Selasetur Íslands
Museum and research centre in Hvammstangi on seals, wildlife and marine biology in Húnaflói.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Selasetur Íslands (Icelandic Seal Centre) was founded on 29 April 2005 by people interested in sustainable tourism in Húnaþing vestra. The association is owned by local people and had 74 founding members at the start. In autumn 2005 the idea received an award as the most interesting innovation in tourism in northern Iceland.
The museum and visitor information centre opened on 26 June 2006. A seal research department was added in November 2008, and since then the centre has conducted research on seals and other marine mammals alongside running exhibitions. In 2012 the museum moved to the house at Strandgata 1 by the harbour, and since 2018 the offices have been at Höfðabraut 6.
The exhibitions cover seals in the North Atlantic, their biology and their place in Icelandic culture and history, including seal hunting past and present. They also cover birds, land mammals and marine life in northern Iceland. A live laboratory lets visitors watch scientific work as it happens.
Highlights
- Complete seal skeleton and skeleton of a harbour porpoise
- Touchscreen with the journeys of five young grey seals tracked by satellite
- Live Lab, a live laboratory where visitors can see scientific work
- Seal cinema with a documentary about Icelandic seals (in English)
- The largest selection of seal products in Iceland in the shop
Permanent exhibitions
- Selir – The exhibition covers seals in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions, their biology, seal hunting, and the status of seals in Icelandic culture and tradition.
- Lífríki Norðurlands – Covers the birds of Iceland, Icelandic land mammals and marine life of northern Iceland, including a complete harbour porpoise skeleton.
- Rannsóknir og Live Lab – A window into a working research laboratory where samples from seals and whales are processed, and the research of the Selasetur is presented.
- Founded
- 2006
- Operated by
- Selasetur Íslands (félag í eigu heimamanna)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | ISK 1,900 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | ISK 1,500Senior citizens and people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Children aged 0–15 enter free when accompanied by an adult. |
| Seniors | ISK 1,500 |
| Visitors with disabilities | ISK 1,500 |
| Groups (10+ people) | ISK 1,500 per personPer person for groups of 10 or more. |
| Guided tour with a member of museum staff (paid in addition to the group admission) | ISK 15,000 |
| Lecture by a marine biologist (paid in addition to the group admission) | ISK 45,000 |
Prices as per the museum’s price list for the period from May 2026.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
The exhibition is designed for all age groups. In a creative corner, children can add something of their own to the exhibition space while adults view the exhibition.
Getting there & parking
The museum stands by the harbour in Hvammstangi.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop sells souvenirs, books, maps, knitwear, coffee, snacks and chocolate. The tourist information centre is in the same building.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Groups can book a guided tour with a member of museum staff and a lecture by a marine biologist. |
