Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum
Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum
4
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum holds a history of generations of shark fishing and processing. The visit includes shark tasting and a live presentation of this history and interesting facts about the Greenland shark. After the museum, be sure to visit the drying house where the shark has to hang to dry.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.0
283 reviews
Excellent
124
Very good
111
Average
36
Poor
5
Terrible
7
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2skidivers
Silverthorne, CO353 contributions
Aug 2021
Our tour stopped here for an overpriced lunch (3 chicken legs and fries for 2400 kr, 2 pc of fish and fries for 2200kr.) Then the ones who wanted to hear the story about the Greenland Whale and how the inedible meat was treated to make it edible paid to go into the museum, get a taste and go to the barn to see how it is dried. We had heard and read the story several times and did not need to go to the museum to hear it again. It was just another museum to separate tourists from their money.
Written 20 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarcusLYK
Singapore, Singapore127 contributions
Feb 2020
The museum was just a room full of fishing gears, taxidermy animals, and photos of Iceland in the past. The museum owner then showed us a video of the processing of the greenland shark, and whipped out 2 bowls. The first bowl was the white fermented shark meat that resembles cubes of white jelly, while the second bowl was rye bread. The first try with the rye bread was pretty awful, but miraculously upon the instructions of the museum owner, the second try of the shark meat itself was not as bad. I would rate it similar to smelly tofu, which is processed in a similar manner. You could visit the shed where they hang out the meat to dry after fermentation, but be warned, the stench is pretty bad!
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Poppenlander
Seattle, Washington, United States278 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
OK, so this is definitely one of those, "I want to be able to say that I did that" type of experiences. This small museum plays a short video about the history of shark hunting in Iceland, combined with an introductory talk from one of the staffers. Then, you're offered an opportunity to eat a piece of fermented shark, along with rye bread to cut the strong flavor. As expected, the texture was rubbery, reminiscent of octopus or other seafood. And yes, the fermented meat does taste like ammonia. I had two pieces, one with the rye bread and one without. It was all right.
The museum itself is small, and might be more interesting to a hard core history buff or those who enjoy seeing traditional equipment and methods. Personally, I found the most interesting part to be the chance to see the drying meat on the racks behind the main building (you can find pictures of this on other reviews). But at around $20 USD per person for an experience that lasted less than an hour, I am not sure if the overall package is worth it - unless you just want to say that you ate the fermented shark.
The museum itself is small, and might be more interesting to a hard core history buff or those who enjoy seeing traditional equipment and methods. Personally, I found the most interesting part to be the chance to see the drying meat on the racks behind the main building (you can find pictures of this on other reviews). But at around $20 USD per person for an experience that lasted less than an hour, I am not sure if the overall package is worth it - unless you just want to say that you ate the fermented shark.
Written 15 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HeritageK
50 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
It was a very unique experience that I believe can only be found in Iceland. The story behind how this Icelandic delicacy, the stinky shark, came about is amazing!
After a short presentation, you will be offered three different way of tasting it: with a shot of vodka, with a small piece of bread or just by itself (the Expert level). I suggest that you start with the shot of vodka, then by the bread, and if you so brave, try the meat by itself.
The outer layer of the meat has a firm texture, juicy, slightly sweet and not stinky at all. However, as soon as you bite into the middle part of the meat and a very strong ammonia smell gushing out, I hope you are all ready for that.
If you are nearby that area, I strongly recommend you to spend a hour or so to visit this Shark Museum. You won't be disappointed!
After a short presentation, you will be offered three different way of tasting it: with a shot of vodka, with a small piece of bread or just by itself (the Expert level). I suggest that you start with the shot of vodka, then by the bread, and if you so brave, try the meat by itself.
The outer layer of the meat has a firm texture, juicy, slightly sweet and not stinky at all. However, as soon as you bite into the middle part of the meat and a very strong ammonia smell gushing out, I hope you are all ready for that.
If you are nearby that area, I strongly recommend you to spend a hour or so to visit this Shark Museum. You won't be disappointed!
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
walter e
18 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
This museum was quite disappointing, we spent 3800 kr in two to see a 10-minute video, and look at the objects in a room that I initially thought was just the introduction to the real visit. The person who described the video was professional but the whole thing was definitely not worth the cost of admission. We have seen other museums in Iceland and everywhere we have had positive experiences. At the end of the video (because this is more than a visit to a museum) there was a small tasting of shark meat, here everyone has their own tastes but I did not like it at all.
