Settlement Center Borgarnes
About Settlement Center Borgarnes
The Borgarnes Settlement Center tells the story of how Iceland was settled, then follows one of the wildest characters in the sagas through the town where his family made its home. Known in Icelandic as Landnámssetur Íslands, it's the easiest history stop on the drive from Reykjavík to Snæfellsnes or the north.
Two exhibitions fill the building, and each takes about 30 minutes with an audio guide offered in Icelandic and 14 other languages. The Settlement Exhibition covers how Norse sailors found their way across open ocean and who claimed land first, up to the founding of the Alþingi at Þingvellir in 930. One highlight is a rare model ship by Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, crewed by tiny clay figures from illustrator Brian Pilkington.
Downstairs, the Egil's Saga Exhibition winds through the old stone cellar of the warehouse like a dark maze. It follows Egill Skallagrímsson, a poet and Viking raider whose father, Skalla-Grímur, settled this part of West Iceland. Wood carvings and reliefs by several Icelandic artists stage scenes from the saga, and the dim, spooky rooms make it popular with kids.
The Settlement Center occupies two of the oldest houses in Borgarnes, on Brákarbraut by the bridge to Brákarey island. The store building went up in 1877 to 1878, and businessman Thor Jensen ran the shop here as a young man and added the warehouse next door. A restaurant serves a soup and vegetarian lunch buffet from 11:30 to 15:00, and a gift shop fills the newer building that links the two houses.
The exhibitions are open daily from 10:00 to 21:00. A ticket for both costs 3,900 ISK for adults, 3,500 ISK for seniors, students and people with disabilities, and 1,500 ISK for children aged 6 to 12. Borgarnes is about an hour's drive north of Reykjavík on Route 1, so plan on an hour inside, or longer with lunch.
Good to know
What is the Settlement Center in Borgarnes?
It's a museum in Borgarnes with two audio-guided exhibitions, one on the settlement of Iceland and one on Egil's Saga. It also has a restaurant and a gift shop.
How much does the Settlement Center in Borgarnes cost?
A ticket to both exhibitions costs 3,900 ISK for adults and 3,500 ISK for seniors, students and people with disabilities. Children aged 6 to 12 pay 1,500 ISK.
What are the Settlement Center opening hours?
The exhibitions are open every day from 10:00 to 21:00. Groups can book visits outside these hours in advance.
How long does it take to visit the Settlement Center?
Each exhibition takes about 30 minutes with the audio guide, so allow about an hour for both. Add time if you stay for lunch at the restaurant.
How far is Borgarnes from Reykjavík?
Borgarnes is about an hour's drive north of Reykjavík on Route 1. It sits on the way to Snæfellsnes and North Iceland, so the Settlement Center works well as a stop on either route.
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