Experience first-hand how green, sustainable energy is produced at one of the largest single-site geothermal power plant on the planet, Hellisheiði ON Power plant, located in a stunning setting surrounded by lava and moss. Visitors to The Geothermal Exhibition are presented with a unique and exciting opportunity to learn about the history of geothermal power and sustainable energy in Iceland. …
The Lava Tunnel
Explore the magnificent lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir, one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland. It is located just 30 minutes from Reykjavík and is easily accessed year round. The total length of the tunnel is an impressive 1360 m (4500 ft), the main tunnel being 900 m (3000 ft) long. The tunnel is up to 30 m wide …
Lava Show in Vík
Come and experience THE ICELANDIC LAVA SHOW in the heart of Vík, the charming town nestled in the midst of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, surrounded by volcanoes, glaciers, and black sand beaches. The building was originally built for the local grocery store but was renovated completely for the purpose of the lava show and restaurant inside with the aim of creating a modern …
Herjólfstown Westman Islands
Herjólfstown is a small exhibition inside a replica of one of the first stone houses in Iceland and tells the story about the first viking family that settled in Westman Islands around the year 900. The exhibition is based on the sources, stories and hypotheses that have existed, some scenarios and stories are certainly fictitious, but still possible based on …
Keldur Medieval Turf Farm
Keldur is a historic settlement where Jón Loftsson (1124-1197), the chief of the Oddaverjar clan, lived during the last years of his life. There is a medieval-type turf farm at the site, the only large turf farm that has been preserved in South Iceland. There is an underground tunnel leading from the hall, thought to date from the 12th or 13th …
Caves of Hella
Twelve man-made caves have been discovered on the land of Ægissíða by Hella on the South coast of Iceland. Four of them have been open to the public (guided tours only). The historical site is Iceland’s oldest still standing archaeological remains. Some believe the caves to date even further back than the settlement of the Nordic Vikings. The wonders …
Oddi in Rangárvellir
Oddi in Rangárvellir is one of the main historical sites in Iceland, and there has been a church there since in the 11th century. The most famous of the Oddi clan was Sæmundur ‘the wise’ Sigfússon (1056-1133), who studied in Paris. Various legends have been created about Sæmundur. Then he was probably the first Icelandic historian that wrote a book …
Skyrland in Selfoss
Skyrland exhibition is located in The Old Dairy, part of the newly opened Selfoss Centre. From the first settlers, struggling to survive the freezing winters, to the 21st century kitchen table, skyr is woven through the story of a nation. A journey of sights, scents and tastes, you’ll discover a 1000-year story of how a Viking dairy product became a …
Skansinn, Westman Islands
Skansinn is a fort built in 1586 to protect the Danish royal store on Heimaey island. However, it didn’t prevent the so-called Turkish raid in 1627, when pirates attacked the islands, capturing 242 people and selling them as slaves in Algeria. Decades later, some of them miraculously returned. At Skansinn there is also a stave church, a modern replica of …
Eldheimar – Volcano Museum
Imagine what it was like waking up in the middle of the night to a volcanic eruption in your town! Eldheimar, a volcano museum of remembrance in Westman-Islands, traces the story of the 1973 eruption with a powerful and moving interactive exhibition. Almost all the inhabitants of Heimaey, over 5.000 people, had to leave their homes in the middle of …
Sagnheimar, Westman Islands
Sagnheimar is a complex of museums scattered around town, including a folk museum and natural history museum. Inside the folk museum there is a pier where visitors can listen to stories of sea accidents, search and rescue, sailor songs, and observe a bait shed and a bird hunters’ hut. The museum gives a good insight into the unique history of …
Hornafjörður Museums
Within the Hornafjörður Cultural Center, there are the museums of the Municipality of Hornafjörður: the regional, maritime, and natural history museum, Svavarssafn- Art Museum, library and the district archives. Svavarssafn – Art museum. Svavar Guðnason, an abstract painter, was born in Höfn in Hornafjörður in 1909. He is considered one of the most important painters in Iceland in the 20th …
Thorbergur Museum in Hali
The Thorbergur Museum (Þórbergssetur) is dedicated to one of Iceland’s most prominent authors in the 20st century, Þórbergur Þórðarson (1888-1974). The centre is dedicated to his life and work, is easily recognizable due to the gigantic books that adorn one of its outside walls. It’s an adventurous place to visit for travellers of all ages. In addition to providing an …
Kirkjubaejarklaustur
In 1186, the Benedictine Convent in Kirkjubaer, now Kirkjubaejarklaustur, was established and it continued to operate until 1554. A folktale tells of disobedient nuns, who for their sins were supposedly burned on a natural rocky pedestal now called, Systrastapi. The waterfalls, Systrafoss and the lake, Systravatn, on the plain above town, are both named after the religious sisters. Archaeological research …
Skógar Museum
Skógar Museum actually includes three museum: Folk Museum, Open Air Museum and Technical Museum. The Open Air Museum has a large site, which includes examples of many periods of Icelandic architectural history. It´s forming a village, including an ancient turf farm, a school from the early 20th century and other historic houses. The diverse exhibitions inside the Folk Museum help visitors …
The Commonwealth Farm
The stately farm Stöng used to stand in the fertile Þjórsárdalur valley, until a disastrous eruption from volcano Hekla in 1104 destroyed it. However, the longhouse was preserved under layers of ash. When it was excavated and studied by archaeologists, it provided valuable historical information about life during the Icelandic Commonwealth in 11th–century Iceland. The Commonwealth Farm which is located …
Árnessýsla Heritage Museum
History comes to life at Árnessýsla Heritage Museum’s diverse exhibitions in Eyrarbakki, Southwest Iceland. The Museum is made up of different historical houses which tell the story of Eyrarbakki’s inhabitants. Eyrarbakki is on the edge of the Golden Circle. Húsið, or “The House,” earned this simple title because when it was constructed in 1765, it towered above the surrounding huts …
Skálholt
Experience Skálholt’s 1000-year history. Skálholt is Iceland’s first episcopal established in 1056. Skálholt served as the country’s capital for 750 years. It was a centre of administrative power, higher education and culture. Around the year 1200, over 100 people lived in Skálholt, making it the country’s first population centre. In the cathedral basement is an exhibition on Skálholt’s history by …
The Cave People
Laugarvatnshellar are manmade caves between Þingvellir National Park and Laugarvatn Lake on the Golden Circle. Their origin is somewhat of a mystery. They were possibly made by the Irish monks (called Papar) who lived in Iceland before the Norse settlers arrived in late 9th century. About 100 years ago, a young couple lived in the caves with their two children …
Þingvellir National Park
Visit Þingvellir National Park for stunning nature, geological wonders, history and culture. Iceland’s parliament, Alþingi, was established there in 930 AD. Þingvellir became a national park in 1930 and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 for its cultural significance. The Þingvellir area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, situated on the Eurasian and …