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In West Iceland, the history becomes vivid with every step, whether on account of the Sagas, folklore or just tales of men and the matters of men, the scenes of these stories are everywhere.
Most of the Icelandic Sagas were written in West Iceland, such as Egils Saga, Sturlunga, Laxdaela and Eyrbyggja, hence the name West Iceland - The Sagaland.
 
What does West Iceland Sagaland stand for?

Whether you are travelling on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or driving, your trip will be much more interesting with good guidance or information about the places you visit.

  • Interpretation and study of nature in West Iceland
  • Geology of West Iceland
  • Stories of outlaws
  • Folk tales and stories of elves and trolls
  • Social and cultural history of West Iceland
  • Customs and employment in West Iceland
  • Fishing stories of West Iceland
  • Stories of the settlement and the heroes of the Icelandic sagas
  • Stories of the university communities of West Iceland
  • Stories of the development of West Iceland
  • Stories of pilgrims and entrepreneurs
  • Travel stories

Share your stories of your trip through West Iceland with your family and friends.

Museums

The Settlement Center in Borgarnes
Offering a wealth of information, the Settlement Center provides a wonderful insight into Iceland’s history. It also gives you the chance to put your visit into the context of the country’s past. The …
War and Peace Museum
The unique and remarkable history of the occupation period in Iceland 1940-45 unfolds at the War and Peace Museum. Our exhibition tells the story of how a peaceful countryside was transformed, in the …
The Leif Eiriksson Center
The Leif Eiriksson center is an exciting destination for all ages, where stories of the voyages of Erik the Red and his son Leif the Lucky (also called Leifur Eiríksson), discovering parts of Greenlan…
Norwegian House - Regional Muesum
Norwegian house: The regional museum  of Snæfellsnes The Norwegian house, built in 1832, was the first wood-frame residence with two full-sized storeys in Iceland. The wood was imported from Norway he…
Library of Water
Vatnasafn / Library of water is a long-term project conceived by Roni Horn for a former library in the coastal town of Stykkishólmur in Iceland. The building stands on a promontory overlooking the oce…
Borgarnes Museum
Borgarnes Museum - Community Center, Archives and Library, Borgarnes, Iceland. Summer opening hours (June, July, August):Mondays - Fridays from 10:00 - 17:00Saturdays: 11:00 - 14:00Sundays: closed
Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum
At Bjarnarhöfn Shark-museum visitors get to experience a unique Icelandic culture. This family owned museum offers you a peak into their history. This family has been involved with sharks for the past…
Soffia´s Toy Museum
Soffia´s Toy Museum consists of Óskar Elínar Jóhannesdóttur toy collection and the toy collection formerly found at Iðnó, in addition to toys donated by patriots. The museum is open to everyone who en…
Akranes Folk Museum
At the Akranes Folk Museum, you can learn about the history of Akranes and its surroundings. The museum was founded and opened in the year 1959 and can be found at Garðaholt 3. Opening hours: Summer: …
Akranes Library
Akranes Library was founded on the 6th of November 1864, originally as a book club. The library has wonderful facilities at Dalbraut 1 and shares its space with Akranes' district archives and the phot…
The Agricultural Museum of Iceland
The Agricultural Museum of Iceland presents the agricultural heritage and seeks to explain the history of Icelandic agriculture. The museum has an extensive collection of farm artifacts. For example, …
The Maritime Museum in the Fishermen´s Park
Exhibition on fisheries and nature by the Glacier -  coffee and cakes  In the Fishermen’s Garden you will find a collection of items reminding one of the local community’s connection to the ocean and …

Other (3)

Ólafsdalur í Gilsfirði Erluhraun 4 220 Hafnarfjörður 6932915
Laxness Museum - Gljúfrasteinn Gljúfrasteinn 270 Mosfellsbær 586-8066
Pakkhús Museum Ólafsbraut 12 355 Ólafsvík 857-5050
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Saga and Heritage

