Exhibitions

Aurora Basecamp is a one-of-a-kind facility, offering guests the chance to experience a real-time, indoor simulation of the Northern Lights, in a warm and relaxing environment. From there, our expert guides lead you out into the Icelandic night, and if the conditions are right you’ll get breathtaking views and photos of the real thing! Located just 20 minutes from Reykjavik, Aurora Basecamp provides a comfortable and inviting setting for the perfect Northern Lights experience.

Reykjanesbær Heritage Museum - Where the past is reflected in the present Reykjanesbær Heritage Museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore the local history and find out what makes this area unique. The exhibitions look at influential factors on life and the environment through a modern-day perspective. Reykjanesbær Heritage Museum is located in the historical Harbor House, Duusgata 2-8 in Reykjanesbær. Opening hours: Closed Mondays - open 12:00-17:00 tuesday till sunday. Lokað er á mánudögum. Opið er þriðjudaga tl sunnudaga frá kl: 12:00-17:00. Current exhibitions: Trash or Treasure? In the late 20th century and the early 21st, merchandising became common in the promotion of businesses, organisations and causes. This is an opportunity to take a walk down memory lane and reflect upon how graphics and logos have changed through time. Countenance The museum has a large collection of photographs that have arrived in their original frame. Photographs that are selected to be framed and displayed usually have a special value in the eyes of the owner. Fondness, pride, and longing are among the emotions that are expressed in this way. To sew a fine seam Sewing used to be a task for women in the home and considered a fine craft. The invention of the sewing machine was a revolution at the time. It was said that having a sewing machine was equal to one maid. Some women became known for their craftsmanship and the sewing machine made it possible for them to earn their own living. Stekkjarkot, Innri-Njarðvík Stekkjarkot is a reconstructed turf house, typical for the many cottages that were inhabited by fishermen and their families in the area in the 19th Century. Stekkjarkot was on rented land and the inhabitants had to rely on fishing as they were prohibited to keep livestock. The original Stekkjarkot was in use 1885-1887 and again in 1917-1923. Stekkjarkot is open by appointment only.  

The municipal museum in Garðskagi is located in a natural paradise, which blends the beauty of the landscape with its rich animal and birdlife. The museum was first opened in November 1995 in the old processing houses in Garður. The museum has both a Folk and Maritime Museum. It has an outstanding engine collection of Guðni Ingimundarson. There are over 60 engines on display and almost every one of them is functional. Many important items from the municipal history of Garður are located in the museum, items which were essential for the livelihood on both land and sea The Museum is a great point of interest for visitors as it tells the story of how fishing developed and the history of the people who lived and worked in the community. A restaurant and camping site with facilities is on-site and if you are lucky you might see dolphins and whales near the shore from the terrace of the restaurant. Summer opening is 10-17 From the 1st May - 30. Sept. From October the Museum can be booked for groups.

Reykjanes Art Museum presents several new art exhibitions every year. The museum is located in Duus Museum, the Art and Cultural Center of Reykjanesbær along with Reykjanes Maritime Center and Reykjanes Heritage Museum. Reykjanes Art Museum presents visual arts through diverse exhibitions, lectures, guidance, publications and their website https://www.lrnb.is   The museum is open everyday from 12pm – 5pm.

Located on the southwestern tip of Reykjanes, next to Iceland’s oldest lighthouse, the visitor center at Reykjanesviti lighthouse showcases the region’s fascinating maritime and geological history. It features a coffee shop overlooking the sea, a display showcasing the history of lighthouses and their keepers in Reykjanes, and an exhibition in the old engine house detailing maritime incidents in the area. Outside, a terrace hosts an educational display, developed in collaboration with Reykjanes Geopark, offering insights into the region’s geological landscape. The coffee shop is open 10-17 every day in the summer.

