The Cave People Civilization Museum, Golden Circle

Although the phrase "cave people" might elicit images of the ice age, in Iceland, cave people refer to those who lived in homes built into the earth and rock. Even just 100 years ago, some islanders lived in these cave homes. At the museum, you can step back in time and experience it for yourself!

You'll find the Cave People Museum just one hour east of Reykjavík near the town of Laugarvatn within the Golden Circle. The site offers tours that guide you through the cave houses and their natural surroundings, where you'll hear the stories of how the inhabitants lived and survived off the land.

Although the caves have been remodeled to look like they did a century ago, many believe they were first carved out of the rock by Irish monks during the 9th century. Throughout the following centuries, many others used the caves for shelter, including shepherds and their livestock. However, the last two inhabitants were a pair of young couples and their sheep, one in 1910 and 1918.

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