Reykjavík Culture City | Visit Reykjavík

Despite the capital area’s relatively petite size, Reykjavík is a city that is recognized for its devotion to the arts and culture. Visitors will find themselves with a plethora of choices, including more than 60 museums, exhibition spaces, and galleries on almost every corner. Festivals like The Reykjavík Arts Festival, Fringe Festival, The Literary Festival, and Children‘s Culture Festival also make their mark on the city‘s cultural platform. This wealth of institutions and festivals celebrate Icelandic culture and proudly displays the creative traditions of both famous international artists and locals.

Visitors can experience the history of Reykjavík in a lively and engaging way at the Reykjavík City Museum and Reykjavík Art Museum, Iceland’s largest network of museums. A fun way to explore some of the Icelandic arts would be to download the Reykjavík Art Walk app and get acquainted with some of the many beautiful sculptures on display whilst taking a stroll around the city. History lovers can learn how the Vikings lived and about the making of a nation at the Settlement Exhibition and the National Museum of Iceland. Other museums worth mentioning are the Perlan Museum, the home to the largest nature exhibition in Iceland, the Museum of Design and Applied Art which introduces Icelandic design, and Árbær Open Air Museum, a collection of more than 20 buildings preserving Reykjavík‘s early history.

Reykjavík city is very proud to be a UNESCO city of literature, the first non-English speaking city to receive that honour. This is due to our rich heritage of ancient literature which has cultivated the city’s strength in literature education, preservation, dissemination, and promotion. Visitors can experience some of our literary histories through the Reykjavík Culture Walks app, and if one is here during the Christmas period don‘t miss our famous „Jólabókaflóð“ or the Christmas Book Flood, where locals visit the city‘s bookstores to buy the best books for Christmas presents.

Reykjavík Children's Culture Festival

AprilChildren's culture, culture for children, and culture with children are the three main aspects of the Reykjavík Children’s Culture Festival: a week-long arts and culture festival dedicated to children and youth.

Reykjavík Arts Festival

June BiannuallyThe Reykjavik Arts Festival is a biennial multidisciplinary festival with a special focus on new commissions and the creative intersection of the arts.

Reykjavík Culture Night

August Culture Night is both created and enjoyed by city residents and takes place all across central Reykjavik, with celebrations in the streets and squares, in museums, businesses, and in residential gardens!

Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature

Reykjavík has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature and is the first non-native English speaking city to receive this prestigious title. Reykjavík is the fifth city in the world to receive the title and joins other UNESCO Cities of Literature including; Edinburgh, Melbourne, Iowa City and Dublin.

History Museums

If you want to learn a little about the history of Iceland and Reykjavík, you should check out one of these museums and places

Art Museums

Despite the capital area’s relatively petite size, Reykjavík is a city that is famous for its devotion to the arts and culture. Visitors to Reykjavík will find themselves with a plethora of choices

Nature Museums

Iceland is well known for its vast and beautiful nature. If you want to get to know some facts about our nature and its residents, you can check out some of these museums!

Libraries & Culture Houses

Icelanders love books! We have the highest number of authors per capita, several book-related festivals, and Reykjavík is the first UNESCO City of Literature that doesn't have English as its native tongue