Museums in Reykjavik

Top Museums in Reykjavik, Iceland

Museums in Reykjavik

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  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.


Showing results 1-30 of 47

What travellers are saying

  • Kathie D
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    On a short stay in Iceland this is a must do! Great views, great for kids and wonderful dining experience!

    I wasn’t able to see everything in Iceland but our visit to the Perlan helped us fall in love with your beautiful country 🇮🇸
    Written 17 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • gailc000
    Melbourne, Australia336 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum - the exhibits gave a detailed journey through Iceland’s history. The exhibits were interactive and informative
    Quite an extensive display !
    Written 14 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mike S
    Maryland11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This museum is a real hidden gem in Reykjavik if you love history. The archaeological exhibit of the original settlement that was unearthed is still situated in its original form below ground level, and you can walk 360 degrees around it. There is lots of information about life and early history of Iceland's settlement on the walls. After you leave the settlement site, you go through another section of the museum that tells the history of Reykjavik from the earliest settlers up to the modern era.

    I'm the type of person who reads every placard and display, and it took me about 2 hours to tour the whole museum. If you're not reading the history, you could probably tour it in 30 minutes.
    Written 14 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ričards Edijs
    Latvia105 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Despite not having high expectations, the museum truly surprised me since many of the buildings were open and not only the facades but also the interior and everyday objects could be seen. Some of them I saw for the first time in my life! A very insightful and educative place to visit, in addition, some of the bigger buildings also have exhibitions about how everyday life changed for Icelanders throughout time.
    Written 19 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Doug W
    Wembley, UK977 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Aurora building at the top of the Old Harbour is a nice little attraction that give a great insight to the Aurora Borealis, or as it is more commonly known, the Northern Lights. Inside there are small displays explaining the phenomenon and how it happens, a small cinema where you can sit for 20 or 30 minutes or so seeing images of the lights from locations all over the island and then in the small shop and coffee bar you can sit down for the final treat. A virtual reality headset with about 3 minutes of the Borealis crashing all over the sky. That bit is great, as your head swings from side to side and up and down trying to follow it all over the sky as it happens before your eyes.
    It is quite small exhibition and can be visited in an hour or less which is great if like us for instance, you need to fill a little time before going out on a boat or something.
    There is an entrance fee which is ok, but beware if, like us you have booked with an excursion such as a Northern Lights sightseeing tour that promised a free admission the Aurora Centre on the day of the tour. We went along on that assumption, only to find that the Centre had no knowledge of the promised ticket and so, being at a loose end we opted to pay for admission (for which the visit was, I think, good value). Expecting to claim the fee back from the tour company. When we tried later to do just that, the company denied that they offered such a deal and claimed that we must have seen that offer on some other firms website. I am pretty sure that we did not, but when trying to get more information from the main Icelandic booking website who we booked through, we got nowhere.
    So be warned, the promise of free entry may not always be honoured, but don't let that stop you from visiting the Aurora, Northern Lights Centre, it really is a very good experience.
    Written 23 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Howard G
    New York City, NY201 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you are interested in sculpture, especially history of sculpture, then this building is well worth your time. It is located right outside the Hallgrimskirkja Church. Jonssonar is famous in Iceland, but not as well known elsewhere. His style is complex, old and new. We didn't see the gardens due to the cold and darkness, but there is plenty to see inside. They also present a few pieces by local modern sculptors that we found provacative.
    Written 6 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Tattooed-oik
    London, UK184 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I really enjoyed this. Lots of films, displays, interactive business and games. Good history in short bursts. Nicely laid out and a very reasonable price. Good fun for all ages
    Written 3 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Michael K
    London, UK544 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Located at the far end of the port area near bus stop 15. Doesn't look much from outside but surprisingly good inside. Admission was 3000 kr each (seniors), headphones included. Excellent waxworks and replicas of early Icelandic history tell the story of the people based on the collected Sagas dating from the 12th to 15th centuries. Useful background information for a visit to Iceland, as it talks about the first settlers, the rise of clans and the church, the Reformation, colonial power etc. A highlight is the chance to dress up in Viking clothes at the end! I won’t remember all the characters’ names, but I enjoyed listening to them!
    Written 3 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Frank
    Wales, UK223 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you want to know all things phallus then this is the place for you! A collection of various sized and shaped dongs plus a little cafe with dick shaped waffles and cock themed beers
    Written 18 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • anotheraeolist
    New York City, NY42 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I think the fact that the museum is situated in a former underground public restroom tells you all you need to know about the vibes. The museum is quite small, obviously, but is jam-packed with the history of punk in Iceland and highlights the cultural impact Bjork and the Sugarcubes had on the music industry domestically and globally as well. I really enjoyed the tiny little museum and learned a lot. There are music samples you can listen to, as well as a leather jacket and drum set you can pose with. It will not take you longer than 30-60 minutes to complete the whole exhibition.
    Written 27 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ričards Edijs
    Latvia105 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The museum itself and its surroundings were created and projected by the artist Ásmundar Sveinsson as a place where his legacy could be exhibited. In the park, his sculptures are exhibited and they can be viewed free of charge. Indoors, there is a changing exhibition, as well as many of the same sculptors yet on a much smaller scale so they could be viewed from a different perspective.
    Written 19 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • frugalyankee
    Natick, MA119 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Really nice models of whales n very interesting tour by PATRICK. Fun facts. Great enthusiasm. Good details but not over the top. More interesting than I thought it would be Almost as good as the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts.
    Written 20 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • DawnousAtl
    Atlanta, Ga368 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you are interested in the author or in house and furniture design, especially mid century, this is the place for you. Wonderful evocative visit. Loved it. Staff is very friendly, kind, and welcoming (and speak excellent English). The house is how the family left it and the setting along the river is beautiful
    Written 4 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ričards Edijs
    Latvia105 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I liked the collection, and how different elements of the earth (e.g., air, water) were divided according to floors. There are surprisingly many spaces with activities meant for children. However, the museum itself (while located in a very nice building) seems a bit forgotten, as if the 'new' museums in Reykjavik would have taken some concepts once densely combined in the Culture House, and extended them to make the visitor experience more comprehensive. By and large, it is worth a visit if you want to get a general understanding of the cultural life, values, and understanding of Icelanders.
    Written 31 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Frank S
    Westborough, MA459 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I liked this little art museum. It had some interesting modern art pieces that I enjoyed seeing. A lot of colorful and popish kind of art including an exhibition about an artist that creates murals via scrap magazine/printed media cut outs. I just wish there was more. I felt like we were able to see everything on about an hour and a half and this includes reading the art descriptions. Worth a visit.
    Written 18 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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