Top Museums In Akureyri Iceland

Akureyri, Iceland’s capital of culture in the north, is filled with a surprising number of museums for such a small town. In the Icelandic language, there is no distinction between a museum, collection, and archive; all are given the same name of safn. This sometimes creates some surprise by tourists who may consider some of the collections being called a museum a bit of a misnomer. All the same, Akureyri has all kinds of museums, collections, and archives ranging from contemporary art to motorcycles to 20th-century toys. Here is a selection of our top choices.

The Aviation Museum

The Aviation Museum located in the Akureyri Airport was founded in 2000. The museum traces the beginning of aviation in Iceland up to the present through photographs and texts presenting accounts from pilots about the craft of flying. The museum also contains a few aircrafts, including a plane that’s the same model as the first aircraft owned by Icelandic company Loftleiðir Airline. The museum also contains Iceland’s oldest air ambulance and the first glider built in Akureyri in 1937.

The Aviation Museum, Akureyri Airport, +354 863 2835

The poet Davíð Stefánsson (1895 – 1964) was from the village of Fagriskógur, not far from Akureyri. The poet’s house was bequeathed by his family members to the Akureyri Municipality, which the poet built himself and lived in until his death. His living space on the upper floor of the house is preserved in the same condition as when he lived in the house and includes an impressive library. The lower part of the house is an apartment reserved for artists and scholars who in return present their work to the public. The residency is organised by the cultural affairs committee of Akureyri Municipality.

Davíð Stefánsson Memorial Museum, Bjarkarstígur 6, 600 Akureyri, +354 462 4162

The Toy Museum at Friðbjarnarhús

Friðbjarnarhús, or the House of Friðbjarn, features a collection of 20th-century toys once owned by Guðbjörg Ringsted. Among the toys are dolls and cars of a wide variety. The upper floor of the building is the former meeting room of the Independent Order of Good Templars (a sector of the Freemasons), who donated the house to the Municipality of Akureyri in 2009.

The Toy Museum, Aðalstræti 46, 600 Akureyri +354 863 4531

The Motorcycle Museum of Iceland

Opened in May 2011, this unique museum covers the history of motorcycles in Iceland since they arrived on the island 100 years ago. Visitors can see displays of objects and artifacts related to motorcycles and motorcycle culture in a huge 800-square-meter building designed especially for the museum. To get there, you can either walk a 30-minute route or take a bus.

The Motorcycle Museum of Iceland, Krókeyri 2, 600 Akureyri, +354 866 3500

Akureyri Art Museum

The first exhibition space focusing solely on visual arts to open outside of Reykjavík, the Akureyri Art Museum is one of the main cultural centers in the North. Emphasis is on supporting and promoting visual arts in Akureyri and on art appreciation. You can see a variety of both established and emerging artists from Iceland and abroad.

Akureyri Art Museum, Kaupvangstræti 12, 600 Akureyri, +354 461 2610

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.