Herbal Gardens of Nes

Seltjarnarnes, Iceland, Iceland

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The Herbal Gardens of Nes (Herbal Garden of Nes) is a medicinal and culinary garden located in Seltjarnarnes, just outside Reykjavik in Iceland, that communicates the history of herbal medicine. Founded in 2010 in memory of three pioneering men in Icelandic health care and horticultural history—the first medical director and first pharmacist of Iceland, and the founder of the Icelandic Horticultural Society who later also served as medical director—the garden presents a living exhibition of plants believed to have been grown at Nes between 1760-1834, including plants from Iceland's earlier monastic gardens. The garden is situated near Nesstofa, a historic building constructed in 1761-1767 as the official residence of Iceland's first Director of Health (Surgeon General) and the first Pharmacist, and is located in a beautiful nature reserve and recreation area on the tip of the Reykjavik peninsula at Safnatröð 3. Open seasonally from June 15 to August 18th on Saturdays and Sundays from 13:00 to 17:00, and also by appointment, the Herbal Garden offers free admission and visitors can explore both the garden and walk in the surrounding nature reserve. The garden showcases a carefully curated collection of medicinal and culinary herbs that represent historical Icelandic herbal medicine practices, making it a unique educational destination for understanding the country's pharmaceutical and horticultural heritage.