The Settlement Exhibition

Local history museum · Reykjavik ·

The Settlement Exhibition

Local history museum · Reykjavik ·

Viking settlement museum with longhouse ruins and artifacts

Information

Aðalstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland Get directions

@afar

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"Settlement Exhibition Reykjavík’s Settlement Museum was established in 2001 after archaeological remains were discovered during an excavation. Said remains turned out to be the oldest relics of human habitation in the city, with some fragments dating to before 871 C.E. Today the museum hasmany of those finds on display, including the largest element from the historic haul, parts of a 10th-century longhouse, whose main hall and wall fragment form the focal point of a compelling exhibition about the nature oflocal life during Viking times. Mixing multimedia technology such as holographic dioramas with original artifacts from various excavations around the city (farming implements, sacrificial cow bones), the exhibition does a great job of bringing the Viking era to life."

The Best Things to Do in Iceland

Photo by Roman Gerasynenko

The Settlement Exhibition

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

What to Do in Reykjavik

Photo by Roman Gerasynenko

The Settlement Exhibition

thomas B.

Google

I learned a lot! Although made for kids, this museum was exceptionally educational (even more so than the national museum). It contains the actual archival ruins of pre Christian settlement house discovered under the town. Helps you understand how these early people actually lived here. Definitely worth your time!

Rosi Rapisarda G.

Google

The museum was very nice, with lots of interesting information and some really cool artifacts. Everything was well organized and easy to follow, which made the visit enjoyable. The only thing I would have liked is for it to be a bit more interactive, but overall it was a great experience.

Claudia S.

Google

I loved this museum! I am particularly interested in the settlement era of Iceland's history, so this was really interesting for me. There were LOTS interesting exhibits to read and explore. I spent a couple of hours there! I am disabled. The museum is wheelchair accessible with accessible bathrooms, although the museum floor itself is undulating. Be a little cautious. The museum is free for disabled people, but you have to ask. They don't seem to suggest this discount, no matter how disabled you look!

Eeli S.

Google

A nice fairly large museum with the original remains of viking stuff like a hall. Good experience. Very modern lots of info

Olga V.L. (Olga in I.

Google

I've been there at least 4 times, but they've made more stuff to see that I didn't see the last time I visited a few years ago (or maybe it was already there but I did not noticed it). Take some time to read everything, and learn how people used to live, during those difficult times. If you want to know about how Iceland evolved as a settlement, visit first this, and then Árbær open air museum (in that one they have a guided tour every day at 13h, which I totally recommend). Enjoy the exhibition!! ☺️

Tyler A

Google

I thought it was super cool seeing the ruins of the house and there were some pretty interesting artifacts and exhibits. This was the first museum that I went to in Reykjavik and I think it is great if you do it that way. If you go to the National Museum of Iceland before this one you might be slightly underwhelmed.

Yuan Y.

Google

The coolest part of the museum was the centrepiece Viking long house foundations. It was difficult to view in total due to the low ceiling (presumably because there's stuff on top of it), but otherwise the exhibit was well done. The other exhibits were all about the history of Reykjavik, which was presented in a fairly dry manner with minimal interaction and variety in the displays. The Settlement Exhibition cost as much as the National Museum of Iceland but had considerably less content.

Stacey B.

Google

As someone who loves to read and is really interested in history and culture, this place was really informative from the very first moment the Vikings arrived and how they decided where to settle to the changes over the years right up to 2020. Lots of pictures and is bigger than you think with an actual living quarters in the museum itself. We spent a good couple of hours here and there are toilet facilities. The only drawback was that there is nowhere to sit and eat/ buy drinks from, but they do allow you to come and go and are situated just by a square with the original pillars. With plenty of options to purchase food.