The best museums in Reykjavik

Icelanders are proud of their national heritage, and there is much to be proud of. From the original Icelandic sagas describing the beginning of Icelandic culture as we know it today to the largest whale exhibition in Europe, Iceland’s wildlife, history, artwork and culture deserve their own celebrations.

But where there are very serious museums (like the National Museum of Iceland), there are plenty of museums in Reykjavik that know how to keep you cheerful (think: the Icelandic Falological Museum). And there really is something for every type of amateur historian.

Maybe we finally figured out how locals get through the gloomiest weather (boy, do they have a lot?): Lots of museums to keep you entertained on less-than-ideal days. Here is a list of the best museums you can find in Reykjavik.

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The Icelandic Punk Museum

The format of the Icelandic Punk Museum is unlike anything you will see anywhere else. Here, you’ll find a history lesson on the local punk music scene, all in a series of refurbished baths (the museum sits on the site of a former public bath). The museum was opened by John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten from the British legend The Sex Pistols.

You can learn all about the early days of punk music in Iceland in the 80s through photographs and other memorabilia of how it influenced today’s icons like Bjørk.

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The phalological museum of Iceland

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+354 561 6663

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The Icelandic Phallological Museum is exactly what it sounds like: a museum dedicated to all shapes, species and types of phalluses. While you can laugh at the name, a true education awaits you at this museum. The museum’s collection contains specimens spanning all the mammals you’ll find in Iceland, numbering over 200 penises and penis parts, from polar bears and whales to seals and walruses.

The museum also covers phallus within folklore (both local and foreign). It goes without saying that you will receive an education at this museum that you cannot find anywhere else.

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National museum of iceland

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+354 530 2200

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If you only have one afternoon and want to learn as much Icelandic history as possible, visit the National Museum of Iceland. Unlike the many hyperspecific museums in Reykjavik, this one has a bit of everything from medieval Viking settlements to contemporary art.

But there is one exhibition that stands out from the rest: the Valthjófsstadur gate. This ancient gate has engravings depicting scenes from Le Chevalier au Lion, a tale of knights dating from the 12th century.

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Whales of iceland

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+354 571 0077

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There are more than 20 species of whales that pass through Iceland each year and this exhibition is completely dedicated to these incredible animals. Whales of Iceland is the largest whale exhibition in Europe. Inside the museum, you’ll find 23 life-size whale models that call Icelandic waters home, from the North Atlantic right whale to the sperm whale. There are not many other places in the world where you can experience how massive these mammals are in real life.

If you are looking to see some of these whales in person, plan a visit in the summer and book a boat tour with one of the many tour operators in port.

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Arbæjarsafn Open Air Museum

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+354 411 6304

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Think of the Árbæjarsafn Open Air Museum as Old World Wisconsin from Iceland. This museum is dedicated to sharing what life was like for the first settlers of Iceland. Every visitor will have a general idea of the life of an early Icelander, but the rotating exhibits are the most interesting aspect of this museum, from learning about traditional house painting and building techniques to children’s toys.

The Árbæjarsafn Open Air Museum is part of the Reykjavik City Museum, a group of exhibits that also include the Maritime Museum, Settlement Exhibition, Reykjavík Museum of Photography, and Viðey Island. It is a perfect complex to visit if you have a whole day to fill and are in the mood for an intense education.

06
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Saga museum

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+354 511 1517

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The Reykjavik Saga Museum guides visitors through the ever-important stories that culminated in the Iceland we know today. The Icelandic sagas are the most important part of the country’s history, a series of stories that describe the lives of the first settlers. The Saga Museum brings these stories to life with exhibits showing some of the most important moments in Icelandic history.

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Reykjavik Maritime Museum

For generations, it was local fishermen who kept Icelandic history alive. The arctic location of this country made resources scarce and the surrounding oceans were the main source of food (and still are). The Maritime Museum will educate visitors about traditional methods of catching fish, the intense weather patterns that open sea fishermen experienced, and the types of boats they lived on.

You will even have the opportunity to climb aboard the Óðinn, the oldest ship in the Icelandic Coast Guard fleet. A stop at this museum will give you a deep understanding of how this industry not only helped an entire country survive, but also became a respected player in the North Seas.

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Reykjavik art museum

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+354 411 6400

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A rotating set of exhibitions by local artists gives visitors a glimpse into the incredible world of Icelandic art. The museum itself is housed in three buildings: Ásmundarsafn, Kjarvalsstaðir, and Hafnarhús. There are three artists you will see constantly in rotation, also known as Iceland’s most iconic artists: Kjarval, Erró and Ásmundur Sveinsson.

The museum also offers a series of guided and audio tours, for those looking to immerse themselves a bit more in art and its artists.

09
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Volcano house

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+354 555 1900

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In the old section of Reykjavik, you will find the House of the Volcano: a small museum dedicated to the strong geology of Iceland. The entire island is home to more than 200 volcanoes out of a total of 30 volcanic systems. Here you will find an exhibition that analyzes the country’s minerals and an hourly movie about the country’s volcanic activity.

You can touch most of the minerals in the exhibition. This is a great place to visit before embarking on an Icelandic road trip because you will pass many different types of rocks and the display in this museum will help you understand what you are seeing and why you are there.

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National Gallery of Iceland

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+354 515 9600

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Unlike the Reykjavik Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Iceland includes works by local and foreign artists. For a broad overview of artists who have influenced Icelandic culture, as well as foreign artists appreciated by local creatives, the National Gallery of Iceland will do the trick.

Fun fact: the first iteration of the National Gallery was located in Copenhagen until 1916 when it moved to Iceland.