Hofsstaðir Historic Park Viking Longhouse (Kirkjulundur, Reykjavik) — this park is actually a one-time Viking settlement, consisting of a longhouse from that historic period. This site was discovered during the course of construction work in 1986 (with excavations carried out between 1994 and 2000. The remains of the longhouse at this site was the second-largest […]
Höfði House (Borgartun, Reykjavik) — this diplomatically-historic site was the one-time French consul to Iceland. Back in 1986, this was the summit meeting place for U.S. president Ronald Reagan, and Russia’s Mikhail Gorbachev. The sculpture in front of the house depicts pillars from the chieftain’s seat of the first Norwegian settler in Reykjavík. Others who […]
Hellisheiði Power Plant Geothermal Energy Exhibition (Hellisheidi Power Plant, Reykjavik) — for those interested in the vital role that geothermal energy plays in this country, this exhibition space is a good start. The plant is owned by Reykjavík Energy and is a striking example of how geothermal energy is harnessed in a sustainable manner and […]
Harpa Concert and Conference Centre (Austurbakki 2, Reykjavik) — this artistically striking building, opened in 2010 and designed by Henning Larsen Architects (with renowned artists Olafur Eliasson designing its glass facade), houses the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and The Icelandic Opera. Contemporary musical performances are also held here. Visitors and concert attendees also have the option […]
Hallgrimskirkja Church (Hallgrimstorg 1, Reykjavik) — this hard-to-miss site is one of the capital’s main landmarks. Initially built in 1945, and complete in 1986, this church stands at a massive 74.5 meters. This is a major tourist attraction, since it offers panoramic views of the entire city. The statue that’s in front of the church […]
Government House (Laekjargötu, Reykjavik) – this building was originally built as a prison in 1765-1770. The Governor of Iceland at the time, Skuli Magnusson, used the local prison population to provide labor for the country’s then-nascent wool industry. By the mid 19th century, the Danish Governor, Count Moltke, had this building converted into his residence. […]
Árbaer Open Air Folk Museum (Arbaer, Reykjavik) – a.k.a. Reykjavik City Museum, Árbær was an established farm well into the 20th century, and the museum opened there in 1957. Árbær is now an open air museum with more than 20 buildings which form a town square, a village and a farm. Most of the buildings […]
Akureyri Museum (Adalstraeti 58, Akureyri) – this museum, located in the north central part of the country (almost 5 hours northeast of Reykjavik) offers two permanent exhibitions depicting the history of the area from settlement to modern times: “Eyjafjorður from Early Times” and “Akureyri – the Town on the Bay”. Many interesting and unique artifacts […]
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