3 Fascinating Adventures to Take from Borgarnes, Iceland

If you’re heading to Iceland and planning to step out beyond the confines of Reykjavik, good for you! There’s so much to see in this stunning country behind its capital city, from massive volcanoes and glaciers to epic waterfalls and coastline views. In all my trips, I’ve never been to a land more diverse than Iceland, and I’m so excited for you to get out and explore it! But with so many small towns and things to see, it can be difficult to decide where to begin your adventures. However, if you’re looking for a good middle point to see several great things in Iceland’s northwestern region, I recommend Borgarnes.

*Gorgeous views from our hotel in Borgarnes*

Borgarnes is a small town of about 3800 people, located on a small peninsula of Iceland’s west coast. However, it’s the largest town in the municipality and one of the best spots to start a journey to the gorgeous Snaefellsnes Peninsula. There’s not much to do in town because it’s so tiny, so many people only view it as a place to spend the night before heading to Snaefellsnes National Park (which I 100% recommend visiting and have written a whole post about).

Anarstapi Cliff Walk — Views of the popular Snaefellsnes Peninsula

But don’t get distracted because there are actually some great things to do around Borgarnes! There are geothermal baths, hikes, a goat petting zoo, historic sites, and more! Not to mention, its remote location makes it a fantastic spot to look out for the Northern Lights.

But today, I want to share three specific things I recommend checking out to give you a well-rounded trip with geothermal wonders, enchanting waterfalls, and fascinating history. They’re all located within 45 minutes from Borgarnes and can easily be done in one day, giving you plenty of extra time to explore or continue to your next location!

The Settlement Center, Borgarnes

Located in two of Borgarnes’ oldest buildings, dating back to the 1800s, you’ll find a unique museum detailing the history of Iceland in two different ways, along with a restaurant, cafe, and souvenir shop.

The Settlement Center has two main exhibits, each with a captivating audio guide that walks you through numbered rooms and sections. The first exhibit draws you into the wild tale of Egil Skalla-Grimsson, the hero from one of Iceland’s most popular sagas. The displays here are all rather quirky and caricatured to fit the crazy events of the story, but there is so much detail, as well! You’ll get a shortened version of this epic tale of love, war, magic, and betrayal!

The second exhibit is historically accurate, giving you fascinating insights into the actual settlement of Iceland. There are a lot of interactive elements and dioramas on this side to help you understand the scope of the settlement process, which I really enjoyed. You’ll also get some in-depth information on genealogies, thanks to The Book of Icelanders and The Book of the Settlement, which are 13th-century documents that recorded the entire founding of Iceland!

Hraunfossar Waterfall, Vesturland

Next up, head about 45 minutes outside Borgarnes to see one of my favorite stops from our entire week in Iceland: Hraunfossar Waterfall!

This stunning series of cascades flows directly out of a lava field into a river gorge, and it is nothing short of breathtaking! It looks like something straight out of a fantasy novel, and we could not get enough of it! The water is a shocking shade of blue due to the silica in the water, and the contrast of the black lava rock makes it even more magical.

Visitors can park in a spacious lot that is less than a minute’s walk from the first viewing point, making this an incredibly accessible stop for anyone visiting Iceland! There is a small walking trail and bridge you can go on to get some additional views, and I highly recommend it if you have the time and ability!

The falls go on for a decent ways before the river splits. But there’s also a smaller waterfall called Barnafoss just up the path to the right. You can reach it in about 4 minutes, so it’s definitely worth the short detour down the other trail! Unlike Hraunfossar’s cascades, this is a short, rushing fall that pours into a narrow canyon. The bright blue water gets extra frothy here, becoming the epitome of icy blue!

This is also one of the few popular waterfalls in Iceland where you can legally fly your drone, so be sure to bring yours with you!

Note: If you want more information on no-hike waterfalls in Iceland, be sure to check out my post detailing 5 of my favorites!

Deildartunguhver, Reykholt

Finally, don’t miss a visit to Europe’s most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver!

The first thing you’ll probably notice when you arrive is the massive wall of steam that, unfortunately, smells like a big batch of boiled eggs due to the sulfur. But don’t let that deter you! This epic hot spring deserves at least a few minutes of your time!

Deildartunguhver spits over 180 liters of water per second and provides hot water and energy to many of the nearby towns! It’s really cool to see the water flowing up close, and the heavy stream provides a shocking contrast to the brightly colored green and red moss that grows all over the rock.

The hot spring is fenced off because the water is over 200 F, but you can still feel the heat coming off of it from quite a ways away!

If you want to add an authentic hot springs experience to your itinerary, carve out some time to visit the Krauma Spa at the top of the hill! They offer spa treatments, thermal baths, and more to give you a relaxing visit!

See More of These Activities Near Borgarnes in My YouTube Video

Closing Thoughts on These Adventures Near Borgarnes

If you’re heading anywhere near the northwest tip of Iceland, be sure to spend at least one day exploring the area around Borgarnes! It does make a great stop-off point for the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, but there is a lot more to explore in this little corner of the country, so don’t miss out.

Don’t forget to comment and let me know which of these activities you’d be most interested in trying, and feel free to leave any questions there, too! I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

For more information to help you plan an epic Iceland adventure, be sure to take a peek at all my other Iceland blogs! I have plenty of guides on the most popular activities along the west coast, all designed to make your planning easier.

And, of course, if you want to stay tuned for more Iceland content, along with American adventures and our upcoming global trips, subscribe to the blog newsletter before you go so you never miss a post.