Settlement Center in Borgarnes
The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes is a museum dedicated to Iceland's Viking-age history, housed in two of the oldest buildings in the town. It contains two audio-guided exhibitions: one on the Age of Settlement covering the first 60 years of Icelandic history from the 870s to the founding of the Alþing parliament in 930 AD, and one on Egil's Saga, telling the story of the legendary Viking poet and warrior Egill Skallagrímsson whose father was among Iceland's earliest settlers.
Two Exhibitions on Iceland's Viking Settlers and Its Most Celebrated Saga
The Settlement exhibition covers the period from the first Norse settlers arriving in Iceland around 874 AD through to the founding of the Alþing, the world's oldest parliament, in 930 AD. It traces the routes taken by the settlers from Norway and the British Isles, the clan structures they established, the farming and fishing methods they relied on, and the political conditions that eventually led to the creation of a parliament. Audio guides are available in 15 languages, including a children's version in Icelandic, and the exhibitions use a combination of multimedia storytelling, artefacts, and dramatic recreations to bring the period alive for visitors with no prior knowledge of Icelandic history.
The Egil's Saga exhibition tells the story of Egill Skallagrímsson, one of the most complex and famous figures in Icelandic literature: a warrior, Viking raider, and gifted poet whose life spanned much of the 10th century. His father Skallagrímur was one of the original settlers of the Borgarfjördur area, making the story directly linked to the region the museum occupies. The saga is set largely in West Iceland and Norway, and includes battles, legal disputes, personal loss, and some of the most celebrated poetry in the Old Norse tradition. A number of artworks by different artists are displayed throughout the exhibition.
The Settlement Centre is located at Brákarbraut 13-15 in Borgarnes, a town of around 2,000 people on the Ring Road about an hour north of Reykjavik. The museum is open daily from 10am to 9pm, with a restaurant and café on site. Borgarnes sits naturally on routes to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the Westfjords, and the Silver Circle, making the centre a practical and rewarding stop for anyone driving through West Iceland.
