Europe
Iceland
Capital Region
Reykjavik
Things to do in Reykjavik
National Museum of Iceland

National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavik: Hours, Address, National Museum of Iceland Reviews: 4.5/5

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National Museum of Iceland

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See all things to do
National Museum of Iceland
4.5
3,855
#13 of 129 things to do in Reykjavik
Art Museums • History Museums
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10:00 - 17:00
Monday
10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 17:00
Thursday
10:00 - 17:00
Friday
10:00 - 17:00
Saturday
10:00 - 17:00
Sunday
10:00 - 17:00
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About
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
from €16.42
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The area
Address
Best nearby
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8
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Popular mentions
4.5
3,855 reviews
Excellent
1,983
Very good
1,438
Average
368
Poor
58
Terrible
9
Hrothmir
Smyrna, GA140 contributions
Best museum/site in Reykjavik
Jun 2022
My family & I spent a day and a half in Reykjavik seeing the sites. In my opinion, this museum was the single best educational site (and use of our site seeing time) in Reykjavik. Many of the other sites we visited in the city were a bit disappointing. This one was not.

The exhibits are arranged chronologically. The museum is quite dark. You could breeze through in less than an hour (e.g., if with children/teens). Allow an hour and a half to two hours if you want to absorb more of the history of Iceland.

There is free parking immediately to the SE of the museum. If you're looking at Google Maps, you'll see a bus stop icon just SE on Hringbraut - and there is a small lot behind (S) the bus stop.

This site is covered by the City Card. It's worth getting that card (I believe you can buy it at the National Museum) if planning to visit several museums during your stay in Reykjavik.
Written 25 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Chicago_Mr_B_645
Indianapolis, IN109 contributions
Excellent Museum
Jun 2022
Loved this one. It makes my list of must-do if you are in Reykjavik (and are a history buff). Great stories, artifacts, and information. I would recommend it to any visitor or local.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SROVirginia
Leesburg, VA366 contributions
Excellent Context for Your Visit to Iceland
Jun 2022
Well-laid-out and comprehensive history of Iceland with artifacts from early settlements through the Middle Ages and up to the late 20th Century. Spacious facility. Clear signage in Icelandic and English, explaining the Viking era, the arrival of Christianity, Iceland's various European overlords, etc. Avid history buffs should purchase the annual pass for multiple visits. Easy walk from the harbor/hotel area of downtown. Definitely worth your time.
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Humphiedoodle
Baltimore, MD55 contributions
Extremely well done and informative on the history of Icelanders
Jun 2022
Outstanding museum to understand Iceland's settlement history. Artifacts from the first settlers in the 900s were amazing. The museum does a great job of explaining and displaying all the different periods of time in their history and i personally found the earliest years the most interesting. there is a lot of opportunity to dive deeply into the history or to get a good overview depending on your interest. the exhibits are very well thought out. there are areas to take a rest and enjoy a view of the city. the children's area has costumes to try on to dress up like a viking but also a play area that had wonderful books and toys (i read a great book on trolls that was hilarious). I think this is a really important place to visit if you want to understand who the Icelandic people are. definitely worth the price of admission (cafe and gift shop are nice)
Written 11 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
molly g
1 contribution
Meh
The resources available will be helpful information and kind of boring not worth the $18 really into Christianity then yeah go for it
Written 10 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Diane K
Portland, OR23 contributions
Outstanding Museum
May 2022
An extremely comprehensive museum containing artifacts from the dawn of civilization in Iceland to current day. I wish we had gone to it earlier in our visit! Allow a good amount of time to go through the museum as there is so much to see.
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
wilesto
London, UK94 contributions
So much to see and do. Great value
May 2022
Being from the UK, I am not used to paying to enter a museum, but this one is probably worth it. Not a huge venue, but plenty to see, and you can easily spend 2hrs plus inside.
Written 4 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Laura L
Baltimore, MD181 contributions
Great history
There was a lot of great information about the relatively short history of Iceland here. I will say, it is a lot of reading if you don’t do the audio guide, and it’s surprisingly dark within the main exhibits themselves, which can strain your eyes.
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ruksana H
Atlanta36 contributions
A must-see for your itinerary
May 2022
Visiting here gives you a really good idea of the history and culture of the people and how their society came to take shape. I wish though that there was better arrangement to the order of exhibits so you don't have to keep looking for where the next number appears.
Written 29 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jimmy Spencer
7 contributions
So Much To Learn
I learned more about Iceland than I ever thought I would from the museum visit. I recommend planning at least 2 hours to see everything.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about National Museum of Iceland
National Museum of Iceland is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
National Museum of Iceland admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost €16.87, while a popular guided tour starts around €28.76 per person. See all 10 National Museum of Iceland tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
National Museum of Iceland can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 10 National Museum of Iceland tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
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