitions, personal guided tours and the renowned restaurant Klausturkaffi.

Klausturkaffi

Klausturkaffi is a renowned restaurant on the ground floor of the cultural center. All cakes and breads are home-baked and the food is homemade. The focus is on local ingredients and products such as, lamb, reindeer meat, stone bramble berries and mushrooms.

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Monastery Ruins

Between 2002 and 2012 a major archaeological excavation of a 16th-century monastery took place at Skriðuklaustur. It revealed the ruins of an Augustinian cloister, established around 1493 and in use until the Reformation in 1550. Skriðuklaustur was the last cloister to be established in Iceland, and it was the only cloister in the eastern part of the island. Due to deadly plagues in the 15th century the monastery was foremost a hospice for the sick and the poor. The monastic site is open year-round.

Ruins

Residency

The Gunnar Gunnarsson Institute runs an Artist-in-residence program, offering writers, artists, scholars, composers, dancers, etc. the use of an 2 bedroom apartment in the old mansion for 3-6 weeks. The Klaustrid residency started in 1989.

about the residency

For kids

There are several things for the kids to enjoy on your visit to Skriðuklaustur. Between the attractions of Snæfellsstofa and Gunnar’s mansion is a small labyrinth and on the way to it you can play ‘don’t touch the ground’. There’s a great sandbox for young visitors by the south porch and indoors they can play and draw in a kid’s room. Or using smartphones they can download an app to search for hidden treasures in the monastic ruins.

Snæfellsstofa visitor centre

Snæfellsstofa is a visitor center for the Vatnajökull National Park. It was opened in a new BREEAM-certified building close to Gunnar’s mansion in the year 2010. It houses an information center for tourists and a family-friendly exhibition about the flora and fauna of the national park. From the end of June to the middle of August it offers daily walks with rangers for kids.

Vatnajökuls national park

Vatnajökul national park