National Museum of Iceland, National Museum in Reykjavík, Iceland
The National Museum of Iceland displays thousands of artifacts across three floors, documenting the complete history of human habitation in Iceland through permanent exhibitions.
The museum opened its doors on February 24, 1863, starting with a collection of antiquities that formed the foundation of Iceland's cultural preservation efforts.
The permanent exhibition Making of a Nation presents 1200 years of Iceland's history through 2000 objects and 1000 photographs from the Settlement to the present day.
The museum provides guided tours in multiple languages, offers annual passes for repeated visits, and maintains extended opening hours during summer months for travelers.
The medieval Valþjófsstaður door, featuring intricate wooden carvings depicting scenes from a medieval legend, stands as the museum's most valuable medieval artifact.
Location: Reykjavík
Inception: February 24, 1863
Official opening: February 24, 1863
Accessibility: Dostępne dla wózków inwalidzkich
Email: thjodminjasafn@thjodminjasafn.is
Website: http://thjodminjasafn.is
GPS coordinates: 64.14190,-21.94811
Latest update: May 12, 2025 18:34
Iceland is an island shaped by ice and fire. Glaciers cover much of the interior while geothermal areas show that something is always happening beneath the surface. The landscapes here look different from most places: black sand beaches formed by volcanic activity, fjords cutting deep into the coast, waterfalls dropping over cliffs and canyons with moss covered walls. Vatnajökull in the southeast is Europe's largest glacier, while smaller ice caps like Snæfellsjökull or Drangajökull have their own character. Reykjavik sits by the ocean and mixes city life with access to nature. The Harpa concert hall stands by the harbor, Hallgrímskirkja church rises above the rooftops, and along the shore you find the Sólfar sculpture. Lake Tjörnin lies in the center of town. Outside the city, routes lead to natural sites: the Blue Lagoon with its milky blue water, Strokkur geyser that erupts every few minutes, Gullfoss waterfall where a river plunges into a canyon. The southern coast shows different faces. Near Vík there is Reynisfjara beach with its basalt columns and black sand, and not far away the cliff at Dyrhólaey. Diamond Beach near Hornafjörður is scattered with ice chunks washed up by the sea. In the north, Lake Mývatn attracts visitors with its volcanic surroundings, while the Westfjords with the Hornstrandir reserve and the red sand of Rauðasandur beach belong to the more remote parts of the country. The Ring Road connects most of these places and circles the entire island.
Hallgrímskirkja
1 km
Icelandic Phallological Museum
945 m
Harpa
1.2 km
National and University Library of Iceland
154 m
Reykjavík Cathedral
679 m
Alþingishúsið
692 m
Statue of Leif Erikson
1 km
Austurvöllur
712 m
KR-völlur
1 km
Landakotskirkja
617 m
Reykjavik Art Museum
880 m
Nordic House
427 m
Culture House
984 m
National Theatre of Iceland
995 m
Reykjavík 871±2
659 m
Ráðhús Reykjavíkur
523 m
Reykjavik Maritime Museum
1.3 km
University of Iceland VR
456 m
Reykjavík Municipal Archives
896 m
Arnarhóll
957 m
Fríkirkjuvegur 11
483 m
Embassy of Germany, Reykjavík
567 m
University of Iceland Main Building
158 m
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
1.4 km
Hafnarhús
870 m
National Theatre of Iceland
995 m
Icelandic tree of the year 1994
595 m
Icelandic tree of the year 1999
656 mReviews
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