This realistic Northern Iceland Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this region.

Northern Iceland is a remote region of the country. It has a few sights that are on the must-visit list for any traveler to Iceland.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Northern Iceland consists of Northwestern and Northeastern Regions. As their names suggest, both regions are in the north of the island. They are on the shores of the Greenland Sea.

Like most of the country, Northern Iceland has fjords, waterfalls, and geothermal areas. But the remote location of this region comes with a few unique sights.

This region is the whale watching capital of the country.

This Guide to Things to Do in Northern Iceland will cover the main sights to visit in the region.

• You can choose to hike Kolugljufur canyon and Dettifoss waterfall.
• You can observe geothermal activity in Myvatn lake and Hverir.
• You could enjoy the scenic drive on the Ring Road. Make a quick stop at Godafoss waterfall.
• Or you could spend a little more time in Northern Iceland and go on a whale watching tour.

1. Hike Kolugljufur Canyon

Kolugljufur canyon is one of the first sights in Northern Iceland if you travel from the capital city. It will be a good change of pace from the Golden Circle sights.

You need to take a short detour from the Ring Road (Route 1) to view this beautiful canyon.

• Turn right to the gravel road 715 first.
• Then turn to an even smaller road once you cross the second bridge.
• Stop at the parking lot right before the third bridge.

You could then follow the river downstream or upstream. A downstream path will continue along the canyon walls and a narrow river below. This view is a bit similar to Glymur in West Iceland.

The upstream path will bring you to the waterfall. Kolugljufur waterfall, or Kolufoss, is not the tallest or most powerful on the island. But it is a sight to see.

The waterfall has a few streams. They flow from an upper plateau to the terrace. The streams become one powerful stream in the narrow canyon.

This part looks a bit similar to Fjadrargljufur canyon in South Iceland.

A gravel road is the only real obstacle to visiting this waterfall. It might not be a good idea to drive it during certain seasons. Still, you should have no problem visiting this canyon in the summer.

2. Drive Ring Road to Akureyri and Beyond

The Ring Road itself is one of the sights in Northern Iceland. A road trip through this region is an amazing thing to do. Unless you live in Iceland, you would need a rental car to go on this road trip.

The highway becomes very scenic once you pass the village of Blonduos. This section of the highway goes through a mountain pass. You will see flat top mountains on both sides of the road.

There are few named viewpoints on this drive. But there are lots of no-name pullouts. You can stop whenever you see a beautiful waterfall or a mountain ridge.

Many of the pullouts are great spots to see sheep and wildlife. But the number of pullouts could present a problem. You would have to pace yourself to still get to your destination on time.

You could enjoy amazing views of the flat top mountains near the village of Varmahlíð and the town of Akureyri.

3. Go Whale Watching in Akureyri or Husavik

Once you get to Akureyri, you are in the center of civilization in this part of the country. You could have a proper meal and a nice place to stay.

But there is more to Akureyri than food and hotels. You are in the Whale Watching region.

A whale watching tour is an excellent thing to do in Northern Iceland. Husavik claims to be the whale watching capital of the country. But Akureyri is another great spot for whale watching.

Akureyri has one major advantage over Husavik. It is much easier to reach.

• The former town is on the Ring Road.
• But the latter requires at least a 1-hour detour from the main route.
• A few cruises make Akureyri its stop. You can do a whale watching tour without a drive.

Akureyri is at the tip of Eyjafjordur Fjord. This 43-mi (70-km) fjord is one of the longest in the country.

You will get to see just a glimpse of the fjord if you only travel on the Ring Road. Amazing views of the fjord are a byproduct of a whale watching tour.

You can try to watch for whales from land. Whales tend to be near the mouth of the fjord. You could drive to Hauganes or Grenivik. But you will get very distant views of the whales at best.

You would have to take a tour to watch whales up-close. There are a few companies that offer whale watching tours in Akureyri and its neighboring villages.

The number of tours and their prices differ by season. There is one daily tour in the winter. But you can count on up to 4 daily tours in the summer.

Check out this Whale Watching Iceland Tour Review to learn more about getting the most from your whale watching tour.

4. Stop at Godafoss Waterfall

Godafoss Waterfall is one of the symbols of Northern Iceland. This waterfall is far from the highest, widest, or most powerful in Iceland.

