Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús occupies a converted 1930s harbour warehouse at Tryggvagata 17, a short walk from the Old Harbour in central Reykjavík. It is the most contemporary of the museum’s three sites and holds the city’s largest collection of works by pop artist Erró. Note that Ásmundur Sveinsson’s sculptures and his former home are at a different site, Ásmundarsafn in Laugardalur.
Inside, the building’s raw concrete and industrial bones frame large, high-ceilinged galleries arranged around an open central courtyard. That courtyard hosts installations and events. A dedicated Erró gallery rotates selections from the thousands of collage-heavy, comic-saturated works the artist donated to the city. The other halls show changing exhibitions of Icelandic and international contemporary art, with video, installation and performance programmes running alongside painting. The museum’s exhibitions page lists the current shows.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Hafnarhús opens 10am–5pm from Friday to Wednesday and stays open until 10pm on Thursdays (Reykjavík City). It closes on December 24, 25 and 31 and on January 1. Thursday evenings and weekday mornings are the quietest times to visit. Cruise-ship days in summer bring heavier midday traffic. One admission ticket covers Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn, so you can pair your visit with Ásmundur’s domed studio-home, about 15 minutes away by bus. Harpa concert hall and the Old Harbour’s restaurants are both within easy walking distance.
