Things to do in  North Iceland

Located in southern Iceland, Vatnajokull National Park is renowned for its incredibly diverse and dramatic scenery, including glacial plateaus, active volcanoes, towering ice caps, black-sand beaches, and terrain that is bubbling with geothermal activity. Vatnajokull glacier, the continent’s largest glacier, dominates the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also contains Iceland’s highest mountain (Oraefajokull) and its deepest lake (Jokulsarlon).

Often said to be one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, Godafoss (which translates to “Waterfall of the Gods”) cascades into the Skjálfandafljót River that tears through Bárdardalur lava field. It lies along the “Ring Road” and leads to the Sprengisandur highland plateau, nestled between Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers.

With a name meaning “dark castles” in Icelandic, it seems fitting that Dimmuborgir—a 2,300-year-old lava field that resembles a collapsed citadel—gained fame as a setting on the hit TV show Game of Thrones. But more importantly, the volcanic formations are the stuff of local legend: In Icelandic folktales, the black caves are home to child-eating trolls. Dimmuborgir is currently one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations.

Perched on Iceland’s remote and rugged north coast, Húsavík might have a small population of just 2,500 inhabitants, but it harbors a big history. Not only was this small town the site of Iceland’s first ever house, but it’s also the official ‘Whale Capital of Iceland’ and the best spot in the country to enjoy a whale-watching cruise.

Iceland’s natural hot springs, fed by volcanic activity and dotted all around the country, are world renowned. The most famous is the Blue Lagoon, but it’s almost always crammed with day-trippers from nearby Reykjavik. Myvatn Nature Baths, on the other hand, remain a pocket of tranquility, hidden away in the less-visited north.

The small settlement of Dalvik, tucked between one of Iceland’s longest and most stunning fjords and the rolling hills of Svarfaðardalur, serves as the jumping-off point for ferries to Grimsey Island. It’s also a destination in its own right for outdoor adventures like hiking, whale watching, golfing, and bird watching.

With its gurgling mud pools, hissing steam vents, and plumes of volcanic rock, it’s easy to see why the Hverir geothermal area was chosen as a filming location for HBO’sGame of Thrones. It’s a mesmerizing sight, with the pockmarked terrain bubbling with silver-gray mud and steaming fumaroles, and the stench of sulfur omnipresent.

Marvel at the sheer natural force on display at Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and one of Iceland’s most extraordinary attractions. Dropping some 132,000 gallons (500 cubic meters) of water per second 148 feet (45 meters) down the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Dettifoss is a must-see for visitors to North Iceland.

Formed by a massive volcanic eruption more than two millennia ago—and surrounded by surreal lava formations, mud pots, volcanic craters, and steaming fumaroles—Lake Mývatn remains geothermally active. The lake’s name comes from the swarming midges that fuel the local bird population.

Iceland’s most famous garden and the northernmost botanical garden in the world, Lystigardur Akureyrar—or Akureyri Botanical Garden—defies its close proximity to the Arctic Circle by growing trees, plants, and flowers from all around the world.

In a country full of natural wonders, Ásbyrgi Canyon stands out. The massive horseshoe-shaped glacial canyon in the northeast of Iceland is almost one mile wide (1.6 kilometers), with cliffs soaring over 100 feet (30 meters) into the air and a floor forested with spruce and pine trees. The canyon is also steeped in Icelandic folklore.

With its futuristic facade looming over the city, the hilltop Akureyri Church (Akureyrarkirkja) is one of Akureyri’s most striking landmarks. The Lutheran church is not only a place of worship, but an architectural marvel, designed by Iceland state architect Guðjón Samúelsson, whose bold designs include the Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík.

Formed over 3,500 years ago, the ancient lava cave of Lofthellir is home to some of Iceland’s most impressive natural ice formations. Stretching for 1,213 feet (370 meters) beneath the Laxardalshraun lava field, the lava tube has its own microclimate, with temperatures of 32°F (0°C), and visiting is an adventure in itself.

Birding and fossil hunting are the two main draws of North Iceland’s Tjörnes peninsula, which squeezes between the Öxarfjörður and Skjálfandi fjords. Visitors can find layers of fossil shells and lignite on the coastal cliffs on the western side of Tjörnes and a large population of rock ptarmigan and colonies of nesting puffins along the eastern coast.

Just outside Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, the Forest Lagoon (Skogarboðin) is an idyllic spot for unwinding after adventures in the rugged Icelandic north. Visitors can kick back and relax in this geothermal spa resort while surrounded by natural beauty.