Discover Borgarnes through three different perspectives: its cultural institutions, saga connections in public spaces, and the history of specific places. To choose your focus, compare a museum with several different sections and the Settlement Center, whose exhibitions highlight Iceland’s early history and the sagas.

Culture and sagas

The Borgarnes Museum houses the local library, municipal archives, a natural history museum, the district museum and an art gallery. Its offerings range from natural history and district history to art; the library and archives add further cultural functions. The museum’s exhibitions are free to visit and open to everyone. If you would like to explore several aspects of the local cultural scene, you’ll find different institutional departments side by side here.

The Settlement Center is located in two of Borgarnes’s oldest buildings. Its exhibitions tell the story of Iceland’s early history and the Icelandic sagas, bringing Egil’s Saga to life as an important part of Iceland’s cultural heritage. Unlike the Borgarnes Museum’s broad range of subjects, the focus here is on history and saga tradition. Depending on your interests, you can choose between different cultural institutions and an exhibition dedicated specifically to the sagas.

Park and playground

Skallagrímsgarður combines a short break with a specific connection to Egil’s Saga. This small public park is in the center of Borgarnes and is a good place for a picnic. It is also home to the burial mound of Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, Egil’s father. This connects the saga to a named place in the park.

Another place, designed with children in mind, is Bjossarolo, a children’s playground in Borgarnes. Its features include swings, slides, an old boat and a castle. The playground was made entirely from discarded items. The two outdoor spots are therefore quite distinct: the park offers a place for a picnic and a connection to the saga, while Bjossarolo is specifically a playground for children.

Islands and a historic bay

Brákarey consists of two small rocky islands, known locally as Large and Small Brákarey. The larger island is connected to the mainland by a bridge built in 1929. The names and the bridge refer to two different aspects of the place: the distinction between the islands and the connection between the larger one and the mainland.

Englendingavík is a scenic, peaceful bay in the old part of Borgarnes. At the far end of the bay are historic buildings that once served as a regional center for trade and commerce. The bay thus combines a description of the landscape with a specific period in local history: its role in trade belongs to the past, while Englendingavík is located in the old part of Borgarnes.

Discover more destinations: Akrar, Grundarfjördur, Hellissandur, Leirá, Hellnar, Kleppjárnsreykir, Budhir, Snóksdalur.

Back to the overview of the wider region: Vesturland.