Ár­bær Open Air Mu­seum

A World of Ex­per­i­ences

Experience the history at Árbær Open air Museum ©Reykjavík City Museum | Photo: Vigfús Birgisson

Experience the history at Árbær Open air Museum ©Reykjavík City Museum | Photo: Vigfús Birgisson

The Árbær Open Air Museum is Iceland ‘s largest of its kind and home to a fascinating collection of historical buildings, most of which were relocated from Reykjavík’s city centre. Each of the buildings has a story to tell.

©Reykjavík City Museum | Photo: Vísir Newspaper (August 1965).

©Reykjavík City Museum | Photo: Vísir Newspaper (August 1965).

Map of Árbær Open Air Museum

Ex­hib­i­tions

Growing Pains
Árbær Open Air Museum

Grow­ing Pains

The ex­per­i­mental ex­hib­i­tion "Grow­ing Pains" gives you an in­sight into the world of primary school chil­dren in Reyk­javík between 1898 and 1974.

Suðurgata 7 │A Reykjavík home around 1925
Árbær Open Air Museum

Suður­gata 7 │A Reyk­javík home around 1925

Suður­gata 7, built in 1833 in cent­ral Reyk­javík, was en­larged in stages. It has been in its present form since 1883.

Consumption – Reykjavík in the 20th century
Árbær Open Air Museum

Con­sump­tion – Reyk­javík in the 20th cen­tury

The ex­hib­i­tion aims to show the huge and rapid changes that took place in con­sump­tion pat­terns in Reyk­javík dur­ing the 20th cen­tury – to ex­plore the factors that af­fected con­sump­tion, and how tech­nical ad­vances, gov­ern­ment ac­tions, wars, and events in Ice­land and abroad in­flu­enced the daily life of the people of Reyk­javík.

The Wheel Age
Árbær Open Air Museum

The Age of Carts

Even though the wheel is a an­cient in­ven­tion it ar­rived late to Iceland. Trans­port over long dis­tances were in prin­ciple the same from the time of set­tle­ment to the 19th cen­tury, namely on horses

Toy Exhibition: Come and play!
Árbær Open Air Museum

Come and play!

The ex­hib­i­tion fo­cuses on chil­dren's cul­ture, toys and games in the last cen­tury. It is housed in a former church and sports hall called Landakot. The ex­hib­i­tion is in­ter­act­ive and it suits chil­dren in all age groups. Open at the same time as the mu­seum.

From High Mass to High Jump
Árbær Open Air Museum

From High Mass to High Jump

The story of the build­ing Landakot is told in the ex­hib­i­tion From High Mass to High Jump. The house was built in 1897 as the first cath­olic church in Ice­land since the Re­form­a­tion. In 1930 it be­came a sportshall and re­mained as such un­til 2004 when it was re­lo­cated to the mu­seum.

The Small Garage
Árbær Open Air Museum

The Small Gar­age

The gar­age is a col­lab­or­at­ive ef­fort between Ár­bær Open Air Mu­seum and Auto­mobile Man­u­fac­tur­ers' As­so­ci­ation / Tin­smith Union in Iceland.

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Events

Árbær Open Air Museum

Guided tour at Árbær Open Air Museum

The guide takes guests to all the main houses of the museum and tells their stories. The guided tour is in English and takes just over an hour.

Guided tour at Árbær Open Air Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum

Farm Animals - Craft Workshop during Winter Break *Registration*

What animals live in the countryside? Welcome to a craft workshop with a farm animal theme at Árbær Open Air Museum during the winter break, 19 February at 13:00-15:00. Free admission for adults accompanying kids!. --- There is a registration for the workshop and it is based on 20 children plus an accompanying person. Please register by sending an email to hopar.borgarsogusafn@reykjavik.is --- In the workshop, recycling plays a key role as the main craft material will be made from egg cartons along with other materials. The workshop takes place in a house called Lækjargata and is located on the museum's square. Also within the museum area, is the house Líkn, which is a multi-purpose educational building. Upstairs are two drawing/craft workshops and a games room, as well as a quiet space to relax and read a book. Downstairs are QR codes for various fun games in the area.

Farm Animals - Craft Workshop during Winter Break *Registration*
Árbær Open Air Museum

Tjarnargata 22 - Building Conservation Centre's Educational Session

The Building Conservation Centre invites you to an educational session in Icelandic at Árbær Open Air Museum where conservation of traditional timber buildings in Iceland will be discussed. On this occation Bjarni Agnar Agnarsson, the owner of Tjarnargata 22 will share insight into life with an old, listed, timber building that still stands in its original form, thanks to excellent conservation. Entry is free, and all are welcome! --- Registration link: https://www.idan.is/vidburdir/1364/tjarnargata-22-fraedslufundur-husverndarstofu/ --- Tjarnargata 22, designed by Rögnvaldur Ólafsson and built in 1906, is one of Reykjavík's elegant timber buildings, built in the „Sveitser“ or „swiss-chalet“ – style inspired by chalet architecture in the Swiss Alps. The Building Conservation Centre is for homeowners, craftsmen, architects, students, and anyone interested in architectural history and preservation, supported by the Iðan Educational Center, the Icelandic National Heritage Institute, and the Reykjavík City Museum.

Tjarnargata 22 - Building Conservation Centre's Educational Session
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Venue Hire

Museum Church

Mu­seum Shop

Krambúðin old-style sweet shop

Guided Tour

Guided tour all year round