Saga Center
Saga Center
4
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4.0
86 reviews
Excellent
38
Very good
28
Average
14
Poor
1
Terrible
5
fussgussysmom
Albuquerque, NM425 contributions
Jul 2021
FREE! We stopped by and was glad to see the Saga Center still open due to not seeing new reviews and difficulties finding the sight online. However, it is still open, although the tapestry has been completed and is not there. This place walks you through several nicely done exhibits that highlight the Njal's Saga with a short synopsis in Icelandic and English at each stop. This can save you hours of actually reading the saga itself. There is also a dress-up area where you can dress like a Viking. I highly recommend this Saga Center and others around Iceland to be able to zip through the "Cliff's Notes" of these LONG sagas. This stop focuses on Njal's Saga (the longest of the Sagas) since the saga happened in this area of Iceland. It took us about 45 minutes to read all of the exhibits. Nicely done and FREE! Also, the Saga Center is attached to a nice, big restaurant called the Valhalla Restaurant that looks like a Viking Hall--nice woodwork!
Written 25 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KarenCinSF
SF10 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Much more robust and interesting museum than we had expected. Outlined one of the Icelandic sagas in detail, but wasn't boring. Fun costumes to dress up in. Overall a nice way to dip your toe into the cultural aspects of Iceland. Recommend taking the time to check it out. It was also one of the more affordable things to do in Iceland, which was nice.
Written 11 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NorthernWanderlust
Ottawa225 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
The Saga Center was our favourite museum in Iceland; I honestly don't know why it's so rarely visited. We found it so fascinating; a definite highlight of the trip. Located between Selfoss and Vik right off the Ring Road, it's an easy addition to any trip along the South Coast.
The Saga Center tells the tale of Njall's Saga, a piece of Icelandic history that is as Shakespearean as it is Viking. A true story, it deals with revenge, love, family, and the intricacies of old Viking law, told through the rise and fall of two friends. It's based on real events too.
The exhibit starts off discussing life in early Iceland, from day-to-day activities to the intricacies of the Thing. It then starts getting into the Saga, displaying weapons and clothing mentioned in the Saga, as well as the symbolism and interpretation that has since been applied to it. While it's a local Saga, it also seemed quite prominent throughout Iceland.
If you're at all curious about early Icelandic or Viking culture, this museum/centre is an absolute must - and worth the admission fee of around $14. The other half of the museum though, dedicated to the town's former cooperative, is all in Icelandic and quite dull. Skip that. However, the tapestry they are weaving based on the saga is pretty fun to see at the back of the center.
The Saga Center tells the tale of Njall's Saga, a piece of Icelandic history that is as Shakespearean as it is Viking. A true story, it deals with revenge, love, family, and the intricacies of old Viking law, told through the rise and fall of two friends. It's based on real events too.
The exhibit starts off discussing life in early Iceland, from day-to-day activities to the intricacies of the Thing. It then starts getting into the Saga, displaying weapons and clothing mentioned in the Saga, as well as the symbolism and interpretation that has since been applied to it. While it's a local Saga, it also seemed quite prominent throughout Iceland.
If you're at all curious about early Icelandic or Viking culture, this museum/centre is an absolute must - and worth the admission fee of around $14. The other half of the museum though, dedicated to the town's former cooperative, is all in Icelandic and quite dull. Skip that. However, the tapestry they are weaving based on the saga is pretty fun to see at the back of the center.
Written 7 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mustafa V
Edinburgh, UK208 contributions
Feb 2016 • Family
I would reccomend this place if you are into your history, you get a insight into the history of iceland.
The displays were very informative and so were the people at the desk who were ready to help at first instance. A definite visit for anyone else interested in sagas.
The displays were very informative and so were the people at the desk who were ready to help at first instance. A definite visit for anyone else interested in sagas.
Written 10 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShannonLexington
Boston, MA135 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
This small museum is well worth the visit to learn about Icelandic viking history and the saga of Burnt-Njal, the greatest Icelandic family saga ever written.
My spouse has never read the saga, so she said she didn't get as much out of it, but as for me, I read it twenty years ago, but this museum brought it back to life for me. It also helped me to understand it better.
There is a small children's dress-up area, a coffee area where you can have beer or coffee in an old-looking hall, and a section where they are sewing a tapestry representing the story.
My spouse has never read the saga, so she said she didn't get as much out of it, but as for me, I read it twenty years ago, but this museum brought it back to life for me. It also helped me to understand it better.
There is a small children's dress-up area, a coffee area where you can have beer or coffee in an old-looking hall, and a section where they are sewing a tapestry representing the story.
Written 5 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
teafree
New Orleans, LA211 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
If you have read Njáls saga skip the museum. There is a short version that you read as your go along. I felt it was a bit dry. If you haven't read Njáls saga then go if you want to know more.
Written 18 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel Addicts
Philadelphia, PA456 contributions
The Saga Center is just what you’d expect - a museum dedicated to the Saga of Njall. Sagas are the narrative cultural history of the Icelandic people and important to the understanding of the Icelandic culture.
