Akureyri: Day Trip to Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn & Nature Baths

Goðafoss is the star here, but the best part of this 7.5-hour trip is the range of scenery packed into one day. You move from a broad fjord and a powerful waterfall to steaming ground, lava formations, pseudocraters, and a warm geothermal bath. I like the mix of outdoor sightseeing and quiet soaking, and I like that the route includes both famous sights and odd volcanic details such as rootless vents and Grjótagjá cave. The catch is that Nature Baths admission costs extra, so the $209 price is not the final cost.

I also like the practical setup. Pickup is offered at major Akureyri hotels, the hostel, the airport, and two cruise ports, and the minibus is described as comfortable. Guides such as Siggi, Reynir, Leo, and August have been singled out for being friendly, informative, flexible, and enthusiastic. You should still expect a full day on the road, with several short stops rather than long, quiet walks at each place.

Key points to know before booking

• Goðafoss comes first: You get 45 minutes at one of Iceland’s most striking waterfalls, with time for photos and a close look at its curved cascade.
• Mývatn packs in volcanic variety: Pseudocraters, lava pillars, steaming vents, sulfur mud, and a cave all appear in one circuit.
• The bath is the relaxing finish: You have 1.5 hours at Mývatn Nature Baths, with steam rooms, geothermal water, and massage available.
• The route works well from Akureyri: Pickup is available from nine listed locations, including Akureyri International Airport and cruise ports.
• The guide matters: English-speaking guides such as Siggi, Reynir, Leo, and August add local explanation and help keep the day moving.
• Bring swimming gear: Pack swimwear, a towel, a camera, and water. Bath entry is not included in the tour price.

Why this route works so well from Akureyri

This is a strong choice if you want to see the main sights around Lake Mývatn without renting a car or planning a long chain of stops yourself. The route begins along Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords, then heads toward a region shaped by major volcanic activity.

The day has a sensible rhythm. You start with a waterfall, spend the middle of the trip among volcanic formations and sulfur vents, and finish in warm water. That order matters. After several hours outside, the Nature Baths give you a chance to slow down before the return drive to Akureyri.

At $209 per person, this is not a budget outing, especially since admission to Mývatn Nature Baths is separate. Still, the price covers a minibus, pickup, an English-speaking guide, and a long route with several major sights. If you would otherwise need to arrange a rental car, fuel, navigation, and bath entry yourself, the package can make practical sense. If you already have a car and plan to visit the Mývatn area independently, the value is less clear.

Goðafoss: a memorable first stop

After about 30 minutes in the van, you reach Goðafoss for roughly 45 minutes. This waterfall is one of the most photographed sights in northern Iceland, and it earns that attention with a wide, graceful drop rather than a single narrow plunge.

The name means Waterfall of the Gods, and local history and folklore are part of the appeal. Your guide can add context while you take in the water, rock, and open surroundings. The stop is long enough for photographs and a proper look, but it is not designed as a long hike.

I like having Goðafoss near the start of the day. You see a major sight before the route gets busy with smaller stops, and the waterfall gives you an immediate sense of northern Iceland’s scale. Bring a waterproof layer. Spray, wind, and changing weather can make a short viewpoint stop feel brisk.

Skútustaðagígar and the strange shape of Mývatn

The drive from Goðafoss to the Lake Mývatn area takes about 45 minutes. Your first stop there is Skútustaðagígar, a group of pseudocraters visited for around 30 minutes.

These formations look a little like volcanic craters, but they were not formed by a conventional eruption vent. They developed when lava flowed over wet ground and steam explosions shaped the surface. That makes this a useful introduction to the unusual geology of the Mývatn region.

The stop is short, so you should not expect a long walk or an exhaustive geology lesson. Instead, use the time to look at the rounded forms and understand how water and lava worked together. This is one of the places where a guide adds real value, since the formations can be easy to mistake for ordinary hills if nobody explains how they formed.

Lake Mývatn itself was created by a large basaltic lava eruption about 2,300 years ago. Around the lake, you see lava pillars, rootless vents, and other volcanic shapes mixed with open water and birdlife. The scenery changes quickly, which is one reason this route feels fuller than a simple waterfall-and-bath outing.

Dimmuborgir and lava shaped by fire

Dimmuborgir is only about five minutes from Skútustaðagígar, and the stop lasts around 30 minutes. Its name is often translated as Dark Fortresses, which fits the rough, twisted lava formations found here.

Cooling lava left behind walls, arches, and irregular pillars. Local folklore gives the area another layer, and your guide can explain the stories alongside the geology. I like this stop because it feels different from the open views at the lake. Here, the rock creates a more enclosed setting, with paths and formations that invite close inspection.

Thirty minutes is enough to see the character of the place, but not enough to explore every route. Wear shoes with a firm sole and expect uneven ground. The tour moves on quickly, so keep an eye on the time rather than wandering farther than the group’s meeting point.

Grjótagjá: a cave with a complicated past

A five-minute drive brings you to Grjótagjá, where you have about 15 minutes. This small lava cave is known for its underground geothermal water and its striking volcanic setting.

The short stop means you should treat it as a quick look, not a full cave visit. The point is to see how volcanic activity shaped the area and to hear about the cave’s place in local stories and popular culture. Your guide’s explanation helps make sense of a site that can otherwise feel like a dark opening in the rock.

Since the stop is brief, you may want to have your camera ready before you leave the van. The ground around volcanic formations can be uneven, and the cave is not the place to rush for a photograph.

