Arnarhóll

About Arnarhóll

All Reykjavík residents know Arnarhóll, which towers over Kvosin and Lækjargata in the northeast. The hill offers a beautiful view of the city center and the straits.

Arnarhóll is an old farm site, now an open area with walking paths and benches. At the top of Arnarhóll stands one of Reykjavík's main landmarks, the statue of Ingólfur Arnarson, Reykjavík's settler, by sculptor Einar Jónsson. Several important buildings stand north and east of Arnarhóll, including the Culture House, Central Bank of Iceland, Supreme Court of Iceland, and both the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Culture. People often gather at Arnarhóll on holidays (especially on Independence Day, June 17) to watch concerts and other entertainment.

Basic information

Transportation:

• Parking by Hverfisgata, Ingólfsstræti, Kalkofnsvegur, Lindargata, Lækjargata, Sölvhólsgata, and Tryggvagata. Parking fees apply on weekdays from 10am to 6pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
• Public bus routes: 1-3-6-11-12-13-14. Stops: Harpa – Lækjartorg – MR.

You can find: Benches - Artwork - Gardening - Festivities - Notable buildings

History

• Farming on Arnarhóll dates back a long time, with the oldest records of settlement from the 16th century.
• Farming ended on Arnarhóll in 1828, and the farm was demolished shortly after.
• The land of Arnarhóll was transferred to Reykjavík in 1835.
• Einar Jónsson's statue of Ingólfur Arnarson was ceremoniously unveiled in February 1924.
• Arnarhóll was first designated as a public outdoor area in the 1927 city planning.

References

• Bragi Bergsson. 2012. Public parks in Iceland. Master's thesis. University of Iceland, School of Humanities.