The Silver Circle is a new, defined travel route in West Iceland, located in the Borgarfjörður region. The route brings together rich cultural heritage, geothermal power, sustainable energy use, and diverse nature experiences within a relatively small area. The project aims to develop the Silver Circle as a strong, sustainable, and accessible destination for travellers in Iceland all year round.
Silver circle travel route map
The Silver Circle – a travel route in West Iceland
The Silver Circle is a new, defined travel route in West Iceland, located in the Borgarfjörður region. The route brings together rich cultural heritage, geothermal power, sustainable energy use, and diverse nature experiences within a relatively small area. The project aims to develop the Silver Circle as a strong, sustainable, and accessible destination for travellers in Iceland all year round.
The Silver Circle – the story of Snorri and the Vikings on a unique route in Iceland
In Borgarfjörður, history is all around you. The Silver Circle connects places linked to Snorri Sturluson and the Viking Age. Snorri Sturluson had an enormous impact on the world’s literary heritage with works such as the Prose Edda and Heimskringla. In Borgarfjörður, visitors can experience this world of stories where history, landscape, and cultural heritage meet along a single travel route in Iceland.
At the Settlement Center in Borgarnes, visitors can learn how the Vikings settled in Iceland. Borgarfjörður was an ideal place for settlement thanks to fertile farming land, salmon rivers, and good conditions for living. For travellers in Borgarfjörður who are looking for a historical and cultural experience, the Silver Circle is a natural way to explore the settlement era, the Viking,s and medieval culture in Iceland.
Húsafell – a sustainable destination on the Silver Circle
Húsafell is an important part of the Silver Circle and one of the clearest examples of a sustainable destination in Iceland. It produces its own electricity, and hot water comes directly from the ground. Húsafell is built on sustainable use of energy, supporting responsible tourism and helping to make the Silver Circle a future-focused travel route in West Iceland.
In Húsafell you will find Giljaböðin canyon baths, a natural bathing experience in a unique setting where guests soak surrounded by forests, cliffs, and calm nature. On the Silver Circle, you will also find Krauma geothermal baths, which use hot water from the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Hot water from the spring is mixed with cold glacial water to create a calm and unique bathing experience for travellers who want to try a new travel route in Iceland.
Geothermal energy, local food and short paths from greenhouse to plate
The strong geothermal activity in the area makes greenhouse cultivation an important part of the Silver Circle. A large amount of fresh vegetables is grown here and used directly by restaurants on the Silver Circle. This makes the food culture closely connected to the region: short transport distances, fresh ingredients, and a strong focus on quality. For travellers in Borgarfjörður who want to discover authentic Icelandic local cuisine, the Silver Circle is an excellent choice.
Nature experiences on a West Iceland route: glaciers, lava caves, and dramatic landscapes
The Silver Circle offers a wide range of nature experiences within short driving distances. From there, there is good access to glaciers, and it is possible to visit Langjökull glacier, where man-made ice tunnels allow guests to experience the glacier from the inside. This makes the Silver Circle a particularly interesting route in West Iceland for those who want to combine history and adventure.
The Silver Circle is also home to Iceland’s largest lava cave. Here, visitors can walk into a mysterious world of lava formations and feel the forces of nature in a very direct way. The interplay of glacier, lava, water, and geothermal energy makes the Silver Circle a varied and memorable destination for travellers in Iceland who want to go beyond the more traditional routes.
Services, accommodation and dining for travellers in Borgarfjörður
Service standards on the Silver Circle are high. The area offers many good hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants, each with its own character. There is a strong emphasis on personal service, local ingredients, and unique experiences for guests. The Silver Circle is easily accessible from the capital area and is well-suited for families, couples, groups, and individual travellers who are looking for a clearly defined travel route in Iceland.
Af hverju heitir hann Silfurhringurinn?
Nafnið Silfurhringurinn tengist sögu svæðisins og víkinga. Silfur var ein helsta viðskiptavara víkinga og tákn um auð og völd. Í sögunum er sagt að víkingurinn og skáldið Egill Skallagrímsson hafi falið silfur sitt áður en hann lést. Margir hafa leitað silfursins í gegnum aldirnar, en enginn fundið það enn.
Í dag vísar nafnið Silfurhringurinn bæði til þessa sögulega silfurs og þess „silfurs“ sem svæðið geymir í nútímanum: sjálfbærrar orku, jarðhita, gróðurhúsa, matarmenningar, náttúru og sterks samfélags. Fyrir Borgarfjörður ferðamenn sem leita að innihaldsríkri og sjálfbærri upplifun er Silfurhringurinn einstök ferðamannaleið á Vesturlandi á Íslandi.
Er silfrið enn í Borgarfirði – og finnur þú þitt silfur á Silfurhringnum?
1. What is the Silver Circle?
The Silver Circle is a defined travel route in Borgarfjörður in West Iceland. It links historical sites, natural attractions, geothermal areas, sustainable communities, glaciers, lava caves and natural baths into one continuous sightseeing route in Iceland.
