Duus Museum (Duushús / Duus Safnahús) – local history & art museum in Keflavík

4.5 (64 reviews)

MuseumTourist AttractionPoint of InterestEstablishment

Best time to visit

Late morning on weekdays offers quieter galleries and staff available to answer questions; summer afternoons attract tour groups so avoid those if you want a calm visit.

Budget tips

Small admission fee applies; discounts are often available for children, students and seniors, so check the museum website before you go and consider the Iceland Museum Card if you plan to visit several museums.

Recommended for

History buffs, Art lovers, Families, Culture-curious travelers

Plan your visit

45-60 min

About

Quick facts: Enter a small museum that brings together naval history, town folklore, and modern art within a relaxed setting. You will find rooms filled with creaky ship models, faded uniforms, and vivid community photography. Friendly volunteer guides enjoy sharing old sea tales as you explore unique artifacts like signed flight jackets and a photographic archive documenting daily life across the decades.

Highlights: Downstairs, a dimly lit room scented with old wood and salt offers more than 30 taped oral histories on request. You can hear Jón, a former fisherman, describe navigating past NATO ships in 1963. A small glass case holds a handwritten 'knot book' featuring 12 lifesaving knots annotated by Sigurður Magnússon. When a guide opens the case, you can almost feel the oil-stained pages beneath your fingertips.

Insider tips

Wear warm layers, galleries can feel cool compared with outside wind.
Head straight to the local history room for old photographs and personal stories about Keflavík's fishing community.
Ask staff about current rotating exhibitions and any artist talks or events the day you visit.
Photography without flash is usually allowed, avoid flash near textiles and ask before using a tripod.