Saga Museum

About Saga Museum

The Saga Museum is a small history museum in Reykjavík that tells the story of Iceland from the arrival of the first Norse settlers in the late 9th century to the Reformation, using life-size silicone figures set in reconstructed scenes. It is at Grandagarður 2 in the Grandi harbour district, a few minutes' walk west of the Old Harbour. The museum was originally housed inside Perlan but moved to its current building in the harbour area, so older guidebooks that place it at Perlan are out of date.

The exhibition is a self-guided walk through a series of scenes. They include the settlement of Ingólfur Arnarson, the founding of the Alþingi at Þingvellir, Leif Erikson's voyage to North America, the conversion to Christianity in the year 1000, saga figures such as Egill Skallagrímsson, and later episodes like the execution of Bishop Jón Arason in 1550 and the Black Death. An audio guide narrates each scene and is available in Icelandic, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish and Swedish, with written guides in Italian and Polish. At the end there is a dress-up area with replica Viking clothing and weapons for photos.

A visit takes around 30 minutes, which makes it easy to combine with other sights in Grandi such as the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, Whales of Iceland and FlyOver Iceland, or with a whale-watching trip from the Old Harbour. It works well on a rainy or dark winter day and is suited to families with children who enjoy the costumes.

The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Admission is ISK 4,000 for adults, ISK 3,400 for students and seniors (60+), ISK 1,200 for children aged 6 to 12, and ISK 9,200 for a family ticket covering two adults and two children. Prices can change, so check before you go. Groups should contact the museum for group rates.