National Museum of Iceland
The story of Iceland from settlement to today - Viking-age treasures, the coming of Christianity and a thousand years of a nation, in Reykjavik.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
The National Museum of Iceland tells the story of the country from the Viking settlement in the ninth century through the coming of Christianity, centuries of hardship under foreign rule, and the road to independence and the modern nation. Its centrepiece exhibition, Making of a Nation, follows that thousand-year thread through objects and treasures.
What you actually see
- Making of a Nation - the main exhibition tracing Iceland from settlement to today.
- Viking-age objects - the settlement treasures and everyday finds.
- The Valthjofsstadur door - the famous carved medieval church door.
- Religion and daily life - the objects of faith and survival through the centuries.
When to go
Year-round; a fully indoor museum, ideal for a wet or cold day, and a good grounding in the country's story. Allow a couple of hours.
Honest expectations
It is a history museum rather than a spectacle, so it rewards curiosity more than those after dramatic sights. It is a good rainy-day option in a country of outdoor wonders. It gives valuable context for the rest of a trip.
Nearby
The university, the pond and central Reykjavik are around; the Settlement Exhibition is nearby.
What to pack for National Museum of Iceland
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
