Educational Visit to Skogar Museum in South Iceland

Learn about Icelandic history, culture, and technology when you visit the Skogar Museum in South Iceland. Travelers looking to have a deeper understanding of Iceland and its settlement and development should book their museum visit today. 

The Skogar Museum was opened in 1949 at the initiative of Þórður Tómasson and was initially located in the Skogar Regional School. Þórður served as the museum curator from the opening day until his retirement in 2013 at 92. 

In 1952, a massive eight-oared fishing boat called Petursey was donated to the museum. This gift did not fit in the original building, and the first structure of the current Skogar Museum was built in 1955 to accommodate the boat and the rest of Tómasson’s growing collection.

The Skogar Museum is located in South Iceland just off the Ring Road route, making it an easy and convenient stop for those traveling around the country. It is 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of the town of Vik and 93 miles (150 kilometers) east of Reykjavik. 

Six historical buildings and three museums make up the Skogar Museum: the Folk Museum, the Open Air Museum, and the Technical Museum. Each museum has educational exhibits and contains over 18,000 regional artifacts in total. 

The Folk Museum has numerous exhibits on Icelandic furnishings, handicrafts, natural history, and about industries such as fisheries and agriculture. Some surrounding counties’ archives are also preserved in the Folk Museum. 

The Open Air Museum is an extensive outdoor collection of Icelandic architecture. Here, you can explore the traditional Icelandic turf house, hydroelectric plant, schoolhouse, church, cattle shed, and wooden house.

Traditional turf houses are often on the must-see list for visitors, providing an iconic, quintessential Icelandic scene. Turf-roofed houses were the primary type of home up until the 20th century when it was easier to import building supplies to this largely treeless country.

Skogar’s Technical Museum was opened in 2002, and its mission is to educate visitors on the history of transportation, communication, and technological advancements in Iceland. From the age of working horses to current-day digital communications, this exhibit tells the story of Iceland’s technology evolution. 

This ticket includes entry to all three museums, and guided tours can be arranged upon request. Skogar Museum is open year-round, only closing on December 24th and 25th and January 1st. 

On-site, you will also find the Skogakaffi Cafe, serving delicious drinks and snacks, with seasonal soups and fresh bread available in spring and summer. The gift shop is a fantastic place to purchase a souvenir, offering local handicrafts, Icelandic wool products, books, postcards, and more.

Visitors eager to learn more about Iceland’s history and culture will appreciate this entry ticket to visit the Skogar Museum in South Iceland. Check availability now by choosing a date.