Where it’s bestKenya Tanzania IndiaAfricaBotswana Madagascar Namibia Rwanda South Africa Uganda Zambia ZimbabweAsia & the Far EastBhutan Indonesia Japan Malaysia Mongolia Papua New Guinea Russia Sri LankaPolar & NordicAntarctica Finland Greenland Iceland Norway SwedenLatin AmericaArgentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador Guyana Peru Browse all destinations

Enquire Travel Calendar First-Time Safari Guide Packing Guide FAQ

Our Story Conservation Press Guest Reviews Contact

Enquire

Home / Iceland / North Iceland

Akureyri & Lake Mývatn · Iceland

North Iceland

Iceland's geothermal north — bubbling Mývatn, the Goðafoss falls, whales at Húsavík and aurora.

Getting there

Fly to Akureyri (AEY) or drive the Ring Road north

Best for

Lake Mývatn's geothermal wonders, Goðafoss, Húsavík whale watching, nature baths, aurora

The land

The northern capital Akureyri and the volcanic Mývatn region

Good to know

Húsavík is Iceland's whale-watching capital; the Mývatn Nature Baths are the north's answer to the Blue Lagoon

What it is

North Iceland is the island's geothermal heartland — the capital Akureyri, the steaming Mývatn region, and the whales of Húsavík.

Around the northern hub of Akureyri, the Lake Mývatn region bubbles with geothermal life: the Krafla volcanic field, the lava pillars of Dimmuborgir, pseudocraters and the Mývatn Nature Baths. Nearby, Goðafoss tumbles in a graceful arc and Húsavík launches Iceland's best whale-watching — all under dark northern aurora skies.

The reason to come

Geothermal north and whales

The north blends volcanic landscapes, geothermal baths and whale seas, away from the southern crowds.

Lake Mývatn

Craters, lava pillars, the Krafla field and the geothermal nature baths.

Goðafoss

The elegant 'waterfall of the gods' on the Ring Road.

Húsavík whales

Humpbacks and even blue whales from Iceland's whale capital.

Worth knowing

Geothermal Iceland, off the crowds

The north offers Mývatn's volcanic wonders and Húsavík's whales with a fraction of the south's visitors.

Steam rising over the Lake Mývatn geothermal region.

When to come — honestly

A year-round region.

September – March

Best

Aurora over the geothermal north, with snow and the nature baths.

June – August

Best

Whale-watching at its peak and long, bright days.

April – May

Good

Spring shoulder season.

Winter brings short daylight and snow; the best whale-watching at Húsavík is in summer.

Context

The volcanic north

North Iceland trades the south's crowds for geothermal landscapes, whales and a relaxed northern capital.

It features on Ring Road and longer winter itineraries.

We include the north for Mývatn, Goðafoss and the Húsavík whales, away from the southern crush.

Beyond the obvious

More to North Iceland.

Lake Mývatn

Craters, lava and the nature baths.

Goðafoss

The Ring Road waterfall.

Húsavík whales

From the whale capital.

Why Wild Voyager

We chase the clear skies, not the crowds.

Aurora is about timing and flexibility. We build buffer nights, watch the forecasts and move you toward the clearest skies — and dodge the day-tour crush at the famous sights.