Árbæjarsafn

About the museum

In the mid-20th century many Reykjavík residents feared that “old Reykjavík” was disappearing. In 1954 the Reykjavík Archives and Heritage Museum (Skjala- og minjasafn Reykjavíkur) was formally founded, and in 1957 the city council decided to rebuild the farm Árbær, long a resting place for travellers, and to set up a museum of old houses of cultural-historical value. The museum opened that autumn. The first house moved to the museum site was Smiðshús in 1960, and Dillonshús a year later.

In 1968 the Minjasafn Reykjavíkur and Árbæjarsafn merged under the name Árbæjarsafn. Since then the city has grown and now surrounds the museum site, although the museum is still close to the Elliðaár valley. Today more than twenty houses stand on the site, forming a square, a village and a farm; most were moved here from the city centre of Reykjavík. Each house holds an independent historical exhibition or a typical home from a particular period, and there are also old-fashioned workshops.

In 2014 Árbæjarsafn, Landnámssýningin in Aðalstræti, Sjóminjasafnið í Reykjavík, Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur and Viðey merged under the name Borgarsögusafn Reykjavíkur. In summer the staff wear clothing from earlier times and take part in the exhibitions, and farm animals roam the site.

Highlights

• Over twenty houses forming a square, a village and a farm
• The farm Árbær, the museum’s original farmhouse
• Home at Suðurgata 7 from around 1925 and Hábær from 1950
• The exhibition Komdu að leika! in Landakot for children
• Museum church and old-fashioned workshops
• Christmas programme with cutting of laufabrauð and Yule Lads

Permanent exhibitions

• Vaxtaverkir – Hands-on exhibition that takes visitors into the world of Reykjavík primary school children from 1898 to 1974.
• Suðurgata 7 – Reykvískt heimili um 1925 – The house was built in 1833 in central Reykjavík and enlarged in stages; it has had its present form since 1883. The exhibition shows a city home around 1925.
• Hábær 1950 – The exhibition sheds light on the living conditions of a poor family in Reykjavík around 1950.

Founded

1957

Operated by

Borgarsögusafn Reykjavíkur

Admission & discounts

Holders of the Reykjavík City Card and members of ICOM and FÍSOS receive free admission. Holders of the Menningarkort receive 10% off in the museum shops.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is an open-air site covering a large area with more than twenty houses. Paths are mostly level gravel, paved in places; in wet weather puddles can form and freeze. Crampons can be borrowed at the reception. Most houses are entered via one step or over a threshold, and some have small rooms and narrow stairs. Two beach wheelchairs with wide tyres are available to borrow. Access to Landakot is good: there is a ramp, a lift (staff open it) and a wheelchair-accessible toilet on level 1. Five accessible parking spaces are about 50 metres from the entrance, and the path from them is heated by a snow-melting system. The ticket office doors open automatically, but you must step over a threshold. Guide dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The exhibition Komdu að leika! in Landakot is about children’s games and toys in the 20th century, is interactive and suitable for all age groups. The exhibition Vaxtaverkir (Growing Pains) shows the world of Reykjavík primary school children from 1898 to 1974. The Christmas programme includes Yule Lads, singing and dancing. Children up to 18 enter free. In summer there are sheep and horses on the site as well as hens. A baby changing table is available in Landakot. Visitors are welcome to bring their own prams; the museum does not rent them out.

Getting there & parking

Cars can stop at the ticket office to let passengers get in and out.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

A café is usually located in Dillonshús in summer and during the Christmas programme. The museum shop is at the ticket office, and the old-fashioned sweet shop Krambúðin is open in summer and during the Christmas programme. Picnic facilities with tables and benches are available in two places on the open-air site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum church, halls and houses on the site can be rented for ceremonies, meetings and events.

Plan your visit