6 Museum Visits in Iceland to Build a Day Around

1.Perlan Museum Wonders of Iceland Entrance Ticket

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

Spend up to two hours exploring Perlan’s Wonders of Iceland, including a real indoor ice cave, interactive nature exhibits, a volcano show, and the Áróra northern lights film in an 8K planetarium. Finish on the observation deck, with a café and revolving restaurant available on site.

“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.”

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

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

Start at Harpa Concert Hall and use a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass to see Reykjavík at your own pace. Stop at Perlan for a timed visit to the Wonders of Iceland museum, including its real ice cave, volcano and earthquake displays, northern lights presentation, and observation deck. Audio commentary is available in eight languages.

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

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3.Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket

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

At Whales of Iceland in Reykjavík, you’ll walk among life-size models of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters. Use the audio guide in 17 languages, explore hands-on displays, and watch films in the Fin Whale Theatre, including Whale Wisdom narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

“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 !”

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4.National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket

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

Visit Reykjavík’s National Museum of Iceland and follow the country’s story from the Settlement Age to today. You’ll see about 2,000 objects, including a year 1000 figure of Thor, medieval church art, and Iceland’s first printed Bible. Your ticket includes temporary exhibitions, Wi-Fi, and an audio guide in 10 languages.

“Great opportunity to get to know a bit more about Iceland’s history.”

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5.Aurora Reykjavík, The Northern Lights Center Museum Visit

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

Spend about an hour at Aurora Reykjavík, a self-guided museum devoted to the northern lights. Explore Arctic myths and aurora science, watch a 30-minute 4K film, try a 360-degree VR experience, and practice camera settings before your own northern lights hunt. Bring headphones for QR audio guides.

“We loved the exhibits and interactive displays. Sebastian was running the reception and the gift shop, and still managed to make us welcome at the conclusion of our visit.”

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6.Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition: Entry and Audio Tour

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

At Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík, you explore an operating geothermal power plant beneath Mount Hengill. Use your own smartphone and headphones for the English or Icelandic audio tour, follow interactive displays, visit the Carbfix room, and pause at indoor viewing platforms. Allow about an hour, or stay longer at your own pace.

“The Hellishedi Geothermal Exhibition was well worth the trip to get there and the entry fee. For those ignorant of the process (the vast majority, I expect) to extract thermal power and hot water from the earth, go straight to Exhibit Stop 9, Production Process, and spend sufficient time there to learn how the industrial process works and to fully appreciate the research, engineering, and money needed to succeed. Stop 9 will also better inform you of what you see at other stops. My only disappointment of the Exhibition is that we did not have a guided tour by an employee. I had thought we would have been provided a…”

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