Reykjavik · MUSEUMS
14 reviewed
This is the shortlist we’d hand a friend flying into Keflavik: the 14 museum experiences worth booking, each with its price, its traveller verdict, and the one thing to know before you commit.
Visit Perlan in Reykjavik for an indoor ice cave, volcano and aurora planetarium shows in 8K, plus a 360 viewpoint.
“It was an amazing aurora show and lava show. Must do!”
Reykjavik by double-decker hop-on hop-off bus plus timed entry to Perlan, with 360 views, ice cave, and volcano and glacier exhibits.
“Great virtual experience of Iceland in n the Perlan Museum”
Visit Whales of Iceland in Reykjavík to see life-size whale models, interactive exhibits, and included documentary screenings in the Fin Whale Theatre.
“It was a very interesting to learn about the noise pollution underwater, very educational and eye opener of what is happening in the oceans. The documentary is highly recommended.”
Skip the line at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik, with a 10-language audio guide and exhibits from Viking times to today.
“Great opportunity to get to know a bit more about Iceland’s history.”
Aurora Reykjavík in Reykjavik brings the northern lights indoors with 7-meter projections, 4K timelapse, 360 VR, and photo tips.
“If you’re visiting Iceland in summer, you won’t have an opportunity to catch them in nature, but you will see them here without any weather concerns. The museum is small but it packs in a lot of history and facts about the northern lights from mythology to science facts. You can listen as you go through QR codes, learn how to photograph the aurora, see a film showing off the aurora all over Iceland and have a VR experience. Definitely worth a look.”
Skip the line for Reykjavik’s Phallological Museum, see 300-plus specimens from 120 species, then grab themed drinks at the Phallus Café.
Whale watching from Reykjavik Old Harbor in Faxaflói Bay, then learn with Whales of Iceland VR and 23 life-size models. 3.5 hours.
“Experience was amazing! Ivan was a fabulous guide. Very knowledgeable and he trained us how to spot the whales ourselves. Exciting time aboard with everyone pointing out minke whales and white beaked dolphins on all sides of the boat. Watching Northern Gannet birds dive-bombing into the water to hunt was hilarious. Highly recommend this tour!!”
Visit Saga Museum in Reykjavik’s old harbour for an audio-guided walk through Icelandic sagas, lifelike dioramas, and Viking dress-up.
“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.”
Skip-the-line mobile ticket for Reykjavik’s National Museum of Iceland. Pre-booked entry, English options, plus free Safnahus access.
“The staff was helpful and friendly and the ticketing went well . The museum is super interesting . I saw many cool artifacts surrounding Iceland’s history”
A 35-minute headset tour through a life-like Icelandic sagas wax museum in Reykjavik, plus Viking dress-up and 20 exhibits.
“As everything in Iceland, the cost was very high as compared to other European countries and the USA. The museum was nice, but very small, and not terribly interesting”
Reykjavik’s Settlement Exhibition with Egils Saga audio tour, early Viking stories, and multimedia for families in about an hour
“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.”
Go whale watching from Reykjavik, then visit the Whales of Iceland exhibition with giant models, interactive science, and a flexible ticket.
“Very cold and the sea was choppy but to be expected in the Atlantic. We go to see whales and dolphins.”
Golden Circle from Reykjavik with Perlan ice cave and Árora aurora planetarium, plus Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir. 10-hour tour.
“Great day out (although tiring, unless you’re fit) Tour guide Sonny was awesome, so informative about not only the trip but about Iceland in general! Eugene the driver was very considerate and a generally nice guy. Long day but the sights and information were enough for us! The national park was great with some fabulous views (one couple opted to stay there and not get back on the bus!). Geysir was a fabulous spectacle although trying to get a great picture/ video when it went off was tricky. The waterfall was amazing, truly a sight to see with some fantastic views. Finished at the Perlan museum which was great, we…”
Reykjavik whale watching plus free Whales of Iceland museum. Hunt for minke and humpback whales, then explore 23 species inside.
“The gentleman narrating was knowledgeable but a bit kitschy. We went out to the bay to see the two humpback whales that have been hunting there for past two weeks. Not much action from what another passenger said. Waters were calm but maybe we’d see a bit more out of the bay? The young gentleman taking the tickets was not welcoming bordering on rude. Not a good face for the company. The saving grace were the passengers! I made some good connections!”
