Árbær Open Air Museum
About This Museum
It’s a strange and wonderful thing to find an entire village hiding in plain sight on the edge of a modern capital. Árbær isn't a single building but a collection of over twenty historic structures, from turf-roofed cottages to a pristine white-washed church, all rescued from Reykjavík's urban sprawl and relocated here. You don't just observe the past here; you wander directly into it, peeking into a 19th-century kitchen where the smell of old timber hangs in the air or walking the creaky floors of a vintage general store stocked with authentic goods. The magic lies in how these humble buildings collectively tell the sprawling story of a city's transformation from a rural outpost to a modern hub.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the classic 1920s-era Icelandic farmhouse, complete with its surrounding outbuildings, which feels frozen in time. The old town square, with its charming corrugated-iron-clad houses and the iconic Árbær Church, creates a perfect postcard scene. Inside many buildings, you'll find evocative displays on everything from domestic life and maritime history to Iceland's rich folklore, with personal artifacts that feel surprisingly intimate.
Visitor Information
It's sprawled across a large site, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for Iceland's famously changeable weather—the experience is mostly outdoors. While it feels remote, it's just a short bus ride or drive from downtown Reykjavík, making it an perfect half-day escape from the city bustle.
Architecture & Building
The architecture is a living catalogue of Icelandic vernacular building traditions. You'll see everything from traditional turf houses, their grassy roofs blending into the landscape, to later timber-framed homes clad in distinctive corrugated iron, painted in cheerful reds, blues, and whites.
