House of Collections (Safnahúsið)
The House of Collections (Safnahúsið) offers a unique introduction to Icelandic culture, history, literature, and art under one roof. Located in central Reykjav…
About
About House of Collections (Safnahúsið)
The House of Collections (Safnahúsið) offers a unique introduction to Icelandic culture, history, literature, and art under one roof. Located in central Reykjavik, the museum combines exhibitions from several national institutions, presenting everything from medieval manuscripts and folklore to modern visual art. Interactive displays and rotating exhibitions make this an ideal stop for visitors wanting a deeper understanding of Iceland beyond landscapes.
See Iceland’s culture, manuscripts, folklore, and art in one museum in downtown Reykjavik.
Background
History & Background
Originally built in 1908 as the National Library of Iceland, the building later became home to several cultural institutions. Today it serves as the House of Collections, presenting rotating exhibitions from Iceland’s leading museums and manuscript archives.
The House of Collections is one of the best places in Reykjavik to explore Icelandic identity through literature, history, and art. The museum brings together curated material from the National Gallery of Iceland, National Museum of Iceland, Árni Magnússon Institute, and other cultural institutions. Visitors can discover medieval manuscripts connected to Iceland’s famous sagas, explore folklore creatures that shaped storytelling traditions, and experience modern Icelandic visual art across multiple floors. Rotating exhibitions ensure each visit offers something new. Because of its central location on Hverfisgata, Safnahúsið is an easy stop while exploring downtown Reykjavik and pairs well with nearby attractions like Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa Concert Hall.
Folklore
Story & Folklore
Inside Safnahúsið, visitors travel through Iceland’s cultural timeline—from Viking-age storytelling traditions to contemporary creativity. The building itself has long served as a center of knowledge and preservation. Today it brings together treasures from several national collections, offering travelers a compact but powerful introduction to the identity and imagination of Iceland.
Local Legend
Iceland’s Cultural Treasure House
Safnahúsið represents Iceland’s long tradition of preserving knowledge through storytelling, manuscripts, and art. It connects ancient saga culture with modern creativity in a single historic building.
Experiences
Tours Near House of Collections (Safnahúsið)
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Culture
Stories & Legends
Icelandic sagas and folklore from this area
Engey
Engey is a historic location in Iceland mentioned in "Njáls saga", one of the ancient Íslendingasögur (Sagas of Icelanders). These medieval narratives preserve the history of Iceland's Viking Age settlement.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is a historic location in Iceland mentioned in "Harðar saga og Hólmverja", one of the ancient Íslendingasögur (Sagas of Icelanders). These medieval narratives preserve the history of Iceland's Viking Age settlement.
Skuggabaldur – The Shadow Creature
Skuggabaldur: A phantom dog guarding forgotten paths.
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Höfði House: Reykjavík's historic mansion with a chilling paranormal past.
Explore
Hidden Gems Nearby
✦ Folklore Creatures Exhibition Details
Look closely at the folklore exhibition where hidden references to elves, trolls, and mythical beings appear in artwork across multiple floors.
Visitors often walk past these subtle details without noticing them, but they reveal how deeply folklore still shapes Icelandic culture.
✦ Historic Library Architecture
The building itself was originally designed as Iceland’s National Library and still contains architectural elements reflecting early 20th-century academic design.
A quiet detail most visitors miss — the building is as historically important as the exhibitions inside.
✦ Top Floor Contemporary Art Rotation
The upper floors often host rotating modern Icelandic art exhibitions that change regularly throughout the year.
Returning visitors frequently discover completely new exhibitions here.
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Location
📍 Location
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