Writer: Helena Bergström
Updated: August 2026 | The Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavik is hardly like any other museum. It houses a large collection of penises and other phallic objects from animal species from Iceland and the rest of the world. We visited the museum many years ago – and since then the odd little collection has grown into a much larger tourist attraction.
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A museum entirely devoted to phallology
The Icelandic Phallological Museum, or Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn in Icelandic, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying penises and other objects related to phallology.
The collection contains biological specimens from a variety of mammals, including whales and various land animals. The collection also includes a human specimen, which the museum received in 2011.
It's a rather odd theme for a museum, of course. At the same time, the objects are presented as a museum collection rather than some kind of erotic exhibition – and it's perhaps the combination of science, curiosity and a good dose of Icelandic humour that has made the museum so famous.
It all started with a bull penis
The story behind the museum is almost as special as the collection itself. Founder Sigurður Hjartarson was working as a principal in Akranes when he was given a bull penis by some colleagues as a joke in 1974. Some of the teachers also worked at a whale station during the summer and started giving him specimens from whales.
The collection grew – and eventually Sigurður began to try to collect specimens from every mammal species in Iceland. In 1997 he opened his museum in Reykjavik with 62 specimens. The museum later moved to Húsavík and then back to Reykjavik. His son Hjörtur took over the business when Sigurður retired.
The museum has become significantly larger
When we visited The Icelandic Phallological Museum it was a rather small and very quirky museum. Since then a lot has happened.
In 2020, the operation moved to significantly larger premises at Hafnartorg in central Reykjavik. The exhibition was modernized and the museum was supplemented with both a shop and a themed bistro. There, you can now order penis-shaped waffles, among other things. So it has actually become a significantly more developed attraction since you were there.
Is The Icelandic Phallological Museum worth a visit?
It depends on what you like, of course. This is hardly a museum you visit to look at beautiful objects – but it is definitely one of Reykjavik's most unusual museums.
We were perhaps most fascinated by the history behind the collection and how someone could be so completely committed to such a narrow field of collecting. If you've already seen Reykjavik's more classic sights and are looking for something completely different, this is at least a museum you'll remember.
Visit The Icelandic Phallological Museum
The museum is now located at Hafnartorg, Reykjastræti 4, in the heart of Reykjavík. As of August 2026, the museum states that it is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm and that admission costs 3,500 ISK. As both prices and opening hours are subject to change, it is best to check the latest information before visiting.
More to see and do in and around Reykjavik
Below you will find lots of articles with tips and inspiration for a visit to Reykjavik.
- Things to do in Reykjavik
- Fish Market Restaurant
- Fish Company Restaurant
- Blue Lagoon
- Strokkur and Geysir
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s p i n d e l t j e j e n (och lilla Pyret i magen) says:
Hahaha, Gaymasen (gaymasen.se) blogged about that place when he was in Iceland last summer :))
11 September 2012 - 18:27
pockethexan says:
Hm, I'll tell the husband about this post, it sounds like he might have something to say about it...<;-p because I'm completely stunned...is such a museum really necessary? Would be interesting to hear what the creators of the place have to say about it?
I just thought I'd pop in to see if you have any idea which authors are on "G" in Iceland (well, apart from Arnaldur Indriðason who is the only one from the country I've read...and maybe some of Snorri's edda too).
The fact is that our little house on wheels will take me and my husband to Gbrg and the Book Fair at the end of the month and this year's theme is "Nordic Literature" and I, being both half-Danish and half-Finnish, have a pretty good idea of the other Nordic authors except for the Icelandic ones.
So PL, come up with some suggestions on what is read in the country, that would be really cute!
Hugs from someone who just loves the photos you have taken, especially the Cultural Centre is awesome!!! /Pockethexan himself!
11 September 2012 - 19:47
Lennart says:
There is so much to see in Iceland!
Don't forget to swim!
Live well!
11 September 2012 - 21:01
admin says:
Pockethexan, I don't really know about it, but I'll have a look next time we pass a bookshop. I'll get back to you! By the way, I'm a little curious about your husband's possible thoughts on this, not quite ordinary, museum ...
😉
Lennart, of course we should not forget to swim! Tomorrow there will be a bath!
🙂
11 September 2012 - 23:34