Area guides
Where to stay in Borgarnes: gateway to West Iceland
Borgarnes sits 75 km north of Reykjavik on the ring road and is the natural first night for anyone going to Snaefellsnes, the Westfjords, or the north via the Hvalfjordur tunnel.
Who Borgarnes suits
Borgarnes suits drivers heading anywhere in western or northern Iceland who want to break the Reykjavik-Akureyri drive, families who want a proper pool and a supermarket, and history-minded visitors — the town has the Settlement Centre, which covers Egil's Saga and the founding of Iceland with a very good audio tour. It's also close to Deildartunguhver (Europe's most powerful hot spring), Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, and the Krauma geothermal baths (30-40 min).
It doesn’t suit anyone who wants a scenic base — the town itself is functional, spread across a peninsula, and quiet after dark. If you have only one night in the west and want atmosphere, drive another 90 minutes to Stykkisholmur instead.
Cost and what's walkable
Mid-range doubles run 20,000-30,000 ISK. Hotel Borgarnes, Icelandair Hotel Hamar (a 10-minute drive out with a golf course), and various guesthouses are the options. Prices sit about 15% under Reykjavik.
Walkable from the centre: the Settlement Centre and its restaurant Landnamsstofan, the swimming pool, Bjossarolo playground, the coastal path around Brakarpollur, and the co-op supermarket. Deildartunguhver and Reykholt are 30 minutes by car; the Hvalfjordur tunnel south takes 45 minutes back to Reykjavik.
Good to know
Questions, answered
Is Borgarnes worth a night, or should I push through?
Worth a night if you’re doing West Iceland proper (Snaefellsnes, Reykholt, Hraunfossar). If you’re aiming for Akureyri or the Westfjords, it's a natural refuel stop but you can skip sleeping here.
How long is the drive from Reykjavik to Borgarnes?
About 75 km, roughly one hour via the Hvalfjordur tunnel (2,700 ISK toll for a passenger car in 2026).
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