Settlement Center: Enjoy the Thrill of Icelandic History and Egils Saga Exhibition
4.3
41 Ratings
Borgarnes
Experience the thrill of Icelandic history and the captivating Egils Saga exhibition at the Settlement Center. Discover the first settlers and immerse yourself in the ancient sagas brought to life through multimedia and theatrical techniques.
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- The Settlement Center - An entertaining and educational, audio guided, exhibition that tells the story of the first settlers, and the story of Iceland’s most important saga
- Egils Saga. Egill Skalla-Grimson was a famous Viking and poet.
What's Included
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- All fees and taxes included
Additional Information
The Settlement Center is an extensive source of knowledge, offering invaluable insights into the history of Iceland. It helps visitors understand the country’s history in relation to their visit. The exhibits bring to life the captivating drama of the sagas and the inception of this island country. Particularly, they highlight one of Iceland’s most significant cultural assets, the Egils Saga.
The showcased items in the Settlement Center describe the tale of the first inhabitants and the principal saga of Iceland, the Egils Saga.
Egill Skalla-Grimson, a renowned Viking and poet, and his father were among the first settlers. Their family resided near Borgarnes at Borg.
The Center’s mission is to ensure the ancient sagas are understood by individuals of all age groups.
To make the experience memorable for visitors, the Center uses multi-media and theatrical methods, enabling them to sense the thrill of embarking on a journey across the vast sea to unexplored territories.
The audio narration programs designed to tell these stories are available in 15 different languages.
Location
The Settlement Center
Brakarbraut 13-15, Brakarbraut
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.3
(41 Ratings)
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Jeannie2207
Oct 7, 2021
Excellent visit. Very informative. - We really enjoyed our visit to the Settlement Centre. Both the two exhibitions about the history of the founding of Iceland and the Sagas were really well done. There was an excellent audio guide which took you through the trails. Clever exhibits too.
The building itself is an old warehouse which has been very cleverly reconstructed and joined to the rockface behind.
We also had a meal at the restaurant and the healthy buffet was just delicious.
I would really recommend this place both for the exhibitions and the restaurant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Perezj1997
Jul 2, 2021
Icelandic Culture & History - The telling of an Icelandic saga and Iceland's settlement was very clear and interesting. This is my first time in Iceland and really enjoyed hearing about its culture and past. The food in the restaurant was also very good. This stop on our tour was also a nice break from the rest of our tour, which has been filled with a lot of walking and biking. I definitely recommend this place.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karenbsandiego
Jul 2, 2021
Iceland History - What a great way to learn about early Iceland. The headsets with the audio tour really helped with the names and details.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Halo44
Oct 12, 2023
The saga exhibition is great - The settlement part of the exhibition was okay but the Saga exhibition was really interesting and enjoyable. I’d like to learn more about the sagas. Take the headphones for the self guided tour or you’ll have no idea what you’re walking around, you especially need them for the saga. The young man on the reception desk who sold us our tickets was fantastic, great sense of humour and a lot of fun…wish we’d got his name, he’s a big asset to the place. It’s not cheap, I think it was overpriced but to be fair everything in Iceland is expensive and I think this place needs the money to keep going. Gift shop and restaurant on site.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rickya1006
Jul 2, 2023
very informative about the Viking settlement of Iceland - two parts museun, first part abpoyt the Viking settlement of Iceland, the second part about the Viking families and sagas less interesting to me
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Warren
May 30, 2022
interesting historical museum but overpriced - This is a small museum in two parts: one on early Icelandic history and the second on one of the classic sagas. The exhibits are a series of dioramas, maps, and lots of carved wooden figures. They aren't that particularly impressive, but the audio tour is very good, about half an hour for each of the two exhibits. The low level lighting and other visual aspects create an interesting, moody atmosphere. There is a good restaurant and gift shop. Not a bad diversion, but quite overpriced at about $20/person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passport18348654956
Oct 2, 2021
Worth a stop but not a detour - Worth a stop but not a detour. Was interesting to see the history of Iceland. Very nice contrast to the nature based experiences.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dan_s
Sep 16, 2021
A nice stop, especially for your first visit. - There are two parts to the tour, with an upstairs and downstairs. There’s a very helpful person at the beginning to give you your headphones and an iPod mini that has the tour in many languages.
The upper floor with a history of Iceland was interesting but a little difficult to follow. The tour below with the saga was much more dramatic and entertaining.
This is a nice stop if you were visiting the country for the first time.
Review provided by Viator
Msm923
Oct 20, 2022
Interesting but a bit dry - Interesting but a little dry. If you’re passing through the area, the settlement center is probably worth a visit. There is a decent audio tour of the museum-like exhibit. It’s a bit pricey for what it is, and the second half of the audio tour drags a bit. Not a must-see but worthwhile if interested in a solid historical narrative of Iceland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
2skidivers
Aug 19, 2021
Another Museum...sort of - Iceland seems to have more Museums per capita than any other country. There are museums from penises to whales. This was not rally a museum but rather crude wood carvings to go with he story on the personal headsets that you wear. It was part of the cultural part of our tour and we would not have visited it by ourselves, especially on a nice warm day in Iceland. In fact, we turned around and walked out before we finished the first segment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor