Museums in Iceland
From Viking-age longhouses to Northern Lights science centres — Iceland has world-class museums for every curiosity.
Museum Tickets & Cultural Experiences
Book tickets online for Iceland's most popular museums and cultural attractions — skip the queues and save with bundle deals
National Museum of Iceland - Admission ticket
National Museum of Iceland - Þjóðminjasafn Íslands
From
3,300 ISK
2 hoursPerlan - Wonders of Iceland experience
Perlan - Wonders of Iceland
From
7,190 ISK
1 hour 30 minutesWhales of Iceland Museum Admission
Whales of Iceland
From
4,000 ISK
1 hour 30 minutesAurora Reykjavík, The Northern Lights Center of Iceland - Museum Visit
Aurora Reykjavik - The Northern Lights Center
From
4,092 ISK
1 hourFlyOver Iceland - in Downtown Reykjavik
FlyOver Iceland
From
5,690 ISK
Must-Visit Museums
Iceland's most celebrated cultural institutions
Iceland's Main MuseumNational Museum of Iceland
From Settlement to Modern Day
Reykjavik
Explore 1,200 years of Icelandic history, from Viking sagas to modern heritage at this central institution.
Life-Size Viking ExhibitsThe Saga Museum
Iceland's History Brought to Life
Reykjavik (Grandi Harbor)
History museum in Grandi using life-size figures and staged saga-era scenes.
Real Indoor Ice CavePerlan — Wonders of Iceland
Interactive Natural History Museum
Reykjavik (Oskjuhlid Hill)
Interactive exhibitions on glaciers, volcanoes, and the Northern Lights. Features the first-ever indoor ice cave at -10C, plus a 360-degree observation deck.
Historic Coast Guard VesselReykjavík Maritime Museum
Iceland's Seafaring Heritage
Reykjavik (Grandi Harbor)
Explore Iceland's fishing heritage aboard a real Coast Guard vessel at the old harbour.
Three Museum LocationsReykjavik Art Museum
Iceland's Largest Art Museum
Reykjavik (3 Locations)
Three venues across Reykjavík showcasing Iceland's greatest art collections.
Viking-Age Longhouse ExcavationThe Settlement Exhibition – Reykjavík 871±2
Reykjavik 871+/-2
Reykjavik Downtown
Archaeological remains of Viking longhouse
Explore Iceland’s Museums by Car
Drive between cultural highlights at your own pace — rental car recommended
Reykjavík Museum Walk
A full day through Reykjavík’s essential museums, from the city’s Viking-age settlement to national history, art and maritime heritage.
The Settlement Exhibition – Reykjavík 871±2
National Museum of Iceland
Reykjavik Art Museum
Reykjavík Maritime Museum
Viking History Trail
Trace Iceland’s Viking-age and settlement history through Reykjavík’s key historical museums, with Árbær as a separate cross-city stop.
National Museum of Iceland
The Settlement Exhibition – Reykjavík 871±2
The Saga Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum
Grandi Harbour Cluster
Four visitor-friendly museums and exhibitions clustered around Reykjavík’s Old Harbour and Grandi, all within an easy walk.
Reykjavík Maritime Museum
The Saga Museum
Whales of Iceland — Europe's Largest Whale Exhibition
Aurora Reykjavík — The Northern Lights Centre
Nature & Science Trail
Explore Iceland’s glaciers, volcanoes, whales and Northern Lights through three immersive Reykjavík exhibitions.
