Most ship museums keep you behind a rope. Here you climb the steps and stand on the deck of Íslendingur, a full-size replica of the Gokstad ship, built by Gunnar Marel Eggertsson and sailed by him from Iceland to New York in the year 2000. The hull fills the hall, and you can walk underneath it and put your hand on the planking.
Around the ship, short animated films tell how Íslendingur was built and how the Atlantic crossing was made, and the story of Vegvísir, the Icelandic sign said to keep a traveller from losing their way. There is a display of Viking weapons and armour, and a children's corner where younger visitors can play while the adults take their time.
Dress up as a Viking and use our photo booth, free of charge, as many times as you like. When you are done, the cafe looks straight out over the sea, and the shop has keepsakes worth carrying home.
Practical: ten minutes from Keflavík Airport and on the road to the Blue Lagoon, so it fits either side of a flight. Free parking for every visitor, with room for coaches. Everything is indoors, which makes it a dependable stop when the weather turns. Most visitors spend 45 to 90 minutes.
