the Settlement Exhibition 🇮🇸

You will step into the heart of early Icelandic history at The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavík 871±2, run by the Reykjavík City Museum at Aðalstræti 16. Located at the corner of Aðalstræti and Suðurgata in central Reykjavík, this subterranean exhibit is built directly around the excavated ruins of one of Iceland's first known Viking houses. Inhabited from around 930 to 1000 CE, the well-preserved tenth-century longhouse hall stands in its original location as the focal point, complete with its intact central hearth and sturdy walls.

Just north of the main hall, you can examine fragments of a turf wall constructed around 871 CE (±2 years). The precise dating comes from a layer of volcanic tephra from the Torfajökull region deposited across Iceland and Greenland during a major eruption. As you explore, you will discover real Viking Age artifacts unearthed from central Reykjavík and the island of Viðey.

Interactive multimedia displays, modern visual technology, sound, and even smell enhance your journey through early settler life. Surrounding the excavated site, a dark-blue oval wall features panoramic imagery of Reykjavík's ancient landscape and a light strip marking the exact volcanic tephra layer, offering you a tangible connection to the origins of human habitation.

What to see at the Settlement Exhibition

• In situ ruins of a 10th-century Viking hall with an intact central hearth
• Turf wall fragments dated to 871±2 CE via Torfajökull volcanic tephra
• Viking Age artifacts recovered from central Reykjavík and Viðey island
• Interactive multimedia, sound, and smell experiences detailing settler history

Visiting tips

Explore the computer center before entering the main hall to learn about traditional settlement myths and historical context.

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

How to get there & what’s nearby

the Settlement Exhibition 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.