After that magical 38 km coastal drive north from Akranes along Iceland’s legendary Ring Road, Borgarnes emerges like a storybook settlement. This pocket-sized town – really just a cluster of streets on a slender peninsula – packs serious visual drama. Think panoramic fjord views framed by not one but two icy giants: the Eiríksjökull and Langjökull glaciers shimmering on the horizon.
What makes Borgarnes unique? This isn’t your typical Icelandic fishing village. The powerful Borgarfjörður currents never allowed maritime industries to flourish. Instead, you’ll discover crisp air smelling of fresh-cut hay rather than salted cod, and a thriving agricultural community where dairy farms stretch to the water’s edge.
History whispers through every cobblestone here. Walk down Skallagrímsgata or Egilsgata and you’re treading paths named after the saga heroes themselves – Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson and his infamous son Egill. Their gripping tale isn’t confined to legend; the town’s extraordinary museum brings their blood-soaked saga to vivid life.
Arnarstapi and around
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Reykholt
West Coast of Iceland Travel Guide
Nature’s Gauntlet: Driving the Coastal Route
Brace yourself for the stretch south of Borgarnes near Hafnarfjall – Iceland’s notorious wind tunnel. This Atlantic-battered section stops road trippers in their tracks (sometimes literally). Winter transforms it into a stormy coliseum where hurricane-force winds have flipped lorries like toys. While summer brings gentler conditions, always keep both hands firmly on the wheel – this corridor earns its reputation as one of Iceland’s wildest driving experiences.
The Viking Antihero You’ll Never Forget
Imagine a hulking, violent poet born to werewolf descendants. That’s Egill Skallagrímsson – Iceland’s original fiery protagonist who makes modern antiheroes look tame. Composed by famed saga writer Snorri Sturluson, this 13th-century epic mirrors Iceland’s own struggle against Norwegian rule through the story of the ultimate rebellious Viking.
A Life Plagued by Curses and Cunning
From nearly being murdered by his shape-shifting father at 12 to his final chaotic moments, Egill’s life reads like a Scandi-noir thriller. His blood feud with Norwegian royalty escalated to absurd levels – puckishly humiliating King Eirik Bloodaxe, killing his son then composing poetry so sublime it saved his neck.
Even after settling as a farmer in Iceland, tragedy followed. When two sons died, grief nearly conquered him until his daughter Þorgerð tricked him into composing the devastating “Lament for My Sons” – widely considered Iceland’s greatest poetic masterpiece.
A Mischievous Exit for the Ages
Blind and frail in his final years at Mosfell, the elderly warrior nearly shook Iceland to its core. His last conspiracy? To ignite mass chaos by raining silver coins over Alþing’s assembly crowds. Foiled by family, he committed one final act of mayhem – murdering servants and disappearing his treasure. His defiant pagan burial at the churchyard’s edge perfectly concluded this epic saga of unforgettable proportions.
Plan Your Saga Journey Right: For more Icelandic road trip inspiration (including transport tips from our Travaloca experts), check our West Coast Travel Guide.
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