The Settlement Center in Borgarnes
Offering a wealth of information, the Settlement Center provides a wonderful insight into Iceland’s history. It also gives you the chance to put your visit into the context of the country’s past. The …
The Leif Eiriksson Center
The Leif Eiriksson center is an exciting destination for all ages, where stories of the voyages of Erik the Red and his son Leif the Lucky (also called Leifur Eiríksson), discovering parts of Greenlan…
Trollpark in Fossatún
Location
Eiríksstadir - Living Museum
Come and join us in the 10th century. Let's sit by the fire and meet storytellers, telling renowned tales of the 10th century Iceland. You can try real Viking tools and get to know the craftsmanship, …
Norwegian House - Regional Muesum
Norwegian house: The regional museum  of Snæfellsnes The Norwegian house, built in 1832, was the first wood-frame residence with two full-sized storeys in Iceland. The wood was imported from Norway he…

Other (3)

Ólafsdalur í Gilsfirði Erluhraun 4 220 Hafnarfjörður 6932915
Travel Tunes Iceland Smiðjuvellir 17 300 Akranes 623-9293
Dagbjört Dúna Rúnarsdóttir Böðvarsholt 356 Snæfellsbær 867-4451
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Saga sites

Borg
Originally the home of Skalla-Grimur, father of Egill, hero of Egil´s Saga. Its full name means "rock in the marshes". The farmstead was defined by Kveld-Ulfur, Egill Skalla-Grimsson's grandfather, wh…
Brákarey Island Borgarnes
Brakarey is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The island was named after Egill's nanny and Skalla-Grimur´s slave Thorgerdur brak, after Skalla-Grimur killed her and she drowned in the sea near it…
Eiriksstadir
Eiríksstaðir is one of most historic sides of Iceland. Step back to the Viking Era and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and scents of Eriks the Red's farm which is also the birthplace of Leif th…
Geirshólmi in Hvalfjorður
During the Sturlung Age 1220 - 1264, a company of men led by Svarthofdi Dufguson, a follower of Sturla Sighvatsson used the island Geirsholmi as a base for raiding the surrounding countryside. The to…
Gudrunarlaug, geothermal pool, in Dalir
According to Laxdaela saga, Gudrun Osvifursdóttir used to dwell by a geothermal pool in Laugar in Saelingsdalur. The pool is mentioned in Sturlunga saga and it seems to have been used a great deal. T…
Helgafell Holy Mountain
Holy Mountain, 73 m with a breathtaking panoramic view across Breiðafjordur Bay. A viewing dial is at the top.   Folklore advises anyone climbing the mountain for the first time to walk straight up …
Hvammur in Dalir
Around the year 890, Audur the Deep minded (djúpúdga) from Dogurdara settled the land between the outer edge og Hvammsveit and Skaumuhlaupsa in Hordudalur. She built her farm at Hvammur and for a lon…
Krosshólaborg in Dalir
Auður djúpúðga ( Auður the Deep minded) was one of the settlers in Dalir. She was a Christian and had a cross raised at Krosshólaborg, where she went to pray. Her descentants considered Krosshólaborg …
Laugar in Sælingsdal in Dalir
Gudrun Osvifursdottir, heroine of Laxdaela Saga, was born (973AD) and brought up at Laugar. It is said that she used the hot water pool there a lot and also met there her followers Kjartan and Bolli. …
Ólafsdalu in Dalir
Ólafsdalur by Gilsfjörður, history of 1000 years Ólafsdalur is a small valley, surrounded by high mountains, where the first agricultural school in Iceland was established in 1880. The beautiful schoo…
Reykholt in Borgarfjord
Reykholt is one of Iceland's most notable historical sites. It houses a cultural centre and a church. Reykholt is most famous for being the home of Iceland's best-known author Snorri Sturluson during …
Skallagrímsgarður, public park in Borgarnes
In the heart of Borgarnes is Skallagrímsgarður, a small public park which is ideal for a picnic. The park plays an important role in Egil's Saga, as the burial mound of Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, Egil…
Skard in Skardsstrond, Dalir
Skard is a farm and church site on Skardstrond. Many of the Icelandic Saga heroes come from here. Amongst them were Bjorn Thorleifsson, governor, and his wife, Olof-the-Rich Loftsdottir. On the death…