The Settlement Center

Two exhibitions share one building. The first covers the settlement of Iceland; the second follows Egil's Saga. Both are built around an audio guide with a separate track for each room, so the commentary moves with you instead of sitting on wall panels. Egil's Saga plays out in this district, so the exhibition stands where its events did.

Downstairs there is a shop. The restaurant is a draw in its own right — a buffet, a soup of the day, cod and horse on the menu — and it holds people who came only for the museum.

• Waits at the table. On busy evenings the food takes a long time to arrive, even once you are seated.
• Prices. The menu published on the website has run behind the prices charged. Check the current menu on the spot.
• The restaurant is expensive. Budget for it, or eat elsewhere and come for the exhibitions.
• Payment. Credit cards, debit cards and contactless are all accepted.
• Children. The exhibitions work for children as well as adults.

Most people arrive by car and park at the door. The free car park is 48 m from the entrance, and a second free one sits 68 m away. From either, the walk in is a matter of metres. The nearest bus stop, Íþróttamiðstöðin, is about 500 m away; Hyrnan, Borgarnes is about a kilometre. There are public toilets roughly 500 m off, but the centre has its own.

Better: a weekday, and early enough in the day to see both exhibitions before you eat.

Avoid: Saturday evening, when the restaurant fills up and food is slow to reach the table.

The visit is indoors from start to finish, which makes it a sound plan for a day of rain or when the weather shuts the roads and you end up in Borgarnes without a plan.