Hverir: sulfur, steam, and vivid earth tones

Hverir, also known as Hverarönd in Námaskarð, comes next after another five-minute drive. You spend about 30 minutes among bubbling mud, sulfurous soil, and steam vents.

This is one of the most unusual stops on the route. The ground has strong yellow, orange, gray, and brown tones, while steam rises from openings in the earth. The smell of sulfur is part of the experience. It can be intense, especially if the wind pushes the fumes toward you, but that smell is also a reminder that the heat below the surface is very real.

Stay on marked paths and follow your guide’s instructions. Hot ground and mud are not something to approach casually. I find Hverir especially useful as a contrast to Goðafoss and the lake. The waterfall shows water in motion, while Hverir shows heat and pressure working below the surface.

Mývatn Nature Baths: the day’s calm finish

The main relaxation stop lasts 1.5 hours at Mývatn Nature Baths. Admission is not included, so plan for that extra expense when comparing this tour with other day trips.

The bath gives you time in geothermal water, plus access to steam baths. A massage is also available at the baths, though the supplied details do not state its price or booking process. Bring swimwear and a towel. You should also carry water, since a warm soak after a day outdoors can leave you needing to rehydrate.

I like the placement of this stop at the end. You have already seen the waterfall, lake, lava formations, cave, and sulfur springs, so the bath feels like a proper pause rather than another item to check off. The 1.5-hour window is generous enough to enjoy the water without making the entire trip about swimming.

The one practical limitation is that the bath is a public attraction, not a private retreat arranged just for the tour. You also need to account for changing time within the 1.5 hours. Even so, the combination of warm water and Icelandic volcanic scenery is a strong finish.

The return through Eyjafjörður

After the baths, the drive back to Akureyri takes about 75 minutes. The route ends with a final stop in Eyjafjörður, where you can look across the fjord toward Akureyri and take photographs.

That final view gives the day a useful sense of place. You began near Akureyri, went far into the Mývatn region, and then returned to the fjord that frames the city. It is not another major attraction, but it is a good closing photograph and a chance to see Akureyri from a wider viewpoint.

The return drive also gives you time to rest. This is a long outing with nearly two hours of listed driving, plus several stops, so the comfortable minibus matters. The route is efficient, but it is still a lot of sightseeing in one day.

Guides, transport, and pickup details

The tour uses a minibus and includes complimentary pickup. The listed Akureyri pickup points include Hotel Akureyri, Akureyri HI Hostel, Akureyri Backpackers, Hótel Kea, Hotel Edda, Akureyri Berjaya Iceland Hotels, Hótel Norðurland, Hotel Akureyri Dynheimar, and Akureyri International Airport.

If you arrive by cruise ship, give the operator your vessel name because Akureyri has more than one port. At Tangabryggja, the meeting point is Star Travel’s house number 3 among the small wooden buildings outside the cruise area. At Oddeyrarbryggja, look near the Icewear shop and the designated agent area for a Star Travel sign or a guide in a bright yellow jacket.

Keep the phone number on your booking reachable in case the operator needs to contact you. Also check the exact accommodation selected for pickup. With several similar hotel names in Akureyri, a wrong selection could create needless confusion.

The guides associated with this experience include Siggi, Reynir, Leo, and August. Siggi has been described as flexible and considerate, Reynir as fun and informative, Leo as friendly and capable, and August as especially passionate when explaining Iceland. Those details matter because the route includes geology and folklore that benefit from a clear storyteller.

Who should book this day trip?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Akureyri and want a guided introduction to northern Iceland’s main natural sights. It suits you especially well if you prefer not to drive, want hotel or port pickup, and like having a guide explain what you are seeing.

It is also a good fit if you want a balanced day. You get sightseeing, geology, folklore, photography, and a geothermal bath rather than seven hours of walking or seven hours in a vehicle.

You may want another option if you dislike fixed schedules, want long hikes, or already plan to spend several days around Lake Mývatn. The stops are well varied, but most are short. The bath admission also needs to be added to the advertised price.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility when plans are still changing. Starting times vary, so check availability before booking.

Should you book the Goðafoss and Mývatn tour?

Book it if you have one free day from Akureyri and want the region’s biggest mix of sights in a single, organized outing. Goðafoss, Hverir, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá, Skútustaðagígar, and the Nature Baths each show a different side of Iceland.

I would consider the $209 price fair for the transportation, guide, pickup, and route length, but I would set aside extra money for bath entry. If that total works for you, this is a well-rounded way to see northern Iceland without handling the driving yourself. If you want a slower trip with more time at each site, rent a car or choose a shorter, more focused excursion instead.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 7.5 hours, including transportation, sightseeing stops, time at Mývatn Nature Baths, and the return to Akureyri.

What is included in the price?

The price includes transportation in a minibus, complimentary pickup, and an English-speaking guide.

Is admission to Mývatn Nature Baths included?

No. Entrance to Mývatn Nature Baths is available for purchase separately.

How much time do you spend at the Nature Baths?

The schedule allows 1.5 hours for swimming and the steam baths.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, a camera, and water.

Which places does the tour visit?

The route includes Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá Cave, Hverir, Mývatn Nature Baths, and a final viewpoint in Eyjafjörður.

Is pickup available from Akureyri hotels?

Yes. Pickup is offered from the listed hotels, hostels, and Akureyri International Airport. You need to select the correct accommodation when booking.

Can cruise ship passengers join the tour?

Yes. Cruise ship passengers can join, but they must provide the vessel name because Akureyri has multiple ports. Meeting instructions differ for Tangabryggja and Oddeyrarbryggja.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.