Exploring the Viking Trails: A Guide to Iceland’s Historic Sites and Adventures

When seafaring Scandinavians settled in Iceland between 870 and 930 CE, they didn't call themselves Vikings. Instead, they used that term for the people they raided and the act of raiding them. Vikings have captured the interest of people throughout the world for centuries. Visiting Iceland and touring the Viking trails is a chance to see their relics, settlements, and homes firsthand. Here's a comprehensive guide to Iceland's must-see historic sites and adventures so you won't miss any of the artifacts, legends, and beauty. 

Must-See Places on a Vikings Trail Tour

From the majestic beauty of Skaftafell to the mysterious allure of the Blue Lagoon, there are unlimited things to see and do in Iceland, but for Viking enthusiasts, the destinations that follow offer an in-depth and up-close look at Viking history.

Þingvellir National Park and the Birthplace of Alþingi

The literal meaning of Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is "Assembly Plains". Þingvellir National Park lies at the heart of Iceland's political history. Þingvellir is the birthplace of Alþingi. Alþingi is the world's oldest parliament. It dates back to 930. It's situated on terrain with a number of unique and breathtaking geological features. From as early as 930, Alþingi was the hub of the nation's most important political events and decisions. It's where Iceland forged a union with Norway that resulted in the loss of legislative power in 1262.

Parliament continued to convene at Alþingi until 1798.  Alþingi was temporarily dissolved in the 1800s, but a landmark special session was held at Alþingi in 1944 in acknowledgment of the Iceland Republic's founding. 

Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site

Explore the Rift Valley at Þingvellir National Park

If you're more interested in the nature, non-portable artifacts, and geography of Viking trails than you are in political history, you won't be disappointed. Þingvellir is where Iceland established its very first national park in 1928. The Vikings' old stomping grounds is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site, and it holds the ruins of old stone shelters and the Þingvellir Church. It also sits in the rift valley of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and is rich with gorges, lava fields, basalt walls, and deep fissures. 

Reykholt – Home of Snorri Sturluson, the Great Saga Writer

Snorralaug: The Geothermal Spring of Snorri Sturluson

Reykholt is a tiny village in west Iceland. It's home to a geothermal pool, possibly once used by the author himself (or possibly rebuilt). Dubbed Snorralaug in Snorri's honor, it's a small, jacuzzi-like water feature that's surrounded by flat stones. Sturluson, as did many other Icelanders in the 12th century, enjoyed relaxing in the geothermal pool that lay just a short distance away from his surprisingly "hobbit-like" home. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that he built a small tunnel traveling from his home to the pool. Although you can't take a dip in Snorri's pool while visiting Reykholt, you'll find plenty of publicly available geothermal pools nearby.

If you're a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings saga, you'll also find glimpses of his inspiration all around. Tolkien often cited Snorri Sturluson and his work as being a driving factor behind his decisions to pen tales of warriors, trolls, and hobbits.  

Check out Snorralaug hotspring.

Don't Miss These Attractions in Reykholt

Although Snorri Sturluson is a definite highlight of a Viking trails tour in Reykholt, there are many other things to see and do while visiting. Reykholt is currently a cultural center, school, and museum. It's the perfect place for history buffs to gather new information on the chieftains of Iceland, medieval times, and Snorri himself.

Stöng and the Reconstructed Farm 

Explore the ruins of a real Viking Age farm at Stöng. You'll also have the chance for a hands-on experience of medieval living. Hidden beneath heavy layers of pumice for more than eight centuries, Stöng is a remarkably well-preserved medieval farm excavated in 1939. Just one of several farms still remaining aboveground, it was worked by Vikings until the 1300s.

The stone foundations of these ruins are roped off and covered by a protective roof. Guests can look, but they can't engage in hands-on explorations. However, there's a delightfully accurate reconstruction right nearby. Here, you can play cards in the hall while wearing medieval garb, head out to battle, weave on real looms, and read up on your Viking history.

Experience medieval living at Stöng

Museums and Exhibitions

There are 266 museums in Iceland, a testament to its rich cultural history and heritage. The following is a sampling of museums that are of special interest to those interested in Viking history. 

The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes

Awarded a Certificate of Excellence for four consecutive years, the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes recreates Iceland's earliest days. It houses a restaurant and cafe and a small shop where visitors can buy souvenirs. With a reception hall, a warehouse, and a merchant house, it gives guests a glimpse of Egil Skalla-Grimsson, the best-known hero of Icelandic lore, and a visual tour of Iceland's founding fathers via the works of Ari the Wise.

