The 15 Best Museums & Exhibitions in Iceland

1.Perlan Museum Wonders of Iceland Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,575 reviews · from $48Our pick

Spend about two hours exploring Perlan’s interactive Wonders of Iceland exhibits, including a real indoor ice cave, volcano show, wildlife displays, and the Áróra northern lights film in an 8K planetarium. Finish with wide views from the observation deck. Café and restaurant food cost extra.

“Great museum with lots of interactive things! Stunning views from floor 4 and 5. Rotating floor of restaurant was a lovely touch and a complete surprise took us 20 mins to realise we were gently turning.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Perlan Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 719 reviews · 1 day · from $88

Start beside Harpa Concert Hall and use a 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket to reach Reykjavík sights, including Perlan at Stop 11. Your timed Perlan entry covers the Wonders of Iceland museum, a real 100-metre ice cave, volcano and earthquake displays, Northern Lights exhibits, and the observation deck.

“had a wonderful time....all the people were very helpful and full of knowledge.....an excellent time”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 493 reviews · 1 day · from $34

Walk among life-size models of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters, including the blue whale and sperm whale. Explore anatomy and conservation displays, listen to an audio guide in 17 languages, and watch films in the Fin Whale Theatre, including Whale Wisdom narrated by Sir David Attenborough and Sonic Sea narrated by Rachel McAdams.

“An interesting visit about the giants of the Ocean. The museum give informations about lot of whales thanks to the panels and audioguide available in many languages. I loved this experience !”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 432 reviews · 365 days · from $20Best value

Visit Reykjavík’s National Museum and trace Iceland from Settlement Age ship to modern airport. See a year 1000 Thor figure, medieval church art, the first Icelandic Bible, and about 2,000 objects. Your ticket includes an audio guide in 10 languages, Wi-Fi, temporary exhibitions, and 365 days of validity.

“Spent about an hour and a half in the museum. Enjoyed all the exhibits Definitely worth it”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Aurora Reykjavík, The Northern Lights Center Museum Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 327 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33

At Aurora Reykjavík, you’ll explore northern lights myths and science, watch a 30-minute 4K Iceland film, try 360-degree VR, and learn camera settings in a photo simulator. The self-guided visit takes about an hour and works especially well when summer daylight, clouds, or luck keep the real aurora out of reach.

“My solo traveling experience at Reykjavik’s Northern Lights Museum was fantastic. Self tour guide was great. Very informative information provided about northern lights from its history to discovery and how they are formed etc. Virtual reality experience was okay could have been bigger in room space instead of sitting down better to stand up to look around a full 360 VR Experience. Make sure you pick up a copy and purchase your Blu-Ray souvenir disc of Nortthern Lights actually recorded in Iceland for a memorable keepsake! Worth checking out!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Lava Centre Interactive Volcano Exhibition

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 209 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $43

At Lava Centre near Vik, you move at your own pace through an English-language exhibition on Iceland’s volcanoes, earthquakes, and magma plume. Expect hands-on displays, an earthquake simulator, eruption films, and a rooftop viewing deck. Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours, and arrive early if you want quieter access to each station.

“Very interesting exhibition. We stopped here on our way to see some waterfalls, to learn a bit of history of the area, the different type of volcanos and terrain, and the seismic activity of Iceland. The museum is very nicely done. Their facilities and restaurants are also great, and a good place to stop if the weather turns around and you need a place to stay dry.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Ancient Historical Site Tour at the Caves of Hella

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 191 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Visit four ancient man-made caves at Ægissíða near Hella with an English-speaking local guide. Hear stories about Icelandic history, hidden cave uses, and a likely early Christian church. The tour lasts about an hour, costs $55.65, and usually runs as a group of up to 30 people.

“Absolutely amazing experience! To be able to visit and witness history pre-viking Era is incredible. Our tour guide, Stefan, was extremely knowledgeable and threw in humor and story telling throughout the tour. I hope more of the history, and other caves, are eventually explored. But for now, I appreciate that this family has done such an excellent job at keeping the history alive and preserved.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 189 reviews · 1 day · from $28

Visit Reykjavik’s family-owned Phallological Museum, home to more than 300 specimens from 120 species. The English-language exhibits explain phallology in a playful, unusual setting. Admission also gives you access to the Phallus Café and Bistro, where you can order penis-shaped waffles, cocktails, and local beer. Food and drinks cost extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Whale Watching Tour, Whales of Iceland Exhibition

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 187 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $123

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor into Faxafloi Bay aboard a large whale-watching boat, with thermal overalls, WiFi, and an English-speaking guide. Look for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises, then visit Whales of Iceland’s 23 life-size models. Guides such as Lucas, Daniel, Oskar, and Ivan have all led memorable trips.

