Sögusafnið
Museum in the Grandi district of Reykjavík where life-size figures recreate key events in Icelandic history from the settlement onwards.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Saga Museum presents Icelandic history with life-size figures that recreate important events from the Viking Age onwards. The designer Ernst Backman, who owns the museum together with his family, conceived the idea in 1999, and the museum was formally opened in 2002. The exhibition is presented as a journey through difficult times, when volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, avalanches and the Black Death left their mark on people's lives.
The museum is in the Alliance House on Grandagarður, built in 1924–1925 as a fish-processing building for the company Alliance. The house was protected in 2010, and its exterior is protected by the Icelandic state. The museum has a small exhibition space with old photographs that trace the history of the building.
Visitors can walk around the museum with an audio guide in Icelandic, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish and Swedish, as well as a text guide in Italian and Polish. At the end of the exhibition visitors can dress up in costumes and take photos. The museum shop sells items in the spirit of the Viking Age by Ernst Backman.
Highlights
- Life-size figures showing key events in Icelandic history
- Audio guide in seven languages
- Costumes and photo opportunity at the end of the exhibition
- Museum in the protected Alliance House from 1924–1925
- Museum shop with items in the spirit of the Viking Age
Permanent exhibition
- Sýning um sögu Íslands – Life-size figures recreate important events in Icelandic history from the settlement onwards, including the settlement of Ingólfur Arnarson and the impact of the Black Death. At the end of the exhibition there is a costume area for visitors.
- Founded
- 2002
- Operated by
- Sögusafnið ehf.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | ISK 4,000 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | ISK 3,400Students with a valid student card and visitors over 60 |
| Children & teens | ISK 1,200Price for children aged 6–12. |
| Seniors | ISK 3,400Visitors over 60. |
| Students & apprentices | ISK 3,400With a valid student card. |
| Groups | –Groups are asked to send an enquiry. |
| Families | ISK 9,200Two adults and two children. |
Tickets can be bought online.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Mýrargata
Strætó routes 3 and 14 (Mýrargata stop) and stop 2 for City Sightseeing (hop-on hop-off).
By car
Free parking
Free parking for museum visitors.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop sells items in the spirit of the Viking Age by Ernst Backman; there is also an online shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (IS, EN, FR, DE, RU, ES, SV) |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Audio guides are available in Icelandic, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish and Swedish, and text guides in Italian and Polish. The guide is also available as a brochure at the reception. At the end of the exhibition visitors can dress up in costumes and take photos. |
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