Natural gem in West Iceland Snaefellsjökull National Park is one of Iceland’s most well-known natural areas, where breathtaking scenery, diverse wildlife and geological wonders form a unique whole. The national park encompasses Snæfellsjökull glacier and vast lava and coastal areas that have fascinated visitors for decades. Visitor Centres and Services There are two visitor centres in the area that provide …
The Akranes Folk Museum
Living Cultural Heritage of Akranes The Akranes Folk Museum at Garðar has in recent years become one of the town’s main attractions. The museum offers a unique experience for everyone – even for those who do not usually consider themselves museum enthusiasts. Here, the history of settlement, industry and daily life south of Skarðsheiði is brought vividly to life. Main …
The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum
At the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum in Bíldudalur, the long‑lived Westfjords sea‑monster tales are preserved and presented. The stories of encounters between people and monsters are told in a fresh and exciting way. The playful design of the exhibition has delighted visitors and often exceeded expectations. Sea Monsters Around Iceland and in the Westfjords Many sea monsters around Iceland have …
The Akranes Lighthouse
A Symbol of West Iceland The Akranes Lighthouse stands at the western tip of Akranes and is one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks. There are two lighthouses: the older one was built in 1918 on Suðurflös, designed by Thorvald Krabbe, and is one of Iceland’s oldest concrete lighthouses. It is square, painted white and 10 metres tall. Its original …
War and Peace Museum
The Story of the Allied Occupation in Hvalfjörður The War and Peace Museum in Hvalfjörður tells the remarkable story of the Allied forces stationed in Iceland during the Second World War, with exhibitions showcasing original artefacts from the period. The museum opened in 2012 and has since become a popular destination for both Icelandic and international visitors. The exhibition traces …
Hnjótur Museum
The Egill Ólafsson Museum at Hnjótur in Örlygshöfn preserves a unique collection of artefacts that offer insight into the history of seafaring, agriculture and daily life in the southern Westfjords. The Hnjótur Museum was founded in 1983 and is today a popular destination for travellers. History and Foundation Egill Ólafsson began collecting objects related to life and work in the …
The Sheep Farming Museum
A lively cultural Centre in Sævangur The Sheep Farming Museum in Strandir is a lively cultural centre located in Sævangur by Steingrímsfjörður, founded in 2002. The museum is situated 12 km south of Hólmavík and offers a wide range of activities for the whole family. Sheep and Rural Life Their permanent exhibition, Sheep and Rural Life, explores sheep farming from …
The Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft
The Sorcery Exhibition in Hólmavík – Witch Trials, Folklore and Culture in Strandir At the Sorcery Exhibition in Hólmavík, visitors are introduced to one of the darkest periods in Icelandic history. The story of the 17th‑century witch trials is woven together with folklore and cultural heritage that lived on in people’s minds. More than 200 cases were brought forward in …
The Herring Era Museum
The largest maritime and industrial museum in Iceland The Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður is Iceland’s largest maritime and industrial museum. Across three distinct museum buildings, visitors discover the story of herring fishing and processing – the “silver of the sea” that shaped Iceland’s destiny in the twentieth century. The herring industry was so significant that people spoke of it …
The Institute of Archaeology
The Institute of Archaeology (Instarch) was established 1995. From the start the institute has aimed to provide high quality research and project outputs in Icelandic archaeology. It´s innovative survey technique has proved successful in Iceland by integrating place names, ethnography, historical documents, and archaeological information into a single database, Ísleif. The institute also aim to bridge the research and commercial …
The Cultural Heritage Agency
The main role of The Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland is to assure, so far as practicable, the preservation of cultural heritage in its natural environment, to facilitate and promote public access and knowledge of such heritage. Cultural heritage includes evidence of the nation’s history such as archaeological heritage, cultural landscape, church relics, memorials, buildings and other structures, ships and …
Viking World
The uniquely attractive Viking World houses the Viking ship, Íslendingur, built by the craftsman-captain, Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, who sailed it to New York in the year 2000. There are also three exciting exhibits and during summers, among other things is a ‘Settlement Zoo’ on the surrounding grounds. The Viking ship Íslendingur is an exact replica of the Gaukstad ship, and …
Múlastofa in Vopnafjörður