But it has a major advantage over many other famous waterfalls in Iceland. It is very easy to visit this waterfall.

• A drive to the waterfall from Akureyri takes less than 40 minutes.
• The waterfall is right on the Ring Road. It is still best to stop at the parking lot since you cannot see the falls from the main route.
• You can reach the falls in two minutes from the parking lot.

The location of these falls made them an iconic destination in the region.

5. Take A Bath in Mývatn

Mývatn lake is another great attraction in Northern Iceland. You need to continue on the Ring Road for about 28 miles (45 km) from Godafoss.

There are a lot of things to do near this volcanic lake.

• You enjoy the views of the lake and its islands from the viewpoints.
• You can take a bath in Mývatn Nature Baths. These man-made lagoons are next to Mývatn Geothermal Area.
• You could try your luck and chase the Northern Lights. Mývatn claims the title of the Northern Lights capital of Iceland. Your chances are a lot higher if you visit this area at night.

6. Explore Fumaroles in Hverir

As soon as you pass Mývatn Lake and cross the mountain ridge, you will arrive at Hverir. This is a nice geothermal area to explore.

You can explore two of Hverir’s signature sights, mud pools and fumaroles. Neither are unique to Hverir or Iceland. You can see them in many volcanic areas across the US, from Lassen Volcanic to Yellowstone.

The fumaroles are a real highlight of this site. They look like small hills that constantly emit sulfuric gas. The gas is toxic to people. If you inhale a lot of it, you might have to deal with eye and airways irritation.

Hverir has almost no marked trails. There are only a handful of fences. But you are largely on your own when exploring this site. You can wonder freely around the fumaroles and mud pools.

Hverir is worth a quick stop on your Northern Iceland itinerary. But there are also a few downsides to visiting this area.

• The site charges parking fees. But there are no amenities, not even a portable restroom.
• There are risks to a visit if you do not know about sulfur’s toxicity. Do not spend too long near the fumaroles.
• You will get wet and dirty while exploring Hverir. No trails means waterproof boots and easy to clean pants are must-haves when visiting this site.

7. Hike to Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss waterfall is another highlight on a trip to Northern Iceland. This waterfall has an easy to pronounce name. And it has amazing views.

Things to Consider When Visiting Dettifoss

You might not want to visit yet another waterfall in the region at first. Nobody would blame you. There are a few good reasons against a visit.

• You would have already stopped at Kolufoss, Godafoss, and a few smaller waterfalls on your way.
• Dettifoss waterfall has a height of 144 ft (44 m). It is far behind Glymur, Haifoss, and Granni waterfalls in height.
• You would need to take a detour from the Ring Road to reach this waterfall. It takes at least an extra hour to see Dettifoss.

But this waterfall is worth the extra time and effort. It is the second most powerful waterfall in Europe.

Dettifoss Waterfall Viewpoints

There are two roads you can take to the waterfall.

• Paved road 862 brings you to the West Side Viewpoint. You can reach it in about 40 minutes from Hverir. This viewpoint is accessible year round.
• Gravel road 864 brings you to the East Side of the waterfall. It takes 75 minutes to get there from Hverir. You can visit the East Side only during parts of the year.
• Google Maps has a strong preference for the East Side. It will lead you on the gravel road if you do not specify the viewpoint.
• East Side Viewpoint has one advantage over the West Side. You will get far less mist. It means that you can enjoy the waterfall without a raincoat.

So, your options are clear. You should visit the West Side Viewpoint if you are in a hurry or worry about your rental car. Go to the East Side to have a more enjoyable visit and an adventure of getting there.

This Guide to Things to Do in Northern Iceland will describe a visit to the West Side Dettifoss Viewpoint.

Dettifoss Waterfall Hike

Once you get to the Dettifoss West Side Parking, you can start your hike.

The trail to the viewpoint is about 0.6 miles (1 km) one way. The total distance is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) if you also hike to Selfoss waterfall.

The trailhead views do not suggest that one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe is nearby. In fact, the first section of the trail is no different that the surrounding landscapes of Northern Iceland.

The first few hundred feet (meters) of the trail go through the volcanic fields. It feels like a hike in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park during the Ice Age.

But things will change as soon as you cross the mini ridge. It will look as if it started raining.

