For a city the size of Reykjavík, there’s definitely a lot going on (per capita, of course), and luckily for you, you’re holding (or scrolling through) an exhaustive list of hotspots worth your attention. Our cultural experts keep tabs on the town’s happenings, but not in a pretentious, professional way — they live here, so they are nothing but upfront about what’s a hit or a miss. 2025 was a great year for culture, with multiple new galleries popping up in Reykjavík, museums seriously levelling up, and some institutions going into hibernation. If you’re going to do anything cultural in Reykjavík, start with some of these.
Best Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum
Kistuhylur 14
The Árbær Open Air Museum (Árbæjarsafn) stands out for its scale and diversity. It certainly has everything: from traditional turf houses and buildings relocated from downtown Reykjavík in their entirety to an interactive exhibition on 20th-century toys, a varied event programme, and even renovation advice. “It’s a museum that you go to as a local quite regularly,” one panellist said. “They have just everything. You can spend six hours there easily.”
Runner Up:
Museum of Design and Applied Art
Garðatorg 1, 210 Garðabær
Kids love the Design Museum (Hönnunarsafn Íslands) for its regular workshops — from New Year hats to prints, ceramics, knitting, you name it. Beyond being a family favourite and a gift shopping spot (thanks to a superb shop), the museum offers a strong overview of a century of Icelandic design, alongside short-term exhibitions, like the recent ones on Barbie or the best book design. Yes, it’s in Garðabær, but as one panellist said, “If people really like it [design], they will go there. Take, Louisiana Museum, for example. It’s so far away from Copenhagen, but you still go there.”
Runner Up:
The National Museum of Iceland
Suðurgata 41
Whether you’re a history buff, a first-time visitor, or drawn in by distinctive architecture, the National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands) offers an expansive look at how this young nation was formed. Artefacts span all periods of Icelandic history, including some haunting human remains. Be sure to check the temporary exhibitions — recent highlights include one where Einar Falur Ingólfsson stepped into the shoes of Iceland’s first photographer, Sigfús Eymundsson, and another on the history of dogs and cats in Iceland.
Previous Winners:
2025: Árbær Open Air Museum
2024: National Museum of Iceland
2023: National Museum of Iceland
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