Museums and galleries in Reykjavík

Museums and galleries in Reykjavík

1. See

   871±2

   The Settlement Exhibition

   Run by the Reykjavík City Museum, this exhibition in central Reykjavík was built around the oldest archaeological ruins in Iceland. As the name indicates, these ruins date to around the year 870. This interactive exhibitions brings you the early history of the area that today forms central Reykjavík.

   Daily 10:00-17:00·1000 kr, free for children under 18

2. See

   City Hall

   Ráðhúsið

   One of the best examples of late 20th-century architecture in Iceland, built into Tjörnin (The Pond). On the ground floor, which is open to the public, there is a large relief map of the whole country as well as a café and an exhibition hall.

3. See

   Icelandic Punk Museum

   Pönksafn Íslands

   A small museum devoted to the history of punk music in Iceland, located in a former underground public toilet facility. In the final room you can listen to Icelandic punk music through headphones, and there are guitars and leather jackets to try on and pose with.

   Mon-Fri 10:00-22:00, Sat Sun 12:00-22:00

4. See

   Klambratún

   Klambratún is a park just east of the city centre on an area which remained farmland while the city was built up around it. The area was later converted into one of the largest public parks in the city and often hosts various events. One of the houses of the Reykjavík Art Museum, Kjarvalsstaðir, is inside the park.

5. See

   National Gallery of Iceland

   Listasafn Íslands

   The National Gallery of Iceland is a national museum and the main emphasis of the collection is on 20th and 21st century Icelandic art, but international art is featured as well. The museum owns the most valuable collection of works by Icelandic artists in the country. The National Gallery of Iceland regularly holds exhibitions reflecting its collections as well as exhibitions by individual artists, Icelandic as well as foreign ones. The National Gallery's of Iceland buildings at Fríkirkjuvegur 7 houses four exhibition halls on three floors, a gift shop and a small café. The National Gallery is in three locations, ticket price includes admission to all three.

   Summer Daily 10:00-17:00 - Winter Open Daily 10:00-17:00 except closed Mondays·Price 2023: Adults: 2200kr; senior citizens and students 1.100 kr; Children under 18: free

6. See

   National Museum of Iceland

   Þjóðminjasafnið

   This museum, by the University of Iceland campus, takes the visitor through the history of a nation from settlement to today. Includes a café and a museum shop.

   General admission: 2500 kr, senior citizens and students: 1200 kr, children under 18: free

7. See

   Reykjavik Museum of Photography

   Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur

   A very small museum with a nice library and reading room where you can find some older (but good) books about photography and current and past issues of photography magazines. It also has a huge collection of Icelandic photographs.

   Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00; Sat Sun 13:00-17:00

8. See

   Reykjavík Art Museum - Hafnarhús

   By the old harbour in Reykjavík, Hafnarhúsið hosts a rotating exhibitions of the work of Icelandic artist Erró and temporary exhibitions often showcase other local artists.

   Thu 10:00-20:00, Fri-Wed 10:00-17:00·Adults: 2200 kr, students: 1370 kr, children under 18: free. Price includes all three art museums, Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn.

9. See

   Reykjavík Art Museum - Kjarvalsstaðir

   It is safe to say that Jóhannes Kjarval (1885-1972) is the single biggest name in Icelandic painting. Kjarvalsstaðir hosts a collection of his work, as well as hosting other temporary exhibitions.

   Adults: 2200 kr, students: 1370 kr, children under 18: free. Price includes all three art museums, Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn

10. See

    Reykjavík City Museum

    Árbæjarsafn

    In the suburb of Árbær, and frequently called Árbæjarsafn (Árbær museum), this open air museum contains both the old farm of Árbær and many buildings from central Reykjavík that were moved there to make way for construction. The result is a village of old buildings where the staff take you through the story of a city. The staff are dressed in old Icelandic clothing styles and trained in various traditional techniques, for example in making dairy products or preparing wool.

    1 Jun-31 Aug: daily 10:00-17:00; during winter there are guided tours Mon Wed Fri at 13:00·2220 kr for adults, 1370 kr for students, free for children under 18

11. See

    The House of Collections

    Safnahúsið

    The House of Collections, built in 1906, has housed all the major Icelandic collections at some point. It houses the semi-permanent exhibition Resistance which is an interdisciplinary exhibition that bridges the gap between visual arts and science. The works include some of the pearls of Icelandic art from the collection of the National Gallery of Iceland. The House of Collections is one of three locations of the National Gallery of Iceland, ticket price includes admission to all three.

    Summer: daily 10:00-17:00; winter: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·Adult 2200 kr; senior citizens and students 1,100 kr, child under 18: free

12. See Not mapped

    The Icelandic Phallological Museum

    Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn

    A museum dedicated to Phallology, the study of penises. This museum features phalluses of numerous animals from various whales to a human specimen.

    Daily 10:00-19:00·3000 kr/adult

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Reykjavík (CC BY-SA 4.0).