Iceland Museums
155 mapped7 regionsArt, folk & saga historyRainy-day friendly
Iceland packs a lot of museums into a small country. Reykjavík anchors it with the National Gallery (Listasafn Íslands), the National Museum and the open-air Árbæjarsafn. Out in the regions you'll find turf-house folk museums like Glaumbær, saga sites such as Eiríksstaðir, and specialist collections from herring to rock 'n' roll. Most charge a modest fee and keep seasonal hours — always check the museum's own site before you drive out.
Conditions right now
Live from Vegagerðin & the Icelandic Met Office
Driving conditions—
Checking live road status…
Weather now—
Checking live weather stations…
Before you goCheck hours
Many regional museums are summer-only or open by arrangement
Opening hoursOften seasonal
EntryUsually a small fee
Best forRainy days
AccessVaries by buildingTop museums
Iceland’s best-documented museums — art, folk history and saga sites, with region and entry info.
Directions
Save
Share
Cars & campers
−15%exclusive discountFree cancellation
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Transmission
Fuel
Seats
Drive
SleepsTours near Iceland's museums
Free cancellation
Small groups
Small groups
Duration
Pickup
Activity
VehicleHow & when to visit Iceland's museums
Most travellers hit museums in Reykjavík — the National Gallery, the National Museum and open-air Árbæjarsafn are all central and open year-round, making them a reliable rainy-day plan. Out in the regions, museums cluster in the towns: Glaumbær and the Herring Era Museum in the north, Eiríksstaðir in the west, and small heritage collections in most fjord villages. Many rural and turf-house museums run summer-only hours or open by arrangement, so check the museum's own website before committing a drive to it. Use the region browser above to line up museum stops along your route.
The museums of Iceland, compared
All 150 mapped museums, ranked — our best-documented picks first. Tap any name for the full page. Region, entry and museum-type details come from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata where they exist.
| Museum | Region | Entry | Known for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Árbæjarsafn | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Worth discovering |
| Eiríksstaðir | West Iceland | Museum | Worth discovering |
| Galdrasýning á Ströndum | Westfjords | Museum | Worth discovering |
 | Glaumbær | North Iceland | Paid entry | Worth discovering |
 | Gljúfrasteinn | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Worth discovering |
 | Hönnunarsafn Íslands | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Worth discovering |
 | Listasafn Íslands | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Worth discovering |
 | Safnasafnid Icelandic Folk and Outsider Art Museum | North Iceland | Museum | Worth discovering |
 | The Exploration Museum | North Iceland | Museum | Worth discovering |
 | Þjóðveldisbærinn | South Coast | Paid entry | Worth discovering |
| Rokksafn Íslands | Reykjanes Peninsula | Museum | Worth discovering | |
 | Aðalstræti 10 | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Local heritage in Reykjavík Area |
 | Arctic Fox Centre | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords |
 | Ásmundarsafn | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Bjarnarhöfn Museum | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
 | Bookless Bungalow | Reykjavík Area | Museum | History museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Bustarfell | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Byggðarsafnið | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
 | Byggðasafn | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
| Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Byggðasafn Vestfjarða | Westfjords | Paid entry | Museum in Westfjords |
 | Davíðshús | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Draugasetrið | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
 | Duus Museum | Reykjanes Peninsula | Museum | Museum in Reykjanes Peninsula |
 | Eldheimar | South Coast | Paid entry | Museum in South Coast |
 | Fischersetur | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
 | Friðbjarnarhús | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Gallerí Fríða Gylfadóttir | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Gamlabúð | East Iceland | Museum | Local heritage in East Iceland |
 | Gerðarsafn | Reykjavík Area | Free entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Grenjaðarstaður | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Hnjótur | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords |
 | Húsið | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
 | Hvalasafnið á Húsavík | North Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Hvalasýningin | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Hvoll | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Höfði | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Icelandic Punk Museum | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Iðnaðarsafn | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
| Kjarvalsstaðir | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Kröflustöð | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Landlyst | South Coast | Free entry | Museum in South Coast |
 | Langabúð | East Iceland | Free entry | Museum in East Iceland |
 | Listasafn ASÍ | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Listasafn Einars Jónssonar | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Listasafn Reykjavíkur | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Listasafn Sigurjóns Ólafssonar | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Ljóðasetur Íslands | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Minjasafnið á Akureyri | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
| Mótorhjólasafn Íslands | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Náttúrugripasafnið | East Iceland | Museum | Geology museum in East Iceland |
| Nonnahús | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
| Norðurslóð | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Norwegian House | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
 | Ósvör | Westfjords | Paid entry | History museum in Westfjords |
 | Pakkhús | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
 | Petra's Stone Collection | East Iceland | Museum | Natural history in East Iceland |
| Reykjavík 871±2 | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Safn Ásgríms Jónssonar | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Safnahúsið | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Saga Centre | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
| Saga Fotografica | North Iceland | Museum | Art gallery in North Iceland |
 | Saga Museum | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | History museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Samúel Jónsson's Art Farm | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords |
 | Sel | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
| Síldarminjasafnið | North Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Sjómannagarðurinn | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
| Sjóminjasafnið á Eyrarbakka | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
| Sjóminjasafnið á Hellissandi | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
 | Sjóminjasafnið í Reykjavík | Reykjavík Area | Museum | History museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Skansinn | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
 | Skógasafn | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
 | Skriðuklaustur | East Iceland | Museum | Museum in East Iceland |
