Borgarnes: West Iceland's Hub

Borgarnes (population approximately 2,000) sits on a peninsula at the end of Borgarfjörður, 75km north of Reykjavík. It’s a natural stopping point for travellers heading to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula or the Westfjords — the town sits at the junction of Route 1 and Route 54. It’s also an underrated base in its own right, with the Settlement Centre museum, proximity to the Borg á Mýrum Viking farm, and the broad Borgarfjörður valley behind it.

Getting There

By car: 75km north of Reykjavík via Route 1. Allow 55 minutes.

By bus: Strætó route 57 connects Reykjavík to Borgarnes (and continues to Akureyri). Journey from Reykjavík approximately 1.25 hours.

Settlement Centre (Landnámssetur)

Borgarnes’s main attraction. Two professionally staged audio-guided exhibitions:

1. The Settlement Exhibition — Covers Iceland’s Viking settlement from 870 CE, including the major family lineages, the Althing (Iceland’s parliament, established 930 CE), and the transition from paganism to Christianity.

2. Egla Exhibition — Focuses on the Egils Saga, one of the most important Icelandic sagas, set partly in the Borgarnes area. Egill Skallagrímsson — poet, warrior, and son of one of Iceland’s first settlers — is among the most vivid characters in medieval European literature.

Entry to each exhibition approximately ISK 2,400 adult, or ISK 3,800 for both, as of 2026. The combination is worth it. Audio guides available in multiple languages.

Borg á Mýrum

The farm where Egill Skallagrímsson grew up, approximately 10km north of Borgarnes on Route 54. A working farm today; the church at Borg has a modern sculpture (by Ásmundur Sveinsson) depicting the poem Sonatorrek, written by Egill after his son drowned. A minor detour — 15 minutes from Borgarnes — for anyone interested in the saga.

Borgarfjörður Valley

The broad valley behind Borgarnes stretches inland to Langjökull glacier. Route 50 and Route 52 run through it. Several sites of interest:

• Hraunfossar — A series of waterfalls emerging directly from beneath a lava field along the edge of the Hvítá river. The water filters through the lava from Langjökull glacier and emerges in a 900m-long curtain of falls. Free. Approximately 1.5 hours from Borgarnes.
• Barnafoss — Immediately next to Hraunfossar, a churning rapid in a narrow lava gorge. The name means ‘Children’s Falls’ — a local legend involving two children who fell into the river crossing a natural bridge, which was later destroyed by their mother.
• Deildartunguhver — Europe’s most powerful hot spring, producing approximately 180 litres per second at 97°C. A short walk on boardwalks. Entry free. Located near Reykholt, approximately 1.5 hours from Borgarnes.

Where to Stay

Hótel Borgarnes — The main hotel in town. Doubles from approximately ISK 25,000–36,000. Reliable mid-range.

Bjarg Guesthouse — Budget option in Borgarnes. Doubles from approximately ISK 18,000–24,000.

Fossatún Country Hotel — A farm hotel 30km east of Borgarnes in the Borgarfjörður valley. Used as a base for exploring the valley waterfalls. Doubles from approximately ISK 28,000–42,000.

Where to Eat

Settlement Centre Restaurant — Good soup and light meals attached to the museum. Convenient for lunch when visiting the exhibitions. Mains approximately ISK 2,200–3,800.

Hyrnan — Café-restaurant in Borgarnes town. Pizza, burgers, and lamb dishes. Mains approximately ISK 2,500–4,000.

Blómasetrið — A greenhouse café on the main road, combining a plant nursery with a café serving waffles, cakes, and coffee. A pleasant oddity. Coffee and waffles approximately ISK 1,400.

Bonus Supermarket — On the main road through Borgarnes. Well stocked and the best option for self-catering before heading to Snæfellsnes or the Westfjords.

Swimming Pool

Borgarnes Swimming Pool — A recently renovated municipal pool complex with an outdoor pool, hot tubs (38°C–44°C), and a waterslide. Entry approximately ISK 1,100 adult as of 2026. Open year-round. Located near the town centre, off the main road.

Reykholt

Approximately 40km east of Borgarnes via Route 518. A tiny settlement with enormous historical significance — Snorri Sturluson, the 13th-century chieftain, poet, and historian who wrote the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, lived at Reykholt. His works are the foundation of Norse mythology as we know it today.

The Snorralaug — Snorri’s hot pool — is the main physical remnant, a circular stone-lined geothermal pool dating to the 13th century. It’s one of the oldest known man-made structures in Iceland. A short boardwalk leads from the museum to the pool. Free to view.

Snorrastofa — The cultural centre and museum dedicated to Snorri. Entry approximately ISK 1,200 adult as of 2026. A visit to Reykholt pairs naturally with Hraunfossar and Deildartunguhver in a Borgarfjörður valley day trip.

Practical Information

Borgarnes as a route junction: The town sits at the meeting point of Route 1 (continuing north to Akureyri) and Route 54 (west to Snæfellsnes). This makes it the natural first stop out of Reykjavík for both Snæfellsnes day trips and longer circuits of the west.

Fuel: N1 petrol station on Route 1 just before the town.

The Borgarnes Bridge: Route 1 crosses Borgarfjörður on a 520m bridge before entering town from the south. The views from the bridge of the fjord and surrounding mountains are worth noting, particularly in the late afternoon light.

Skallagrímur’s Burial Mound: A small mound in the town park near the swimming pool marks the supposed burial site of Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson — Egill’s father and one of Iceland’s original settlers. A plaque tells the story. Free. Five minutes to view.

Browse Iceland tours — day trips, activity bookings, and multi-day packages across the country in one place.

Pre-book Keflavík airport transfers — Flybus and private options for the 45-minute route to Reykjavík.

Compare car hire in Iceland — a 4WD or campervan gives the flexibility to explore at your own pace.

Explore Borgarnes Further

• Things to Do in Borgarnes — Settlement Centre, Borg á Mýrum, Hraunfossar, and the Borgarfjörður valley
• Snæfellsnes road trip — Borgarnes is the gateway town before heading west on Route 54
• Akranes travel guide — 40km south: the lighthouse town and Glymur waterfall combination
• Westfjords road trip — Route 60 north from Borgarnes is the southern approach to the Westfjords
• Waterfalls guide — Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, 1.5 hours east, are among Iceland’s most unusual waterfalls