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visit in Husdyragardurinn is an interesting experience also for grownups. As you drive through Iceland, you will hardly be lucky enough to see an ermit or a reindeer. In this place you can admire representatives of both species from up close.
Apart from it’s Nordic charm Reykjavik offers a few interesting exhibitions. Some are devoted to Iceland’s nature, while others showcase the country’s art and culture.
Surely both types of exhibitions will help us to better understand and appreciate the country we have come to visit as well as its people, who we will meet along the way.
Whales of Iceland – the largest exhibition of marine mammals
Whales of Iceland is the world’s largest exhibition introducing us to the beauty of whales. It is located in Reykjavik’s port district, on its western end.
What makes this exhibition special and different from any other is that you get to see full-scale models of all the 23 species of cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises – that inhabit the waters of Iceland.
These full-size models are really impressive, both for young and older visitors. Only here do we realize how huge these animals are and how little we see of their gigantic bodies when they emerge for air. Here we can also take a close look at their teeth, flippers and fins and other body parts as well as compare different species. This exhibition is priceless when it comes to education.
The idea behind Whales of Iceland is that of respect for these amazing animals. In order to learn more about them and protect them, the exhibition works closely with the Icelandic Marine Institute and companies involved in whale-watching.
Whales of Iceland – address, directions, opening hours, admission
- Whales of Iceland is located in a giant hall in the western part of the Reykjavik port. You can take the 14 bus or walk.
- In the vicinity you can also see the Saga Museum, go to a cafe, get some ice cream, try fish & chips or visit the iconic Seabaron restaurant.
- On the other side of the port (eastern) there is the enchanting opera house – Harpa, and a bit farther on and to the south – Reykjavik city center.
- Whales of Iceland is open all year round, from 10:00 till 17:00.
- Admission costs 2.900 ISK for adults (approx. 20 EUR), 1.500 ISK (approx. 10 EUR) for kids aged 7-15, and free for younger children. Two adults and two kids will pay 5 900 ISK (approx. 40 EUR). Reykjavík city card holders get 30% off. You can purchase your tickets here: Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket.
- The exhibition is open for visitors of all ages.
- If you want to learn some interesting facts about whales while on your tour, download a free audio-guide app on your tablet or smartphone. It is available in English, German and Icelandic. The building has free wi-fi and headphones for visitors.
Perlan – Iceland interactive
Perlan is an interesting multimedia exhibition that sports a revolving glass dome on top of the Öskjuhlíð hill in Reykjavik. Inside you will find a planetarium and a museum. Surrounded by a forest, Perlan is one of Reykjavik’s landmarks.
In the museum you can see a few really interesting exhibitions explaining the geology, fauna and flora of Iceland. One of the most exciting ones is Underwater Journey surrounding you with plenty of tiny algae, whales and multitude of other species of fish – itr is a great, unforgettable interactive experience. Surely another exciting place in Perlan is the glacial cave. It is made with about 350 tons of real snow and offers a 100 m long path that illustrates the appearance, activity and role of glaciers in our environment.
Perlan exhibition
Perlan also has an observation deck, a souvenir shop (one of the oldest in town), a cafe and restaurant serving seasonal Icelandic dishes. The Öskjuhlíð hill offers scenic walking and bike trails.
If you have a few hours and especially if you are travelling with children, Perlan is really worth visiting. Its exhibitions offer useful facts about things and phenomena that you can actually see while driving through Iceland.
Perlan – address, directions, opening hours, admission
- Perlan is located on the Öskjuhlíð hill, in southern part of town, not far from the Reykjavik City Airport.
- The nearest bus stop, where line 18 will take you, is called Perlan.
You can also take a free shuttle bus from Harpa. For all visitors with valid admission tickets the service is free and the shuttle bus leaves every hour on the hour between 10:00 and 18:00. - From Hallgrimskirkja it is only 2 kilometers to Perlan, which means a 30-minute walk. After (or before) your visit to Perlan it is nice to stroll through the park south from the thermal beach (you can read a separate article about Nautholsvik here Reykjavik hot pools).
- Perlan is open daily from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. (last entry at 21:00).
- Get your tickets here: Perlan entrance tickets.
- Perlan is accessible for persons on wheelchairs.
- There is a free parking lot in front of the building.
Husdyragardurinn: Zoo and and amusement park
An ermine in Husdyragardurinn
This zoo is different from any other zoo in the world in that it has no exotic animals. Visitors can admire exclusively domestic species. Many of them, like reindeer, can be approached, touched and fed, provided they are not too shy.
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visit in Husdyragardurinn is an interesting experience also for grownups. As you drive through Iceland, you will hardly be lucky enough to see an ermit or a reindeer. In this place you can admire representatives of both species from up close.
