Settlement And Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket

The nasty blonde woman at the museum register did not give the option of a headset as I was told, instead took my phone and started using it without my consent. When I indicated that it felt intrusive and I didn’t understand what she was doing she gaslit, patronized & ignored me and started uploading things onto my phone. It was surreal. Finally, she undid supposedly whatever she had done and gave me a headset with zero instructions. It barely worked. A horrible disrespectful experience & I wish I’d never gone.

Charming small museum that gave us a better understanding of Icelandic history. It takes about an hour to see both exhibits

Very informative and interesting. We really enjoyed to chance to learn something about Borganes and the surrounding areas. The saga was fascinating. Our host, Alma, was excellent. She very clearly explained what we were going to experience.

This is a truly engaging and immersive experience into the settlement of Iceland and Egil’s Saga (One of the Icelandic Sagas that took place in the town where the exhibition is located). This is a truly enrapturing experience, from the design of the exhibitions to the high production quality of the audio guide. And the gift shop and café are a great place to get unique and authentic Icelandic gifts and souvenirs. The overall atmosphere of the center is warm and cozy, while blending elements of nature right into the building. The architectural design is fascinating! My favorite element is the side of the building that is actually a rock feature, carefully built around and sealed with weather-proof glass. This lets in a lot of natural light and creates a beautiful blend of vibes: hearth and stone. The quality of the exhibition was rivaled only by the warmth of the manager, who I later found out was an owner. She was incredibly engaging and kind! She even recommended a Viking festival that I now consider a main part of my summer travels. There is a café, although we did not eat during this visit. We went through both exhibitions and soaked in the information at a leisurely pace. The audio guide keeps you on track while also being built to be bite-sized so you can pause to take more time with each section of the exhibit. I particularly enjoyed taking pictures in my Viking reenactment kit! The stations in the exhibitions feature unique artworks that tell the major stories in the Saga of Egil. It is a particularly great way to learn about the origin of the famous line popularized by songs and other pop media: My mother told me Someday I would buy (buy) Galleys with good oars Sails to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque, I steer (Steady) Steady course to the haven Hew many foe-men Hew many foe-men

This was a stop on our way to the peninsula. First, we couldn’t find it. This was because it was small and poorly signed. Like many others we went to a large red building with the word “museum” written on it. We were redirected by a sign on that building’s door. Finally we found it. We were going to enter this attraction until we were told the entry fee is 3500 isk, about $30US which is extremely expensive for what it is (read the reviews). An unnamed, world renowned museum in NYC is priced the same! Don’t go.

Honestly not a very impressive display, tedious detail… a few interesting points but the names and places all start to run together. Not for young children. Gift shop crazy expensive- even for Iceland!

I don’t know this is recommended in guidebooks and has great reviews on TripAdvisor. Some of it is interesting and creative, but overall I would describe it as more “quirky” and bit amateurish. Definitely not going out of your way for. And I don’t know if it can be qualified to be called a museum - there’s no actual exhibits! I did find a cool book at the gift shop though!

Not great for young kids. 4 and 6 year old thought the audio guides were boring and the sculptures (especially the saga) were too scary. There’s really nothing else other than the gift shop they can participate in. They liked the moving ship in the settlement exhibit and jammed on a bunch of buttons for a while in some of the other exhibits. Mostly a bust for them, and my wife and I didn’t really get to listen to the stories since we were dealing with the kids.

Well thought-out exhibit spaces that, when viewed using the easy-to-use audio guide (which offers narration in about a dozen languages) were really informative in providing the history of Iceland's settlement, and in illustrating the life of Egil and his family who lived nearby, based on the old sagas. The reception area includes a nice gift shop with a cool architectural feature -- it has been built against a rock-face which juts right into the shop space itself. Rock in all its volcanic forms is so present in the Icelandic landscape and would have been a key part (hurdle) of the settlement experience 1200 years ago, so we appreciated it as an appropriate yet unexpected touch to the building. The toilets on site were free, and they were clean and bright but could benefit from a bit of refreshing (the stall in one would not lock and the seat was defective in another). There is a cafe attached to the museum which looked nice and smelled very good but we didn't stay to eat. On one side of the Settlement Centre is the sea and on the other is convenient parking. Recommend and would return again.

