On a cold day at the beginning of January in 1830, a double beheading took place at Þrístapar (Triple Hillocks), when Agnes Magnúsdóttir and Friðrik Sigurðsson were executed. They had been sentenced to death for murdering Natan Ketilsson and Pétur Jónsson at the farm Illugastaðir, located on the west side of the Vatnsnes Peninsula. The slaying took place two years …
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 …
Lava Show in Reykjavík
LAVA SHOW recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava up to 1100°C (2000°F) and then pouring it into a showroom full of people. Once the lava enters the showroom, the temperature instantly rises and from the safety of their seats, our guests can clearly see, smell, hear and feel the intense heat from the lava. The lava originates from the 1918 …
Leader Sheep Centre
The Leader Sheep Centre in Þistilfjörður North-Iceland is unique. It is impossible to find a similar museum as Iceland is the only country in the world where Leader Sheep exists. The leadership-sheep breed and Icelandic sheep-herding have been joined by unbreakable bonds since the beginning of settlement in Iceland. They are known best for their leadership characteristics. The Leader Sheep …
Icelandic Sea Monster Museum
Tales of sea monsters have played a colourful role in Icelandic folk culture for centuries and thousands of written accounts can be found all around the country. Today, these elusive creatures that still appear in Arnafjörður have been given a worthy home at the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum, in Arnarfjörður fjord, proclaimed to be one of the most prolific centers …
Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft
The 17th century was a dark time in Iceland’s history when the horror of the European witchcraft craze swept over the country with accompanying persecution. Over 200 witchcraft cases arose and over 21 people were burned for witchcraft. The Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft combines the history of magic with knowledge about magic in Iceland and how it appears in …
The Arctic Fox Centre
The Arctic Fox Centre in Súðavík is a non-profit research and exhibition centre, focusing on the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland. It opened in 2010 in the rebuilt Eyrardalur House ( from 1896). It´s aim is to collect in one place all the knowledge, materials and objects related to the Arctic Fox in the …
The Old Smithy in Þingeyri
The history of The Old Smithy in Þingeyri, as it is now called, can be traced back to the year 1906, when Guðmundur J. Sigurðsson returned from mechanical engineering studies in Denmark. From there he brought new tools that were necessary for workshop operations. In 1913, together with the owner of the Gram-store at site, he founded Guðmundur J. Sigurðsson’s …
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 …
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 …
Museum of Prophecies
What does the future behold? Have your fortune told at the Museum of Prophecies in Skagaströnd in Northwest Iceland and learn about Þórdís the fortune-teller, the place’s first named inhabitant. Þórdís was not only known for her supernatural abilities, but she was also the foster mother of Þorvaldur the far traveller, Iceland’s first missionary, and her name appears in a …