The decision to build Húsdýragarðurinn Zoo was made on April 22, 1986. The purpose behind it was to educate the public about Icelanding animals, illuminate breeding practices and strengthen the connection between humans and animals. The construction started in 1989 and within just a year they built a pond for seals, areas for foxes, minks and reindeer as well as an enclosure for goats. The place opened on May 19, 1990. Currently the Húsdýragarðurinn Zoo is also home to farm animals, such as pigs and horses. There is also a small exhibition of amphibians, reptiles, insects and fish here.
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nother, slightly separated part is Fjölskyldugarðurinn — an amusement park for children. You can find here a large nautical section, a few merry-go-rounds, castles, zip lines, electric cars, boats and many more. And right next to it there is a botanical garden right.
A day in Húsdýragarðurinn Zoo & Park
Reindeer in Husdyragardurinn
10:30, 15:30 – reindeer feeding and watching
11:00, 16:00 – seals feeding and watching
11:30 – foxes and minks feeding and watching
15:45 – coop animals feeding and watching
16:15 – sheep fold animals feeding and watching
16:30 – pigs and cows feeding, milking of cows
17:00 – closing time
Activities and times can vary depending on weather.
Husdyragardurinn Zoo – address, directions, opening hours, admission
- Husdyragardurinn Zoo is in the eastern part of Reykjavik, some 3 km west from Hallgrimskirkja.
- You can easily get here by car or bus – Orkuhúsið stop with lines 2, 5, 15 and 17.
- The Grasagardur botanical garden and Fjolskyldugardurinn amusement park are right next door.
- With Reykjavik city card admission is free. Without the card: Youth (below 13) and adults pay 900 ISK (approx. 7 EUR), children aged 5 to 12 – 680 ISK (approx. 5 EUR), and children below 4 enter free of charge.
- Húsdýragarðurinn Zoo & Park has a restaurant that serves snacks, light meals and drinks. If you don’t fancy eating here, you can bring your own food and… make a barbecue. In Húsdýragarðurinn Zoo & Park there are a few barbecues that visitors can use for free.
- You can get your tickets at the ticket counter in the zoo, but all the details and special offers are published on its website: Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo.
Harpa — modern concert hall and conference center
Harpa is the main concert hall and conference center in Reykjavik. It is also one of the major landmarks in the city.
The idea to build a concert hall in Reykjavik came about already in the 1880s. However, construction did not start until 2007, and in 2008, due to the financial crisis, works were temporarily put on hold. The government of Iceland decided, nevertheless, that Harpa wasa building that the country can benefit from and therefore its completion was financed. The facility opened in 2011 and is a product of collaboration between Ólafur Elíasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist, with the Danish company Henning Larsen Architects.
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he building name Harpa means harp, even though the futuristic ‘steel & glass’ architecture doesn’t really remind you of the instrument.
Futuristic architecture of Harpa
According to many tourists, Harpa is completely out of place among low, traditional buildings in the center of Reykjavik. Others, however, are charmed by its modern, futuristic design. The look of the building is said to reflect the basalt landscape of Iceland, and the dark glass produces delightful visual effects, both in natural and artificial, evening light. Just like Hallgrimskirkja church, it is a striking element of the cityscape that brings something new and unprecedented. Whether these two landmarks make the cityscape more or less beautiful… Well, you’ll have to decide for yourself…
Harpa and Hallgrimskirkja seen from the docks.
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n 2013 Harpa won the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Architecture Award. The jury was taken aback by the walls made of thousands of glass panels.
Harpa — musical and cultural center
Harpa is an undisputed center of Icelandic art and culture. It features concerts, cultural events, meetings and festivals: Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik Midsummer Music, Dark Music Days, Reykjavik Arts Festival, Reykjavik Jazz Festival, Sónar Reykjavík, Tectonics, and Harpa International Music Academy. Many famous international artists from all over the world appeared on its stages, such as Eddie Izzard and Cyndi Lauper as well as Iceland’s own talents, including Björk and Of Monsters and Men. The building is also home to Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Harpa also rents conference rooms of different sizes to outside events. All the facilities are top-notch and come with all the necessary conference equipment.
Harpa – address, directions, opening hours, admission
- Harpa is located in the very city centre, on the waterfront, close to Reykjavik’s main junction of Laekjargata and Saebraut streets. There is a bus stop right in front of its entrance where line 3 stops. And another bus stop, Laekjartorg – 200 m away – is served by lines 1, 6, 11, 12 and 13.
- The view of Harpa is best enjoyed as you walk from the vicinity of Hallgrimskirkja, crossing the Ingólfur square, and continuing towards the port.
- Definitely the best way to see more of Harpa is to go to one of the concerts. Ticket prices start at approx. 3000 ISK (about 25 EUR), but of course when we are talking about big stars, like Bjork, one has to pay much much more (provided that you are lucky and tickets are still available).
- However, if you don’t fancy anything that is on at the moment or tickets are sold out, you can still walk around and access the open space. From June 1 till September 30 visitors can come to Harpa all day long – between 9 a.m. and 22p.m. In winter it opens one hour later.
