Skálholt Cathedral
Skálholt Cathedral
4
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksReligious Sites
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Skálholt is one of the most historic places in Iceland. The site is rich in culture and history and is a perfect stop for history buffs on the Golden Circle. Today Skálholt is a place of history, culture, spirituality, faith and music. Visitors are welcome all year round. The cathedral and museum is open from 9 am - 5 pm every day all year round. The restaurant is open from 10 am - 4 pm. The Cathedral is a beautiful building known for it's powerful altar piece made by Nína Tryggvadóttir and the spectacular glass stained windows bade by Gerður Helgadóttir. On a sunny day the windows cast a colorful light all around the chuch. The acoustics in the church are one of the best in the world and many concerts have been held there. Skálholt was a center for education, religion and administration for over than 700 years and a place of pilgrimage in medieval times. Due to it's rich history archaeological excavations have been made on the site.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles253 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
106
Average
59
Poor
9
Terrible
1

Alanadjuster
Birmingham, UK59 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
A lovely modern cathedral with a beautiful image of Christ behind the altar.
In a lovely location on the Golden Circle. The museum in the crypt was also interesting.
Written 6 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Layla
Littlehampton, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
This makes a wonderful short stop. Beautiful views and space for children to roam. I’d really recommend it. There is a wonderful leaflet in English (by the door when you enter) that will give you some of the rich history of this place. The windows of the cathedral are modern stain glass and absolutely stunning. There is a museum in the crypt with some interesting artefacts and a secret tunnel (around the back of the church). Our children discovered this for themselves and felt very intrepid going down the tunnel and seeing where it led.

There is a small entrance fee for the museum that is collected in a collection box, so worth having some coins with you to pay.
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathleen M
17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
This was so interesting! Great tour guides, and staff. The site was interactive and friendly. It was fascinating to learn the history
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Edwelsh
North Canton, OH4,694 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
This quaint cathedral in the tiny village of Skálholt, considered to be Iceland's first town, is a gem. Gorgeous church in a amazing setting, with a history museum in the basement is definitely worth a visit. Just reading the names and dates on the walls was fascinating, but then to read the stories of how these people moved these huge burial stones 30 miles over the land in winter by hand. Wow! Right next door is a hotel with easy access to restrooms.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ulla L
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Business
Stayed at a conference in Skalholt, restaurant was excellent with bread cooked at the hot spring for 24 hrs, herb soup, local delicatessen with a modern touch. Friendly and lovely staff
Written 9 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barbara M
Springfield, MO3,328 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
No one was here when we came by, but the cathedral was open, so we sat a bit. My husband was very interested in the archeological site, so he walked around a bit. the opening underneath we didn't go in, as there wasn't any information . We didn't realize there was a museum, so we missed that. There is plenty of parking.
Written 19 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vicki D
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
You must visit this place- the owner , Gigi, of the restaurant is a generous, attentive and creative person. She and her family member have taken ownership fo this Cathedral restaurant and they are devoted and attentive. We had a group of 15 people- Merrie's friends and we were all pleased. 2 of the members of our group were vegetarian/vegan and those meals also were exquisite. All of our meals were artistically and Icelandic in display and cuisine. The chef's speciality was apparent in the taste and presentation- they were meals you don't want to end. Gigi and her staff were welcoming and offered excellent customer/guest care. The Cathedral is an intriguing historical setting with a cozy guesthouse. Even if you spend the day there you Must enjoy a meal with Gigi.
Written 22 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NomadicTraveller7
Fuerteventura11,360 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
The is easy and quick to visit as it is just off the road between Geysir and Selfoss. This is another historic site where hundreds of years ago there was a very large cathedral and religious school. The original cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake, but the church was rebuilt in the 1960’s. The church was closed when we stopped by. There as a view over the ruins and a lake but the whole visit should not detain you for very long.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marisa C
Santa Cruz, CA427 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
Historic cathedral with a crypt below. Wish there was more information available as it’s such an important piece of history. Centuries of cathedrals have been built here. There’s even a hidden entrance from the field into the crypt. It’s a nice stop along the Golden Circle route.
Written 1 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brian D
Denver, CO2,393 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Great church to visit for some excellent pictures. The church was locked, so could not venture inside. Just a few minutes here to relax, take a deep breath and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Located just off the Golden Circle.
Written 2 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Skálholt Cathedral, Selfoss

Frequently Asked Questions about Skálholt Cathedral

Skálholt Cathedral is open:
  • Sun - Sat 09:00 - 17:00