Europe
Iceland
Capital Region
Reykjavik
Things to Do in Reykjavik
National Museum of Iceland
See all things to do

National Museum of Iceland

See all things to do
See all things to do
National Museum of Iceland
4.5
3,920 reviews
#4 of 127 Shopping in Reykjavik
Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Museums • History Museums
Read more
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Write a review
About
What makes a nation? The Museum's permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland, is intended to provide insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from Viking era to modern times. The exhibition is conceived as a journey through time: it begins with the ship in which medieval settlers crossed the ocean to their new home, it ends in a modern airport, the Icelanders' gateway to the world.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Admission tickets
from $18.32
All you need to step foot in the door.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience National Museum of Iceland
See all
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
516 within 3 miles
Fish&Co
307
0.4 mi$ • Seafood • Fast Food • European
Icelandic Street Food
3,267
0.4 mi$ • Seafood • Fast Food • Soups
Fiskmarkadurinn - The Fish Market
3,676
0.4 mi$$$$ • Japanese • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Messinn
2,367
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • European • Healthy
3 Frakkar
1,229
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • European • Scandinavian
101 bistro
532
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Matarkjallarinn - Foodcellar
1,074
0.5 mi$$$$ • Scandinavian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Fiskfélagid - Fish Company
2,255
0.5 mi$$$$ • Seafood • International • European
Grillmarkadurinn
5,072
0.5 mi$$$$ • European • Grill • Scandinavian
Mama Reykjavik
131
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Cafe • International
See all
Attractions
120 within 6 miles
Hljómskálagarður Park
23
0.1 miBodies of Water • Parks
National and University Library of Iceland
8
0.1 miLibraries
Reykjavik City Hall
682
0.2 miGovernment Buildings
Tómas Guðmundsson
2
0.2 miMonuments & Statues
Hallgrimskirkja
22,844
0.6 miChurches & Cathedrals
Cemetery Holavallagardur
212
0.3 miHistoric Sites • Cemeteries
Lake Tjornin
678
0.3 miBodies of Water
The settlement exhibition
3,098
0.4 miSpeciality Museums • Historic Sites
Ring Road
202
0.6 miScenic Drives
The Icelandic Punk Museum
334
0.5 miSpeciality Museums
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,920 reviews
Excellent
2,025
Very good
1,453
Average
374
Poor
59
Terrible
9
LJExeter
Exeter, United Kingdom73 contributions
Brilliant Museum!
Feb 2023
This is an amazing museum - well worth the entrance fee and we spent 3 hours plus going round the exhibits. Great interactive displays and an app for your phone you can listen to about all the exhibits. The displays are in both Icelandic and English. Cafe is small but nice coffee. When we went only one person working so he eas struggling to keep up with everything and very little food on offer but may well just have had staff illness etc service very friendly despite the pressure the poor person was under! There is a free cloakroom with lockers downstairs so if you need to get rid of your belongings you can.
Written February 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bailey
3 contributions
Such kindness warms the heart
Jan 2022 • Couples
Well, we came, we saw we thoroughly enjoyed. The main reason for the review though is to firstly praise the staff and secondly to recommend the National Icelandic Museum. We arrived without booking and unfortunately the booking system was down. However the friendly reception staff allowed us to go in without paying on the proviso that we return after to pay. We followed the recommended route from the earliest pagan settlers right up to modern day.

I must say the exhibits are well laid out and it is possible to sweep through or linger on individual pieces. I loved the little 1800''s shack and the recording of the traditional singing plus so much more besides...

Once back at the entrance desk the payment system was still not working and only in the happiest place on earth, we were allowed to leave without paying.

So thank you NIM and we are now committed to paying your kindness forward somehow.

All the warmest wishes

Bailey and Jojo
Written January 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SROVirginia
Leesburg, VA385 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 June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nelia O
17 contributions
Great museum
Jan 2023
I am so glad that I booked a visit to the museum of Iceland. It was very informative and enhanced my experience of this beautiful island. It was manageable and not too overwhelming. I highly recommend the 45 minute guided tour provided by the museum. Make it one of the stops on your itinerary.
Written January 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steviefull
Kidderminster, UK1,597 contributions
An interesting look at Icelandic history
Jul 2021
We arrived here without booking a tour and in hindsight a guided tour would have given us a much better insight into the displays. Saying that we still had a good couple of hours here exploring the exhibits, with each area showing different modern ages of Iceland from 800's up to the 2000's.

With a low entry fee for Iceland of around £12.00 for an adult, it is well worth a visit if you are spending more than a couple of days here and a good way to spend two hours. I still preferred the more interactive displays of Perlan, but if you can do both it is worth it.
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerUK1
PA30 contributions
Interesting artifacts and history
Sep 2022
Interesting exhibits and artifacts dating from the Viking age to the 20th century. I did the free guided tour as well as looked around both floors on my own. I would highly recommend the guided tour as you gain more knowledge about some of the artifacts. They have toilets and a cafe. I wasn't too impressed with the selection in the cafe. There isn't alot of options if you want to each lunch there. They do have lockers to put your stuff in. I just put my jacket and umbrella in one and carried my handbag. I was there in September and the museum was really hot. I spent about 3 hours there. The walk from the city center takes about 15 minutes.
Written September 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hrothmir
Smyrna, GA161 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 June 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChristineB_Cf
Chesterfield, UK52 contributions
Essential background to understanding Iceland
Feb 2023
A fascinating museum which, in conjunction with the Settlement Exhibition, gives a thorough insight into how people have lived in Iceland from the time of settlement. Plentiful and really interesting exhibits through to the present day, we happily spent more than two hours here. A great cafe too.
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LizMacKay58
Oban, UK14 contributions
Very impressive telling the country’s history
Oct 2022
We went on a tour, our guide showing us the highlights of this interesting museum, and also explaining so much. It was so nice to get the views of a local while looking at the exhibits. There are interesting artefacts spread chronologically over two floors in a lovely part of the city. I am now interested to learn more about the history of Iceland. It also has a great shop!
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Candj9173
North West England, UK721 contributions
Useful museum
Oct 2022
This museum is a good 10-15 minute walk (or 5 minute bus ride) from the main city centre. Large building and the museum is on several floors.

The exhibits only have very brief descriptions and they are in small font so if you struggle to read this type of print, you may give up.

Staff weren't particularly friendly but still a good visit.
Written October 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 3,404
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing

National Museum of Iceland (Reykjavik) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about National Museum of Iceland
National Museum of Iceland is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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 $18.13, while a popular guided tour starts around $37.53 per person. See all 9 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 9 National Museum of Iceland tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience National Museum of Iceland: See all National Museum of Iceland experiences on Tripadvisor
Restaurants near National Museum of Iceland: View all restaurants near National Museum of Iceland on Tripadvisor