Automatically translated
Written 19 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie0693
Madison, AL2,032 contributions
Aug 2021
We rented a car and glad we stopped here. Beautiful setting and you can try the shark here and I did and how he served it, it wasn't bad. You eat it with Rye bread and it kills the taste however the 2nd helping then you get the ammonia. Glad I tried it. I liked walking back to where it's hung to dry. The scenery is amazing. I got close up pix of black sheep. They had real cool stuff in their museum, however it wasn't shark related. It seems that all museums have very similar items; sewing machines, old phones etc. But in each 1 you find a few different things. They have a cafe but it was closed. I'm guessing it's for tour buses. They sell shark and t-shirts for souvenirs.
Written 26 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SAinPA
Carlisle, PA620 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
A unique experience. They process Icelandic sharks that get caught in fishing nets and “ferment” the meat to make it edible. Their family has been processing shark meat in this manner for generations. A small and unique museum and an opportunity to taste fermented shark meat. Not what you want for a steady diet - but have done it - got the t shirt - won’t do it again.
We also had lunch in their on site restaurant and the food was very good.
A nice museum of Icelandic history.
We also had lunch in their on site restaurant and the food was very good.
A nice museum of Icelandic history.
Written 22 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
funwithfamilyVA
Leesburg, VA143 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Good stop if you are in the area. You don’t need a lot of time here… 30 minutes or so is really plenty. It’s a family run operation that provides some history of the shark fishing business… you get to try the fermented shark… and the scenery around the us otherworldly!
Written 1 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
trvlbug99
Morden, Canada257 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Came here after noticing their sign on the highway. The museum itself is very small and is more about their family history of shark hunting than if the sharks themselves.
Most of the museum pieces do not have descriptions so you are left to just admire them with no additional information.
They do give a presentation which was very good. They explained about the sharks that they used to hunt and how they prepare the meat.
However, the fee of 1800 seemed way too high for this museum.
I would not recommend this museum, there are much better ones in Iceland.
Most of the museum pieces do not have descriptions so you are left to just admire them with no additional information.
They do give a presentation which was very good. They explained about the sharks that they used to hunt and how they prepare the meat.
However, the fee of 1800 seemed way too high for this museum.
I would not recommend this museum, there are much better ones in Iceland.
Written 19 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
6_Speed_Automatic
Covington, LA298 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
A visit to the Shark Museum was part of our bus tour. Museum displays artifacts, boats and other items from when sharks were hunted for their skins and meat which required a certain marinating process to remove toxic substances.
Now, the focus is to tell the history of shark hunting and to sample a small piece of marinated shark meat. More of a dare, but also provided with a shot of strong spirits and brown bread to down the shark sample.
Behind the museum are chunks of shark meat in a curing shed.
Something to brag about when you get home!!
Now, the focus is to tell the history of shark hunting and to sample a small piece of marinated shark meat. More of a dare, but also provided with a shot of strong spirits and brown bread to down the shark sample.
Behind the museum are chunks of shark meat in a curing shed.
Something to brag about when you get home!!
Written 3 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
how long is the tour for the fermented shark process?
Written 25 November 2019
Not sure exactly, I think we were there a couple of hours. That included the tour and us just wandering around and looking at all the fantastic items in the museum.
Written 14 February 2020
Do they run scheduled tour or all the fermentation process only explained by the video? i see sharks hanging outdoor, would they go there and give explanation?
Written 24 November 2019
We visited the museum (had a great time ) and brought home some meat. We were told it is okay at room temperature for up to a week. Through the travel home to America, it was on a pretty hot plane and in a hot car. I can smell fish when I open the travel bag. Is this still okay to eat?
Written 6 August 2017
Hello Susan. yes it should be ok to eat. it might be better to put it in the freezer and eat it frozen.
Written 7 August 2017
thomaslC4597AE
Lee's Summit, Missouri
I visited your museum last and asked if you had t-shirts or caps for sale. I was told you were working on this for future. Do you have mail order items for sale? Thanks Tom Lipcan, Lees Summit, Missouri USA
Written 18 February 2016
Yes we have t-shirts now. Please send us email; bjarnarhofn@simnet.is or message on facebook.
Kind regards
Written 19 February 2016
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