The Settlement Exhibition (Reykjavík 871±2)
Landnámssýningin
An underground museum built over the remains of a Viking longhouse, recreating Reykjavík's earliest settlement life through the original ruins and multimedia displays.
The Settlement Exhibition lies underground beneath Aðalstræti street in the old town. Its centerpiece is a 10th-century Viking longhouse excavated in 2001, along with older wall remains beneath it. A layer of volcanic ash under the walls has been dated to around 871 AD, with a margin of error of two years, which gave the exhibition its name, '871±2'. Using holographic projections and touchscreens, the museum recreates farm life of that time and the origins of Reykjavík. Tickets must be purchased. A visit takes about an hour, and it is often combined with a trip to the National Museum.
Opening hours
About 10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Tjörnin Pond & Reykjavík City Hall
- Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús
- Old Harbour & Whale Watching
- Icelandic Phallological Museum
- National Museum of Iceland
- Whales of Iceland
- FlyOver Iceland
- Harpa Concert Hall