Best of Iceland – Open Air Museum

By Kate | December 22, 2016

On this trip to Iceland, I met Heather, a solo traveler like me. I noticed her Nikon camera, and we struck up a conversation on a bus tour for the Northern Lights. Well, the Northern Lights didn’t show, but we discovered a travel buddy. We decided to go to breakfast to  Sandholt the next day. At breakfast, we decided to go sightseeing in Reykjavik, and after a quick internet search, we decided to see the Open Air Museum.

Best of Iceland – Open Air Museum

At breakfast, we realized my bus pass paid for two people. Now, this doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it was a tremendous gift because the buses in Reykjavik require exact change, and we were both using credit cards. Heather looked up where the Open Air Museum was and found we could take the local buses. Before we headed out to locate the museum, we finished our sandwiches. Here is a sample of the delicious breakfast sandwiches.

How We Got to the Museum

Heather’s Airbnb, located in the heart of the city, made her the Reykjavik travel expert. She knew where the bus terminal was and how to get around town. So off to the bus terminal we went. We walked around the terminal and found the number 15 bus.

It seemed they were waiting for us. The bus driver gave us directions. Like most people in Iceland, the bus driver spoke excellent English and pointed us in the right direction. Finding the museum was straightforward.

We walked a few blocks because we just missed the number 5 bus which drops riders off at the Museum.

Buy Local

We were the only tourists at the Open Air Museum! Since the whole place is ours, our tour became a private tour. In the shop, we purchased a few gifts and went on our guided tour. I bought a CD of Icelandic music. It turned out that our guide’s friend made the CD – the music is lovely.

Our guide told us he had worked here for ten years. Since the country is similar to a socialist economy, everyone gets healthcare and education, with controlled housing and incomes.

In Iceland, there was little difference in wealth or poverty, and most people consider themselves middle class. Therefore, we supported smaller local businesses rather than big organizations.

On Our Private Tour

Open Air Museum

The Bride’s House

Inside the Church

Homes Built into the Earth

Kitchen

Families Slept in the One Common Room

It’s hard to see, but there is a Christmas tree in the room – decorated with heather from the fields.
It is on the right side at the foot of the first bed on the right by the window.

Early Indoor Plumbing

From my point of view, this was an amazingly perfect time. We had the whole village to ourselves. Honestly, going off-season to Iceland in December has some strong reasons for traveling there during the off-season.

My top three reasons for travel off-season are:

1. Fewer tourists

2. A more authentic Icelandic cultural experience

3. See the fantastic elements of nature that make Iceland unique.

We took tons of pictures, asked all the questions we had, and took as long as we wanted at each location. Best of all, we spent a lot of time inside the buildings and out of the rain. But, when we walked through the village, we appreciated the stamina that early Iceland settlers had to live in this part of the world successfully.

Interesting note and facts: Iceland’s history is incredible. What amazed us is how closely related everyone is on this island. Also, how the culture is flexible, tolerant, and patient compared to the USA rat race. I think the people who visit Iceland are pretty special too. They are ‘outdoor folks’ who love nature. If you are one of those people, you will love Iceland like Heather and I do!

If you like history and want a break from the hiking you will do in Iceland, stop by the Open Air Museum for a relaxing day. Do you like art? The Reykjavik Art Museum is pretty cool. Natural History is a great and Icelandic natural history museum too. There are a lot of places to go to get away from the weather. But get out in the natural environment and enjoy the view in Iceland.

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