Top Reykjavik Arts & Design

Dive into the fascinating history of the Icelandic nation at the National Museum of Iceland. The museum's permanent exhibition is a journey through time, featuring artifacts from the age of settlement to the present day. Ensure a hassle-free visit—and maximize your time on this gorgeous island—by booking advance museum tickets, which allow you to skip the ticket line, enter directly, and make the most of your valuable time.

As befits Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik has a vibrant street art scene, but it can be hard to find the gems. Benefit from your own private guide on this bespoke tour that takes in cityscapes from large murals to smaller pieces and covers Reykjavik’s creators too. Along the way, there’s time for a tasting of sweet treats, while your guide collects you from your address if it’s in the city center.

Experience the northern lights before you see them in real life with this exhibition in Reykjavik. You'll get to learn all about the history and significance of the northern lights, including the mythology around the Arctic. You'll also get to see what the lights look like using interactive displays and virtual reality and even watch a film projection of some of the best displays of the lights Iceland has ever seen.

The Saga Museum in Reykjavik is the place where key moments in Icelandic history are brought to life—a must-stop for any visitor interested in understanding this land. On this independent visit, explore the exhibits with your audio guide in hand, delving into over a thousand years of Icelandic civilization. From famous Vikings like Leif Eiriksson to historic poets like Snorri Sturlusson, you'll gain insight into what makes this small but mighty island nation so one of a kind.

Combine pre-booked admission tickets to the Perlan Museum’s Wonders of Iceland exhibition with a planetarium show, all thanks to this two-part, time-saving sightseeing package. Choose from a range of admission times throughout the day, make your own way to the Reykjavik museum, and explore immersive highlights like the world's first indoor ice cave. Then, watch a northern lights show in Iceland's only planetarium.

Watching molten lava up close usually means a volcano and a lot of luck. A Lava Show recreates it indoors in Reykjavik, with a host pouring real molten lava in a controlled setting so there's something to see, whatever the weather. Book ahead to secure seats, or take the premium upgrade for balcony seating, drinks, and a lava keepsake.

This Reykjavik City Card eliminates the need to waste time in long ticket lines, and provides free entry to multiple Reykjavik attractions. Perfect for travelers with limited time, this card allows you to able to plan a whistle-stop 24 hours of touring multiple top sights. Get free entry to Reykjavik Zoo and Family Park, Reykjavik thermal pools, the city’s best museums and galleries, and much more.

Save time, secure your ticket in advance, and explore the Whales of Iceland Exhibition at your own pace. Discover more than 20 life-size models of the various whale species that are found in Iceland, while using the interactive stations to watch videos and learn about the different types of mammals. This family-friendly experience is centrally located in Reykjavik.

The installation Chromo Sapiens is a landscape of hair created from synthetic hair extensions, which is the artist Shoplifter’s signature medium. You enter three caves, the first one is called Primal Opus; inspired by earthy hues, blacks and browns lined the walls with flashes of neon colored hair bringing it alive. The second and biggest chamber, Astral Gloria, is an explosion of brightly colored hair hanging from disorientating heights and dramatically illuminated by lights. Different recordings of sounds are played from various hidden speakers, creating a soundscape that is as all-encompassing as the landscape. Last is the third chamber Opium Natura, where shades of white and pastels created a celestial cloud cave. Guests are encouraged to touch the installation and dwell in it, enjoying the colors and sounds which can be described as a sort of color therapy and open eyed meditation.

Step inside one of Iceland's most unique attractions and explore life-sized whale models in an immersive indoor exhibition. Enjoy interactive displays, multilingual audio guides, daily live guided tours, and a family-friendly experience just minutes from Reykjavík's city center.

Get on the inside track of Reykjavik’s art scene on this private walking tour which takes you to hidden gems most travelers miss as well as top museums and exhibits. See works by local and international artists and go beyond the guide books with insightful commentary about Icelandic art, history and culture. Go at your own pace and enjoy a personalized approach to suit your interests.

