National Museum of Iceland
Iceland’s principal history museum, tracing the country from settlement through the medieval period to modern Iceland.
About National Museum of Iceland
The National Museum of Iceland provides one of the most comprehensive introductions to Icelandic history anywhere in the country. Its permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation, uses more than 2,000 objects to tell the story from the settlement period through Christianity, life under foreign rule and the emergence of modern Iceland. Highlights include Viking Age artefacts and the remarkable medieval Valþjófsstaður church door.
Our practical tips
✓Give this at least two hours if you genuinely enjoy history.
✓Do not miss the medieval Valþjófsstaður church door.
✓Free audio guides are available in multiple languages.
✓This pairs especially well with the Settlement Exhibition.
Getting there and visiting
Access
Located at Suðurgata 41 near the University of Iceland.
Visit notes
As of August 2026, the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Adult admission is ISK 3,300.