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.

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 museum

Guided tour at Árbær Open Air Museum

The guide takes guests to all the main houses of the museum and tells their story.

Guided tour at Árbær Open Air Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum

First Day of Summer at Árbær Open Air Museum

April 24, the First Day of Summer, will be celebrated at Árbær Open Air Museum with a diverse programme for children and their families from 13:00-16:00. Entry is free, and everyone is welcome. 12:30 Parade starts at Árbær Church 13:00 The Scout Association Árbúar and the Árbær and Breiðholt School Orchestra march into the museum 13:00-15:00 Summer Hat Workshop at Lækjargata 4 14:00 Folklorist Dagrún Ósk tells us about the history and folklore of the First Day of Summer 13:00-16:00 Refreshments, popcorn and candy floss for sale – Árbær Scout Association 13:00-16:00 Games on the museum grounds – Árbær Scout Association 15:00 "Kvöldvaka" - Árbær Scout Association 13:00-16:00 "Lummur" and woolwork in the old Árbær farm

First Day of Summer at Árbær Open Air Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum

Are you learning Icelandic? - guided tour

Are you learning Icelandic? Reykjavík City Museum offers a guided tour at Árbær Open Air Museum for people learning Icelandic. The tour will take place on Saturday, 10 May, from 15:00 to 16:00. Katleen Abbeel will provide the tour in easy-to-understand Icelandic.

Are you learning Icelandic? - guided tour
Árbær Open Air Museum

The Puppet Car returns!

After a four-year break, The Puppet Car is back and will premiere the play "Playing with Colours" at Árbær Open Air Museum on Tuesday, 3 June, at 14:00.

The Puppet Car returns!
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Venue Hire

Museum Church

Mu­seum Shop

Krambúðin old-style sweet shop

Guided Tour

Guided tour all year round