Things to do in Iceland, Iceland: The Best History Museums

Bustarfell museum is an ancient manor, and one of the largest estates in Vopnafjorður. The same family has lived in Bustarfell since 1532. The turf house has a long and complex history, as the structures have been adapted to changing conditions. As seen today, the Icelandic turf house is the product of centuries of interactions between Icelandic nature and the trends of different periods. Like other turf structures, the farmhouse at Bustarfell has evolved over the centuries. The oldest part of the present building dates from after a disastrous fire in 1769. The Hjaleigan Cafe, adjacent to the old farmhouse is open daily during the summer season. The museum is open daily through the summer, 10:00 – 17:00.

Dear traveler, we regret to announce that as of March 18, Tales from Iceland will be closed until further notice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Pálshús, the new location of the Nature Museum in Ólafsfjördur, a new permanent exhibition called "The Desire to Fly" has been set up. This exhibition covers Icelandic bird flora and examines the human desire to take flight. Pálshús is one of the oldes houses in Ólasfjördur. Exhibition of Magnús Gamalíelsson marine indudstry has also been set up, as he played a large role in the community.

Árbær Open Air Museum - A day out of time Reykjavík's open-air museum, where you can stroll through the past and experience the way we lived. Fun, fascinating and full of surprises, this living museum takes you on a journey through time. Reykjavík's early history is preserved in a series of lovingly-restored homes, where you'll encounter costumed guides, grazing animals and traditional crafts. Exhibitions, demonstrations and tours reveal how Reykjavík came to life, from a few scattered farms to a vibrant capital city. JUNE - AUGUST Open daily 10 AM - 5 PM. SEPTEMBER - MAY Open daily 1 PM - 5 PM. Daily guided tours in English, all year round, at 1 PM - no booking necessary. No guided tours on Dec 25, Jan 1, Good Friday & Easter Sunday. Árbær Open Air Museum is part of Reykjavík City Museum: One museum in five unique places. Welcome!

Reykjavík City Museum engaging journeys through culture, heritage and history. Five unique places that take you beyond the shore and below the ground. Five museum experiences that cover the Settlement to the contemporary moment. And five fun and engaging ways to enjoy Reykjavík’s exciting cultural heritage. The museum sites are: Árbær Open Air Museum, The Settlement Exhibition & Aðalstræti 10, Reykjavík Museum of Photography, Reykjavík Maritime Museum and Viðey Island. All museum sites are family friendly. Four of the museum sites are within walking distance of downtown Reykjavík, while the Árbær Open Air Museum is only a fifteen-minute-drive from the city centre. The ferry to Viðey Island leaves from the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík.

Skogar Museum, in Skogar, Southern Iceland, is a cultural heritage collection of 15,000 artifacts exhibited in 3 museums and 6 historical buildings. It's one minute from Skogar Waterfall, just off Ring Road 1. Skogar Museum is open 365 days of the year, and we look forward to your visit! Hours: June, July, August 9:00-18:00, September through May 10:00-17:00. The Folk Museum includes agricultural and fishery tools, boats and maritime gear, textiles and costumes, musical instruments, rare books and manuscripts, natural history, and fascinating Icelandic curiousities. The Open Air Museum includes a traditional turf farmstead, a 19th century gabled farm home, a home crafted from ship wrecked driftwood, a multi denominational church assembled from 16 regional churches, and of course a miniature turf home for elves. The Transport and Communications Museums document technologies transforming rural south coast farmsteads into a network of modern communities, with an exemplary collection of automobiles, trucks, highway machinery, telecommunication, radio, and rescue team equipment used over the last century.

The Settlement Center is closed until May 13th. Looking forward to seeing you. Settlement- & Egils Saga exhibition offering a wealth of information, the Settlement Center provides a wonderful insight into Iceland’s history. It also gives you the chance to put your visit into the context of the country’s past. The exhibitions recreate the fascinating drama of the sagas and the birth of this island nation. They also bring to life one of Iceland’s most important cultural treasures, Egils Saga. The exhibitions at the Settlement Center tell the story of the first settlers and the story of Iceland’s most important saga – Egils Saga. Egill Skalla-Grimson was a famous Viking and poet and his father and was one of the first settlers and his family settled at Borg near Borgarnes. The goal is to make the ancient sagas accessible to all ages.

The Settlement Exhibition - Step into the Viking Age. An open excavation where Viking ruins meet digital technology. Just below ground in downtown Reykjavik, this open excavation uncovers the city's Viking Age history. Discovered during building work, then carefully excavated, these remnants of the past are the earliest evidence of human settlement in the city. Family-friendly, including a children's activity area, this multimedia exhibition uses creative technology to immerse you in the Viking Age. Open daily 09:00-18:00 (9 am - 6 pm). Guided tours in summer on weekdays at 11:00. Address: Tryggvagata 15, 101 Reykjavik The Settlement Exhibition is part of Reykjavik City Museum: One museum in five unique places. Welcome!