Place · Reykjavík

The Settlement Exhibition at Aðalstræti

Step below the modern city to a Viking-age longhouse preserved where it was found, then follow Reykjavík’s growth above it.

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Your visit at a glance

Time on site: 60–90 min on site · editorial estimate; travel extra
Start: Aðalstræti 16, in the old centre; the connected exhibition continues to Aðalstræti 10.
Usual hours: Daily 10:00–17:00, according to Reykjavík City Museum; exceptions are published by the museum.
Admission checked 1 October 2026: Adults 3,100 ISK; students with an ISIC card 2,000 ISK; ages 0–17 and people with disabilities free.
Easy combination: Austurvöllur and Tjörnin are nearby outdoor stops; allow lunch in the old centre.

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Under Aðalstræti, the city’s early history is still in place. The remains of a tenth-century longhouse are the centre of the visit, so this is a chance to look at an actual archaeological site rather than a reconstructed Viking village.

The connected exhibition carries the story onward towards the Reykjavík of today. It makes a satisfying choice when a street walk leaves you wondering what stood here before the cafés and houses.

Excavated Viking longhouse foundations inside Reykjavík’s Settlement Exhibition — Wolfgang Sauber · source · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photographed in 2009. Resized for web; responsive display may crop the frame.

A useful time allowance: 1–1.5 hours — our visit allowance
Season and conditions: Year-round, subject to current access and conditions
Getting there: Independent visit; see arrival details below

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Start with the option that matches how you will visit The Settlement Exhibition at Aðalstræti. The alternative is useful only if it fills another gap in your plan.

The experience

Compare Settlement Exhibition admission

Compare individual admission with a Reykjavík City Card only if your other intended visits are included in its validity period.

For your actual group and museum day; check current inclusion, opening hours and age-related admission before deciding.

Compare Settlement Exhibition admission

A place to stay

Choose a central Reykjavík base

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Use the regional guidance for your actual activity meeting point and next day. Check the exact room, arrival and cancellation terms.

Choose a central Reykjavík base

If considering a Reykjavík City Card, check that your intended visits are included and compare the total for your group and validity period. A card is not automatically the better choice.

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Look at the house before the labels

Begin with the footprint of the longhouse and the relationship between its rooms and the surrounding ground. The remains were uncovered in 2001 and conserved at the site.

Then use the interpretation and later city-history displays to connect the excavation with the streets outside. A smaller, concentrated visit fits well before a harbour walk.

An old-centre day with an indoor anchor

Our suggested order is the exhibition, Austurvöllur, lunch, then Tjörnin. Reserve 1–1.5 hours inside and roughly another hour for the two outdoor stops, before food and browsing.

For several hours of national history, the National Museum is the alternative. For this visit, use Aðalstræti 16 as your meeting point; the two connected addresses belong to the same museum experience.

Sources & editorial review · 2026-10-01

Time allowances and suggested combinations are our editorial recommendations. Check the provider for current access, opening times and conditions.