Hofsstaðir

A grand longhouse was discovered at Hofsstaðir in Garðabær during archaeological excavations in 1994. It was inhabited from the Settlement Age (870–930 AD) until the 12th century, making it one of the most significant finds from Iceland's early settlement period. The remains provide valuable insights into the environment of the Viking Age. Based on the size of the longhouse, it is estimated that 20–30 people, including slaves and workers, lived there. Hofsstaðir is located within the land claimed by Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland’s first settler, and is just 2 km from Vífilsstaðir, where Vífill, Ingólfur’s freed slave, is said to have lived according to the medieval book Landnámabók. Visitors can explore the past in an innovative way through three multimedia telescopes and educational signs installed at the site. The area is open 24 hours a day.