Museums

As you may have noticed, Iceland is a nation of history buffs. We write everything down (who else can trace their roots back over 1000 years?) and we have a hard time throwing anything away (you know, for posterity). While this may make for cluttered garages, it also means we have fabulous museums. Several are dedicated to different aspects of our history, our literature (the Sagas are real page-turners even to this day), the struggle for independence and the life of ordinary Icelanders. Audio guides are sometimes available, but nothing beats the real thing: if you have the time check into a guided tour.

National Museum of Iceland
Type Museums
Address Suðurgata 41
Phone +354 530 2200
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The newly renovated museum features an engaging exhibition on two floors that traces Iceland’s cultural history from its settlement in the 9th century to modern day. The museum is chalk full of quirky artefacts, flashy interactive exhibits and lo...
Culture House
Type Museums
Address Hverfisgata 15,
101 Reykjavík
Phone +354 545 1400
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The stately Culture House holds what many claim are Iceland’s true national treasures: the Eddas and Sagas. These medieval vellum manuscripts include the Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda and the prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. After some contention...
Settlement Exhibition
Type Museums
Address Adalstraeti 16,
101 Reykjavik
Phone +354 411 6711
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While digging the foundation for Hotel Centrum in downtown Reykjavík, the workmen uncovered a 10th century longhouse. Instead of halting construction of the hotel, those opportunistic Icelanders decided to build an exhibition around the site focu...
Icelandic Maritime Museum
Type Museums
Address Grandagardur 8
101 Reykjavik
Phone 517 9400
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The museum is situated in Reykjavik’s picturesque active fishing harbour, only a 10-minute walk from the city centre. Enjoy the fantastic view of the boats, fishermen and birdlife before entering the museum. For centuries Icelanders depended heav...
Arbaejarsafn Folk Museum
Type Museums
Address Kystuhyl
Phone 411 6300
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If it weren’t for the traffic sounds from a nearby highway, standing in the middle of Árbæjarsafn is like going back in time. The museum has collected household items, costumes and even entire houses to reconstruct this open-air, living museum. ...
Saga Museum
Type Museums
Address Perlan, 105 Reykjavík
Phone +354 511 1517
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The history comes to life in Perlan - Saga Museum. For the first time you can see historical figures and major events in Icelandic history from the time of the earliest settlers right up to that of the Reformation, brought to life in a unique and exc...