Reykjavík Museum of Photography 🇮🇸

Located in Reykjavík, Iceland, the Reykjavík Museum of Photography (Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur) offers a fascinating look into the region's visual history. Established in 1981 from a private collection, the museum came under city management in 1987 and moved to its present location on Tryggvagata in 2000, sharing a building with the Reykjavík city library. Today, it operates alongside several other city historic institutions.

The museum preserves roughly five million photographs spanning from around 1870 to the present century, showcasing work by both professional and amateur photographers. As you explore, you will discover a vast array of photographic genres, including landscape, press, industrial, advertising, family images, and studio portraits, alongside vernacular photographic culture such as historical albums. To awaken interest in the cultural role of photography, the museum publishes books, fields award nominations for Icelandic photographers, and curates dynamic displays.

Each year, visitors can experience about three main exhibitions and over ten smaller shows. Over the years, featured displays have highlighted celebrated artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mary Ellen Mark, Viggo Mortensen, André Kertész, Marc Riboud, Ragnar Axelsson, Lauren Greenfield, and Thomas Kellner, making it an essential stop for visual arts enthusiasts.

What to see at Reykjavík Museum of Photography

• Preserves roughly five million historical and contemporary photographs from 1870 to the present century
• Features studio portraits, landscapes, industrial, press, advertising, and family photographs
• Hosts approximately three main exhibitions and over ten smaller shows every year
• Shares a location on Tryggvagata with the Reykjavík city library
• Recognized in 2014 by The Guardian as one of Europe's top free museums

Visiting tips

Check out the museum's current schedule of rotating displays, as it hosts around three major exhibitions and more than ten smaller shows each year.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Reykjavík Museum of Photography is easy to reach on Reykjavík’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Hallgrímskirkja and Icelandic Phallological Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Reykjavík travel guide.