The 6 best museums in Reykjavik, ranked
Interior of the National Museum of Iceland
Six museums that justify the entry fee, ordered by what you’ll still be telling people about at home.
The essential three
1. The National Museum of Iceland (Thjodminjasafn) — 2,500 ISK, and the single best chronological telling of a thousand years of Icelandic history you’ll find. Give it two hours. 2. The Settlement Exhibition (Landnamssyning) — built around an actual Viking-age longhouse foundation on Adalstraeti. Small, focused, 2,200 ISK, done in 45 minutes. 3. Perlan — 5,490 ISK is steep, but the ice cave, the planetarium northern lights film and the observation deck together are worth it if the weather is bad.
The specialist picks
4. Reykjavik Art Museum's three sites on one 2,240 ISK ticket — Hafnarhus for Erro, Kjarvalsstadir for landscapes, Asmundarsafn for sculpture. 5. The Icelandic Phallological Museum — yes, that one. 3,000 ISK, and it's more anthropology than novelty once you’re inside. 6. Whales of Iceland in Grandi, 3,500 ISK, with 23 life-size models suspended from the ceiling — better for kids than any book about whales, and useful before a Husavik trip.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reykjavik.
The Reykjavik City Card at 4,900 ISK for 24 hours covers the National Museum, the three Art Museum sites, the Settlement Exhibition and city pools. Worth it if you’ll hit three or more.
Perlan. It's a full half-day and you can watch the storm from the observation deck.
