Your guide to museum hopping in Reykjav铆k

From viking history to the world鈥檚 first indoor ice cave, 搁别测办箩补惫铆办鈥檚 museums are sure to satisfy curious souls, entertain people of all ages and cater to art lovers of all kind. Make sure to explore street art and outdoor sculptures 鈥� one of which doubles as a footbath with a view 鈥� and make the most of discount cards, such as the (note that many museums have free admission for children and discounts for students and senior citizens). If you鈥檙e visiting in early June 2022, don鈥檛 miss the biennial.

Perlan: Best for nature exhibitions

Perlan, the glass dome overlooking the city from forested 脰skjuhl铆冒, has traditionally attracted visitors with its panoramic view and the rotating restaurant on the top floor. Now they鈥檝e added an additional attraction 鈥� Iceland鈥檚 only Nature Exploratorium.

The 鈥淲onders of Iceland鈥� exhibition explains the science behind the country鈥檚 natural phenomena as you explore them with all your senses. The highlight is surely the 328ft- (100m-) long authentic 鈥淚ce Cave鈥� made with 350 tons of snow, the first of its kind in the world. You can also learn all about Iceland鈥檚 fiery volcanoes, melting glaciers, diverse plant and animal life 鈥� and don鈥檛 forget the awe-inspiring northern lights planetarium show.

Feeling daredevilish? Complete your visit with a woosh on the zipline from the viewing platform (open in summer).

Wearing traditional dress, actors at Arbaejarsafn, or Open Air Museum, talk to a fellow actor at his shoemaking post. Reykjavik, Iceland — Immerse yourself in traditional Icelandic life at the 脕rb忙r Open Air Museum 漏 Nik Wheeler / Corbis via Getty Images

脕rb忙r Open Air Museum: Best for living history

Ever wondered what Reykjav铆k looked like at its infancy in the late 18th century? Find the answer at 脕rb忙r Open Air Museum 鈥� one of the five Reykjav铆k City Museums.

脕rb忙r itself is an old turf farm and church which has stood in that location for centuries. Around the middle of the last century, as Reykjav铆k developed, traditional houses were moved from downtown to 脕rb忙r where they have since been preserved with their original interiors and furniture and serving as a kind of time warp for curious visitors. Staff is dressed in period clothing and host demonstrations like traditional haymaking and folk dances.

Whales of Iceland: Best for鈥� whales

Unsurprisingly, this museum is all about whales. Twenty-three life-sized models of the all whale species found in the waters around Iceland are suspended from the ceiling, creating the illusion of being underwater in close encounter with these giants of the deep. For an even more realistic experience, try the VR headset. Learn all about these fascinating creatures via an interactive display, and listen to their mesmerizing sounds.

This museum is best enjoyed in combination with a whale watching tour.

The House of Collections, a large white building with arched windows and one central door, sits on a street in Reykjav铆k — Head to the House of Collections to learn more about Icelandic art history 漏 Inna Zabotnova / Getty Images

The House of Collections: Best for Icelandic art history

The stately white building on Hverfisgata, near the center of town, was built in 1909 as the first purposefully built museum in Iceland to facilitate the National Library, National Archives and National Museum. Now known as the, it鈥檚 part of the National Gallery, exhibiting key works and shedding light on Icelandic art history.

Also visit the National Gallery and Home of an Artist, painter 脕sgr铆mur J贸nsson鈥檚 house, on the same ticket.

Saga Museum: Best for Vikings

Do you want to face a blood-thirsty Viking warrior? Visit the incredibly life-like wax figures at the Saga Museum that represent important characters from different periods of Icelandic history. An audio guide will lead you through the different scenes, from the original settlers 鈥� Irish monks 鈥� to the reformation. Most of the scenes represent the Commonwealth Era, characters and events described in the sagas, including the Battle at 脰rlygssta冒ir from Sturlunga saga and Freyd铆s Eir铆ksd贸ttir standoff from Eir铆ks saga rau冒a.

Afterwards, have your picture taking in Viking gear while swinging a sword. By then you鈥檝e probably worked up an appetite, so check out adjacent restaurant.

A person blurred by the camera walks through a white art hall past a sculpture made by Asmundur Sveinsson. Reykjavik Iceland — Examine the fascinating work of 脕smundur Sveinsson at his former home and studio 漏 Arctic Images / Getty Images

脕smundarsafn: Best for sculptures

In beautiful Laugardalur valley stands a futuristic white dome surrounded by trees and massive sculptures. This is sculptor 脕smundur Sveinsson鈥檚 (1893-1982) former home and studio, now part of Reykjav铆k Art Museum. Exploring the sculpture garden with children is great fun for they are permitted to climb the statues.

Discover the work of this pioneer of Icelandic sculpture, whose abstract art 鈥� inspired by daily life, folklore and sagas 鈥� was met with some criticism at first but his art is now embraced by all. A famous example is 鈥淭he Water Carrier鈥� (1937) which for decades was not considered beautiful enough to be placed in the city center and was finally moved to the location it was designed for, the corner of L忙kjargata and Bankastr忙ti, in 2011.

Buy a ticket that also grants access to Kjarvalssta冒ir and Hafnarh煤s.

Reykjav铆k Maritime Museum: Best for fishing history

Iceland is first and foremost a fishing nation. The 鈥� one of the five Reykjav铆k City Museums 鈥� in the hip Grandi district, traces the capital鈥檚 150 history of fisheries and provides an insight into the nation鈥檚 often dramatic relationship with the sea. Make sure to board cruise guard vessel 脫冒inn and learn about the Cod Wars.

If you鈥檙e visiting in early June 2022, take part in the celebrations on June 3鈥�5.