Things to Do in Borgarnes: West Iceland Guide

Borgarnes sits on a peninsula at the southern end of Borgarfjörður, connected to the Ring Road by a short causeway bridge. It’s the main town in the Borgarfjörður region (population around 2,000) and an easy first stop on a West Iceland circuit from Reykjavík — 1.5 hours north on Route 1.

The town itself is compact, but the valley stretching north toward Reykholt and Húsafell is one of the more rewarding drives in West Iceland. A full day covers Borgarnes, Reykholt, Hraunfossar, and Deildartunguhver with time for lunch.

Settlement Centre of Iceland (Landnámssetur Íslands)

The best museum in Iceland specifically about the settlement era. Two separate exhibitions cover different ground: the first tells the story of Iceland’s discovery and settlement by Norse settlers from Norway and the Celtic British Isles, starting around 870 CE. The second is dedicated to Egil’s Saga, one of the masterworks of Old Norse literature, set largely in this valley and featuring the poet-warrior Egil Skallagrímsson.

The exhibitions use audio guides (available in English), detailed physical displays, and atmospheric design to make the material genuinely engaging. Entry to both exhibitions costs approximately ISK 2,500 adult as of 2026. Allow at least 2 hours. Located in the centre of Borgarnes, with a well-regarded restaurant on the ground floor serving lunch.

Borgarfjörður Valley Drives

Route 50 runs north from Borgarnes through the Borgarfjörður valley — a broad, fertile valley flanked by mountain ridges with the Hvítá river running through it. The drive toward Reykholt (35 min) and Húsafell (55 min) gives a good cross-section of West Icelandic landscape without requiring any off-road capability. Free; no entrance points.

Reykholt: Snorralaug and Snorrastofa

Reykholt is a small village 35km north of Borgarnes with an outsized place in Icelandic history. Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241) — Iceland’s greatest medieval writer and the most powerful political figure of his age — lived here and wrote the Prose Edda and Heimskringla at this location.

Snorralaug is the circular stone hot pool that Snorri used, fed by a geothermal spring, with a tunnel leading from the farmstead. It’s one of the best-preserved medieval archaeological features in Iceland. Free to visit and view; you cannot bathe in it.

Snorrastofa — the cultural centre and museum at Reykholt — covers Snorri’s life, writings, and historical significance. Entry approximately ISK 1,500 adult as of 2026. The centre also hosts academic events and an annual festival. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Two waterfalls, both free, within 500m of each other, approximately 40 minutes north of Borgarnes.

Hraunfossar (Lava Falls) is one of Iceland’s most unusual geological features — hundreds of individual springs bubble directly out of a lava field and pour into the Hvítá river along a 900m stretch. There is no single dramatic drop; instead, the water seeps from the lava in a continuous curtain. The combined flow is considerable.

Barnafoss (Children’s Falls) is immediately adjacent — a more conventional, forceful waterfall in a narrow gorge, with a tragic legend attached (two children drowned crossing the natural rock bridge, which their mother subsequently had destroyed). Free parking area; a short walk from the car park to both falls. Café open in summer.

Deildartunguhver Hot Spring

Europe’s highest-flow hot spring by volume — producing approximately 180 litres per second of near-boiling water (around 97°C). Located on Route 50, about 45 minutes north of Borgarnes near Reykholt. The spring feeds the Krauma geothermal baths nearby. Free to view from the marked path (do not approach the active spring). Krauma baths entry approximately ISK 3,900 adult as of 2026 — geothermal pools, steam rooms, and a cold plunge fed directly by the spring.

Húsafell

An hour north of Borgarnes, Húsafell is a small resort area with a geothermal pool, walking trails, summer concerts, and a campsite. It’s the last settlement before the highland interior and is used as a base for trips to the Langjökull glacier. The Krauma baths (see above) are on the road between Reykholt and Húsafell.

Practical Notes

• Borgarnes is a natural lunch stop on the route between Reykjavík and Snæfellsnes. If you’re driving the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, consider stopping in Borgarnes for the Settlement Centre on the way out.
• Fuel is available in Borgarnes — fill up before heading north toward Reykholt and Húsafell if doing a full valley circuit.
• For the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, see our Snæfellsnes guide.