 | Slippurinn | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Slökkviliðsminjasafn | Reykjanes Peninsula | Museum | Museum in Reykjanes Peninsula |
 | Snorrastofa | West Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in West Iceland |
 | Stríðsárasafnið | East Iceland | Museum | Museum in East Iceland |
 | Svavarssafn - Listasafn | East Iceland | Museum | Art museum in East Iceland |
 | Sænautasel | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Tónlistarsafn Íslands | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
 | Vatnasafn | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
| Víkin | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area |
| Víkingaheimar | Reykjanes Peninsula | Paid entry | Museum in Reykjanes Peninsula |
 | Ystafell Transporation museum | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
| Ystafell Transportation Museum | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland |
| Þjóðlagasetur sr. Bjarna Þorsteinssonar | North Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in North Iceland |
 | Þórbergur | South Coast | Museum | House museum in South Coast |
 | Þuríðarbúð | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast |
| 1238 The Battle of Iceland | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Bardúsa verslunarminjasafn | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Báta og hlunnindasýningin | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Bóka- og Byggðasafn | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Byggðasafn Gerðahrepps | Reykjanes Peninsula | Museum | Museum in Reykjanes Peninsula | |
| Byggðasafn Húnvetninga og Strandamanna | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Flugsafnið | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Fuglasafn Sigurgeirs | North Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Gamli bærinn Laufás | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið Textile Museum | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Heklusetrið | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast | |
| Herjólfstown | South Coast | Museum | History museum in South Coast | |
| Hernámssetrið | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Jarðhitasýningin | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Kirkjubaejarstofa | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast | |
| Kotbýli kuklarans | Westfjords | Free entry | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Kvikan | Reykjanes Peninsula | Museum | Museum in Reykjanes Peninsula | |
| Kötlusetur - Katla visitor centre | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast | |
| Landbúnaðarsafn Íslands | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Landnámssetur Íslands | West Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Listasafn Árnesinga | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Litli Bær | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Lyfjafræðisafn | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Málverkasafn Tryggva Ólafssonar | East Iceland | Paid entry | Art museum in East Iceland | |
| Mánárbakki Minjasafn | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Melódíur Minninganna | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Minja- og handverkshúsið Kört | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Múlastofa | East Iceland | Free entry | Museum in East Iceland | |
| Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs | Reykjavík Area | Free entry | Museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Náttúrugripasafn Ólafsfjarðar | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Náttúrugripasafn Skagafjarðar | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Nýibær | North Iceland | Free entry | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Orkusýning | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Energy museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Pálshús Museum | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Powerplant Exhibition | Reykjanes Peninsula | Museum | Museum in Reykjanes Peninsula | |
| Rjómabúið á Baugsstöðum | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast | |
| Safn Samúels Jónssonar | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Safnahús | East Iceland | Museum | Museum in East Iceland | |
| Safnahús Borgarfjarðar | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Sagnagarður Soil Conservation Visitor Centre | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast | |
| Samgönguminjasafnið í Stóragerði | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Sauðanes | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Selasetur Íslands, Upplýsingamiðstöð | West Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in West Iceland | |
| Selárdalur | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Sjóminja- og smiðjumunasafn Jósafats Hinrikssonar | East Iceland | Paid entry | Local heritage in East Iceland | |
| Skaftfell. Center for Visual Art, East Iceland | East Iceland | Museum | Museum in East Iceland | |
| Skjálftasetrið | North Iceland | Museum | Local heritage in North Iceland | |
| Skrímslasetrið | Westfjords | Paid entry | Local heritage in Westfjords | |
| Spákonuhof | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Steinasafn Auðunns | East Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in East Iceland | |
| Steinshús | Westfjords | Museum | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Sögusetur Íslenska Hestsins | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| The Sheep Farming Museum | Westfjords | Paid entry | Museum in Westfjords | |
| Útgerðaminjasafnið á Grenivík | North Iceland | Museum | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Veiðisafnið | South Coast | Museum | Museum in South Coast | |
| Vesturfarasetrið | North Iceland | Paid entry | Museum in North Iceland | |
| Þingvellir: Hjarta lands og þjóðar | Reykjavík Area | Paid entry | History museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Þjóðminjasafn Íslands - varðveisla | Reykjavík Area | Museum | Museum in Reykjavík Area | |
| Æðarsetur Íslands | West Iceland | Museum | Museum in West Iceland |
Museum
questions
What are the best museums in Reykjavík?
The National Gallery of Iceland (Listasafn Íslands), the National Museum, and the open-air Árbæjarsafn are the anchors. Gljúfrasteinn, the home of Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness just outside the city, is worth the short drive.
Are Iceland’s museums open in winter?
The bigger Reykjavík museums open year-round, but many small regional and turf-house museums run summer-only hours (roughly June–August) or open by arrangement. Always check the museum’s own website before you drive out.
Do Icelandic museums charge an entry fee?
Most charge a modest fee; a handful are free. Fees and hours change seasonally, so confirm on the museum’s website. Each museum page here lists the entry status we have from OpenStreetMap.
What are good museums for a rainy day?
Museums are the classic rainy-day plan in Iceland. In Reykjavík the National Museum and National Gallery are indoors and central; around the country, folk and heritage museums like Glaumbær give you saga history under a roof.
Which museums are outside Reykjavík?
Plenty. Glaumbær (Skagafjörður folk museum) and the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður are highlights of the north; Eiríksstaðir in the west reconstructs Erik the Red’s homestead. Use the region browser below to find museums along your route.
Are Iceland’s museums wheelchair accessible?
The larger modern museums usually are; older turf-built and rural museums often have steps or uneven ground. Each page shows the accessibility tag we have — contact the museum directly if you have specific needs.