A Family day out
Start the day by watching the reindeers of the Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo eat their breakfast! The Reykjavík Zoo doesn’t house lions or elephants, but rather common Icelandic barnyard animals and Icelandic animals such as arctic foxes, seals, and reindeer.
If the weather is nice, take the ferry out to Viðey island. For attractions on Viðey, check out p. 140-141.
Head over to the Árbær Open Air Museum. The old buildings, the costumed staff, and the toy exhibition are sure to keep the whole family entertained.
After a day of entertainment, there’s nothing better than relaxing in the hot tub while the kids splash in the pool and play in the waterslide. If you are done at Árbær Open Air Museum, hop on bus no 5 and head to Árbæjarlaug swimming pool.
If you have an extra day…
Head to the Reykjavík Maritime Museum for a chance to board Óðinn, the former coast guard vessel used during the Cod Wars. The National Museum is another great option, with interactive exhibitions and areas dedicated specially to kids.
The History Buff
If you want to get to know Icelandic history and culture, start at the beginning! Excavations have revealed ruins from the 10th century, which you can visit at the Settlement Exhibition.
From there, it’s a short walk to the National Museum. The permanent exhibition titled The Making of a Nation offers a sense of the evolution of the Icelandic nation through the centuries.
Next up is the Árbær Open Air Museum. This collection of historical buildings will give you a sense of what life was like in the farming community of days gone by.
Finish up a day of immersing yourself in Icelandic history by immersing yourself in a hot tub. They’re usually populated by several generations of Icelanders discussing politics, culture, their cats, and whatever else they can think of.
If you have an extra day…
Check out the Reykjavík Maritime Museum or the Culture House, where historical artefacts and works of art are exhibited together, for a new perspective on what it is to be an Icelander.
The Art Lover
Start the day off by going to the National Gallery, down by lake Tjörnin. The focus is on 19th and 20th century artists and with no permanent exhibition, there’s always something new to see!
The Reykjavík Art Museum is spread over three separate buildings. Do you want to see modern art at Hafnarhús, paintings at Kjarvalsstaðir, or sculptures at Ásmundarsafn?
If you choose Hafnarhús, the Reykjavík Museum of Photography is right next door. The exhibitions at the Museum of Photography are diverse; artistic, historic, as well as journalistic photography!
If you have an extra day…
Check out the locations of the Reykjavík Art Museum you missed, or head down to The Culture House.
Don’t forget that unlimited travel on the city buses is included in the City Card while the card is valid. Taking the bus between attractions is a convenient way to get around!
