Museums & galleries
Reykjavik Maritime Museum
Overview
The Reykjavik Maritime Museum is located beside the old harbor in the Grandi district. It details Iceland's seafaring heritage and fishing industry through exhibitions of gear, artifacts, and historical documentation. A primary draw is the preserved coast guard vessel Óðinn, which allows visitors to step aboard and see original shipboard quarters, engine spaces, and working decks.
Getting There
From central Reykjavík, the site is reachable on foot in roughly 15 to 20 minutes by walking northwest along the harbor waterfront. Local city buses also connect the downtown core to the Grandi district in about 5 to 10 minutes.
Time to Allow
Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours on-site. This provides enough time to walk through the permanent exhibition halls and inspect the coast guard ship.
When to Go
The indoor galleries make this a practical stop year-round, especially during poor weather. Summer afternoons tend to bring more tour groups and independent travelers, while mornings are generally quieter. Note that touring the vessel involves walking outside on open decks, where harbor winds can be strong and cold.
Nearby Attractions
The harbor area allows easy pairing with several nearby locations:
- Reykjavik Art Museum (0.6km) – Houses contemporary and modern art exhibits near the harbor.
- Reykjavík Museum of Photography (0.6km) – Showcases historical and contemporary photography.
- Landakotskirkja and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reykjavík (0.6km) – Iceland's Catholic cathedral, situated on a rise south of the harbor.
Updated September 13, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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