Quirky Attraction: The Iceland Phallus Museum

iceland phallological museum

The Iceland Phallological Museum (aka Animal Penis Museum)
Location: Reykjavik, Iceland (street address: Laugavegur 116)
When to visit: Open 10am – 7pm daily
Cost: Adults 2750 ISK (roughly $19 US as of this writing)
Time needed: 30-60 minutes
Website: http://phallus.is/

Imagine hearing about a whale washing up on shore, and then immediately thinking to yourself, “I need to get over there so I can collect that dead whale’s penis!”

For many years, that was the reality for Sigurður Hjartarson, the fellow who founded the Icelandic Phallological Museum.

If you’ve ever wanted to see the genitalia of hundreds of species of animals (and who hasn’t?!), then the Phallus Museum in Reykjavik, Iceland is for you!

This small facility is the best place in the world to see animal junk in jars. Or “phallic specimens,” for those who prefer to be more clinical.

penis museum specimens
Sample animal members at the Iceland Phallus Museum.

All About the Iceland Phallus Museum

A former teacher and historian, Hjartarson opened the museum in 1987 after he had a collection of 62 animal specimens. Over time, the odd collection has continued to grow to a ridiculous size, and the museum was passed down to the founder’s son.

This place was so quirky and strange that it was one of the few indoor attractions to make my list of the 30 most amazing things I saw in Iceland.

phallus museum interior

Roughly 200 of the 280 mammal parts on display come from animals that live in Iceland. This includes just about every whale, seal, walrus, and aquatic creature in the surrounding ocean.

There’s even one from a polar bear. Polar bears don’t live in Iceland, but every few years, an adventurous one will swim over to the island from Greenland.

The whale genitals are by far the biggest in the museum. This five-foot-long sperm whale penis is the biggest in the place and has its own tower case, where it rests in a pool of formaldehyde.

Don’t you want to take a selfie while standing next to a whale dong? You know you do!

sperm whale penis

Small land mammals like the fox, badger, and wolverine don’t fare as well when it comes to size:

fox badger specimens

The rest of the collection features such specimens as the elephant, giraffe, zebra, reindeer, dog, cat, and yes, even a human. The smallest one is reportedly from a hamster and requires a magnifying glass to view.

The stories of how the appendages were obtained are fascinating. The polar bear was shot by a hunter on a chunk of ice off the coast of Iceland. The farm animal parts came from local farmers.

Many of the whale parts came from creatures that stranded themselves on the beach.

bottlenose whale genitals
More whale genitalia for museum visitors to enjoy.

Specifics of Visiting: Hours, Cost, Gift Shop

Currently, the museum is open 10 am to 7 pm. Admission has risen to 2750 ISK, which is roughly $19 USD based on current exchange rates.

There’s not much parking around the museum, as it’s in a busy part of town. So you could consider walking, taking the bus, or a taxi.

The Phallus Museum offers brochures in several different languages to ensure that tourists from around the world can fully enjoy the collection of private parts from the animal kingdom.

Make sure to check out the gift shop, which offers genital-shaped candles, shot glasses, silverware, and other wacky souvenirs.

You can feel good about supporting a family-owned museum, as roughly half the staff comes from the same family. Find them on Instagram.

The museum has also created the Phallic Cafe and Bistro. The cafe offers Belgian waffles with sweet (strawberries, syrup) or savory toppings (pulled pork, wild reindeer.)

They also sell beers from taps with handles shaped like… you know what.

While you’re in Iceland, also check out the quirky Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft, and consider trying the infamous fermented shark dish.

Here are some tips on how to eat cheaply in Iceland, some myths about visiting Iceland, and a collection of photos of the most unique sights in Iceland. And here’s some advice for how to see the Northern Lights in Reykjavik!

Would you be interested in visiting an Animal Penis Museum?

Iceland animal penis museum

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