First, the museum has a lot to offer and see; the experience can be tiring. Thankfully, there is an audioguide included in the ticket price which is very helpful. Secondly, I would advise you to consider creating your own 'track' based on your preferences (e.g., culture, art, history, everyday life, etc.). There was a very interesting possibility to take a special queer-themed route through the exhibition which allowed me to see Iceland from yet another perspective. Highly recommended if you do not have much time to spend in Iceland, yet want to have a general understanding of the historic development.

Informative history of Iceland. Good chronological walk through the history and culture of Iceland with some interesting pieces on display including tools and weapons from the first settlers. Particularly enjoyed description of iron ore extraction and conversion to ignots. Work th going but like so much in Iceland it’s quite expensive!

The permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Iceland covers the original settling of the country and the subsequent history. Unlike many countries on the planet, Iceland was not colonized by European settlers; there were no indigenous peoples here. Instead, folks of Norwegian and Anglo-Saxon descent traveled across the sea in the eighth or ninth century and decided to set up a home in this isolated land. The museum has artifacts from the earliest centuries, including materials from the longboats, tools, housing materials, and more. The exhibit then walks you through the history of the country, century by century. Probably the most interesting part of the history deals with the coming of Christianity and how this religion grew and was syncretized with other so-called pagan faiths. The modern era material is perhaps less compelling, although a few items on the countries involvement in WWII and the "cod wars" with the UK provide some amusement. By the time I got to this section, probably 90 minutes in to my tour, my brain had turned off. History buffs will likely love this. I found it good, and well curated, but perhaps a little too detailed to be truly fascinating for the average person.

A nicely laid out museum about a 20 minute walk from the centre of Reykjavík. It costs about £20 per person to get in, and this seems to be a fairly standard rate for all the museums we visited. There are lockers downstairs to leave your daysack in (if like us you have one). The displays are great but do focus a lot on the Christian influences in Iceland. There is a small section as you enter the main display area which are more ‘Viking era’, and this includes the fantastic Eyrarland Statue which may represent Thor. I also really enjoyed seeing the rebuilt wooden house that was in use until the 1950s. There is a cafe downstairs and the shop had some interesting books and souvenirs. Worth a visit but don’t expect a lot of Viking era displays. Note - one of the reasons for visiting Iceland was having read the Sagas and Prose Edda et al. So I do have a bias.

Fascinating museum documenting the history of Iceland's colonisation and life in Iceland through the post medieval and modern periods. The exhibits are laid out in chronological order starting on the second floor and moving up to the third. We had a coffee/pastry/chess break between the second and third floors (there is a cafe on the ground floor with the gift shop). There was a fair amount of Viking era archaeological artefacts and info, including a couple of burials, then a large amount of early Christian artefacts, fabrics and manuscripts. The top floor continued from around the 16th century into the modern era, with some fascinating magical/ritual objects and reconstructions of a house and a whaling boat. There is a free audio guide and a pdf which are highly recommended for additional information, but every exhibit is described in English as well as Icelandic.

I didn’t know what to expect from this museum and it doesn’t look much from the outside, but I was pleasantly surprised! Lots of interesting information about how Icelanders used to live and settlers. The temporary photo exhibition was great. The artifacts from the past were interesting and the replica bath house.

We chose to visit here rather than some of the other museums in Reykjavik mainly based on cost. We are so pleased we did. This museum is well presented and gives a comprehensive history of the country with lots of information to read and exhibits to look at. There were plenty interactive displays and several aimed at younger visitors. The staff were all friendly and welcoming. We had a drink and cake at the cafe, which was reasonably priced. In terms of price, children under 17 are free, and students less than half adult price. We really enjoyed our visit and would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Reykjavik.

The museum is a 11 minute walk from the Settlement Exhibition. Like all the museums in Iceland, this is a small museum comprising of two floors that sheds light on the history of Iceland; how it began, the original settlers, paganism, the rise and fall of Christianity, how the country became predominantly Lutheran, and the modern Iceland as we know it now. It was informative, interesting, and history fans will enjoy this, as I did. I didn't know much about Iceland but after visiting the museum, I know LOTS! There are some great artifacts on display, especially the religious objects. The price of admission is fair (for Iceland) and a good place to while away an hour or two.

This museum presents a comprehensive summary of the history of Iceland. There are lots of artifacts, displays, explanations and recreations for you to enjoy. If you are into this type of educational, historical museum, then this is the place for you. Very high quality, but a bit dry. If you want something better for kids and interactive entertainment, the Perlan museum has more.

We visited the National Museum of Iceland. The museum displays objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history. The National Museum of Iceland was established on 24 February 1863, with Jón Árnason the first curator of the Icelandic collection, previously kept in Danish museums.