Guide de Voyage : Musée Maritime de Reykjavik

The Reykjavik Maritime Museum is an exhibition center dedicated to the history of fishing and sailing in Iceland.

You can visit the Reykjavik Maritime Museum during your stay in Reykjavik or as part of a self-drive tour of Iceland. You can also purchase a 24-hour Reykjavik City Card, which includes free entry to the Maritime Museum and several other galleries and museums in Reykjavik.

The museum, known as Sjóminjasafnið í Reykjavík in Icelandic, opened in 2005 after forming in 2004. Visiting the museum is a great way to learn more about the nautical history of Iceland. You’ll learn about traditional Icelandic fishing techniques and how they’ve changed over the years. 

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Mosbatho. No edits made.

What to See at the Reykjavik Maritime Museum

There are permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Reykjavik Maritime Museum. The museum also runs events.

The permanent exhibition is “Fish and Folk — 150 Years of Fisheries.” It tells the story of Icelandic fisheries and how fishing practices changed with the development of bigger and better boats. 

The exhibition uses objects, pictures, games, and texts to tell the story of fishing in Iceland. With such a harsh climate, the country’s early settlers needed to find ways to survive. Fishing and sheep farming became a way of life that gave Icelanders food and ways to keep warm.

Visitors to the Reykjavik Maritime Museum can also visit a former coastguard ship, Odin, as part of a guided tour. There are three one-hour tours each day, which have an additional cost. 

Where Is the Reykjavik Maritime Museum?

The Reykjavik Maritime Museum, formerly known as the Vikin Maritime Museum, is housed in a former fish-freezing plant at the city harbor. Its address is Grandagardur 8. It’s across the harbor from the Harpa Concert Hall, one of the city’s most interesting architectural buildings.

The museum is also just a short walk away from the Whales of Iceland exhibit, the largest exhibition on whales in the world. Here, you can learn everything there is to know about the whales, dolphins, and porpoises that live in Icelandic waters.

How Much Is Entry to the Reykjavik Maritime Museum?

A ticket to the Reykjavik Maritime Museum costs around 15 USD for adults and children under 18. Children’s tickets to the museum are free.

The guided tour of the Odinn coastguard vessel has an additional fee of about 11 USD. If you want a combined ticket to the museum and the tour, this costs approximately 22 USD. Ticket prices are subject to change.

Tickets are free for anyone with the Reykjavik City Card, which costs about 32 USD for a 24-hour ticket and includes entry to 12 museums and galleries around the city. 

Opening Hours for the Reykjavik Maritime Museum

The museum is usually open every day from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tours of the Odinn ship begin daily at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. 

The museum’s opening hours may change for national holidays. For example, it’s closed every year on December 24, 25, and 31, and on January 1. There are reduced opening hours on December 26. 

The Museum also closes annually on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.