The 15 Best Museum Visits in Iceland

1.Perlan Museum Wonders of Iceland Entrance Ticket

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

Spend up to two hours exploring Perlan’s ice cave, glacier displays, volcano exhibition, wildlife exhibits, underwater film, and Áróra northern lights show. Your ticket also includes the 360-degree observation deck, with a café and revolving restaurant available for food and drinks.

“Really great experience, my partner generally gets very bored when I drag him to museums on holiday but the amount of tech they used to make things more interactive kept him amused for 2 hours without any complaints. We were very lucky to meet 1 of the owners who was there working on some knew ideas to help get school kids interested in and learning about climate change, and his passion for his job really shone through. The ice cave was fantastic as were the views from the observation deck.”

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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 for a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket, with stops near Reykjavík’s center, waterfront, and Perlan. Your timed Perlan admission covers the Wonders of Iceland exhibits, including a real ice cave, volcano simulation, Northern Lights display, and observation deck.

“We enjoyed the bus tour was a great way to get around and the perlan museum was really interesting and have a new lava experience which was very cool aswell as the ice cave which was amazing to see”

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3.Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket

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

Walk among more than 25 life-size whale models representing 23 species found in Icelandic waters. Use the audio guide in 17 languages, explore interactive displays, and watch Whale Wisdom, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, or Sonic Sea in the Fin Whale Theatre.

“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 for a self-guided journey from the Settlement Age to modern Iceland. See a year 1000 figure of Thor, medieval church art, Iceland’s first printed Bible, photographs, and about 2,000 artifacts. Audio guides, Wi-Fi, and temporary exhibitions are included.

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

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5.Aurora Reykjavík, The Northern Lights Center Museum Visit

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

At Aurora Reykjavík, explore the science and folklore of the Northern Lights, watch a 30-minute 4K Iceland film, try 360-degree VR, and learn to read forecasts and set your camera. The self-guided visit takes about an hour and works especially well when weather or summer daylight hides the real aurora.

“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!”

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6.Lava Centre Interactive Volcano Exhibition

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

Spend about 1 to 1.5 hours at Iceland’s Lava Centre, an English-language, self-paced exhibition on volcanoes, earthquakes, and the forces beneath Iceland. Feel simulated seismic movement, watch eruption footage, visit the rooftop observatory, and choose your own pace with a mobile ticket.

“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.”

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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, an English-speaking guide leads you into four ancient man-made caves on a working farm. Expect short walks, chilly cave interiors, local stories, and possible highlights such as a cave believed to have served as an early Christian church. Guides may include Stefan, Hanna, or Palm.

“To be honest I was not really looking forward to visiting the Caves of Hella. Having said that, I think they need to change the marketing as I was not aware that one of the caves is likely the oldest manmade structure in Iceland and the fact that it's a Christian church. As one of the 2.4B Christians on the planet, learning about the origins of the church was super interesting. If I was managing the Caves of Hella I would change the marketing and target the Christian community that would be super interesting in learning more about 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, skip-the-line access, and English assistance. See more than 300 phallus specimens from 120 species, learn about phallology, then order penis-shaped waffles, cocktails, or local beer at the on-site café. Food and drinks cost extra.

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9.Whale Watching Tour, Whales of Iceland Exhibition

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

Take a guided boat trip from Reykjavik Old Harbor into Faxafloi Bay, watching for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Then visit Whales of Iceland, where 23 life-size models, audio guides, videos, and virtual reality bring Iceland’s marine life close.

“The tour guide Jonathan was knowledgeable and was interesting as well.”

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10.Saga Museum – Entrance ticket

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

Step into Reykjavik’s Saga Museum for a self-guided journey through Iceland’s early history. An audio guide in seven languages explains 20 lifelike scenes featuring Leif Eiriksson, Snorri Sturlusson, and Ingolfur Arnarson. You can also try Viking clothing, armor, and weapons.

“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.”

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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

Use your mobile ticket to enter Reykjavik’s National Museum of Iceland and follow the country’s story from the first settlers to modern times. Expect artifacts, religious objects, photographs, textiles, free Wi-Fi audio, lockers, a café, and free admission to the old Culture House.

“Very interesting, worth a visit on local history and some Viking historic items, nice gift shop for a souvenir and a nice cafe.”

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12.Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition: Entry and Audio Tour

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

Visit Iceland’s Hellisheiði geothermal power plant, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík, for a self-guided audio tour in English or Icelandic. Interactive exhibits explain geothermal power, the production process, and Carbfix carbon storage. Plan on about an hour, or stay longer 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.”

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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, follow the forces that built the island, watch recent eruptions in the cinema, feel a simulated earthquake, and scan the horizon from the observation deck. English and Icelandic hosts are available, and the exhibition is wheelchair accessible.

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14.Saga Museum Entry Ticket

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

At Reykjavik’s Saga Museum, you follow a 35-minute audio tour through 20 lifelike wax scenes, from the Papar and first Viking settlers to Leif the Lucky, the Parliament, the civil war, and the Reformation. Finish by trying on Viking clothing and handling replica weapons.

“We received a warm welcome. the museum was thoroughly enjoyable and very informative. The figures were very life-like.”

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15.Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket

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

At The Settlement Center, your mobile ticket includes admission and a self-guided audio-headset tour in multiple languages. See how Iceland’s first settlers arrived, then follow the dramatic story of Egill Skalla-Grimsson, a Viking, poet, and saga hero, through two multimedia exhibitions.

“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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