Thing to do
Thing to do in Iceland
Museums in Iceland
Iceland's museums punch well above their weight for a country this small — here are the ones genuinely worth your time in Reykjavík and along the South Coast.
Key facts
- Time needed
- 1.5–3 hours per visit
- Best months
- jan, feb, mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov, dec
- Seasons
- all-year
- Price level
- low
- Family friendly?
- Yes
- Good in rain?
- Yes
- Need a car?
- No
- Difficulty
- easy
Reykjavík
- Perlan — interactive natural history; ice cave replica; planetarium.
- National Museum of Iceland — best overview of Iceland’s history.
- Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin) — actual 10th-century longhouse remains.
- Reykjavík Art Museum — three locations.
- Whales of Iceland — life-size whale models.
South Coast
- LAVA Centre (Hvolsvöllur) — volcanoes and earthquakes, kid-friendly.
- Skógar Folk Museum — old turf houses, traditional life.
Vestmannaeyjar
- Eldheimar — the 1973 eruption that nearly destroyed Heimaey, with the excavated buildings preserved.
Frequently asked questions
Are Iceland's museums good in English?
Yes — every major museum is fully bilingual.
Can you visit museums in winter?
Yes, all are open year-round. They're particularly good rainy / stormy day options.