2. Where is the Silver Circle?
The Silver Circle is in West Iceland, specifically in the Borgarfjörður area. The route starts from the town of Borgarnes, continues up through Borgarfjörður, past the main attractions in the area and loops back again, depending on how you choose to plan your trip.
3. How do I get to the Silver Circle from Reykjavík?
It is very easy to get to the Silver Circle from Reykjavík. You drive through the Hvalfjörður Tunnel towards West Iceland and Borgarnes is your first main stop. From there, you continue up into Borgarfjörður where the Silver Circle journey begins. There are no mountain passes on the way and the region is considered one of the less snow-heavy areas compared to inland Iceland.
4. How long is the Silver Circle and how much time do I need?
The Silver Circle is a flexible route – you can visit the main highlights in one day, but many travellers choose to stay 2–3 days to really enjoy the nature, history, baths and activities at a relaxed pace. As a rough guide, it works very well as a full-day trip from Reykjavík, but is also ideal for a short break or a long weekend in West Iceland.
5. Can you drive the Silver Circle all year round?
Yes. All the major natural attractions, services and activities on the Silver Circle are available for most of the year, and many are open year-round. The area has a good selection of cosy hotels and guesthouses welcoming guests in both summer and winter. As always in Iceland you should keep an eye on the weather and road conditions, but generally access is good and without mountain roads. Autumn is particularly beautiful on the Silver Circle – seeing Hraunfossar in autumn colours is a unique experience.
6. Is the Silver Circle a family-friendly route?
Yes, the Silver Circle is very family-friendly. Driving distances between stops are relatively short, it’s easy to find short walks and viewpoints suitable for all ages, and there is a wide range of activities for both children and adults – from swimming pools and hot springs to glacier tours, lava cave visits and history exhibitions. In spring, a visit to Háafell goat farm to see the baby goats is a must for many families.
7. What are the main natural highlights on the Silver Circle?
Along the Silver Circle you can visit Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, Deildartunguhver hot spring, the Húsafell area and the Víðgelmir lava cave. The mountain views are spectacular – watching the sunrise in the east is a magical experience, and sunsets with Snæfellsjökull in the distance are equally memorable.
The area offers rivers, valleys and birch woodlands, glaciers on the horizon and lava fields with unique geological formations. The landscape changes quickly within a short distance – from rivers and waterfalls to lava, hot springs and glaciers.
9. What about baths – which hot springs and pools are on the Silver Circle?
The Silver Circle has several unique bathing experiences. In Húsafell you’ll find Giljaböðin canyon baths, offering peace and a very natural setting. Near Deildartunguhver you can visit Krauma baths, which use hot water from Europe’s most powerful hot spring, mixed with cold water from mountain springs. Together they form a strong “bath route” in West Iceland.
There are also traditional pools such as Hreppslaug, built in 1928 and still popular with locals, and family-friendly swimming pools like the one in Borgarnes.
10. Can I visit glaciers and caves on the Silver Circle?
Yes. From the Silver Circle there is good access to Langjökull glacier, where you can join guided glacier tours and visit man-made ice tunnels inside the glacier to experience it from within. The area is also home to Iceland’s largest lava cave, where guided tours take you into a fascinating underground world of lava formations and geology.
11. What is the food and dining scene like on the Silver Circle?
Food on the Silver Circle is closely connected to the local area. Thanks to the strong geothermal activity there is extensive greenhouse cultivation in the region, and fresh vegetables go straight from the growers to restaurants on the Silver Circle. There is a strong focus on local ingredients, short supply chains and quality. Along the route you will find a variety of restaurants, cafés and bistros, each with its own character.
12. What kind of accommodation is available on the Silver Circle?
The Silver Circle offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses, cottages and other options. Service standards are high and guests can choose between cosy farm stays, hotels with on-site restaurants, family-friendly lodgings or peaceful cabins surrounded by nature.
13. Is the Silver Circle suitable for both self-drive and guided tours?
Absolutely. The Silver Circle is ideal as a self-drive route for travellers who want to go at their own pace, stop wherever they like and spend more time at their favourite places. At the same time, the route is very well suited for guided group tours, day tours from Reykjavík and longer package trips in West Iceland.
14. Is the Silver Circle a good winter route?
Yes, as long as you follow the weather and road conditions, as you should anywhere in Iceland. The drive from Reykjavík up into Borgarfjörður is usually straightforward and without mountain passes. In winter you can experience northern lights, snow-covered valleys, hot baths and cosy accommodation – making the Silver Circle a very attractive winter destination.
15. Why is the route called the Silver Circle?
Silver was one of the main trade goods of the Vikings and a symbol of wealth and power. According to the sagas, the Viking and poet Egill Skallagrímsson from Borgarfjörður hid his silver before he died, and many have searched for it through the centuries. The name “Silver Circle” refers both to this old story and to the “silver” that the area holds today – geothermal energy, sustainable power, greenhouses, food culture, nature and strong local communities.
Kristján Guðmundsson 14. november 2025