The Egil Saga Exhibition

Egil Skalla-Grimsson was a beserker, farmer, sorcerer, and war poet. Berserkers, a term which comes from the Old Norse words for ber (bear) and serkr (shirt), were mighty warriors who fought in a violent and uncontrolled manner, in an enraged and trance-like state, and often naked to incite fear. Born in 910, Skall-Grimsson is best known for his poetry and for having drafted his first poem at the tender age of three.

The Egil Saga Exhibition at The Settlement Centre is hosted in the warehouse. Set on the sunken stone floor of a cellar, this exhibition takes visitors through Skalla-Grimsson's Egil Saga using wood, lighting, and many other artistic mediums. With audio guides available in 15 languages, a ghostly atmosphere, and skeletons, it's a spooky yet immersive experience that visitors love repeating.

The Settlement Exhibition

Guided by sextons, instinct, and sailing prowess, Scandinavians crossed the Atlantic more than 500 years before Columbus. Written by Ari Thorgilsson (Ari the Wise), The Book of Settlement and The Book of Icelanders provide in-depth descriptions of the founding fathers of Iceland. The Settlement Exhibition uses these two sources to retell their tales via theatrical techniques and multi-media. Visitors can learn why Scandinavians left Norway, how they crossed the sea, and how they settled the land until the founding of the parliament at Þingvellir.

Dining at The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes

Dining at The Settlement Centre is also a culturally enriching experience. The onsite restaurant serves an impressive sampling of traditional Icelandic fare. You can order fresh fish, mashed fish, and lamb. You'll also find an impressive selection of vegetarian dishes, homemade cakes, and rich, aromatic coffees. The restaurant's design is based on one of the oldest houses in Borgarnes, the Elstu-húsin. It offers a fresh, modern environment and a relaxed atmosphere while honoring the past. 

National Museum of Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland holds a treasure of Viking artifacts and offers unforgettable explorations into Icelandic history. You can start your Viking trails tour at the National Museum of Iceland with the "Basic Show," which details 1200 years of Iceland's culture and society.  Entitled "Making of a Nation,” this show offers insights on:

• 800 CE to 1200 CE  - The early settlement of Iceland

• 1000 CE to 1200 CE  - Christian theocracy

• 1200 CE to 1400 CE  - In the Norwegian kingdom

• 1400 CE to 1600 CE  - The Danish Empire

• 1600 CE to 1800 CE - The Monarchy

• 1800 CE to 1900 CE - The nation and urban area

• 1900 CE to 2000 CE - The path to the present

The National Museum of Iceland also hosts a variety of rotating and limited-time special exhibits. There's an onsite restaurant and souvenir shop and a diverse range of kid-friendly activities. You'll also find more than four million photographs from both amateurs and professionals cataloging Icelandic history.

The Settlement Exhibition in Reykjavik 

Visit the Settlement Exhibition in Reykjavik to see a historical exhibit that maps the city's evolution from farm life to urban living. Here, you'll take an underground tour to see the remains of a 10th-century longhouse and the area's oldest standing building. This subterranean tour stretches from Aðalstræti 16 to Aðalstræti 10.

The Settlement Museum additionally hosts special exhibits on topics such as historical fisheries, the history of Icelandic education, and the evolution of Icelandic transportation. Year-round, the museum handles important archaeological research in Reykjavik. It also houses many of the region's most awe-inspiring cultural relics.

The Eiríksstaðir Living History Museum: The Home of Eric the Red 

Norse explorer Erik Thorvaldsson, known as Erik the Red, is recorded in the Icelandic sagas as the first person to settle on Greenland. The Eiríksstaðir Living History Museum offers a historically accurate replica of Eiríksstaðir, the farm that was once home to both Erik the Red and Leif Eiriksson. Leif Erikson is the famed Norse explorer who visited the Americas 500 years before Columbus. 

This is one of the most hands-on exhibits in Iceland. Nothing is roped off or hidden behind glass. You can sit in Viking chairs, watch the wool dyeing process, and listen to Viking history beside a roaring fire. The Eiríksstaðir Living History Museum tells the old sagas in the oral tradition while guests relax in the very place where many of these tales occurred.

Eiríksstaðir home of Eric the Red

Viking World Museum

The Viking World Museum offers a grand dose of history even before guests enter its doors. Guðmundur Jónsson, an award-winning architect, designed the main exhibition hall, The Icelander, as a tribute to the Islendingur (the Viking ship the Icelander). 

Upon entering the museum's doors, you'll find three primary exhibits:

• The Vikings of the North Atlantic: Produced in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution in the United States, The Vikings of North Atlantic celebrates Leif Eiríksson's journey to the Americas.

