Reykjavik · MUSEUMS
Good museum visits fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 14 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Perlan Museum brings Iceland’s fire and ice indoors. Walk through a real ice cave, learn about glaciers and wildlife, watch volcano and northern lights shows, then step onto the observation deck for wide views over Reykjavik. Your ticket is valid for two hours from first activation.
“The greeting, the planetarium, the restaurant all excellent beyond words.”
Start at Harpa Concert Hall, ride Reykjavík’s hop-on hop-off bus for 24 hours, and visit Perlan at your reserved time. You’ll get city views, an audio guide, and access to Iceland exhibits including a 100-metre ice cave, volcano displays, northern lights, and a 360-degree observation deck.
“Perlan is a not to be missed site to go to in Reykjavik. The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is an activity I do in every city I visit and I have never regretted it. Always see so many different locations and sites. Gives you a good lay of the land!”
Walk among life-size models of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters, then use interactive displays and a multilingual audio guide to learn how they live. Films in the Fin Whale Theatre include Whale Wisdom, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and Sonic Sea, narrated by Rachel McAdams.
“Interesting experience. Interactive stations. Good for knowledge on whales and cetaceans.”
Use your Reykjavík museum ticket anytime within 365 days to follow Iceland’s story from the Settlement Age to today. See a year-1000 figure of Thor, medieval church art, Iceland’s first printed Bible, photographs, and temporary exhibits. Audio guides are available in 10 languages.
“We went on a Sunday and were lucky enough to see a large group of locals in authentic traditional dress. We had a marvelous time learning the history of Iceland and its people. Great exhibits with lots of interactive elements and detailed context.”
At Aurora Reykjavík, you’ll learn how the Northern Lights form, see a 30-minute 4K Iceland film on a 7-meter screen, try a 360° VR aurora experience, and practice camera settings. The self-guided visit takes about an hour and works well in summer or cloudy weather.
“If you’re visiting Iceland in summer, you won’t have an opportunity to catch them in nature, but you will see them here without any weather concerns. The museum is small but it packs in a lot of history and facts about the northern lights from mythology to science facts. You can listen as you go through QR codes, learn how to photograph the aurora, see a film showing off the aurora all over Iceland and have a VR experience. Definitely worth a look.”
Visit Reykjavik’s family-owned Phallological Museum, home to more than 300 phallus specimens from 120 species. You’ll learn about phallology, browse unusual donations from around the world, and may stop at the Phallus Café for themed waffles, cocktails, or local beer. English support is available.
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay with a live English-speaking guide, then visit Whales of Iceland’s 23 life-size models. Guides such as Lucas, Daniel, and Oskar have helped spot humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises. Choose the order that suits your day.
“The thrill of searching for sea life and then anticipating where you'll see the next whale surface was brilliant. Although we only managed to see a young humpback whale on our trip, our guide was hilarious and kept spirits high with fun facts and information for all. Overalls and refreshments are avaliable on the boat, which is very handy, I would highly recommend this trip as we both enjoyed it.”
At Reykjavik’s old harbour, you’ll follow Iceland’s saga heroes through about 20 lifelike scenes, including Leif Eiriksson, Snorri Sturlusson, and Ingolfur Arnarson. An audio guide explains each display, while Viking clothing, armour, and weapons give families a playful way to connect with Iceland’s past.
“Great origin/making of story of the museum. Fantastic staff especially the guy in the gift shop. Interesting exhibit with 30-minute guided audio tour. Outstanding figures with crazy realistic eyes. Worth it and not too busy in the middle of a beautiful October Monday.”
Use your mobile ticket to enter Reykjavik’s National Museum of Iceland and follow the country’s story through artifacts, photographs, textiles, religious objects, and Viking-era pieces. Allow about 90 minutes, though a careful visit can take two hours. Free WiFi, an audio tour, lockers, and a café are available.
“Great way to spend a day when first arriving prior to going outside of town. Loved the background of cultures from past times.”
At Reykjavik’s Saga Museum, you follow a 35-minute audio-guided route through 20 lifelike scenes from Iceland’s settlement, sagas, civil war, and Reformation. Hear the story in seven languages, then try on Viking clothing and handle replica weapons in the costume area.
“We received a warm welcome. the museum was thoroughly enjoyable and very informative. The figures were very life-like.”
At The Settlement Center, use a mobile ticket and self-guided audio headset to explore two exhibitions: Iceland’s first settlers upstairs, then Egill Skalla-Grimson’s dramatic saga below. Plan about an hour, with daily opening hours from 10 AM to 9 PM during the listed season.
“There are two parts to the tour, with an upstairs and downstairs. There’s a very helpful person at the beginning to give you your headphones and an iPod mini that has the tour in many languages. The upper floor with a history of Iceland was interesting but a little difficult to follow. The tour below with the saga was much more dramatic and entertaining. This is a nice stop if you were visiting the country for the first time.”
Sail from central Reykjavik into Faxaflói for up to three hours of whale watching, then visit Whales of Iceland, home to full-size models including a 25-meter blue whale. English-speaking guides, warm flotation overalls, indoor cabins, WiFi, and a return option after no sightings are included.
“Great that we saw humpback whales and dophins and minke whales. Nice refreshments on board. Weather made it, we were lucky with the sunny day. Would recommend, just stay out on deck so you don't feel seasick!”
Spend 10 hours exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle with an English-speaking guide, then visit Perlan in Reykjavík. See Kerið crater, erupting Strokkur, Gullfoss, Þingvellir’s tectonic rift, a real ice cave, and the Áróra Northern Lights Planetarium.
“Great day out (although tiring, unless you’re fit) Tour guide Sonny was awesome, so informative about not only the trip but about Iceland in general! Eugene the driver was very considerate and a generally nice guy. Long day but the sights and information were enough for us! The national park was great with some fabulous views (one couple opted to stay there and not get back on the bus!). Geysir was a fabulous spectacle although trying to get a great picture/ video when it went off was tricky. The waterfall was amazing, truly a sight to see with some fantastic views. Finished at the Perlan museum which was great, we…”
Meet at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour at least 30 minutes before the 1 pm departure. Sail into Faxaflói Bay in warm flotation overalls, with guides searching for minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises. Your ticket also includes Whales of Iceland, with 23 full-scale whale models and an audio guide.
“What an amazing experience seeing the Minky whales. I will be definitely doing one of these again in the future to try and spot orcas in the wild and do the northern lights to on boat….. the only downside that I could see there is a family that got on with his disabled kid. It was okay getting him over the first ramp but couldn’t get to any of the decks because of the stairs so I just feel for them.”
Pick a road out, a boat or a hot spring.
