National Museum of Iceland★★
10:00–17:00 (ganzjährig, montags geschlossen im Winter)
Erwachsene: 2.500 ISK (17€). Unter 18: kostenlos
1,200 Years of Icelandic History
The Þjóðminjasafn Íslands (National Museum) near the University of Reykjavík tells the complete history of Iceland from the Viking Age to today — and is surprisingly modern and well-curated. The permanent exhibition „Þjóðveldið til lýðveldis" (From Commonwealth to Republic) guides you chronologically through the epochs:
- Viking Age (874–1262): Original swords, jewelry, tools, and the famous Bronze Door from Valþjófsstaður (around 1200) — one of Iceland's most significant medieval artworks with scenes from chivalric romance
- Middle Ages & Foreign Rule: Church art, the harsh life under Danish rule, plague, and volcanic catastrophes
- Modern Era: Independence movement, the fishing revolution, the NATO base in Keflavík, the 2008 financial crisis
Particularly impressive: The original manuscripts of the sagas, old looms, and the replica of a Viking longhouse. The museum also has an excellent section on Icelandic textile art — the famous Lopapeysa knit sweaters have their historical context here.
