Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur

A photography museum on the top floor of Grófarhús in Reykjavík, with exhibitions of historical and contemporary photography and images from its collection.

Opening hoursAdmission ISK 1,400 Wheelchair accessible

Website Directions

About the museum

The Reykjavík Museum of Photography is one of the main venues for photography in Iceland, both as a historical archive and repository and in the field of contemporary photography. The museum is on the sixth floor of Grófarhús at Tryggvagata 15, in the same building as the Reykjavík City Library (Borgarbókasafnið).

In the museum's exhibition spaces, the main hall and the space Skotið in the foyer, temporary exhibitions show various periods of history and the latest contemporary photography. On three touchscreens at the reception, images from the collection, sorted by theme, show changes in society and culture over more than a century.

The museum is part of the Reykjavík City Museum (Borgarsögusafn Reykjavíkur), which was formed in 2014 when Árbæjarsafn, the Settlement Exhibition, the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, the Reykjavík Museum of Photography and Viðey merged.

Highlights

Exhibitions of historical and contemporary photography
Images from the collection on three touchscreens, sorted by theme
The exhibition space Skotið in the foyer
A shop with a selection of photography books

Founded: 1981
Operated by: Borgarsögusafn Reykjavíkur

Admission & discounts

Adults	ISK 1,400
Reduced	ISK 970Students with a school ID
Children & teens	freefree up to age 17 · Children under 18 enter free.
Visitors with disabilities	freecompanion free · Free entry for disabled people and their assistants.
Students & apprentices	ISK 970On presentation of a school ID.
Reykjavík Culture Card	ISK 8,700The culture card for people aged 67 and over costs ISK 2,550.

Holders of the Reykjavík City Card and members of ICOM and FÍSOS enter free.

Accessibility

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

Access for wheelchair users is good. The entrance is shared with the City Library on the ground floor; the outer door opens automatically, there are no thresholds on the route, and a lift goes up to the sixth floor. One wheelchair is available to borrow on the ground floor. The toilet on the sixth floor is not specially designed for wheelchair users, but there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet in the library on the first floor. Two disabled parking spaces are north of Hafnarhús. Guide dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Time needed	approx. 20 min
Kids’ admission	free up to age 17

Children under 18 enter free. Pushchairs cannot be borrowed, but visitors are welcome to bring their own pushchairs to the exhibitions.

Getting there & parking

By public transit

Bus stops are on Lækjargata and Mýrargata (5–10 minutes on foot).

By car

Paid parking

Paid public parking is behind the building, in the car parks at Vesturgata 7 and at Hafnartorg. Two disabled parking spaces are north of Hafnarhús.

Accessible parking

The museum is on the sixth floor of Grófarhús, Tryggvagata 15. A car can stop at the entrance to drop off and pick up passengers.

Get directions

Amenities & dining

Café: not available
Restaurant: not available
Museum shop

The reception and the shop, with photography books and gifts, are at the entrance to the exhibitions on the sixth floor. Neither a picnic area nor a café is available at the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit

School programs	yes
Good to know	A visit takes about 20–45 minutes. There are no regular guided tours, but guided tours are advertised for individual exhibitions. The museum is usually a quiet place, but sometimes video works with sound are shown in the exhibitions. It regularly advertises special opening times for autistic people and people with sensory processing difficulties.