National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavik

National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavik (must see)

The National Museum of Iceland was founded on February 24, 1863, and its first curator was J贸n 脕rnason. This museum housed the Icelandic collection, which had previously been kept in Danish museums. The second curator, Sigur冒ur Gu冒mundsson, pushed for the establishment of an antiquarian collection. Initially, the museum was known as the Antiquarian Collection, but in 1911, its name was changed to the National Museum of Iceland. It didn't have a permanent location until 1950 when it moved to Su冒urgata. Prior to that, it was located in various attics in Reykjav铆k, including the Culture House attic, where it stayed for 40 years.

The museum's permanent exhibition focuses on Icelandic history and boasts approximately 2,000 artifacts. One standout piece in this exhibition is the Val镁j贸fssta冒ur door, which features a famous carving depicting a version of the Lion-Knight legend. In this legend, a knight defeats a dragon, ultimately freeing a lion that becomes his loyal companion.

The National Museum of Iceland provides a comprehensive look at Iceland's history, spanning from ancient times to the present day, presented in an engaging and visually appealing manner. The museum's collection includes Viking weaponry, sailing vessels, clothing, religious artifacts, and even a recreated Icelandic house. For those interested in more recent history, there is a collection of modern items, including a copy of Bjork's very first album, recorded when she was just 11 years old. Visitors can also have some fun in the costume room, where they can try on clothing from different periods in Icelandic history.

Tip:
Free entry included with Reykjavik City Card; there are free lockers; set aside 1.5-2.5 hours here.
There are free guided tours at 11am each Saturday, and it is recommended that you join one of these tours to gain a better understanding.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Reykjavik. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: National Museum of Iceland
Sight Location: Reykjavik, Iceland (See walking tours in Reykjavik)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Reykjavik, Iceland

Create Your Own Walk in Reykjavik

Creating your own self-guided walk in Reykjavik is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Reykjavik Historical Buildings Tour

Reykjavik, although primarily famous as a base from which to explore the rest of Iceland, is surprisingly full of unique historic locations, many of which are off the beaten path and thus not overrun with tourists. In fact, unless you're accompanied by a historian or knowledgeable local, you can easily walk right past them and not realize their historical importance.

Relatively small in... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

Reykjavik Introduction Walking Tour

Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland. Located close to the Arctic Circle, it is the world's northernmost capital. This charming, eclectic destination is the center of Iceland's economy, culture, and government.

Reykjav铆k is considered to be Iceland's first settlement. According to ancient texts, Norseman Ingolfr Arnarson was drawn to Reykjav铆k's natural harbor and... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles

51爆料网