Þjóðminjasafn - The National Museum of Iceland

Visit the modern national museum of Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland, located next to the University of Iceland campus, features a main exhibit of more than 2000 artifacts from around Iceland and illustrates Iceland’s rich history, from medieval times through to current contemporary culture.

The most famous piece in the museum’s collection is the Valþjófsstaður door, a carved pine door dating to 1150 AD. The intricately carved medieval church door depicts a Lion-Knight legend, where a knight slays a dragon to free a lion. It is the sole Icelandic carved door in existence to contain runic script carvings.

The museum is open daily from May to September. It has restricted opening hours for the rest of the year. You'll find the National Museum at Suðurgata 41.