Kópavogur’s Vibrant Cultural Scene Draws Visitors from Around the World

Iceland’s second largest municipality invites you to visit the town’s cultural centre, built on a high hill within a short walking distance of the beautiful church from where you have a breathtaking view of the sea and surrounding areas.

Kopavogskirkja

How To Get There

The cultural centre is only about a five minutes’ ride with the fast lane city express buses of Strætó, the public city buses in Iceland. Buses number 1, 2, 4, 28 and 35 all stop in Hamraborgin, just a few steps away from the cultural centre.Menningartorfa_adalmynd

A Musical Town  

Salurinn music hall has been highly praised by musicians and guests alike for its brilliant acoustics. Here, Icelandic and international musicians of every genre give concerts throughout the year. Just steps away from Salurinn you’ll find the Icelandic Music History Museum which collects, preserves and communicates everything regarding Icelandic music since the time of the settlement to today. This is a place for anyone fascinated by the country’s impressive music scene. Opening hours are from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed in July).

More info are available at The Icelandic Music Museum and Kopavogur Music Hall

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Museums and Art

Gerðarsafn museum is home to the art of sculptor Gerður Helgadóttir. The museum, which focuses on modern and contemporary art, is situated right in the heart of the cultural centre. The building alone, with its wavelike forms in the spirit of the nearby church, is worth a visit.

Illumination is an exhibition of the works of contemporary Icelandic artists inspired by Gerður’s noted stained-glass windows. The exhibition is scheduled this summer from May 15th to August 2nd.
The museum shop  also offers designer souvenirs inspired by the art of Gerður Helgadóttir.

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 pm

The Natural History Museum focuses on the fauna of Iceland, mostly birds and molluscs, as well as the island’s geology, with an emphasis on rocks and minerals. On display are various mammals and live animals and plants in small aquariums.

Open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 pm

Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 pm

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The Blue Gem – The Swimming Pools of Kópavogur
The town prides itself immensely on its swimming pools, located a short distance from the cultural centre, which some say are the best in the country. Having been almost completely renovated in 2008, the state-of-the-art recreational centre has a 50 metre outdoor pool and a 25 metre indoor pool, four waterslides, a wading pool, hot pots and a sauna. It’s simply divine to spend the day here, relaxing and soaking in the luxury of earth’s blue gold—water! Open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., see more details at their website