A village built from Reykjavík's old houses

Árbær looks like a small settlement because its buildings form a town square, a village and a farm rather than a single museum complex.

The museum opened in 1957 and now contains more than 20 buildings. Most were moved from central Reykjavík, while the Árbær farmhouses still stand on their original site. Together they preserve homes, workshops and public buildings that might otherwise have disappeared as the capital grew.

Museum history

Each building tells a different part of the city's story

The houses cover Reykjavík architecture and everyday life during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Some buildings contain period homes; others hold displays about construction, children's lives, transport or work. The changing materials and room sizes make the city's growth easier to grasp than a timeline alone. For a broader national history, continue with the National Museum of Iceland.

The open-air setting places historic buildings and living-history interpretation within modern Reykjavík.
Two costumed interpreters standing in the grassy grounds of Árbær Open Air Museum.

The open-air setting places historic buildings and living-history interpretation within modern Reykjavík.

Visitors move between separate houses, workshops and exhibition spaces.
Costumed interpreters walking between colorful wooden buildings at Árbær Open Air Museum.

Visitors move between separate houses, workshops and exhibition spaces.

Families may appreciate being able to alternate between interiors and outdoor paths. Travelers with very limited city time may prefer a compact central landmark such as Hallgrímskirkja, since Árbær rewards a slower visit away from downtown.

  • Look for turf, stone and timber construction across different periods.
  • Enter period homes to compare how Reykjavík families lived.
  • Check the current exhibition list if a particular subject matters to you.

Give the museum at least a full hour

The official guided tour takes just over an hour and provides a useful minimum for the main houses.

Allow longer if you want to enter many buildings, read the exhibitions or let children explore at an unhurried pace. Much of the visit is outdoors, so rain, wind or winter ice may also slow the walk.

A crowd at Árbær in August 1965, eight years after the museum opened.
A crowd gathered at Árbær Open Air Museum in a black-and-white photograph from 1965.

A crowd at Árbær in August 1965, eight years after the museum opened.

Árbær sits east of central Reykjavík, so include travel time rather than treating it as part of a downtown walk. The Reykjavík guide can help you compare it with museums and landmarks closer to the center.

Gravel paths and historic thresholds shape access

The grounds are mostly connected by gravel paths, while many old houses retain steps or raised thresholds.

The museum provides two courtesy wheelchairs designed for gravel and grass, and portable ramps can help with some entrances. Access still varies from house to house. Wet paths may develop puddles, and freezing weather can make them slippery, so visitors with reduced mobility should read the detailed official access guide before arriving.

Snow and ice can change the comfort of the outdoor paths in winter.
Snow-covered turf buildings at Árbær Open Air Museum on a winter evening.

Snow and ice can change the comfort of the outdoor paths in winter.

Admission, tours and the visitor calendar can change. Check the official museum page before making the trip across the city, particularly outside summer or around public holidays.

Plan the current visit

By ThorPublished Updated