“A wonderful trip by Special Tours. We met at the office about 40 mins before the expected tour as we needed to ensure my disabled daughter could manage gang plank and secure a seat. We opted for a seat upstairs to get the best views. The tour took around 3 hours and we spotted a dolphin and humpback as well as a seal. My daughter is fanatical (or fin-atical) about whales and this was the reason for our trip to Iceland. This made her trip! Tour guides were knowledgeable although a little difficult to hear as so windy. Top tip: layers,layers, layers! It is very cold up top but so…”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Saga Museum – Entrance ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 110 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $32

Spend 45 minutes to two hours at Reykjavik’s Saga Museum, where lifelike figures recreate Icelandic saga scenes and historic events. Follow the audio guide in English or six other languages, learn about Leif Eiriksson and Snorri Sturlusson, then try Viking clothing, armor, and weapons. Entry costs $32, with free admission for children under six.

“Great origin/making of story of the museum. Fantastic staff especially the guy in the gift shop. Interesting exhibit with 30-minute guided audio tour. Outstanding figures with crazy realistic eyes. Worth it and not too busy in the middle of a beautiful October Monday.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Skip the Line: The National Museum of Iceland Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 95 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Visit Reykjavik’s National Museum of Iceland with a pre-booked mobile ticket. Follow Iceland’s story from the first settlers through modern times, see Viking-era and religious artifacts, and use the museum’s audio tour and free Wi-Fi. Admission also includes free entry to the former Culture House, Safnahúsið.

“This was a great way to learn and immerse our family in Icelandic history, lore and culture. An added bonus for us on Christmas Eve morning was a special Christmas show where children participated and sang. We don't know the Icelandic language, but could definitely feel the spirit in the cheer and music!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition: Entry and Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 88 reviews · 1 day · from $21

Visit the Hellisheiði Geothermal Energy Exhibition, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík, and learn how Iceland turns underground heat into electricity and hot water. Your self-guided audio tour includes interactive displays, films, viewing platforms, and the Carbfix room. Bring headphones and a charged phone, then stay as long as you like during opening hours.

“Great. It was a very enlightening tour that gave me an insight of how Iceland was making great use of it's geothermal energy. This technology should be encouraged in a lot of other countries which have geothermal power.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Volcano Exhibition and Cinema – Lava Centre Iceland

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 66 reviews · 1 day · from $42

At Lava Centre in southern Iceland, you’ll trace the forces that built the country through hands-on displays, a simulated earthquake, eruption footage, and a viewing deck facing Hekla, Katla, and Eyjafjallajökull. The visit is self-guided, wheelchair accessible, and usually takes about an hour, though your ticket is valid for the day.

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Saga Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 53 reviews · 1 day · from $33

At Reykjavik’s Saga Museum, you’ll follow a 35-minute audio-guided route through 20 lifelike scenes from Iceland’s settlement, Viking Age, civil war, and Reformation. Hear the stories in seven languages, then try on Viking clothing and handle replica weapons in the costume area. The museum is compact, wheelchair accessible, and easy to visit by car.

“As everything in Iceland, the cost was very high as compared to other European countries and the USA. The museum was nice, but very small, and not terribly interesting”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 49 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $30

At The Settlement Center in Reykjavik, you’ll use a mobile ticket and self-guided audio headset to explore two exhibitions: Iceland’s first settlers and Egill Skalla-Grímsson, the Viking poet at the heart of Egils Saga. Plan about an hour, and bring children along for the multimedia displays.

“There are two parts to the tour, with an upstairs and downstairs. There’s a very helpful person at the beginning to give you your headphones and an iPod mini that has the tour in many languages. The upper floor with a history of Iceland was interesting but a little difficult to follow. The tour below with the saga was much more dramatic and entertaining. This is a nice stop if you were visiting the country for the first time.”

Check availability →Read our full review