Akureyri Port: Myvatn Nature Baths & Godafoss Waterfall Tour

Goðafoss is the first big reward on this North Iceland outing, but the best part comes later, when you trade the bus for warm geothermal water and look across the volcanic country around Lake Mývatn. I like the clear mix of scenery, history, and bathing, and I like that the schedule is built around a cruise ship’s return time. The packed lunch also saves a restaurant stop.

The main thing to consider is time. Six hours sounds generous, but the drive between Akureyri and Mývatn takes up a fair share of the day, leaving some people wanting more than the roughly one to two hours available at the baths. Also, make sure you confirm the pickup point and bring a towel.

Key points to know before you go

• Goðafoss has a story as striking as its shape: The wide, curved waterfall is tied to Iceland’s conversion to Christianity.
• Skútustaðagígar gives you a quick look at Mývatn’s volcanic past: The pseudo-craters were formed by ancient eruptions.
• Mývatn Nature Baths is the main event: You get entry and about two hours scheduled for swimming and relaxing.
• The packed lunch keeps the day moving: Choose a chicken or vegan sandwich and receive a bottle of water.
• Guides can make the bus ride memorable: Past guides including Arno, Runar, Ricky, Hannes, Elsa, Victoria, and Vicki have been praised for stories, humor, music, and local knowledge.
• Cruise timing matters: The tour is planned around ship docking times, but check the exact meeting point because pickup instructions have caused confusion before.

Why this Akureyri shore excursion works

At $247 per person, this is not a cheap outing. Iceland rarely is. The useful question is what you receive for the money: transportation from Akureyri, an English-speaking guide, entry to Mývatn Nature Baths, a packed lunch, Wi-Fi on the bus, and a six-hour route to two of North Iceland’s best-known sights.

Booking these pieces separately would mean arranging transport, paying for the baths, finding food, and watching the clock yourself. For a cruise stop, that last point matters most. You want to see more than the port, but you also need a company that plans around the ship’s departure. This tour is aimed squarely at that need.

I especially like the balance. Goðafoss gives you a dramatic outdoor stop. Skútustaðagígar adds a short volcanic viewpoint. The baths then slow the pace and give you time to sit in warm water rather than spend the whole day taking photographs from a roadside pull-off.

The tradeoff is that this is a sampler, not a slow day in the Mývatn area. You get a good introduction, but you do not have unlimited time for every crater, lava field, mud pool, or viewpoint nearby.

Leaving Akureyri and getting the meeting point right

The listed starting point is Gránufélagsgata 50, at the large parking lot where the buses wait. The guide is meant to meet you there, and transportation is provided from the Akureyri cruise terminal area.

For a cruise stop, I would not treat this as a minor detail. Some departures have involved buses positioned a short distance away from the ship, and unclear directions have caused people to hurry at the last moment. Check your final instructions carefully and allow time to walk from the ship to the parking lot.

Once you are aboard, expect about 30 minutes by coach before Goðafoss. The buses have free Wi-Fi, and the driver-guide team handles the route. Past guides have included people such as Tom, Arno, Ricky, Runar, Hannes, Elsa, and Victoria. Their styles vary, but the strongest guide experiences have included local stories, Icelandic songs, jokes, geology, and history.

That matters on a road-based tour. You spend a good amount of time sitting on the bus, so a guide who explains what you are seeing can turn the drive into part of the outing instead of dead time.

Goðafoss, the waterfall with a political past

Goðafoss means Waterfall of the Gods. It is broad rather than tall, with water spreading across a curved, crescent-shaped drop. That shape makes it especially good for photographs, since you can see the full sweep instead of one narrow plunge.

The waterfall also carries an important Icelandic story. Around the year Iceland adopted Christianity, a local chieftain is said to have thrown his pagan statues into the falls. The gesture symbolized the country’s change of faith, which is why Goðafoss is more than a pretty stop on the road.

