The most useful review here is basically an inventory, so I'll start with it. In July 2023 a visitor listed what's inside: "Large indoor football pitch. Climbing wall. Gym with loads of equipment for olympic weight lifting, also with a couple of machines for doing cardio like rowing, bikes and more. All is new and in good shape. Nearby golfing course and close to nature for hikes or runs." That single review tells you more about the facility than the star rating does.
What this place actually is
Ithrottahus Gardabaejar is a municipal sports hall in Gardabaer, Iceland, at Vetrarbraut 18 - "ithrottahus" simply means sports house. Google files it as a sports complex, and the website belongs to the town of Gardabaer, not a private operator. So this isn't a commercial gym chain; it's a public, town-run facility that happens to include a weightlifting and cardio gym alongside an indoor pitch and a climbing wall. It holds a 4.6 average across 27 ratings. Posted hours are long: roughly 08:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 18:00 on weekends.
What the reviews describe
Because it's a multi-use municipal building, the reviews cover very different activities, and that's the tell. One from May 2022 praised it as "a magnificent training ground for football players." An April 2025 review liked it as "a great place for kids to play with their friends." One November 2024 review, translated from Icelandic, describes a chess tournament held there - "a very good place to think," in "a spacious, bright room." So the same address serves footballers, weightlifters, climbers, families, and even chess players. If you're picturing a dedicated fitness gym, my advice is to adjust: the gym is one room inside a broader sports house.
What the 4.6 measures
With only 27 ratings, the sample is small, and the 4.6 is easy to move - a single one-star would drop it noticeably. What the number measures is general satisfaction with a well-kept public facility, across a wide mix of uses. The July 2023 reviewer's line that everything is "new and in good shape" is the closest thing to a direct gym-equipment verdict, and it's positive. But one detailed review isn't a consensus, so treat the weightlifting-and-cardio picture as one credible account rather than a proven pattern.
What's missing
No prices or access rules. Municipal facilities often have resident rates, punch cards, or booking systems, but none of that is in the reviews. No opening-hours caveat for the gym specifically versus the pitch. No mention of changing rooms, showers, or whether the weights area needs a separate booking. There's a phone number, +354 550 2371, and the town website; for a public facility like this, a quick call or a look at the Gardabaer site will tell you the access rules faster than these reviews can.
Who it's not for
If you want a private, members-only gym with classes and a front desk that sells memberships, this town sports house isn't structured that way. If you want a clean, well-equipped public facility with Olympic lifting gear, cardio machines, a climbing wall, and an indoor pitch under one roof, the reviews suggest it delivers.
FAQ
Is there a real gym inside?
Yes. A 2023 review describes a gym with Olympic weightlifting equipment plus rowers, bikes and other cardio machines, all reported to be new and well kept.
Is it a public or private facility?
Public. It's run by the town of Gardabaer, so expect municipal access rules rather than a commercial membership.
What are the hours?
Posted hours are roughly 08:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 18:00 on weekends. Confirm gym-specific access at +354 550 2371.