Vikingaheimar is the home of the Viking Ship Íslendingur (the Icelander). Built in 1996, Icelander is an exact replica of the famous Gokstadship, a remarkable archaeological find of an almost completely intact Viking ship, excavated in Norway in 1882. Captain Gunnar Marel Eggertsson was inspired to build a replica of this beautiful ship based on his own background as shipbuilder and sailor. He copied the original nail for nail. In the year 2000, with a grant from the Leifur Eiríksson Commission of Iceland, he sailed from Iceland to New York, a journey of 4200 nautical miles. His voyage brought world-wide attention to Leif Eiriksson's and Bjarni Herjólfsson's discovery of America, dated, according to the Icelandic sagas, to exactly 1000 A.D. Building Icelander was an extraordinary achievement;at 23 metres long, 5.25 meters wide and with a holding capacity of 80 tons (by modern standards), it took 2 years of effort.The sail is 130 square meters and the mast is 18 meters in length. Made from pine and oak, scholars believe this was the most common type of ship in use during the Viking Age. Vikingaheimar is also a home to the exhibition The North Atlantic Viking Saga, originally shown at the Smithsonian Institution during the summer of 2000. Launched in Washington D.C. by King Hakon of Norway, and with a State Dinner at the White House, it then traveling to 6 other cities throughout North America. This exhibition, like the sailing of Icelander, celebrated the millennium anniversary of the Viking discovery of North America, shedding light on the latest scholarly research into the Norse settlement and explorations of unknown lands.Gunnar Marel and his crew of 8 left Iceland on Icelandic Independence day, the 17th of June, with a send off from the Prime Minister of Iceland. When it finally arrived in New York on October 5th-where it was greeted by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Mayor Rudolf Guiliani--the ship had made stops at 22 harbors. In addition to the festivities with kings, queens, presidents and mayors, when the ship arrived, visitors also streamed to see it while it was docked at each location, all told about 450,000 people came on board. These two fine projects, both celebrating Iceland's central role in the discovery of North America 1000 years ago by the Norse Vikings, have now found a permanent home in Vikinga Aldan (Viking Wave), the central building on the Vikingaheimar grounds. A spectacular modern building, it also offers beautiful views of the surrounding bay, Faxaflói. These two fine projects, both celebrating Iceland's central role in the discovery of North America 1000 years ago by the Norse Vikings, have now found a permanent home in Vikinga Aldan (Viking Wave), the central building on the Vikingaheimar grounds. A spectacular modern building, it also offers beautiful views of the surrounding bay, Faxaflói.

The  Giganta  in  the  mountain  moved  to  the  Town  of  Reykjanes during the family and cultural festival Night of Lights in 2008 and is now located in Black Cave at the marina in Gróf. There the Giganta has been settling in her nice cave with its superb view over the bay of Keflavík and Faxaflói. The Giganta is originally the creation of author Herdís Egilsdóttir who has written 16 stories about the little girl Sigga and her friend the Giganta in the mountain, the last one describing her migration to the Town of Reykjanes. The design and making of the cave and the Giganta was in the hands of Norðanbál art group. The Giganta is full-sized and sits sleeping in a rocking chair in the kitchen. Opening hours 10:00-17:00 every day (except when weather conditions inhibit visits)

Stekkjarkot is a classic example of the roughly built turf, stone and timber cottage-type houses once common on the Reykjanes peninsula and other coastal areas of Iceland, Stekkjarkot was opened to the public in 1993 by Iceland’s then-president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, following a year of restorations. The older part of the cottage, with its open hearth, dates back to the 19th century, and is said to have been home to a maidservant with an infant daughter who slept on the earthen floor. The newer part dates from the farm’s last days of habitation, by which time floorboards covered the living room and kitchen, a coal-fired stove provided both cooking facilities and heat, and conditions for those who lived there do not seem to have been too bad. Stekkjarkot is open on request and there is free admission. Please contact byggdasafn@reykjanesbaer.is for further information. 

