Discover Borgarnes

Borgarnes brings together cultural history and a variety of local features. The Borgarnes Museum houses several local institutions, while the Settlement Center focuses on early Icelandic history and the sagas. Other attractions include Skallagrímsgarður, a public park; Englendingavík, a bay; Brákarey, a group of islands; and Bjossarolo, a children’s playground. These distinct features give you concrete points of reference when considering Borgarnes as a place to stay.

Museums and Sagas

The Borgarnes Museum houses the local library, the municipal archives, a natural history museum, the district museum and an art gallery. Its exhibitions are free to visit and open to everyone. The institutions mentioned therefore range from a local library and archives to natural history and art. For planning your visit, the access information is clear: the exhibitions are free and open to all.

The Settlement Center is located in two of Borgarnes’s oldest buildings. Its exhibitions portray Iceland’s early history and the Icelandic sagas, bringing the Egils Saga to life as a significant part of Iceland’s cultural heritage. Unlike the Borgarnes Museum, its focus is on historical narratives rather than several local institutions. The Settlement Center also has a licensed restaurant, a café and a gift shop.

Park, Playground and Local History

Skallagrímsgarður is a small public park in the center of Borgarnes and is suitable for a picnic. The site is also significant to the Egils Saga: it is home to the burial mound of Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, Egil’s father. While the Settlement Center brings the saga to life through exhibitions, its connection to the park is a burial mound with a specific family association.

Another attraction is Bjossarolo, a children’s playground in Borgarnes. It features, among other things, swings, slides, an old boat and a castle; the playground was made entirely from discarded items. Unlike Skallagrímsgarður, its stated purpose is different: Bjossarolo is a playground, while the park is suitable for a picnic. Its construction from discarded items adds a distinctive aspect to the description of the playground.

Englendingavík is a picturesque, peaceful bay in the old part of Borgarnes. The historic buildings at the head of the bay once served as a regional center for trade and commerce. Thus, two distinct aspects come together: the bay is characterized as a peaceful, picturesque place, while the buildings are associated with an earlier economic role. This former function is part of Englendingavík’s local history.

Brákarey in Borgarnes consists of two small rocky islands commonly known as Large and Small Brákarey. The larger island is connected to the mainland by a bridge built in 1929. The names distinguish the islands by size; the year 1929 refers to the construction of the bridge. Brákarey is therefore notable both for the commonly used names of the two islands and for the dated connection between the larger island and the mainland.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Snæfellsbær, Brimilsvellir, Búdardalur, Hellnar, Akranes, Arnarstapi, Reynivellir, Grundarfjördur.

Return to the main travel overview: Vesturland.