Guide de Voyage : Musée Islandais des Monstres Marins

The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum, Skrímslasetrið Bíldudal in Icelandic, is a heritage museum in Bildudalur village in the Westfjords dedicated to stories and interactive exhibits about sea monsters.

The Westfjords is the perfect location to take things at your own pace with a summer self-drive tour where you add the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum to your customizable itinerary. Try this eight-day self-drive tour, including the Westfjords, or slow things down even more with an in-depth two-week road trip. Travelers who wish to relax in Bildudalur could visit the museum after a one-hour sea-angling boat and fishing tour.

The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum takes a deep dive into legends of underwater monsters, including first-hand accounts of sightings. The exhibits appeal to visitors of all ages, although some young children could get scared of the large model monsters.

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Rob Oo

About the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum | Exhibits and More

Stories of sea monsters have held their place in Icelandic folklore for centuries. Arnarfjordur fjord, the museum’s location, is reportedly one of the country’s sea monster hotspots. What makes it unique is that there have been eyewitness accounts of sightings of all four sea monster types in the area.

The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum brings these creatures to life through pictures, videos, and artifacts offering fascinating insights via engaging exhibits. Eye-witnesses share their first-hand accounts of sea monsters, and academic theories shed light on the subject.

Dark-lit museum rooms create an eerie atmosphere, setting the ambiance for the topic of monsters. Adults must accompany their young children as they journey through the museum.

The interactive monster table enables visitors to hunt for monsters with a hands-on approach. As you move shells around the table, you can discover where the monsters are hiding!

After visiting the museum, stay a little longer and enjoy drinks and snacks at the on-site restaurant. The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum is open daily from mid-May to mid-September from 1000 to 1800.

Getting to the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

The museum is in Bildudalur village on the shores of Arnarfjordur in the Westfjords. Bildudalur is 73 miles (117 kilometers) south of Isafjordur town, the region's main settlement.

From Isafjordur, head southwest of the town and turn right onto road 60. Follow this road south for around 50 miles (81 kilometers), then turn right onto road 63 toward Bildudalur. The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum is on the waterfront at the north end of the village.

Bildudalur is 233 miles (375 kilometers) away for travelers coming from Reykjavik. Drive north on the Ring Road and turn left onto road 60, just after Bifrost. Follow this road for around 140 miles (225 kilometers) before turning left onto road 63 to Bildudalur.

Attractions Near the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

The Westfjords is full of natural wonders. It’s an off-the-beaten-track destination renowned for its unspoiled beauty. Travelers driving to the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum from Isafjordur will pass Dynjandi waterfall on their way, one of the region’s top attractions. 

Sometimes called the Jewel of the Westfjords, Dynjandi cascades around 338 feet (100 meters) down the cliff. The waterfall has a unique shape, narrower at the top and twice as wide at the bottom. Don’t miss a visit to this spectacular attraction, 40 miles (64.4 kilometers) from the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum.

Other top Westfjords attractions include Raudisandur red sand beach and the Latrabjarg cliffs. Raudisandur is an excellent place to enjoy solitude and long strolls along the reddish sand, 37 miles (59 kilometers) south of the museum. The Latrabjarg cliffs are abundant in birdlife and offer breathtaking panoramic views, 54 miles (87 kilometers) from the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum.