History and Culture in North Iceland

Towns and villages around the region frequently arrange happenings related to local customs, history and culture. Most towns and country districts have museums representing many different aspects of life in Iceland. The culture and way of life of past centuries is commemorated in historical museums showing artefacts of olden days, mostly relating to the traditional occupations of agriculture and fishing. The traditional country architecture of natural stone and turf houses is also well represented. Natural science museums focus on representative samples and noteworthy characteristics of Iceland´s geolagy, flora and fauna.

Seeing is believing. Take a look for yourself and enjoy the best of everything that North Iceland has to offer!
Museum Hvoll in Dalvik
In town Dalvík
0
620, Dalvík
The museum’s collection comprises thousands of items. The natural history collection contains a large number of Icelandic birds and mammals, the most ...
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The Bird Museum at Mývatn
By Lake Myvatn
1
660, Mývatn
Sigurgeir´s Bird Museum is a new museum that opened in August 2008. Sigurgeir had a passionate interest in Icelandic birds and now the museum ...
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The whale museum
In town Húsavík, 90 km from Akureyri
85
640, Húsavík
The main aim of the Whale Museum is to provide knowledge and information about whales and their habitat. The 1,600 m2  exhibition area houses ...
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Saudanes
0
681, Þórshöfn
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The Aviation Museum
South of the Akureyri Airport
821
600, Akureyri
The Icelandic Aviation Museum is located at Akureyri Airport in the north of Iceland.Aviation and Akureyri have had a close relationship since 1928 ...
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Bjarg í Miðfirði
5 km south of Laugarbakki
704
531, Hvammstangi
Bjarg in Midfjordur, is the farm that belonged to Asdis, the mother of outlaw Grettir Asmundarson - Grettir the Strong, of Grettis Saga fame. Beneath ...
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Drangey
Island on Skagafjörður bay
744
551, Sauðárkrókur
The rocky island Drangey in the middle of Skagafjordur is a flat topped mass of tuff, rising almost 200 meters out of the ocean. The cliffs serve as ...
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Gasir - Medival Trading place
11 km north from Akureyri
1
601, Akureyri
Gásir is a unique place. In no other place in Iceland is it possible to find so many remainings from a trading post from the Middle Ages. Gásir ...
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Holar in Hjaltadalur
30 km from town Sauðárkrókur
767
551, Sauðárkrókur
Hólar is one of the most famous historical sites in Iceland and was, for many centuries, an Episcopal See. It was also the capital of North Iceland ...
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The Icelandic Emigration Center
In town Hofsós
76
565, Hofsós
During the years 1870-1914 one out of every five Icelanders fled the country to escape the poor conditions in Iceland.  The Icelandic Emigration ...
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The Museum House in Husavik
In town Húsavík, 90 km from Akureyri
85
640, Húsavík
On the main floor of the Culture House in Húsavík the new exhibition Man and Nature - 100 years in Þingeyjarsýsla, aims to provide insight into man´s ...
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The Skagaströnd Museum of Prophecies
At Skagaströnd
745
545, Skagaströnd
The Skagaströnd Museum of Prophecies.  The exhibition focuses on Þórdís the fortune-teller, the first named inhabitant of Skagaströnd, who lived ...
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Víðimýrarkirkja church
5 km from Varmahlíð
1
560, Varmahlíð
Víðimýrarkirkja church is one of the few preserved turf churches in Iceland.  At the beginning of the 20th century its fate was uncertain, but ...
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Akureyri Museum
In Akureyri
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600, Akureyri
In the oldest part of Akureyri (known as the Inner town), stands the Akureyri Museum. Here we find many interesting and well set up exhibitions, ...
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Arnes
In town Skagaströnd
74
545, Skagaströnd
Árnes is the oldest house in Skagaströnd, and the only one of its kind in the area that was considered possible to preserve. It was renovated by the ...
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Borgarvirki
On Vatnsnes peninsula
717
0,
Borgarvirki is a 10-15 metre high ridge of columnar rock. This phenomenon is a volcanic plug, and there is speculation as to whether it was, in ...
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Glaumbaer
Skagafjordur
75
551, Sauðárkrókur
The Glaumbær Farm first exhibition was opened in 1952, but the farm had served as a dwelling until 1947. The old turf farmhouse forms the ...
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Möðrudalur
160 km from Akureyri
901
999, Hálendi
At an altitude of 469 m, Möðrudalur farm lies higher than any other Icelandic farm. The remarkable, tiny church was built by the farmer himself, Jón ...
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Nonni´s House Museum
In Akureyri
1
600, Akureyri
Nonni´s house was the childhood home of the writer and Jesuit priest Jón Sveinsson, "Nonni", who wrote books for children. Nonni´s house is among ...
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Skalar in Langanes peninsula
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681, Þórshöfn
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Textil museum
In town Blönduós
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540, Blönduós
The Textile Museum in Blönduós houses a range of home crafted woven items, artistic handwork and textiles, as well as a display of beautiful national ...
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The Christmas Garden
10 km from Akureyri
821
601, Akureyri
A visit to The Christmas Garden will transport you into the realms of Christmas – only a 10 minute drive from Akureyri. Here you will find countless ...
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The Herring Museum
In town Siglufjörður
76
580, Siglufjörður
The Herring Museum is the largest seafaring and industrial museum in the country. The exhibits tell the tale of hunting and processing these “silver ...
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The old farm house
30 km from town Húsavík
853
641, Húsavík
Grenjaðarstaður is the site of a church, and also of one of the most famous turf farms in Iceland.  It was home to the chieftains of the past, ...
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The old farmhouse Laufás
30 km from Akureyri
83
601, Akureyri
Laufás is mentioned in historical records soon after the settlement of Iceland (874-930) and since the earliest period of Christianity a church has ...
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The Seal center
In town Hvammstangi
72
530, Hvammstangi
The Icelandic Seal Centre is housed in the historically interesting and attractive premises of VSP in Hvammstangi. Here you will find informative ...
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Þingeyrarkirkja church
30 km from town Blönduós
721
541, Blönduós
Þingeyrar was, in past times, one of the most famous estates in Húnaþing and also the site of a church. Now, the Þingeyrakirkja church commands one ...
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Fjallabyggð Nature Museum
0
625, Ólafsfjörður
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Folk Museum at Manarbakki
ca. 10km from Húsavík
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641, Húsavík
The Minjasafnið Museum at Mánárbakki was opened on 18 June 1995 in Þórshamar, a building which was transported from Húsavík to Mánárbakki. The ...
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Hraun í Öxnadal
Öxnadalur
0
601, Akureyri
Residence for writers, poets and scholars of nature studies. An exhibition of the live and works of Jónas Hallgrímsson, one of Iceland's most beloved ...
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Safnasafnid Museum
10 km from Akureyri town
1
601, Akureyri
Safnasafnið - The Icelandic Folk Art Museum  - was founded in 1995 by Níels Hafstein and Magnhildur Sigurðardóttir. The collection, consisting ...
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The Earthquake Center in Kópasker
At Kópasker
0
670, Kópasker
The Earthquake Center at Kópasker is an interesting exhibition of photographs and other material connected to the seismic activity in Öxarfjörður in ...
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The Þingeyjarsýsla District Museum
In town Húsavík, 90 km from Akureyri
0
640, Húsavík
Byggðasafn S-Þing (The South Þingeyjarsýsla District Museum) is housed within the Safnahúsið at Húsavík and is to be found on the middle floor of the ...
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Transportation Museum at Ystafell
20 km from Húsavík
0
0,
Transport Museum at Ystafell is the place to visit if you are interested in modes of transport both past and present. Its chief purpose is to collect ...
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