This waterfall produces lots of mist. It will be close to impossible to get a picture of the waterfall. Your camera or phone will be covered in water drops in a matter of seconds.

Few people will take the trail all the way to the observation deck. Even a waterproof jacket might not save you from mist of this powerful waterfall.

This experience is most similar to Niagara Falls Boat Tour at the US Canada border.

Follow the trail along river. You will be hiking downstream from the waterfall.

Jokulsa a Fjollum river has a difficult to pronounce name. But its translation is very descriptive. It means a glacial river in the mountains.

This river is the second longest in the country. It flows into the Greenland Sea.

You will get far better views of Dettifoss waterfall just a few hundred feet (meters) downstream. This viewpoint gets far less mist. You can finally get a picture of the waterfall.

Selfoss Waterfall Hike

There are two other waterfalls next to Dettifoss waterfall.

• You can continue hiking downstream to Hafragilsfoss waterfall.
• Or you could hike upstream to Selfoss waterfall.

The latter path is shorter and easier. The only challenge is to pass the Dettifoss viewpoint. As soon as you escape the mist, you will walk on the volcanic field for the rest of the hike.

Download offline maps since Google Maps does not yet show the trails in this park.

You can reach Selfoss in about 0.5 miles (0.8 km). Most visitors only come to this viewpoint for Dettifoss waterfall. As a result, you will likely be one of the few people hiking to this waterfall.

Selfoss is much smaller than Dettifoss. But it is still quite beautiful. This waterfall looks most similar to Godafoss and Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, NY.

Continue with this Guide to Things to Do in Northern Iceland. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Northern Iceland

Northern Iceland is one of the most remote regions in the country. Akureyri is the biggest town in Northern Iceland. It even has an airport. But all of its flights are from the capital of the country.

It means that you are better off flying to Reykjavik and renting a car. This way, you could explore all the Northern Iceland sights at your own pace.

You can decide what sights to visit and what to skip. You can also be more agile in your response to the changing weather conditions.

A drive to Akureyri from Reykjavik on the Ring Road will take 241 miles (388 km). You can finish this drive in about 5 hours. Do not think that you could beat the estimated time of arrival by much.

Iceland has some of the highest speeding fines in the world. It is best for your wallet to enjoy the scenery at the speed limit.

Where to Stay in Northern Iceland

Northern Iceland is a massive region. Kolugljufur Canyon is nearly four hours away from Dettifoss Waterfall.

The places to stay that works for one sight might to work for another. You should look for places to stay near the sights you would like to visit.

There are a handful of hotels along the Ring Road. But you have the best chances of getting a good deal in Akureyri. This town is home to most hotels and vacation rentals in the whole region.

Akureyri is also about halfway through the region. You can reach most of its sights from this town on a day trip. As a bonus, many whale watching tours start right from the town harbor.

If Akureyri is not to your liking, look into Vididalstunga to the east and Myvatn to the west. Both areas have a few places to stay.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Most sights in Northern Iceland are free to visit. You can see its waterfalls, canyons, and lakes at any point during the day.

Whale watching tours, Myvatn Nature Baths, and Hverir are the only exceptions.

Whale watching tours run throughout the year.

• There is at least one tour a day.
• You can choose from a few daily options in the summer.
• The prices start at ISK 12,990 ($93) per adult.

Myvatn Nature Baths are manmade geothermal pools near Mývatn lake.

• You can enjoy them from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. almost every day.
• An adult ticket costs ISK 6,490 ($47).
• There are discounts for youth, students, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• Towels, bath robes, spa treatment, and food cost extra.

Hverir charges parking fees of ISK 1,200 ($8.65) per car. There are no amenities on or near this parking lot.

Takeaways: Northern Iceland

Northern Iceland is a must-visit region on a trip to Iceland. It is a prime location for whale watching. There are also lots of waterfalls, canyons, and geothermal areas.

Do not skip Kolugljufur canyon, Hverir, and Dettifoss. All three sites are beautiful and unique.

Less people make it to Northern Iceland than to the sights around Golden Circle and South Iceland.

As a result, some of the experiences are just a bit cheaper. You can find affordable places to stay and geothermal lagoons in Northern Iceland.

Take a look at this Video Guide to Things to Do in Northern Iceland. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!