Hafnarfjörður is a unique town. There are adventures and a deep history at every step, the town centre is full of life and the harbour area is charming.
An interesting exhibition of eight contemporary photographers' views of Hafnarfjörður is currently on display at Hafnarborg.
In recent years, a wide variety of shops and services, restaurants and cafés have sprung up all over the town, which residents and friends of Hafnarfjörður make full use of. This way, everyone can find something to suit them. Whether it's outdoor activities in the Hafnarfjörður uplands at Helgafell, Hvaleyrarvatn or Ásfjall, fun and games at Víðistaðatún and in Hellisgerði, or a cultural experience in the centre of Hafnarfjörður, where you can find both Hafnarfjörður Museum of Local History , which has exhibitions in five houses and on Strandstíg, and the art museum Port city .
Free entry to all museums
The cultural town of Hafnarfjörður welcomes art enthusiasts and those interested in the history of the fjord and the people who lived there. In this way, art and culture have played an important role in the life of the town since its foundation. Entry to all of Hafnarfjörður's museums is free of charge. It is therefore ideal to spend the day strolling around the town centre, soaking up the history and culture, and experiencing everything that the town centre of Hafnarfjörður has to offer.
Hafnarborg, the cultural and art centre of Hafnarfjörður, is open from 12 noon to 5 pm every day of the week except on Tuesdays when the museum is closed. From 1 June to 31 August, Hafnarfjörður Museum of Local History Open every day from 11 am to 5 pm.
The staff of Hafnarfjörður's museums are excellent. Here you can see Rósa Karen Borgþórsdóttir, Curator at the Folk Museum, and Nína Friðriksdóttir, Reception Officer at Hafnarborg.
Hafnarfjörður residents and other Icelanders are keen visitors to the museums in Hafnarfjörður, but foreign tourists are also starting to do so in increasing numbers. People are beginning to see how easily accessible the culture and history of Hafnarfjörður is. The variety of exhibitions, events and all kinds of entertainment is enormous.
The natural environment in 2019
These days, among other things, is taking place in Port city An interesting exhibition by eight contemporary photographers reflecting their vision of Hafnarfjörður. The curator is Kirsten Simonsen and the artists are Daniel Reuter, Marino Thorlacius, Pamela Perez, Pétur Thomsen, Spessi, Staś Zawada, Stuart Richardson and Svala Ragnars. They all have in common that they have worked on photographic projects in Hafnarfjörður and its surroundings between 2006 and 2019. The works in the exhibition shed light on the town's turning point. They offer an insight into the new and often complex municipality that is emerging, the natural environment of Hafnarfjörður in 2019. The artists' approaches and focuses are very different. They have wandered the streets of Hafnarfjörður, sometimes with a pram, seen entire neighbourhoods take shape on the outskirts of town, visited industrial areas in need of redevelopment, and found signs of hidden folk. The artists have experienced the unspoilt beauty and unique moments in the environment and society that often go unnoticed. Their images simultaneously capture the freshness, warmth, and humble characteristics that make Hafnarfjörður unique and different.
Hafnarborg's exhibition programme is varied, but on average, the museum hosts 10–12 art exhibitions a year, featuring works that span Icelandic art history from the national treasures of the pioneers to the experimental works of contemporary artists. Lectures and symposia related to the museum's exhibitions are a regular feature of the programme.
An emphasis is placed on offering visitors the opportunity to converse with artists and curators, thereby creating a more engaging experience of the exhibitions. Art workshops and tours for children are also regular events. Throughout the winter, lunchtime concerts are held monthly, with a focus on classical music, and the contemporary music series Hljóðön also features prominently in the programme.