Step inside the award-winning Eldheimar Museum, built around a real house swallowed by the 1973 Eldfell eruption — Iceland's own Pompeii moment — preserved exactly as the lava left it.
What to expect
At the heart of Eldheimar stands a real Heimaey house, excavated from the lava and encased in glass so visitors walk around and above it. Interactive exhibits reconstruct the terror and heroism of the January 1973 eruption, when the entire island was evacuated in hours and residents used seawater to halt the advancing lava. The storytelling is world-class — this museum won the European Museum of the Year Award — and the emotional weight of standing over someone's preserved home is extraordinary. Allow 45–75 minutes.
Good to know
Open daily; a 10-minute walk from the harbour. Book tickets in advance at eldheimar.is to avoid queues. For a private guided session, contact the museum directly. Pair with the Eldfell Volcano hike (directly behind the museum) for a complete eruption story. Excellent gift shop for luxury Icelandic design items.