Iceland is often associated with glaciers, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes, but there is another side to the country worth discovering. Its museums and galleries offer a glimpse into the history, art, geology and culture that have shaped Iceland over the centuries.
For visitors spending time in the capital, the museums in Reykjavik provide an easy way to understand the country before heading into the countryside. From Viking settlement history and Icelandic painting to contemporary installations and interactive exhibitions, there is considerably more to explore than you might expect from such a compact city.
At Hidden Iceland, we often recommend allowing some time in Reykjavík before or after exploring the wider country. A few hours in one of the city’s museums can add useful context to the landscapes, traditions and stories you encounter during the rest of your journey.
The best museums in Reykjavik for understanding Iceland
If you’re looking for the best museums in Reykjavik, it is worth starting with the places that tell the story of Iceland itself.
National Museum of Iceland
The National Museum of Iceland is one of the best places to begin. Its permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation, follows Iceland’s history from settlement through to the modern era, bringing together archaeological objects, religious artefacts, everyday items and other pieces of cultural heritage.
For first-time visitors, this is particularly useful because it provides context for much of what you will encounter outside the capital. Iceland’s relationship with the sea, its settlement history and the realities of living on a remote North Atlantic island all become easier to understand once you have seen some of the objects that tell that story.
The Settlement Exhibition
For an even more focused look at Iceland’s earliest history, head to The Settlement Exhibition on Aðalstræti.
Built around the archaeological remains of a 10th-century longhouse, the exhibition uses the ruins alongside digital reconstructions and artefacts to explore Reykjavík during the settlement period.
Its location in the centre of Reykjavík also makes it particularly easy to combine with a walk around the city’s older streets.
Reykjavík Art Museum and the city’s contemporary art scene
For travellers more interested in galleries than archaeology, Reykjavík has an equally interesting cultural offering.
The Reykjavík Art Museum is actually spread across three locations – Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn. Each has its own character and artistic focus, making the museum feel more like several separate experiences than one traditional institution.
Hafnarhús sits close to the harbour in a former warehouse and focuses heavily on contemporary art. Kjarvalsstaðir, in Klambratún Park, is closely associated with Jóhannes S. Kjarval, one of Iceland’s most celebrated painters. Ásmundarsafn occupies the former home and studio of sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson.
National Gallery of Iceland
Another strong choice for art lovers is the National Gallery of Iceland, located beside Tjörnin pond.
Its collection focuses on Icelandic and international art, with works spanning the development of Icelandic painting and more contemporary pieces.
It is a relatively intimate gallery, which can make it a good complement to the larger Reykjavík Art Museum. If you only have a few hours in the city, combining the National Gallery with a walk around Tjörnin and the nearby streets makes for an easy cultural afternoon.
Beyond the traditional museums
But not all of the most interesting museums in Reykjavik are traditional history or art museums.
Perlan – Wonders of Iceland
Perlan takes a very different approach, using interactive exhibitions to explore Iceland’s geology, glaciers, volcanoes, oceans and wildlife. The attraction includes a walk-through a real ice cave, enclosed exhibit with footage from the 2021 volcanic eruption, and a planetarium that showcases the Northern Lights, as well as a 360-degree observation deck overlooking Reykjavík.
Perlan is particularly well suited to visitors interested in Iceland’s natural landscapes, especially those travelling with children or looking for an indoor activity in Reykjavík. Its glacier and volcano exhibitions provide an introduction to the natural processes visitors will encounter on trips around the country.
It is also a useful option when Iceland’s weather makes an outdoor afternoon less appealing. Most guests take a quick taxi, but the mini-forest surrounding the building can be an attractive short walk, particularly if the resident bunny rabbits are hopping about that day.
Reykjavík Museum of Photography
Photography is another important part of Iceland’s cultural identity, and the Reykjavík Museum of Photography offers a different perspective on the country and its people.
As part of Reykjavík City Museum, it sits alongside institutions including the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, Árbær Open Air Museum and The Settlement Exhibition.
A few of the best art museums in Reykjavik beyond the obvious choices
If you have already visited the larger institutions, Reykjavík’s smaller art spaces are worth seeking out.
The Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, for example, is dedicated to one of Iceland’s pioneering sculptors and includes a sculpture garden close to Hallgrímskirkja. The Museum of Design and Applied Art offers another perspective, exploring Icelandic design from the 20th century onwards.
There are also contemporary galleries and independent spaces throughout the city. The Marshall House in the Grandi harbour area is particularly interesting, bringing together The Living Art Museum, Gallery Kling & Bang and a permanent exhibition connected with Studio Ólafur Elíasson.
For this reason, the best art museums in Reykjavik are not necessarily limited to the biggest institutions. If contemporary art and Icelandic design appeal to you, leaving some room for smaller galleries can make your time in the capital considerably more rewarding.
Museums worth visiting outside Reykjavík
Some of Iceland’s most distinctive museums are found outside Reykjavík, where local collections reflect the history, traditions and landscapes of their surrounding regions. From traditional turf houses on the South Coast to stories of witchcraft in the Westfjords, these museums offer insights into aspects of Icelandic life that visitors might otherwise overlook.
Skógar Museum
Just off the South Coast near Skógafoss, Skógar Museum combines a folk museum, open-air museum and technical museum. Its collection includes more than 18,000 regional folk craft artefacts, while the open-air section includes historic buildings illustrating different periods of Icelandic architectural history.
It is an excellent stop to combine with a South Coast trip, particularly if you want to understand what everyday life looked like in rural Iceland before modern infrastructure transformed the country.
LAVA Centre
For those fascinated by Iceland’s geology, the LAVA Centre in Hvolsvöllur is another worthwhile stop.This interactive exhibition explores volcanoes, earthquakes and the geological forces that created Iceland. Visitors can explore seismic activity, volcanic eruptions and the country’s constantly changing landscape through interactive displays and multimedia experiences.
It sits conveniently on the South Coast route, making it easy to incorporate into a wider itinerary.
Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum
Further afield, in Hólmavík in the Westfjords, the Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum explores the country’s history of witchcraft and folklore, particularly during the 17th century.
It is a very different experience from the large cultural institutions in Reykjavík and precisely the sort of regional museum that can add character to a journey through the Westfjords.
“It is too hard to pick a group favorite thing in Iceland since we all enjoyed different things, but some highlights were the goat farm, Lava museum, RIB boat in the Westman Islands, Glacier Lagoon zodiac, Glacier hike, waterfalls (hard to narrow down which since they were all beautiful and unique), and the Hvammsvik hot springs.” – Beezeez on TripAdvisor
How to fit museums into an Iceland itinerary
You don’t necessarily need to dedicate an entire day to museums.
For many visitors, a few hours in Reykjavík is enough to visit one or two cultural institutions before heading out into the stunning countryside. If you have more time, the city’s compact centre makes it possible to combine museums with galleries, restaurants, independent shops and some of Reykjavík’s better-known landmarks.
The best museums in Reykjavik will ultimately depend on what interests you most. History lovers may prefer the National Museum and Settlement Exhibition, while art enthusiasts could spend an afternoon moving between the Reykjavík Art Museum and National Gallery.
Outside the capital, we recommend choosing museums that complement the places you are already visiting. Skógar works naturally with a South Coast itinerary, while LAVA Centre provides useful geological context for the volcanic landscapes of southern Iceland.
Discover another side of Iceland
Iceland’s museums are not simply places to visit when the weather turns. They provide another way to understand a country whose landscapes, traditions and culture are closely connected.
Museums across Iceland offer insight into everything from Viking settlement and rural life to volcanic activity, contemporary art and Icelandic design.
While Reykjavík is home to some of Iceland’s leading art museums and cultural institutions, there are plenty of rewarding places to discover beyond the capital.
At Hidden Iceland, we can help incorporate museums and cultural experiences into a private itinerary, whether you want to spend time exploring the capital or discover more of Iceland’s history during a luxury journey through the countryside.
Explore our private tours or get in touch to start planning your Iceland adventure.
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Written by Ryan Connolly | Marketing Director + Co-Owner
About the author
Ryan has travelled extensively around the world and has called Iceland home since becoming a qualified glacier guide. With his deep knowledge of Iceland’s landscapes, culture and local experiences, he brings a first-hand perspective to discovering the country beyond its famous natural attractions.