In the old house Kaupvangur in Vopnafjörður (from 1882), the cultural center of the village, is the interesting Múlastofa exhibition. It´s dedicated to two brothers from the region that were well known in Iceland in the latter half of the 20st century, Jónas and Jón Múli sons of Árni. Jón Múli (1921-2002) was known as a reporter on the Icelandic …
Westfjords Heritage Museum
The Westfjords Heritage Museum is situated at the tip of the small spit on which the town of Ísafjörður is located. The museum building is one of four 18th century houses that have been renovated and are now amongst the town’s biggest tourist attritions. The town of Ísafjörður was established and based on the fishing industry; therefore it is only …
Visit West Iceland
In West Iceland, there’s history at every footstep. Tour the Saga Trail in West Iceland and visit the sites of the Icelandic sagas and folk stories and notable historical events. Most of the Icelandic sagas were written in West Iceland, including Egil’s saga, Sturlunga saga, Laxdæla saga and Eyrbyggja saga, so “Sagaland” is an apt description for the region. In …
Hey Iceland
With over 30 years experience, Hey Iceland is a leading expert in guiding those wanting to travel through the Icelandic countryside. The company offers a range of self-drive packages, guided tours and day tours all year round, as well as a vast network of comfortable accommodation in scenic locations. The travel agency was founded by farmers in 1980, the Icelandic …
Saga Museum
At the height of the Age of the Sturlungs, chieftain Gissur Þorvaldsson raises his axe, ready to kill his arch enemy, Sturla Sighvatsson. With a crazed look in her eyes, explorer Freydís Eiríksdóttir slaps a sword against her naked breast to scare hostile “barbarians” in Vinland away. Law-speaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði lies under his fur blanket, racking his brain for a …
Skriðuklaustur Cultural Center
The drive along Fljótsdalur (“river valley”) is a bit like travelling back in time. Skriðuklaustur in Fljótsdalur valley is a historical site with the ruins of a 16th century monastery which was revealed in an archaeological excavation in the years 2002-2012. It was an Augustinian cloister, established around 1493 and in function until the reformation in 1550. The cloister was …
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 …
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 …
Thingvellir National Park
A Historic Heart of the Icelandic Nation Thingvellir National Park is one of Iceland’s most important historical sites. Here, the story of the nation and the land comes together in a unique way. The Alþingi, Iceland’s national assembly, was founded at Thingvellir in the year 930 and met here for nearly nine centuries. Many key events in Icelandic history took …
The Settlement Center
The Settlement Center in Borgarnes takes visitors on a magical journey through Egil’s saga and the story of Iceland’s settlement; two interesting exhibitions. The Egil´s exhibition is dedicated to Egill Skallagrímsson, poet, warrior, and one of the Icelandic sagas’ most colorful characters in the 10th century. The exhibition takes visitors through the magical and mythical storyline of Egil’s saga. Scenes …
Eiríksstaðir
Warm yourself up by the long fire in the reconstructed longhouse in Eiríksstaðir and listen to a storyteller in Viking clothing tell about the inhabitants. The place can be called the „cradle of new worlds“ because it was here that Eirik The Red built a farm and started a family with his wife Þjóðhildur. Eirik was later the first Norseman to settle …
The Leif Eiriksson Center
The Leif Eiriksson Center in Búðardalur in Dalir is edicated to explorer Leif the Lucky and his father Eric the Red. The exhibiton traces the Saga of the Greenlanders and the Saga of Erik the Red, documenting their discoveries of parts of Greenland and North America. According to the tale, Leif arrived in America in the year 1000 AD, about …
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 …
Glaumbær Museum
According to sources, a farm has existed on the land of Glaumbær since the Age of Settlement around 900 AD. One of its most famous residents was Snorri Þorfinnsson, the first European to be born in North America, around 1000. The present buildings vary in age; the most recent addition was built 1876-79 and the oldest in the mid-18th century. …
1238: The Battle of Iceland
Visit 1238 – The Battle of Iceland Virtual and Augmented Reality Museum, and participate in the largest battle in Iceland’s history. Step into history and participate in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir immersive exhibition that takes you through some dramatic and violent Icelandic Sagas in a new and exciting way! The VR museum is located in Sauðárkrókur in North Iceland, close …
Snorrastofa in Reykholt
Snorrastofa is an independent research centre established in 1995. The centre is located in Reykholt in western Iceland, the main residence of Iceland’s greatest medieval writer, poet, scholar and statesman, Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241). Its main task is to instigate and conduct research on the medieval period in general, and Snorri and his works in particular. It is one of Iceland’s …