The Icelandic Seal Center is a museum in Hvammstangi, on the coast of Northwest Iceland, devoted to seals. The displays cover seal biology and behaviour, the history of seal hunting in Iceland, and the protection the animals have now. Taxidermy specimens sit alongside VR headsets showing four short films. Seal research is run from the centre, and entrance money goes into it. Staff at the desk hand out a map of seal-watching spots on the coast.
Icelandic Seal Center
Local name: Selasetur Íslands
The desk does more than sell tickets: staff hand out a map of the coast and tell you where the seals are.
- Entrance
- Paid entry; the fee goes towards seal research. Cards and contactless payment accepted.
- Accessibility
- Step-free entrance, wheelchair-accessible toilet, wheelchair-accessible parking spaces.
- Parking
- A car park 11 metres from the entrance, and a second one about 39 metres away.
- Transport
- No bus stop in the area; the museum is reached by car.
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–18:00.
- Address
- Strandgata 1, 530 Hvammstangi
What makes it special
The exhibition sticks to one animal and goes deep. It covers how seals live and behave, how Icelanders hunted them and what they used them for, and the legal protection that came later. Taxidermy specimens stand in for animals most visitors will otherwise see only at a distance from the shore. There are also four VR films, about five minutes each. The building works as a briefing before the coast: seal research is run from here, and the staff will tell you where the animals haul out.
Good to know
- Ask at the desk. Staff hand out a map of the coast and explain where to look for seals.
- The VR headsets are shared. Four films run about five minutes each, and at busy moments you may be asked to hand one over before you finish.
- Toilets. There are toilets in the building, and no public ones nearby.
- With children. The exhibition is built for them, and there is a puzzle to work through as well as the films.
Getting there
The museum stands on the waterfront in Hvammstangi. There is no bus stop in the area, so visitors arrive by car. The car park is at the building itself, and the walk to the door is a matter of metres. Entry is straight off the street, with no steps.
Best time to visit
Best: early in the day, leaving the coast for afterwards.
Avoid: the last hour before closing, and the moment a group arrives.
The displays take as long as you let them, but the VR headsets are the bottleneck. Four films back to back is not quick, and when several people want a headset at once, someone waits. With time in hand you can watch all four, ask at the desk about the seal spots, and drive out to the coast the same day.
Things to do nearby
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Frequently asked questions
What is there to see inside?
Displays on seal biology and behaviour, the history of seal hunting in Iceland and the protection of seals today, taxidermy specimens, and four VR films of about five minutes each.Can you see live seals at the museum?
No. The seals are out on the coast, and the staff at the desk hand out a map and point out where to look for them.Where does the entrance fee go?
Into seal research, which is run from the centre. Spending in the shop goes the same way.Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The exhibition is set up for children, with VR films and a puzzle to work through.Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance is step-free, and there are wheelchair-accessible parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible toilet.