7 of the best museums in Reykjavík

From Viking history to the world’s first indoor ice cave, Reykjavík's museums are sure to satisfy curious souls, cater to art lovers and entertain people of all ages.

If you're planning to visit lots of major sights, consider buying the Reykjavík City Card, available for 24-, 48- or 72-hour periods. This covers admission to eight of Reykjavík’s municipal pools and to most of the main galleries and museums, plus discounts on some tours, shops and entertainment. It also gives free travel on the city’s Strætó buses and on the ferry to Viðey. It can be a good value, but note that many places have free admission for children and discounts for students and senior citizens, so check what works for you before investing.

To be fully immersed in local culture, time your visit for the end of May and early June 2026 to be part of the biennial Reykjavík Arts Festival. In the meantime, here's our pick of Reykjavík's very best museums.

1. Perlan

Best for natural history

Perlan, the glass dome overlooking the city from forested Öskjuhlíð, has traditionally attracted visitors with its panoramic view and the rotating restaurant on the top floor. The “Wonders of Iceland” exhibition explains the science behind the country’s natural phenomena as you explore them with all your senses. The highlight is surely the 100m-long authentic ice cave – the first of its kind in the world – made with 350 tons of snow and layers of ash from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. You can also learn all about Iceland’s other fiery volcanoes, as well as melting glaciers, diverse plant and animal life. Don't miss the awe-inspiring northern lights planetarium show.

Planning tip: For Perlan and Öskjuhlíð, bus 18 stops nearest, and bus 13 is the next best. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to it from the city center, and a taxi takes 5 minutes.
Make it happen: Tickets can be bought online in advance and include admission to all exhibits and the 360-degree observation deck, which cannot be bought separately.
Link your trip: There is a restaurant, cafe, bar and ice cream parlor onsite.

2. Árbær Open Air Museum

Best for living history

Ever wondered what Reykjavík looked like in its infancy in the late 18th century? Find the answer at Árbær Open Air Museum, where costumed staff bring history to life with demonstrations such as traditional haymaking, meat smoking and folk dances.

Árbær itself is an old turf farm and church that has stood in that location for centuries. Around the middle of the last century, as Reykjavík developed, traditional houses were moved from downtown to Árbær, where they have since been preserved with their original interiors and furniture, serving as a kind of time warp for curious visitors.

Planning tip: Year-round tours in English lasting about an hour run at 1pm with no extra charge. Buses 12 and 24 stop very near the museum, with buses 16 and 5 stopping a short walk away.
Make it happen: Admission is covered by the Reykjavík City Card .
Link your trip: Souvenirs are for sale in the ticket office, and an old-fashioned candy store is open in the summer months.

3. Whales of Iceland

Best interactive museum

Unsurprisingly, this museum is all about whales. Life-sized models of all 23 whale species found in the waters around Iceland are suspended from the ceiling, creating the illusion of being underwater in close encounter with these giants of the deep. Learn all about these fascinating creatures via an interactive display, and listen to their mesmerizing sounds.

Planning tip: Guided tours take place daily at 11am and 3pm. The audio tour, which you can download onto your device (bring headphones), lasts around 30 minutes.
Make it happen: Book tickets in advance online for the best rates.
Link your trip: This museum is best enjoyed in combination with a whale-watching tour.

4. The House of Collections

Best for Icelandic art history

The stately white building on Hverfisgata, near the center of town, was built in 1909 as the first purposefully built museum in Iceland to facilitate the National Library, National Archives and National Museum. Now known as the House of Collections, it’s part of the National Gallery, exhibiting key works and shedding light on Icelandic art history.

Planning tip: The museums are open 10am to 5pm daily.
Make it happen: Admission is covered by the Reykjavík City Card
Link your trip: Combined tickets are available for the National Gallery and Home of an Artist, painter Ásgrímur Jónsson’s house.

5. Saga Museum

Best for Vikings

Do you want to face a bloodthirsty Viking warrior? Visit the incredibly lifelike wax figures at the Saga Museum, which depict important characters from different periods of Icelandic history. An audio guide will lead you through the different scenes, from the original settlers – Irish monks – to the reformation. Most of the scenes represent the Commonwealth Era, characters and events described in the sagas, including the Battle at Örlygsstaðir from Sturlunga saga and Freydís Eiríksdóttir standoff from Eiríks saga rauða.

Planning tip: At the end of your visit, have your picture taken in Viking gear while swinging a sword.
Make it happen: Tickets can be booked online in advance. The Saga Museum is in the Old Harbour, and offers free parking for customers.
Link your trip: You’ve probably worked up an appetite, so check out adjacent restaurant Matur og drykkur.

6. Ásmundarsafn

Best for sculpture

In the beautiful Laugardalur valley stands a futuristic white dome surrounded by trees and massive sculptures. This is sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson’s (1893–1982) former home and studio, now part of Reykjavík Art Museum. Exploring the sculpture garden with children is great fun, for they are permitted to climb the statues.

Discover the work of this pioneer of Icelandic sculpture, whose abstract art – inspired by daily life, folklore and sagas – was met with some criticism at first. A famous example is The Water Carrier (1937), which for decades was not considered beautiful enough to be placed in the city center and was finally moved to the location it was designed for, the corner of Lækjargata and Bankastræti, in 2011. Sveinsson’s art is now embraced by all.

Planning tip: Ásmundarsafn is open every afternoon from 1 to 5pm. There is plenty of parking onsite, or take bus 2, 4, 5, 14, 15 or 17.
Make it happen: The Reykjavík City Card covers entry to Ásmundarsafn.
Link your trip: Tickets also grant access to other Reykjavík Art Museum locations: Kjarvalsstaðir and Hafnarhús.

7. Reykjavík Maritime Museum

Best for fishing history

Iceland is first and foremost a fishing nation. The Reykjavík Maritime Museum in the hip Grandi district, traces the capital’s 150-year history of fisheries and provides an insight into the nation’s often dramatic relationship with the sea. Learn how traditional and modern fishing methods differ and what it took to survive the rough seas without the technology of today. The museum is housed in a building that used to be a fish-freezing plant.

Planning tip: Make sure to board the cruise guard vessel Óðinn and learn about the Cod Wars.
Make it happen: The Reykjavík City Card covers entry to Reykjavík Maritime Museum.
Link your trip: Head to the nearby harborfront for something to eat at Fish & Chips Vaginn or Viet Noodles.