Lovely little gem of a museum. The audio tour was interesting and informative. One tour about the settlement of Iceland was upstairs and then the second audio tour was downstairs and explained one of the Sagas. The main floor had a cute gift shop and books and a free restrooms. The staff were genuinely invested in the museum. We learned a lot and it created a desire to learn more about the history of Iceland and the Sagas.Don’t forget to go to the restaurant after the tour for free samples of whey.

We enjoyed the first 30 minute tour which was mostly the history of the settling of Iceland. The second 30 minute tour is more on folklore. We did not enjoy the second half as much. The gift shop and staff are lovely. They offer the Audio tour in 16 languages. I recommend this place on a lousy weather day only as it’s an expensive hour for two people.

The museum has 2 exhibits: one about the settlement of iceland and one about Egil's saga. Both are very interesting and well done. The settlement exhibit in particular is very interactive. We also had lunch in the restaurant and it was excellent.

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.

two parts museun, first part abpoyt the Viking settlement of Iceland, the second part about the Viking families and sagas less interesting to me

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.

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.

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.

Worth a stop but not a detour. Was interesting to see the history of Iceland. Very nice contrast to the nature based experiences.

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.

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.

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.

What a great way to learn about early Iceland. The headsets with the audio tour really helped with the names and details.

I visited the settlement centre on my tour with EF. It is a great place to learn about the history and sagas of Iceland. Very artistic and interactive!

My favorite part of the experience was walking through the Egils Saga because the artwork and guide brought the story to life. Everything was very well done and I’d highly suggest visiting here.

Exhibit was amazing! Walk through and audio was very detailed and immersive. Definitely a very cool and fun exhibit, I highly recommend it for the whole family. Loved it!!

awesome exhibition, definitely worth the stop. gives a great history of iceland and walks through the egils saga. very friendly staff, nice spot for lunch in the cafe.

Our tour guide took us to the museum and we had both audioguide tours of the Settlement and Egily Saga exhbits. They were really well done but both of us found the tours to be too long, too much standing around. Would have been nice to have a "skip" button for when part of the tour was less interesting or a 2x speed option. In the end we felt disappointed. Visiting at the end of many hours in the coach was perhaps not the best idea - we just wanted to get to our hotel room. The museum shop has some really nice things, prices are of course Iceland-high. If you found my review helpful I would appreciate your vote.

nice and interessant . very friendly crew. dont miss it, they have something to tell and we should listen.

After a few days in Iceland, we were traveling through Borgarnes, I was aware of the Settlement Center before traveling to Iceland but didn't think my wife and granddaughter would appreciate the Saga stories. Cut to the chase and a few days in Iceland had them curious so we stopped. I am so glad we did. We each loved a different portion of the exhibition. The history of Iceland settling was fact filled and interesting. The Saga of Egill was a deep and rich story of an amazing character. This was one of our favorite things in all of Iceland.

This was recommended by Rick Steves in his Iceland book and was certainly a gem of a find. This is an excellent presentation on the settlement of Iceland. The audio-visual presentation was well produced and entertaining. It was very insightful and definitely not boring and actually fun. Kind of out of the way, but worth the trip especially on a day trip north of Reykjavik. Also has a very nice gift shop.

One of the best of its kind in Iceland. This center is informative and visually fun! Nice gift shop too!

We really enjoyed our time here. It was fairly structured around a recorded narrative but that actually made it more interesting.

Me and my daughter went on a day trip to Borgarnes to see both the settlement and Egils saga exhibition. We had a great time and this was very educational for both of us. Very friendly staff- a young man who explained everything very well before we started. I recommend this - especially if you are interested in the Icelandic history.