Perlan — Wonders of Iceland Museum
Whales of Iceland — Europe's Largest Whale Exhibition
Aurora Reykjavík — The Northern Lights Centre
Museums by Region
Capital Region
52 museums
- Hafnarhús – Reykjavík Art Museum
- Nesstofa
- Aðalstræti 10
+49 more
North Iceland
32 museums
- Laufás Historic Farm Museum
- Nonnahús — Jón Sveinsson in Innbærinn
- Samstaða á Oddeyri
+29 more
South Iceland
14 museums
- Lava Centre
- Lava Show Vík
- Skógar Folk Museum
+11 more
Westfjords
13 museums
- Arctic Fox Centre
- Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
- Samúel Jónsson Art Museum (Selárdalur)
+10 more
East Iceland
10 museums
- East Iceland Heritage Museum
- Fransmenn á Íslandi
- Icelandic Wartime Museum
+7 more
West Iceland
8 museums
- Borgarnes Settlement Centre
- Safnahús Borgarfjarðar
- The Settlement Center Borgarnes
+5 more
reykjanes
8 museums
- Duus Safnahús — Reykjanes Art & Heritage Museums
- Folk & Maritime Museum in Garður
- Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll
+5 more
snaefellsnes
6 museums
- Bjarnarhöfn Museum
- Byggðasafn Snæfellinga og Hnappdæla
- Eider Center - Æðarsetur Íslands
+3 more
reykjavik
2 museums
- The Culture House
- Árbæjarkirkja á Árbæjarsafni
Highlands
1 museum
- Sænautasel
Browse by Theme
All Iceland Museums
146 museums in our database
Borgarnes Settlement Centre
west-iceland
Hafnarhús – Reykjavík Art Museum
capital-region
Laufás Historic Farm Museum
north-iceland
Nesstofa
capital-region
Nonnahús — Jón Sveinsson in Innbærinn
north-iceland
Samstaða á Oddeyri
north-iceland
Arctic Fox Centre
westfjords
Aðalstræti 10
capital-region
Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar
capital-region
East Iceland Heritage Museum
east-iceland
FlyOver Iceland
capital-region
Fransmenn á Íslandi
east-iceland
Grenjaðarstaður í Aðaldal
north-iceland
Herring Era Museum
north-iceland
House of Collections (Safnahúsið)
capital-region
Husavík Whale Museum
north-iceland
Icelandic Aviation Museum
north-iceland
Icelandic Emigration Center
north-iceland
Kjarvalsstaðir
capital-region
Laufás
north-iceland
Lava Centre
south-iceland
Lava Show Vík
south-iceland
Museum Of Design And Applied Art
capital-region
Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft
westfjords
National Gallery of Iceland
capital-region
National Library of Iceland
capital-region
National Museum of Iceland
capital-region
Perlan — Wonders of Iceland Museum
capital-region
Reykjavik Art Museum
capital-region
Reykjavík Maritime Museum
capital-region
Reykjavík Museum of Photography
capital-region
Safnahús Borgarfjarðar
west-iceland
Samúel Jónsson Art Museum (Selárdalur)
westfjords
Skógar Folk Museum
south-iceland
The Exploration Museum (Könnunarsögusafnið)
north-iceland
The Saga Museum
capital-region
The Settlement Center Borgarnes
west-iceland
The Settlement Exhibition – Reykjavík 871±2
capital-region
Whales of Iceland — Europe's Largest Whale Exhibition
capital-region
Árbær Farm Museum
capital-region
Árbær Open Air Museum
capital-region
Árnasafn Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies
capital-region
Þjóðmenningarhúsið — The Culture House
capital-region
Akureyri Toy Museum
north-iceland
Arctic Photo
capital-region
Art 67
capital-region
Art Ceramic Studio Gallery
capital-region
Art Gallery 101
capital-region
Aurora Reykjavík — The Northern Lights Centre
capital-region
Bardúsa verslunarminjasafn
north-iceland
Bjarnarhöfn Museum
snaefellsnes
Bríetarbrekka
capital-region
Byggðasafn Húnvetninga og Strandamanna
north-iceland
Byggðasafn Snæfellinga og Hnappdæla
snaefellsnes
Byggðasafn Árnesinga
south-iceland
Bíldudalur – Sea Monster Museum
westfjords
Davíðshús - Home of Davíð Stefánsson
north-iceland
Duus Safnahús — Reykjanes Art & Heritage Museums
reykjanes
Eider Center - Æðarsetur Íslands
snaefellsnes
Einar Jónsson Museum — Iceland's Symbolic Sculptor
capital-region
Eldheimar Museum
south-iceland
Folk & Maritime Museum in Garður
reykjanes
Gallery Underpass
capital-region
Gallerí Fold
capital-region
Gamla bókabúðin Flateyri "The Old Bookstore in Flateyri"
westfjords
Gerðarsafn
capital-region
Gljúfrasteinn
capital-region
Gljúfrasteinn, the Writer's Museum, former home of Nobel Prize-winning author Halldór Laxness.