- You can also go on a guided tour. It is in English, takes about 40 minutes and costs 2500 ISK (approx. 18 EUR) for an adult. With Reykjavik City Card you get 25% off. School trips are organized every day with the exception of Sundays, at 1 p.m.
- All the streets in the vicinity are a vibrant collection of restaurants, bars, shops and various (usually smallish) museums. A stroll along Laugavegur and Hafnarstraeti is the best way to experience more traditional architecture of Reykjavik.
- Official Harpa website: Harpa Concert Hall
National Gallery of Iceland
The National Gallery of Iceland (isl.Listasafn Íslands) mostly features Icelandic art of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is obviously the most extensive (over 13 000 exhibits) and most valuable collection of Icelandic art.
The Gallery, which occupies 3 floors of space, is unable to showcase a significant part of its collection at any one time. Therefore, it organises various thematic shows of paintings, sculpture, photography and other genres of Icelandic art. Usually at least one exhibition is devoted to folklore and traditional legends, sagas or beliefs of Icelandic people.
Probably the only permanent exhibition maintained by the Gallery is The Culture House (isl. Safnahúsið). However, this one is housed in a different building.
The National Gallery of Iceland – address, directions, opening hours, admission
- The Gallery is in Fríkirkjuvegur 7, right on one of the main streets, with Fríkirkjuvegur bus stop right next to it (lines 1, 3, 6, 11, 12 and long-distance 55). Reykjavik is not a big city so the distances to cover are not long at all. Hallgrimskirkja is about 650 m to the east, Harpa – approx. 750 m north, and the National Museum only about 500 m away to the south east.
- Over the summer months (May-September) the Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. In winter it is closed on Mondays.
- Admission for an adult costs 2900 ISK (approx. 20 EUR), but you can also visit the Sigurjon Olafsson Museum, Asgrimur Jonsson Museum and the Culture House with the same ticket. With Reykjavik City Card you get in for free.
- National Gallery of Iceland website: National Gallery of Iceland
The Culture House
The Culture House (isl. Safnahúsið) is a joint initiative of six Icelandic cultural institutions: the National Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, National Archives, University Library and the Arni Magnusson Institute for Icelandic Studies. They collaborate on the Points of View exhibition (isl. Sjónarhorn), whose mission is to illustrate Iceland’s cultural heritage from the perspective of each of these institutions.
The Culture House – address, directions, opening hours, admission
- The Culture House is located in the very heart of Reykjavik – Hverfisgata 15. It is rather precisely half-way between Hallgrimskirkja and Harpa.
- Nearest bus stop is Thjodleikhusid (Þjóðleikhúsið), with lines 1, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14. But it is best to just walk here, especially that the street parallel to Hverfisgata – Laugavegur – is Reykjavik’s main promenade. There are precious few parking places in the vicinity, plus it is paid parking area (250 ISK – approx. 2 EUR – per hour).
- The Culture House website: https://www.culturehouse.is/en.safnahusid.is/visit/
Reykjavík Art Museum
Reykjavík Art Museum (isl. Listasafns Reykjavikr) is all about Icelandic modern art. Its exhibits are showcased in three buildings scattered around Reykjavik: Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn. Two of these are devoted to specific artists, while the third one features a more general collection.
Kjarvalsstaðir
As the literal name, the Kjarvala place (Kjarvalsstaðir), suggests, the exhibition in this building holds works from one of the most famous Icelandic artists, Johannes Kjarval (1885-1972). You will find here mainly paintings and sculptures by this renowned modernist. To my unenlightened eye, some are really interesting.
The building itself, an example of modernist architecture, is in Flókagata 24, on the outskirts of the Klambratún park, some 700 meters south-east of Hallgrimskirkja. Nearest bus stop is Kjarvalsstaðir, with line 13, but it is only 10 minutes’ walk from Reykjavik’s main bus terminal – Hlemmur.
Ásmundarsafn
Ásmundarsafn is also home to the legacy of just one artist – sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982). Sveinsson himself designed the building, which slightly resembles an astronomical observatory. The artist lived and worked in this building for many years. It is situated in Sigtún 105, in eastern part of town. It is adjacent to the sport and leisure district, where you can find the Laugardalslaug swimming pool, Husdyragardurinn zoo, as well as the main city campsite and hostel by HI. Nearest bus stop is called Nordica and is served by lines 2, 5, 15 and 17.
Hafnarhús
This museum showcases the most diverse exhibitions of both local and international modern artists. Hafnarhús used to be a port warehouse in the old, formerly port district near the docks and the Ingólfstorg square. The address is Tryggvagata 17 and it is best reached on foot from the vicinity of Harpa. The neighbourhood, where Hafnarhús is located is vibrant with small galleries, restaurants and bars. Across the street you will find the Reykjavík Museum of Photography.
Admission to all three galleries costs 1840 ISK (approx. 15 EUR). Tickets are valid for 24 hours. Children and youth as well as Reykjavik City Card holders are admitted free of charge.
The museums are open from 10 a.m. till 17 p.m.
Museum’s website: Reykjavík Art Museum
