... the period of occupation of Denmark by the National Socialists in the 2nd century. World War II very cleverly used for their declaration of independence. In the meantime, the British had invaded since May 1940 in order to take away the appetite of the Germans for the occupation of Ísland as a precautionary measure - replaced by the Americans in July 1941 and thus even before their admission into the Second World War. Weltkrieg. I found recent history throughout the museum, so the 19th and 20th centuries. By far the most interesting. For my taste, the recent history, i.e. from the eighties of the last century to the present day, even fell short. Finally, disarmament negotiations between the two great powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, took place in Reykjavik in 1986, as did the legendary Fischer vs Spassky chess tournament. Strangely enough, one learns relatively little about the Vikings, which are so popularly used by tourist merchandising. The population of Iceland was 50,000 at the 1703 census. How Icelanders managed to achieve a wage and price level above that of Switzerland in the rest of history is still a mystery to me. Fittingly, the National Museum café has the most expensive coffee Americano I have ever had: 800 crowns - but in an admittedly pretty environment.

I really enjoyed the story told through the museum of Iceland from settlement to the modern period, with it divided up into distinct ages. It feels like a good overview of the past 1000ish years with plenty of detail to dive into. Staff were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We spent about two and a half hours there and saw most of it, which felt about the right amount of time as part of the city card, I don’t think I’d want to rush through much quicker.

This is a very informative museum if you want to learn about Iceland’s history. It’s not very big and you can spend a couple of hours to see it all. The audio guide is very informative and takes you around the exhibits from when Iceland was first populated until the present day.

This is a treasure trove of Icelandic history, the highlights really were all of the artefacts from the time the first vikings settled Iceland right through the Middle Ages. If you’re not into history you might not enjoy the bull of this museum but there are halls dedicated to art and contemporary Icelandic history as well as going further back in time. Really was a fascinating few hours and if you like you can even play a game of chess part way around!

A very calm and peaceful ambiance inside the museum where Iceland through the ages is thoughtfully presented. Gift shop a tiny bit disappointing. Walking back towards the many other souvenir shops, in the snow and winter sunshine, soon lifted my mood.

Very interesting museum that tells the story of Iceland; from initial settlement to it becoming a republic in the early 20th century. As I minored in archaeology (palynology to be exact) I loved the beginning of the museum that displayed a lot of finds from excavations. I liked how there were staff dotted about to chat to about the exhibits, too.

The museum is a 11 minute walk from the Settlement Exhibition. Like all the museums in Iceland, this is a small museum comprising of two floors that sheds light on the history of Iceland; how it began, the original settlers, paganism, the rise and fall of Christianity, how the country became predominantly Lutheran, and the modern Iceland as we know it now. It was informative, interesting, and history fans will enjoy this, as I did. I didn't know much about Iceland but after visiting the museum, I know LOTS! There are some great artifacts on display, especially the religious objects. The price of admission is fair (for Iceland) and a good place to while away an hour or two.

We visited the National Museum of Iceland. The museum displays objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history. The National Museum of Iceland was established on 24 February 1863, with Jón Árnason the first curator of the Icelandic collection, previously kept in Danish museums.

This museum presents a comprehensive summary of the history of Iceland. There are lots of artifacts, displays, explanations and recreations for you to enjoy. If you are into this type of educational, historical museum, then this is the place for you. Very high quality, but a bit dry. If you want something better for kids and interactive entertainment, the Perlan museum has more.

This was a wonderful museum that painted a very good picture of Icelandic culture and history from the beginning of settlement. It was self guided, but there were interpreters around who were able to add wonderful detail and color to the displays. There beautiful displays with many ancient artifacts to help complete the history.