capital-region
Grenivík Fishing Museum
north-iceland
Hafnarborg — Arts Centre of Hafnarfjörður
capital-region
Hafnarsaga
capital-region
Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið Textile Museum
north-iceland
Heritage Museum Westfjords
westfjords
Herjólfstown Viking Wax Museum
south-iceland
Hnjótur - Minjasafn Egils Ólafssonar "Hnjótur Museum"
westfjords
Höfuðstöðin
capital-region
Höggmyndagarðurinn
capital-region
Húsið at Eyrarbakki
south-iceland
I8 Gallery
capital-region
Icelandic Aviation museum
north-iceland
Icelandic Horse History Center
north-iceland
Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll
reykjanes
Icelandic Phallological Museum
capital-region
Icelandic Punk Museum — Underground Music History
capital-region
Icelandic Wartime Museum
east-iceland
Industry Museum
north-iceland
Kaolin Keramik Gallery
capital-region
Kvikan
reykjanes
Kötlusetur - Katla visitor centre
south-iceland
Library of Water (Vatnasafn)
snaefellsnes
Listasafn ASÍ
capital-region
Litli Bær
westfjords
Ljóðasetur Íslands
north-iceland
Minja- og handverkshúsið Kört
westfjords
Minnisvarði ísfirskra sjómanna "Memorial to Ísafjörður Seamen"
westfjords
Mánárbakki Museum
north-iceland
Múlastofa
east-iceland
Nonnahús
north-iceland
Norwegian House
snaefellsnes
Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs
capital-region
Náttúrugripasafn Skagafjarðar
north-iceland
Náttúrugripasafn Ólafsfjarðar
north-iceland
Náttúrugripasafnið
east-iceland
Nýibær
north-iceland
Nýlistasafnið
capital-region
Pakkhús
east-iceland
Petras Stone Collection
east-iceland
Pharmacy Museum
capital-region
Pálshús Museum
north-iceland
Reykjanes Awakens – Photography Exhibition
reykjanes
Rjómabúið á Baugsstöðum
south-iceland
Safn Ásgríms Jónssonar
capital-region
Safnasafnið
north-iceland
Saga Centre
west-iceland
Samgönguminjasafnið í Stóragerði
north-iceland
Sauðaneshús Local Folk Museum
north-iceland
Selasetur Íslands (Seal Center)
north-iceland
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
capital-region
Sjóminja- og smiðjumunasafn Jósafats Hinrikssonar
east-iceland
Sjóminjasafnið á Hellissandi
snaefellsnes
Skaftfell. Center for Visual Art, East Iceland
east-iceland
Slippurinn
south-iceland
Snorrastofa
west-iceland
Steinasafn Auðuns (Audunns-mineral-collection)
east-iceland
Stekkjarkot — Reykjanes Museum of Heritage
reykjanes
Suðurnes Science and Learning Center
reykjanes
Sæheimar Aquarium
south-iceland
Sænautasel
highlands
The Agricultural Museum of Iceland
west-iceland
The Boat-and gift of nature exhibition
westfjords
The Bobby Fischer Center
south-iceland
The Culture House
reykjavik
The Ghost Centre
south-iceland
The Marshall House
capital-region
The Motorcycle Museum of Iceland
north-iceland
The Settlement Center
west-iceland
The Sorcerer Cottage
westfjords
Tónlistarsafn Íslands
capital-region
Veiðisafnið
south-iceland
Viking World Museum
reykjanes
War and Peace Museum
west-iceland
Ystafell Transportation Museum
north-iceland
Árbæjarkirkja á Árbæjarsafni
reykjavik
Ásmundarsafn — Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum
capital-region
Ósvör Maritime Museum
westfjords
Þjóðminjasafn Íslands - varðveisla
capital-region
Practical Information
Admission & Tickets
- •Most museums: 2,000–6,000 ISK
- •Children under 18 often free
- •Reykjavik City Card covers many
- •Free entry on certain weekdays
- •Book online for discounts
Opening Hours
- •Summer (May–Sep): 10:00–17:00 daily
- •Winter: often closed Mondays
- •Major museums open year-round
- •Always check before visiting
- •Some extend hours in peak summer
Visitor Tips
- •English audio guides at most museums
- •Photography usually allowed (no flash)
- •Allow 1–3 hours per museum
- •Most have cafes and gift shops
- •Grandi Harbor: 4–5 museums nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best museums in Reykjavik?
The National Museum of Iceland provides the best overview of Icelandic history. Perlan (Wonders of Iceland) is excellent for families with its indoor ice cave. The Saga Museum brings history to life with realistic figures. For art lovers, Reykjavik Art Museum operates three locations.
Is the Reykjavik City Card worth it for museums?
Yes, if you plan to visit multiple museums. The Reykjavik City Card (4,990–9,990 ISK) includes free entry to many museums, pools, and public transport. It covers the National Museum, Settlement Exhibition, Reykjavik Art Museum locations, and several smaller museums.
Which museums are best for children?
Perlan (Wonders of Iceland) with its ice cave and planetarium is excellent for kids. The Saga Museum life-size figures make history engaging. Whales of Iceland amazes children with massive whale models.
Are museums in Iceland only in Reykjavik?
No — though Reykjavik has the most museums. Akureyri has several excellent museums in North Iceland. The Westfjords, South Coast, and East Iceland all have interesting local museums.
Do I need to book museum tickets in advance?
Advance booking is recommended for Perlan, Saga Museum, and Whales of Iceland during peak season (June–August). Most smaller museums accept walk-ins. Online bookings often provide discounts.
Guided Experiences
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Guided Experiences
Tours & Day Trips in Iceland
Golden Circle, Northern Lights hunts, whale watching, glacier hikes, lava cave tours and more. Explore Iceland your way.