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 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

A Day at the Farm

Welcome to Árbær Open Air Museum on the Sundays of 15 June and 27 July at 13:00-16:00 for a unique opportunity to experience rural life from days gone by in a vibrant environment.

A Day at the Farm
Árbær Open Air Museum

National Day Celebrations at Árbær Open Air Museum

The National Day on June 17th will be celebrated with a diverse and entertaining program featuring national costumes, folk dances, the lady of the mountain, vintage cars, accordion playing, Dillon's House Café and the classic National Day lollipops. Free entry for those who show up in national costumes, the disabled, kids and culture card holders.

National Day Celebrations at Árbær Open Air Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum

Hula Dance Performance and Lei Making

On Wednesday, 18 June at 13:00, hula dancers from Hawaii will be visiting Árbær Open Air Museum.

Hula Dance Performance and Lei Making
Árbær Open Air Museum

Women's Rights Day - Free entry for women and genderqueer!

On Women's Rights Day, 19 June, Árbær Open Air Museum offers free admission to women and genderqueer to celebrate the day. On this day in 1915, Icelandic women over 40 years old gained the right to vote and were eligible for parliament. To mark the 110 years that have passed since then, there will be a guided tour of the museum dedicated to women's history at 14:00.

Women's Rights Day - Free entry for women and genderqueer!
Árbær Open Air Museum

Midsummer Festival

Come celebrate Swedish Midsommar / Icelandic Jónsmessa with us! Árbær Open Air Museum in collaboration with the Swedish Society in Iceland, and the Reykjavík Folk Dance Society, invite you to a family-friendly festival with a midsummer theme! Free admission for anyone wearing a national costume, children up to 17 years old, people with disabilities, and Reykjavík Culture Card holders.

Midsummer Festival
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Venue Hire

Museum Church

Mu­seum Shop

Krambúðin old-style sweet shop

Guided Tour

Guided tour all year round