NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

The National Museum of Iceland is the number one place to visit for anyone looking to learn about the history and culture of the Land of Fire and Ice. Learn about everything from the Viking era to modern-day life!

Iceland is renowned for its incredible history. A history of Viking settlers, vicious feuds, volcanic eruptions and melting glacier floods. On the one hand, you have unbelievable tales of resilience and pride, and on the other, sagas filled with love and the brightness of humanity.

Often in human history, these two things aren’t easy to find in one place. Especially not in documents dating back to the year 930. But Icelanders did excellent work in preserving their history and wrote down remarkably detailed testimonies to the lives that were lived in Iceland.

The National Museum of Iceland is a place where this extraordinary keeping of history comes to life. It is where the Icelandic sagas and culture throughout the years are displayed in the most fascinating of ways through exhibitions and artifacts. There is no doubt that Iceland’s National Museum is where you should go to find out about the story of Iceland.

The museum covers history of Iceland from settlement to the present day and provides excellent insight into everything from Viking era to the modern-day life of an Icelander. The National Museum of Iceland is truly a highlight in Reykjavík!

• In Icelandic, it is called Þjóðminjasafn Íslands
• The National Museum audio guide is free!
• You are able to connect with the audio guide at the museums through your smartphone at any time
• The National Museum of Iceland covers the history from the settlement to modern times
• The National Museum is located right next to the University of Iceland
• The Museum was established in 1863!

• 16th of September to the 30th of April: 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays).
• 1st of May to the 15th of September: 10 am to 5 pm.
• Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The museum is often closed on big holidays. Please refer to the website for more information regarding openings during national holidays.

A free audio guide is available in nine languages, including English, Icelandic, Spanish, Danish, French, Polish, German, and Italian.

The National Museum of Iceland is located at Sudurgata 41, 101 Reykjavík. It sits near the University of Iceland campus and is just a short walk from Tjörnin pond and Reykjavík’s city center.

GPS coordinates of the National Museum of Iceland: 64.1420° N, 21.9481° W

As the museum is located in central Reykjavík, it is within walking distance of most major hotels, hostels and guesthouses downtown. For example, the walk from Hallgrímskirkja to The National Museum of Iceland is about 17 minutes and from Austurvöllur square about 13 minutes. 

You’ll find the café on the ground floor of the museum, right across from the gift shop. It’s a great spot to grab a tasty snack and enjoy a cup of coffee. Plus, the seating area is set under a beautiful glass roof, making it a lovely place to sit and relax, no matter the season. The café is also a wonderful spot to try some of the traditionally Icelandic baked goods, including kleina (a twisted doughnut) and snúður (a cinnamon bun).

• Tjörnin e. The Reykjavík Pond
• Vesturbæjarlaug Swimming Pool
• Hólavallagarður Cemetery
• Perlan Museum and Ice Cave
• The Nordic House Culture Centre
• The National Gallery of Iceland
• Fríkirkjan Church of Reykjavik
• Ægissíða Walking Path
• Reykjavik City Hall
• Althingi The Icelandic Parliament
• The National Theater of Iceland
• Bæjarins Beztu Hot Dogs
• Austurvöllur Square
• Harpa Concert Hall
• Hljómskólagarðurinn Garden
• Hallgrímskirkja Church