A Day from Reykjavík: Borgarnes & West of Iceland

A Day from Reykjavík: Borgarnes & West of Iceland

If the crowds on the south coast and the Golden Circle are not your thing, a tour of the west coast of Iceland might be just the ticket. The area has its share of natural wonders, with majestic waterfalls and deep lava caves, as well as a rich historical heritage.

About an hour north of Reykjavík is Borgarnes, a charming little town with cosy restaurants, a watery paradise of a swimming pool, and fascinating museums. The Settlement Centre is dedicated to the Viking settlement of the area, telling the story of Egill son of Skallagrimur, the fierce Vikning and clever poet who first settled in the area.

The Borgarnes Museum is just a couple of steps away and is focused on more recent history of the area, with permanent exhibitions on the history of childhood during the 20th century and the bird-life of the area, as well as temporary exhibitions.

The swimming pool is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, complete with an Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool, an indoor pool, three hot tubs, a wading pool, a steam bath, three waterslides of varying size and a gym.

Close by Borgarnes is Deildartunghver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. You can see boiling hot water gush from the ground, bubbling powerfully and steaming. A little further along are Hraunfossar, the Lava waterfalls. This remarkable waterfall flos out from underneath a sheet of solid lava. A short walk away is another waterfall, the thundering Barnafoss.

Icelandic volcanic stones. Photo by Olga

Viodgelmir, Iceland’s biggest lava cave by volume, is a lava tube formed during a volcanic eruption, when the magma started to cool on the surface, but there was still a hot “river” of magma flowing beneath it. Then the magma flow stopped, leaving a hollow cave beneath the cool crust on the surface. A tour of the cave can be booked in advance. Nearby Surtshellir, similar in nature, is Iceland’s longest lava cave.

Finally, if you’re traveling with a specially outfitted vehicle and guide, you can kick the adrenaline into gear and drive onto Langjökull glacier, where summer never comes. If you’re particularly adventurous, you can even travel into the Glacier, in a recently opened man-made glacier cave, equipped with a chapel, bar and movie theatre.

If you want to take the scenic route back to Reykjavík, skip the tunnel under Hvalfjördur bay and drive around the fjord. On the way you can see the old whaling station or visit a museum dedicated to the American army.s occupation of Iceland during World War II. You can also visit a working farm or hike to the tallest waterfall in Iceland, Glymur