15 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.Lava Centre Interactive Volcano Exhibition

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

At Lava Centre near Iceland’s South Coast, you choose your entry time and explore at your own pace. Interactive displays explain volcano types, earthquakes, Iceland’s magma plume, and recent eruptions. Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the exhibits, film, earthquake simulator, and rooftop observation deck. English admission is provided by mobile ticket.

“Fantastic exhibitions and displays. Lava center provides wonderful walk-through exhibition and film detailing earthquake and volcano activity in Iceland. Good stop!”

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7.Ancient Historical Site Tour at the Caves of Hella

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

At Ægissíða near Hella, your English-speaking guide leads you through four of Iceland’s ancient man-made caves. Expect stories about the site, a cave believed to have served as an early Christian church, and a short walk across an active farm. The tour lasts about an hour, with time spent standing underground.

“Well worth the drive out from Rekyavik. Even better if you're driving the golden circle and book this just before you head out to the first stop. Bundle up because it's super chilly out at this site.”

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8.Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket

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

Visit Reykjavik’s family-owned Phallological Museum with admission to its collection of more than 300 phallus specimens from 120 species. Read about phallology, see donations from around the world, then stop at the Phallus Café and Bistro for penis-shaped waffles, cocktails, or locally brewed beer. English support is available, and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

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9.Whale Watching Tour, Whales of Iceland Exhibition

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

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay aboard a large whale-watching boat, with thermal overalls, guide commentary, and free repeat entry if no wildlife appears. Then visit Whales of Iceland’s 23 life-size models, audio guides, videos, and virtual reality displays. You can do the boat and museum in either order.

“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…”

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10.Saga Museum – Entrance ticket

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

At Reykjavik’s Saga Museum in the old harbour, you follow Iceland’s early story through about 20 lifelike scenes featuring Leif Eiriksson, Snorri Sturlusson, and Ingolfur Arnarson. An audio guide is available in seven languages, and you can try Viking armour and weapons. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, or longer if you read everything.

“Very well done. The history comes alive with the well made figures and the scenes they are set in. We really enjoyed it. The staff was very kind and helpful.”

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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 and skip-the-line entry. Allow about 90 minutes, though the displays can fill two hours. Follow Iceland’s story from the first settlers to modern times, then visit the former Culture House free of charge. English is offered, and the museum has Wi-Fi, lockers, a cafe, and a gift shop.

“The museum was nice. It was a good mixture of photography, textiles, historical artifacts and information. Nice place. Provides free lockers for backpacks so that was nice.”

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12.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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13.Volcano Exhibition and Cinema – Lava Centre Iceland

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

At Lava Centre in southern Iceland, you’ll explore the forces behind earthquakes, lava, black sand, geysers, and colorful mountains. Interactive displays explain Iceland’s 30 volcanic systems, while films show recent eruptions at Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Finish with views of Eyjafjallajökull, Katla, Hekla, and nearby volcanic islands.

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14.Saga Museum Entry Ticket

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

At Reykjavik’s Saga Museum, 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 dress as a Viking with period-style clothing and weapons. The museum is small, wheelchair accessible, and easy to visit independently.

“A brilliant museum with very friendly and helpful staff.”

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15.Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket

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

Visit The Settlement Center for a self-guided audio tour in two parts. Upstairs, follow Iceland’s early settlement story. Downstairs, experience Egils Saga, the tale of Viking, warrior, and poet Egill Skalla-Grímsson. Headsets and a mini iPod offer several language choices, making this a flexible stop for adults and children.

“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.”

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