We made the settlement exhibition and the saga as wel. The settlement exhibition is very interesting well organized. The audio guide is very helpful and clear. We enjoyed the tour. About the saga exhibition the story is a bit complicated what to say a Saga!! It was a bit too long for us and the names are not easy to follow but it was oberall intetesting and add the folklore touch to our visit in the country

Borgarnes is on the way from Reykjavik to Snaefellsnes, and this small museum is well worth a visit. Both half hour tours tell the stories in a well-presented way, with insightful narration and accompanying music. The settlement saga gives a great general overview of how the Vikings settled in Iceland and should be interesting to all. It has a broad appeal and even visitors with short attention spans will get into it after a few minutes. The other part, Egil's story, was also well-told and compelling for the adults, but required too much focus for children, who opted out. Overall the way the museum is laid out and the thought that went into the details is impressive. Right from the moment the friendly staff hand you the audioguides with headphones (yes, headphones so you don't have to hold it to your ear--see the thought that went into it?!), to the narrator's building the story and capturing the imagination by the end, it is definitely worth a visit.

Well worth a visit to this museum explaining the settlement of Iceland. Interactive and informative. The Egil saga exhibition is interesting especially if you have read any of the sagas.

The audio narration was good, but the area is REALLY squished and crowded, and we went on an off day. There were two sections, one about the sagas and one about Icelandic history. The saga story really glorified violence without giving any historic context. Really large cafe and friendly staff.

The exhibitions are with an audio guide but if the center is crowded it hampers your movement within the exhibit. There are two parts to the exhibit and in an enclosed space and dimly lighted. It was interesting but I could have passed on it.

I do not usually enjoy museums. However, the Settlement Centre is an interactive showcase highlighting art, history and folklore in an engaging way. I was most impressed by the woodwork and interactive maps. I loved it and learned quite a bit about Iceland. Highly recommend.

Unfortunately only one part of the museum was open and that was Egil's story. We certainly do not regret that we did. They work with a good audio tour, also in Dutch. This makes it lively to walk through. Also suitable for children.

We were interested by the description in the guide. It said “multi-award-winning museum” - true in the sense of the entrance fees (52€ for 2EW) and this price for about 20 exhibits, which were also 90% models and pictures. Even in metropolises around the world you pay significantly less for museum visits. The museum shop is half the size of the exhibition space. Good thing we weren't still in the museum cafe!

The place is divided between two exhibitions. The first, rather interactive, tells us about the conquest of Iceland by the Vikings. The second presents the saga of Egils, a famous saga transmitted by the poet of the 13th century, Snorri Sturluson. The two exhibits are visited by means of an audio guide, a French version of which is available. The whole is very interesting and clearly explained, even for teenagers.

Wonderful! The exposure is brutal. An excellent way to understand the Icelandic sagas and a bit of the colonization of the island.

Very nice and very interesting exhibition for those data subject to the history of Viking settlements in the country and the sagas, a well spent wrath

A very original and interesting museum about the creation of Iceland and its settlement by the Vikings. You will also have the opportunity to discover the saga of Egils, a significant figure in the history of the country based on his interactions with the King of Denmark and the English court. All guided by audio guides in the language of your choice. The staff is also friendly and welcoming. We feel all the passion for their story and their joy to share it with as many people as possible.

Two old buildings and within two exhibitions that you must follow with an audio tour. You can choose Dutch. The story is too slow and you need half an hour per room. You're just waiting for you to keep walking. Don’t take pictures, sometimes very dark space and cramped. Nice for an hour if you want to do something different and learn something. They also have a restaurant. Toilet and plenty of parking spaces

Access to two different exhibitions is available for an entrance fee of 2,500 kronor. You will be guided through both with an audio guide also available in German. The first exhibition deals with the settlement of Iceland. For me there were too many names of settlers and their farms here, I would have liked even more information about the settlers' living conditions. The second exhibition takes you into the world of sagas. The story of Egil is presented in a very vivid and understandable way. There is also a restaurant in the same building, but I did not visit this one.

The entire family with children of almost 6 and 16 was very entertained in the two exhibitions with an audio guide in Danish. Amazing!

I had some time in Borgarnes and wanted to find out about the sagas. The Egil saga is so incredibly well presented here that I was delighted. Greatly designed wooden figures, medially super resourceful prepared with a good audio guide. I was really very positively surprised.