The Government House

It may not be Reykjavik’s most eye-catching building, but the Government House doesn’t need any flashy features to prove its importance. Its story begins in 1770, when King Frederick V of Denmark—who ruled Iceland at the time—gave it a very different role: it became a prison. And that’s exactly what it remained until 1816.
Then came a major twist. The building that once held prisoners was taken over by the Danish governors. Quite a change of company, wouldn’t you say? And the transformation didn’t stop there.
In 1944, Iceland gained full independence. Then, in 1973, the Government House became the official site of the country’s new presidency. But that’s not where the story ends. In fact, since 1904—yes, even before independence—this building has been the official residence of Iceland’s Prime Minister.
And here’s something surprising: there’s no heavy security around the building. Unlike many government sites around the world, this one remains peaceful and open—just like the atmosphere on the island itself.
Well… most of the time.
Every now and then, local frustration has been expressed right here. The building and the statues that stand on either side of it have occasionally been covered in graffiti—or even toilet paper. The statue on the left shows Christian IX, the last Danish king to rule Iceland. On the right, you’ll see Hannes Hafstein, Iceland’s first Prime Minister in 1904, and again in 1912.