• The Icelander: Built in 1996 by sailor and shipbuilder Captain Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, The Icelander is a near-perfect replica of the Gokstad ship, an almost completely intact Viking ship that was excavated in 1882 in Norway. The Icelander is the main attraction of the Viking World. This seaworthy vessel was sailed to New York in 2000 to commemorate Leif Eiríksson's own travels.

• The Settlement of Iceland: Explore archeological findings from the oldest 9th-century occupation of the Reykjanes/Suðurnes region. 

The Saga Museum 

Discover intimate recreations of important moments in Iceland's history at The Saga Museum. Visitors are guided through the museum tour with audio devices. Audio guides are available in Swedish, English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, and Icelandic. Lifelike replicas of historical figures and scenes depict the challenges that settlers faced based on the details provided by the Icelandic sagas. This Viking trails exhibit gives a close-up view of the settlers' hand-dyed wools, wooden implements, furnishings, and weapons. 

Saga Center in Hvolsvöllur 

Take a trip to the Saga Centre to experience one of the most well-known sagas of Icelanders: the tale of Njál of Bergthórshvoll. Best friend to Gunnar of Hlídarendi, Njál was eventually burned to death in his home along with his wife and children. The wives of Gunnar and Njál were bitter enemies, and although Gunnar did not kill his friend, Gunnar's wife instigated the fiery feud that took his life.

This same exhibition also covers:

• Ocean navigation and sea travel

• Religion in Iceland

• Viking cosmology

• The literary art of the Icelandic sagas

The Saga Centre is a replica of a longhouse, featuring timber-paneled walls, horsehair-covered benches, and other true-to-history details. 

Go Horse Riding on the Same Horses the Settlers Rode

Not every must-see attraction for Viking enthusiasts visiting Iceland is a museum tour. You can go horse riding on the same horses that settlers rode by visiting the Kjölur trail and scheduling an equine adventure. The Kjölur trail traces the same journey that Icelanders rode when traveling to Þingvellir for their yearly summer parliament.  

Owing its name to Kjalfell, Keel Mountain, Kjölur is a 165-km-long trail at an altitude of 600 to 700 meters. Among the many highlights of the Kjölur trail are the natural hot springs of Hveravellir, nestled between two glaciers.

While traversing Viking trails, loose Icelandic horses will flank you, and you can swap your mount as needed up to twice each day. You'll ride through green valleys and the highlands, between and past glaciers, around volcanoes, and surrounded by many other geographic wonders. You'll stop and visit famous sites like:

• Þingvellir Lake

• Gullfoss Waterfall and the entire Golden Circle

• Hofsjökull and Langjökull glaciers

The Icelandic horse has command of the tölt gait from birth. The tölt is an easy, comfortable gait and offers a smooth ride. It's a four-beat lateral, ambling gait performed at varying speeds. Icelandic horses also have mastery of the skeið gait or "flying pace" and can travel at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

You don't need to be an experienced rider to be able to ride the Icelandic horse and many shorter trips are available for those with less time.

Horse riding on a black beach on Iceland's south coast

Partake in Virtual Viking Battle

Do you want to experience how wars went on in Viking trails? Head to Sauðárkrókur to take part in a virtual Viking battle in 1238, The Battle of Iceland. Visitors get cutting-edge virtual reality headsets and take part in a heart-stopping, ultra-real simulation. This immersive historical experience will put you in the midst of real events, including those that occurred during the age of Sturlungs (1220-1262). You'll also take part in the famous battle of Örlygsstaðir, recognized as Iceland's most fearful battle. This battle represented the end of Iceland's independence, and it greatly shaped Iceland's history. When you're ready for a break or are finished with your virtual experience, you can stop by the onsite bistro or visit the gift shop.

Get Your Own Viking Portrait

A Viking trails tour won't be complete without a memento. Mink Viking Portrait offers an authentic Viking experience with the help of artisans and experts in Norse and Viking traditions. Take photos clad in historically accurate Viking attire. Mink Viking Portrait has everything on hand to turn guests into true Icelandic Vikings, including weapons, jewelry, and skins. While posing, you'll get tips on how to embody the era's fierceness from team members with extensive photography and film experience. Staff members have worked on major projects like "Game of Thrones" and can help you and your entire travel group get stunning results.

Take an Adventure on Viking Trails

Whether on horseback or foot, you can traverse unforgettable trails while visiting Iceland to learn more about the Vikings and settler history. You can read, hear, and view the tales written in Iceland's sagas, dress the part, and more. There are opportunities to see recently unearthed relics and hands-on experiences with historically accurate replicas. With the list above, you can take awe-inspiring underground tours of longhouses and climb to dizzying elevations to pass between glaciers. To book your tour of Iceland, contact Tour.is today!