You have about 35 minutes here for photographs, a walk, and views. That is enough to see the waterfall without turning the stop into a long hike. Wear shoes with a firm grip, since conditions can be wet and the ground may be uneven.

The short visit suits a cruise schedule, but it does impose limits. You will not have time to linger at every viewpoint or simply sit and watch the water. If Goðafoss is your main reason for booking, a longer standalone visit would give you more freedom. As one part of a mixed itinerary, though, the timing is sensible.

Skútustaðagígar and the strange side of Lake Mývatn

The next stop is Skútustaðagígar, where you spend about 15 minutes at a viewing area. The name refers to the pseudo-craters around Lake Mývatn, shapes produced by volcanic activity rather than ordinary volcanic vents.

This is a quick stop, but it helps explain why Mývatn looks so unusual. The lake and its surroundings were shaped by ancient eruptions, and the result is a setting of water, low volcanic forms, lava, and open sky. It does not look like a conventional alpine lake.

Do not expect a full walk around the area during this excursion. Fifteen minutes is enough for photographs and a short look, not a thorough exploration. The stop works best as a visual introduction before the main visit to the baths.

One practical warning: midges can be a nuisance around Mývatn, particularly in warmer conditions. Bring insect protection if you have it, and do not be surprised if small flies gather near the lake. Some people find them irritating enough to wish they had brought head netting.

Two hours at Mývatn Nature Baths

Mývatn Nature Baths is the heart of the experience. The water is naturally heated by geothermal forces beneath the ground and contains minerals associated with the bathing experience. It is often called the Blue Lagoon of the north, but the setting feels more connected to the raw volcanic country around Mývatn.

Your admission is included, and the schedule allows about two hours for swimming and relaxing. That is enough for a proper soak, though some people will find it too short. The ride back to Akureyri takes about 75 minutes, so the tour must leave on time.

The appeal is simple. You can sit outdoors in warm water while looking across the Mývatn area, with the cold air around you and the geothermal heat keeping you comfortable. This is one of the most distinctly Icelandic parts of the day, and it gives the route a welcome change of pace after the waterfall and crater stop.

The baths are also a good first introduction to Iceland’s pool culture. You do not need to plan a separate spa day, and you can experience geothermal bathing without giving up the other sights.

There are a few things to know before you commit. You must bring swimwear and a towel, or rent them at extra cost from the baths. The changing facilities include communal showering, which may surprise anyone expecting private stalls. The geothermal water can also have a noticeable smell, and one person found it stronger than expected.

The official schedule allows two hours at the baths, but actual soaking time can feel shorter if the group arrives late, needs changing time, or must leave promptly. If your ideal day is mostly spa time, this is not the right format. If you want a scenic half-day with a satisfying soak, it works well.

Lunch on the road

The packed lunch is practical rather than elaborate. You receive a chicken or vegan sandwich and a bottle of water, and you should tell the guide your choice at the start of the tour.

This arrangement keeps the route moving. There is no long restaurant break, so more of the six-hour day can go toward Goðafoss, Mývatn, and the baths. The food has generally been described as acceptable for a packed meal, though one important problem has occurred: a vegetarian option was not available for one passenger despite being expected.

I would confirm your vegan or vegetarian request as soon as you board. If you need a larger meal or have strict dietary needs, bring a backup snack. Some people have also wished the sandwiches were handed out earlier, such as at the first stop, rather than later in the day.

The lunch is part of the value, but it should not be the reason you book. Think of it as fuel that protects your sightseeing time.

The return to Akureyri and cruise-day timing

After the baths, the direct drive back to Akureyri takes about 75 minutes. The company says the schedule is designed around ship docking times, and drivers have made careful efforts to return groups on time, including taking a direct route when necessary.

That said, cruise excursions always deserve a little caution. A late start, a misplaced meeting point, or an extended stop can reduce your margin. If the guide offers a more scenic return route, the direct route may be the wiser choice when your ship has a firm all-aboard time.

