Today was a blend of history, city charm, and one very memorable dinner in Reykjavík.
🛡️ The Settlement Centre: Vikings & Verses
After a 1-hour drive, we arrived at The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes. Entry was 3500 ISK, and the experience took about an hour – a perfect primer on Iceland’s early days.
There are two exhibitions:
- The Age of Settlement: Learn how Norse sailors braved the North Atlantic to escape Norway and form clans across Iceland. It ends with the founding of the Alþing in 930 AD — the world’s oldest parliament!
- Egils Saga: Dive into the dramatic life of Egil Skallagrímsson, a Viking poet whose saga is filled with vengeance, battles, and literary brilliance. It’s suspected that Snorri Sturluson himself may have penned it.
The museum is interactive, multilingual, and surprisingly fun.
🥗 Lunch Buffet at Settlement Centre: Veggie Victory
From 11:30 to 12:30 PM, we indulged in the vegetarian lunch buffet – and wow! Soups, breads, salads, pastas, and more. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Highly recommend.
🚶♂️ Free Walking Tour in Reykjavík: Legends & Laughter
After a 1-hour drive to Reykjavík, we joined the CityWalk Free Walking Tour at 1 PM. Our guide, Nori, was fantastic – funny, insightful, and full of stories.
We learned about:
- The founding of Reykjavík
- Icelandic folklore and eccentricities
- How WWII transformed Iceland from one of Europe’s poorest colonies into a thriving independent nation
It’s a “pay what you want” tour, and you can tip in any currency or online.
🧊 Perlan Museum: Nature in a Dome
From 4 to 8 PM, we explored Perlan Museum, perched atop Reykjavík’s highest hill. It’s housed in a glass dome supported by six water tanks – part science center, part architectural marvel.
Highlights:
- Indoor Ice Cave: 100 meters long, made from 350 tons of real snow
- Planetarium: The Áróra show on the Northern Lights was stunning, with 8K visuals and surround sound
- Forces of Nature Exhibit: Volcanoes, geysers, and earthquakes explained with flair
- Styrmir Geyser: Shoots water 25 meters into the air!
- Observation Deck: 360° views of the city and surrounding mountains
We previewed the upcoming “Inside the Volcano” 4D experience – very cool, though the real thing is hard to beat.
🥩 Dinner at Hereford: Steakhouse Stardom
We ended the day with dinner at Hereford Steakhouse, and it was exceptional:
- Melt-in-your-mouth steak
- Delicious sides
- Impeccable service
Despite our complicated order, the staff handled everything with grace and care. It’s classy but welcoming – no snobbery, just stellar food and hospitality.
🛏️ Alba Guesthouse: Basement Brightness
We checked into Alba Guesthouse:
- Quadruple room with shared bathroom
- Free breakfast
- Basement room with a bright window
Each bed had a second pillow and a bed runner – lovely, but hard to store. No kitchen access, but there was a fridge and kettle. Breakfast included cheese, bread, boiled eggs, and ham.
It wasn’t super clean, but acceptable. Run by an elderly couple, the guesthouse had:
- 1 toilet
- 1 toilet/shower
- 1 shower — shared between two floors, often busy
Shoes off at the door.
Tomorrow, we wrap up our Icelandic adventure. Bucky’s scarf is folded, his belly is full, and his saga is nearly complete.
Note: We’re not affiliated with any of the places or services mentioned. No króna, cookies, or cuddles were exchanged for these reviews — just our honest, slightly steak-scented thoughts. 🛡️🧊🦫