A deep dive into Iceland’s punk movement — the music, the politics, the culture, and the youth rebellion that shaped modern Reykjavík. Iceland’s punk explosion may have happened in small basements and tiny venues, but its cultural shockwaves were enormous. This tour leads you through the streets, stories, and subcultures that sparked a creative awakening in Reykjavík. You’ll hear about the bands, the underground venues, the artistic revolutions, and the fiery independence that forever changed Icelandic culture. It’s raw, funny, surprising — and essential to understanding who we are today.

A dynamic night of bar‑hopping followed by Reykjavik’s legendary karaoke scene. Icelanders love two things, a good drink and singing like no one is watching. This tour blends both. We begin with a bar‑hopping warmup, beers, cocktails, local spirits and dive into Reykjavik’s lively social scene. As the energy builds, we head to karaoke, where locals belt out everything from power ballads to Icelandic favorites with shocking passion. You might sing. You might not. But you will have a hilarious, memorable night.

Join a knowledgeable local guide for an inspiring journey through three of Reykjavík’s cultural gems: the Einar Jónsson Museum, the House of Collections, and the National Gallery of Iceland. Discover Iceland’s artistic heritage, from powerful early 20th-century sculpture to contemporary works reflecting modern life, nature, and society. Begin in the serene sculpture garden of Einar Jónsson, where myth and symbolism meet Nordic imagination. Then stroll through Reykjavík’s vibrant city center to the House of Collections, featuring exhibitions that bridge past and present. Conclude at the National Gallery, where classical and cutting-edge art come together in a celebration of Iceland’s rich visual culture. This enriching walk offers a fresh and memorable perspective on Reykjavík’s creative spirit.

Reykjavík’s street art scene is one of the city’s most authentic creative expressions. This walking tour takes travelers through hidden alleys, backstreets, and local neighborhoods where murals, tags, and evolving urban art tell the real stories of the city. Instead of traditional landmarks, guests explore living street‑level artworks that change with the community and reflect Reykjavík’s culture, humor, and identity. Perfect for travelers who want to see the city beyond the usual tourist stops, this tour offers a close‑up look at Reykjavík’s underground art culture, local textures, and the everyday spaces where creativity thrives. It’s ideal for photography lovers, culture seekers, and anyone curious about how Reykjavík’s neighborhoods express themselves through color, character, and bold visual storytelling.

Explore Iceland’s capital with ease on a private guided tour of the city’s top landmarks, including the famous Hallgrimskirkja church. Explore at your pace with no other travelers to worry about and go beyond the guidebooks with a local by your side. Between sights, sit comfortably in a private vehicle while somebody else worries about the driving. This half-day tour ensures you make the most of your time in Reykjavik.

Design your perfect Icelandic adventure with a private guide who crafts a hassle-free day around your interests. From Reykjavik's urban charm to the surreal Landmannalaugar lava fields, dramatic south coast, or geothermal Reykjanes Peninsula, your personalized journey includes hotel pickup and reveals Iceland's most captivating wonders as you envision them.

Beat the rush with guaranteed admission to the Settlement Exhibition, and learn the little-known history of Iceland’s early past. Enjoy family-friendly multimedia exhibits, which bring to life the Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson, the island nation’s national epic, written by an acclaimed Viking poet. Self-guided audio tours are available in 15 languages.

Iceland has a great story. Brave settlers, honest politics, a beacon of equality, innocent people living with dramatic nature. Every other tour in Reykjavík will be happy to tell you that story. This is not that tour. Uncomfortable Iceland is a history walk through central Reykjavík for those who want to understand the real history behind Iceland's carefully curated national identity. Led by a local professional historian and experienced storyteller, this walk systematically picks apart the myths, half-truths and deliberate silences that make up the official version of Icelandic history. No prior knowledge of Icelandic history is required. You just need to be curious and open to having your assumptions challenged. Your guide will lead you through the context of each story before revealing how and why it has been distorted, suppressed or simply never told.