The return endpoint is again Gránufélagsgata 50. Confirm how that relates to your ship before departure, especially if you have mobility needs or a tight boarding deadline.

The strongest part of this arrangement is the driver-guide teamwork. Several guides and drivers have been praised for keeping the schedule, helping people reach the baths, and adjusting sensibly when timing was tight. The weak point is communication before and at pickup, not usually the handling of the actual sightseeing day.

Guide quality can shape the whole day

A bus tour lives or dies by the person at the microphone. Here, the guide can add much more than directions. Hannes has entertained people with tales of trolls, Arno has explained geology and local life, and Runar has been praised for a mix of humor and useful information.

Other guides have used songs and personal stories to keep the ride lively. Tom reportedly sang Icelandic songs, while Victoria and Vicki were remembered for making the group feel involved. That kind of personality is a real asset during the long road sections.

The experience is not perfectly uniform. One guide was difficult for some people to hear because of a flat speaking style, and unclear explanations about the schedule left some passengers repeatedly asking what came next. If you have hearing difficulty, sit near the front and ask for the day’s sequence early.

A mixed-language group has also been handled successfully, including a guide who moved between English and German. The advertised tour language is English, though, so do not assume multilingual guiding will be available on your date.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this excursion if you are arriving by cruise and want three very different North Iceland experiences in one organized day: a waterfall, a volcanic area, and a geothermal bath.

It suits you particularly well if:

• You want a dependable shore excursion rather than arranging a rental car.
• You are happy with photo stops instead of long hikes.
• You want to try Icelandic geothermal bathing.
• You prefer a packed lunch that saves time.
• You need a route planned around a ship departure.
• You enjoy guide commentary, stories, and a social bus ride.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet spa day, extensive hiking around Mývatn, or complete control over every stop. The baths are the highlight for many people, but the schedule does not give you a full afternoon there.

Families can make it work, including those with teenagers. One family traveling with children aged 16 and 12 found the tight schedule manageable, but you should still prepare everyone for a long bus ride and quick stops.

At $247, the price feels fair only if you value the convenience of port transport, bath admission, lunch, and schedule protection. If you can rent a car cheaply and are comfortable managing Icelandic roads and cruise timing, you may prefer independence. For most cruise passengers, the bundled plan removes several chores and reduces the risk of missing the ship.

Should you book the Mývatn and Goðafoss tour?

Yes, if you want a well-rounded first look at North Iceland from Akureyri and the idea of soaking in geothermal water appeals to you. Goðafoss and Mývatn Nature Baths provide the day’s strongest contrasts, one cool and dramatic, the other warm and restful.

Book with realistic expectations. The waterfall stop is short, the crater area is brief, the lunch is basic, and bath time may feel limited. Confirm the pickup location, request your preferred lunch, pack swimwear and a towel, and bring protection from Mývatn’s flies.

For a cruise stop, I think the convenience is the key selling point. You see important sights, hear local stories from a guide who may add music or humor, and return to Akureyri without having to build the day yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Akureyri to Mývatn tour?

The tour lasts six hours, including transportation, sightseeing stops, lunch, and time at Mývatn Nature Baths.

Where does the tour start?

The buses are located at the large parking lot at Gránufélagsgata 50. The guide is scheduled to meet you there.

Is transportation from the cruise terminal included?

Yes. Transportation from the Akureyri Cruise Terminal is included, though you should check the exact pickup instructions because the buses may be a short distance from the ship.

How much time is spent at Goðafoss?

The planned stop at Goðafoss is about 35 minutes for photographs, sightseeing, and a walk.

How long do I get at Mývatn Nature Baths?

The schedule allows about two hours at the baths, including swimming and relaxation.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A packed lunch with a chicken or vegan sandwich and a bottle of water is included. Tell your guide your preference at the start of the tour.

Do I need to bring a towel and swimsuit?

Yes. Bring both if possible. Towels and swimwear can be rented from Mývatn Nature Baths for an additional charge.