CityBuddy
Posetite kuću islandskih saga
Best time to visit
Visit on weekday mornings (9-11am) when the reading room is calm and natural light is best for viewing the manuscripts' intricate details.
Budget tips
Entry is free. Guided tours run a few times per week and cost around 3,000 ISK, but the self-guided exhibition with English panels covers the same highlights at no cost.
Recommended for
History and literature enthusiasts, Solo travelers interested in Nordic culture, Photography lovers (facsimile room only), Writers and storytellers
Plan your visit
1-2 hours
About
Quick facts: Hundreds of original medieval manuscripts live here, including the famous Poetic Edda and the sagas of Icelanders. The institute's hand-painted exhibition space uses color-coded panels to guide visitors through centuries of storytelling tradition.
Highlights: One of the institute's prized possessions is Flateyjarbók, a 14th-century manuscript containing 225 hand-illustrated leaves with gold leaf details that still shimmer after 700 years. Visitors can watch scholars wearing white gloves turn parchment pages in the reading room, a ritual that connects modern Icelanders directly to their Viking-era ancestors.
Insider tips
- Request to see the facsimile copies up close in the reading room where handling is allowed, unlike the originals.
- The hand-painted timeline on the walls uses color codes matching the manuscript cases, follow the same color for a logical flow.
- Photography is banned in the main hall to protect the vellum, but you can take photos in the entrance lobby and gift shop.
- Skip visiting during Reykjavik Culture Night in August when the institute is packed with locals and queues form outside.
Where to Stay in Reykjavík
Selected by City Buddy based on guest reviews and proximity to top attractions
Search all hotels in ReykjavíkPowered by agoda
Have you heard of free walking tours?
After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.
Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.
Local guide, 2-3 hours
Major sights, hidden gems, local stories
100% tip-based
Guides earn only tips, so they give their absolute best
You tip what feels right
At the end, just tip whatever you feel is right
I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Reykjavík, Iceland, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.
More attractions in Reykjavík
All attractions in Reykjavík →
Most popular itineraries!
Browse trip plans created by other travelers
8 dana u Reykjavíku - Kultura, istorija i skriveni dragulji Islanda
Otkrijte Reykjavík kao pravi istraživač - besplatne ture, muzeji, istorijske znamenitosti i tajna mesta koja poznaju samo lokalci, sve u čarobnoj islandskoj jeseni.
3 Ditë në Reykjavík për Udhëtarë me Buxhet të Kufizuar në Pranverë
Zbuloni pamjet autentike dhe aktivitetet falas të Reykjavík-ut në një udhëtim ekonomik pranveror, duke eksploruar kulturën lokale, natyrën dhe kuzhinën rrugore.