Hljómahöll is a music-, cultural- and conference center in Reykjanesbær. Hljómahöll offers excellent facilities for events of all kinds. The halls can be rented for annual celebrations, weddings, concerts, and more. Our venues are Stapi and Berg. Hljómahöll also provides banquet services that emphasize professional and personalised service. The historic community hall Stapi is the largest venue in Hljómahöll and offers a wide range of possibilities for events. The hall can accommodate up to 800 guests for concerts, including 700 standing on the main floor and 100 seated in the balcony. For dance events, the capacity increases to 897 guests by extending the hall and opening into the Merkines hall. Stapi also offers 445 seats in a theatre setup, with just over 100 of these located in the balcony. For seated dining, the hall can accommodate up to 450 guests, with the space extended into the Merkines hall to increase capacity. Stapi is therefore ideal for large gatherings, whether meetings, conferences, concerts, corporate events, or celebrations, offering flexible options and excellent facilities for guests. The hall Berg is named after Hólmsberg in Keflavík, commonly referred to simply as “Bergið.” Berg is ideal for concerts, meetings, and conferences. The hall is equipped with a high-quality and powerful sound system, a projector, and a screen. It offers 127 seats arranged on benches in seven tiered rows. The chairs, called Magni, are exceptionally comfortable and were designed by the architect Valdimar Harðarson. Please send any enquiries regarding our venues and venue hire to info@hljomaholl.is.

The Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll is an exhibition dedicated to the history of pop and rock music in Iceland. The museum is located at Hljómahöll in Keflavik, only a 5-minute drive away from Keflavik International airport. The exhibition features a timeline tracing the history of Icelandic music from 1920 to the present day. Among the many items on display are Gunnar Jökull Hákonarson’s drum kit, which was used on Trúbrot’s acclaimed album Lifun; a dress worn by Emilíana Torrini in the music video for Jungle Drum; a wooden sculpture of the reggae band Hjálmar; marching band jackets worn by Stuðmenn in the film Með allt á hreinu; a dress belonging to Elly Vilhjálms; a statue of Rúnar Júlíusson; a grand piano formerly owned by Raggi Bjarna; and many more fascinating pieces from Icelandic music history.

If you are interested in the Icelandic nature and wildlife, sea creatures, research related to the area and art, the Sudurnes Science and Learning Center is a place you must visit! The center offers three exciting exhibitions. They include a nature gallery where you can look at and touch various stuffed animals from the Icelandic wildlife and see live sea creatures. There is also a collection of shells and whale bones in addition to the only stuffed walrus in Iceland. In the historical gallery you can visit the magnificent exhibition Attraction of the Poles on the life of the French medical doctor and polar scientist Jean-Baptiste Charcot. A model of his research ship, Pourquoi-Pas?, that perished off the coast of Iceland in 1936 is part of the exhibition. In the art gallery you will find the art and educational exhibition Hidden World of the Seaweed Fairies. The exhibition weaves scientific knowledge about the ocean into the magical world of the seaweed fairies. Sudurnes Science and Learning Center is an ideal place to visit for families and others hungry for knowledge. Join our treasure hunt that will take you on an exciting journey looking for various animals, plants and historical places. Bring your findings back to the Center for further research. Opening hours Summer (May 1st – August 31st) Monday – Friday: 10:00 to 16:00 Saturday and Sunday: 13:00 to 17:00   Winter (September 1st – April 30th) Exhibitions closed.   Flexible opening hours for groups (minimum 20 persons) year-round – please call 423-7555. For further information see their website.

Duus Museum is the Art and Cultural Center of Reykjanesbær where you can experience diverse exhibitions and cultural activities all year round. The museum houses exhibition halls for the Art Museum of Reykjanesbær and Heritage Museum of Reykjanesbær which offer new and exciting exhibitions throughout the year. Reykjanes Geopark Visitor Center are also located in the museum. Closed Mondays - open 12:00-17:00 tuesday to sunday.