Not being Icelandic (or really even familiar with the art form of the saga), we found the Saga Center to be somewhat confusing. They didn’t actually explain a saga until Room 16. However, despite its organizational challenges, if you hung with it until the end and then synthesize the information together yourself, you can have a strong picture of the saga art. This museum was worth the stop (note: not well labeled from the road).
More on our time in Iceland:
http://justanothertravelblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/waterfalls-and-glaciers-of-southern.html
Not being Icelandic (or really even familiar with the art form of the saga), we found the Saga Center to be somewhat confusing. They didn’t actually explain a saga until Room 16. However, despite its organizational challenges, if you hung with it until the end and then synthesize the information together yourself, you can have a strong picture of the saga art. This museum was worth the stop (note: not well labeled from the road).
More on our time in Iceland:
http://justanothertravelblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/waterfalls-and-glaciers-of-southern.html
Written 5 September 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klgmd
Nashville105 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
Stopped here to break up the long drive east. There is a Viking dress-up area and a few displays, but the bulk of the museum is dedicated to the events in Njall's Saga. As my son and I had read the book, we really enjoyed the illustrations of the people and events from the Saga, with some timelines and other historical context as well as some reproduction costumes of the day.
There was a synopsis of the Saga as you went along, but I'm not sure most folks would get it as the story is involved and convoluted. In my opinion, younger children would be bored if they didn't know the story or have a substantial interest in Vikings.
Nice bookstore area with children's books and a few adult selections.
There was a synopsis of the Saga as you went along, but I'm not sure most folks would get it as the story is involved and convoluted. In my opinion, younger children would be bored if they didn't know the story or have a substantial interest in Vikings.
Nice bookstore area with children's books and a few adult selections.
Written 16 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren W
Edmonton, Canada8 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Great little museum/centre. Njal's Saga is well told in 3 languages and Siggy will tell you anything not included in the display. He is also a great wealth of information about the best places to stop in the area.
Best part was working with the local ladies on the Njal's Saga tapestry. So friendly and welcoming. My mum and I could have stayed all afternoon by my dad and boyfriend wanted to get to the waterfalls!
Best part was working with the local ladies on the Njal's Saga tapestry. So friendly and welcoming. My mum and I could have stayed all afternoon by my dad and boyfriend wanted to get to the waterfalls!
Written 4 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David-AppomattoxVA
Appomattox, VA173 contributions
Jul 2011 • Couples
This is a great opportunity to get some insight into the Icelandic sagas. You are standing in the middle of where this all happened. A visit here It will make your drive through the farms and mountains and rivers come alive as you imagine what Iceland was like a thousand years ago.
The Icelandic Saga Centre doesn't look like much on the outside, so the actual display on the inside is a nice surprise. The Centre is located in Hvolvsvollur just off of Route 1, north of the roundabout. It is on the right side of the road.
As you follow the presentation, you will be introduced to the Iceland of 1000 years ago. Be ready to do some reading as you go. Gradually, you will be introduced to Njall's Saga. It is a very famous saga in Iceland. Many events in the saga took place in the area. You will be introduced to how the saga is arranged, the characters, and the story. What the museum does so well is help you see Iceland from the perspective of the writer and characters. Beside the surrounding country, places you are likely to visit, such as Thingvellir, are featured in the saga. You learn about characters that are exiled, go to other countries to raid, and even to Rome on a pilrimmage. You learn about the old pagan religion versus the new christian religion. You learn about how people viewed justice and vengeance, the roles of men and women.
You can tell I really enjoyed the visit. But I like this sort of thing. It is not something to rush through. People that try to see it in 20 minutes don't get anything out if it. If you don't read at least most of the panels, you won't really get it. Plan to spend one hour or maybe even more.
Allow an hour or more. If
The Icelandic Saga Centre doesn't look like much on the outside, so the actual display on the inside is a nice surprise. The Centre is located in Hvolvsvollur just off of Route 1, north of the roundabout. It is on the right side of the road.
As you follow the presentation, you will be introduced to the Iceland of 1000 years ago. Be ready to do some reading as you go. Gradually, you will be introduced to Njall's Saga. It is a very famous saga in Iceland. Many events in the saga took place in the area. You will be introduced to how the saga is arranged, the characters, and the story. What the museum does so well is help you see Iceland from the perspective of the writer and characters. Beside the surrounding country, places you are likely to visit, such as Thingvellir, are featured in the saga. You learn about characters that are exiled, go to other countries to raid, and even to Rome on a pilrimmage. You learn about the old pagan religion versus the new christian religion. You learn about how people viewed justice and vengeance, the roles of men and women.
You can tell I really enjoyed the visit. But I like this sort of thing. It is not something to rush through. People that try to see it in 20 minutes don't get anything out if it. If you don't read at least most of the panels, you won't really get it. Plan to spend one hour or maybe even more.
Allow an hour or more. If
Written 1 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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