Sculpture garden behind Hnitbjörg, Reykjavík, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The sculpture garden behind Hnitbjörg in Reykjavík is a small outdoor display of bronze works by the sculptor Einar Jónsson, set around the house that became his museum. It sits on a rise at the edge of the Quarter of the Gods, a neighbourhood whose streets are named after Norse gods, so one short stop gives you both art and a piece of the city's story.

The story behind it

Hnitbjörg was the home of Einar Jónsson, and when it opened in 1923 it stood almost alone on a rocky hill beyond the eastern edge of Reykjavík. Today it houses a museum, including the flat Einar lived in on the top floor. The name itself comes from Norse myth, where Hnitbjörg is the rocky place that guarded the mead of poetry.

Over the following decades the town crept toward the house. When the city council came to name the streets below it, members looked to the Eddas and the Norse gods for inspiration, and the area became known as the Quarter of the Gods. Not everyone welcomed this nod to the old pagan beliefs, and some locals nicknamed the district "the blasphemy". Further north and east lies another neighbourhood with streets named after heroes of the Icelandic Sagas, such as Njáll, Grettir and Bergþóra, which makes a good second chapter for another day.

What to look for

• The bronze figures in the garden, which let you see Einar Jónsson's sculpture in the open air, among trees and against the sky.
• The house of Hnitbjörg itself, which stands above the street on its rise and still hints at how isolated it once felt.
• The street signs around the hill, where names drawn from Norse mythology, such as Freyjugata, show the council's old idea at work.
• The tower of Hallgrímskirkja, which rises just nearby and makes a handy landmark when you walk down into the quarter.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for the garden alone, and longer if you also go into the museum. Check current opening hours for both before you set out.
• The garden is small and calmest in the morning or on a quiet weekday, which suits a slow look at each figure.
• Hallgrímskirkja and the shops and cafés of Skólavörðustígur are only a short walk away, so the garden pairs well with a wider stroll through central Reykjavík.
• Reykjavík weather changes quickly, so bring a windproof layer, since you will be outdoors for most of the visit.

See it on a quest

Discover the key to Reykjavik is a self-guided walk that brings you here on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you, so you look closely at the garden and its surroundings instead of just passing through. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.