North Iceland

Iceland's Northwestern and Northeastern regions together make up the north, centred on Akureyri and known for the volcanic landscapes of Mývatn, Goðafoss and whale-watching at Húsavík.

This region combines Iceland's Northwestern and Northeastern regions, extending from Húnaflói and the Vatnsnes peninsula in the west, via Skagafjörður and Eyjafjörður, to the Melrakkaslétta peninsula and near Vopnafjörður in the east, and includes the island of Grímsey (which the Arctic Circle crosses); it connects to the Westfjords and West Iceland to the west and meets East Iceland to the southeast. Highlights: Akureyri, the capital of the north; Goðafoss; around Mývatn, the pseudocraters, the Dimmuborgir lava castles, the Krafla volcano and Víti crater lake, the Námaskarð geothermal area and the Mývatn Nature Baths; Húsavík, the "whale-watching capital of Europe"; Dettifoss and the Ásbyrgi canyon in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park; the Glaumbær turf farm in Skagafjörður; and the Hvítserkur rock and seal watching at Húnaflói. Ring Road drivers usually spend 2–3 days here; you can also fly from Reykjavík to Akureyri in about 45 minutes. The Arctic Coast Way suits a deeper trip. Roads are often snowy in winter, and the road on the west bank to Dettifoss is often closed in winter; in summer there are many midges at Mývatn, so bring a head net.

Destinations

Itineraries