Iceland Travel Guide

North Iceland

Akureyri · Dettifoss · Mývatn · Whale Watching

🧌

🧌 Troll Legend

Did you know? Dimmuborgir lava formations are believed to be the home of the Icelandic Yule Lads and their mother Grýla, one of the most famous troll figures in Icelandic folklore.

History of North Iceland

🐋

23+ species

Whale Species

👥

19,000

Akureyri Pop

💧

193 m³/s

Dettifoss Flow

🦆

16 duck species

Mývatn Birds

Top Experiences in North Iceland

Natural wonders and bookable adventures on the Diamond Circle

Akureyri

Akureyri is a vibrant neighborhood and destination in North Iceland. Explore the unique character and charm of this area, with its mix of culture, architecture and local life. From colorful buildings to local cafes and shops, this part of Iceland offers an authentic glimpse into daily Icelandic life.

Learn More

Akureyri Museum

Akureyri Museum is a cultural attraction in North Iceland. This museum offers visitors fascinating insights into Iceland's rich history and heritage. Explore captivating exhibitions and learn about the country's people, traditions and remarkable story from the age of the Vikings to today.

Learn More

Aldeyjarfoss

Aldeyjarfoss is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

🎟 Bookable

Cooking lessons

From $297.14

Book Now

Asbyrgi

Asbyrgi is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Askja Caldera

Askja Caldera is a remarkable volcanic wonder in North Iceland. This dramatic landscape was shaped by powerful volcanic forces over thousands of years. Visitors can witness the raw geological power of Iceland's volcanic heritage through dramatic lava fields, craters and unique rock formations.

Learn More

Icelandic Aviation Museum

Icelandic Aviation Museum is a cultural attraction in North Iceland. This museum offers visitors fascinating insights into Iceland's rich history and heritage. Explore captivating exhibitions and learn about the country's people, traditions and remarkable story from the age of the Vikings to today.

Learn More

Biskupslaug is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Dettifoss

Dettifoss is a stunning waterfall located in North Iceland. This magnificent cascade showcases the raw power and beauty of Iceland's landscape. Fed by glacial meltwater and rainfall, the waterfall is a spectacular sight in all seasons, surrounded by dramatic lava rock formations.

Learn More

Dimmuborgir

Dimmuborgir is a remarkable volcanic wonder in North Iceland. This dramatic landscape was shaped by powerful volcanic forces over thousands of years. Visitors can witness the raw geological power of Iceland's volcanic heritage through dramatic lava fields, craters and unique rock formations.

Learn More

Drangsnes Hot Pots

Drangsnes Hot Pots is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Eyjafjörður

Eyjafjörður is a remarkable natural wonder in North Iceland. This breathtaking natural attraction showcases the diverse and dramatic landscapes that make Iceland one of the world's most unique destinations. From its geological formations to its rich biodiversity, this site offers an unforgettable experience.

Learn More

Forest Lagoon

Forest Lagoon is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

GeoSea

GeoSea is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Geothermal Goldfish Pond

Geothermal Goldfish Pond is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Gjorvidalslaug is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Goðafoss East Bank

Goðafoss East Bank is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Goðafoss

Goðafoss is a stunning waterfall located in North Iceland. This magnificent cascade showcases the raw power and beauty of Iceland's landscape. Fed by glacial meltwater and rainfall, the waterfall is a spectacular sight in all seasons, surrounded by dramatic lava rock formations.

Learn More

Goðafoss East Bank

Learn More

Grettislaug Hot Pots

Grettislaug is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Grjótagjá

Grjótagjá is a remarkable volcanic wonder in North Iceland. This dramatic landscape was shaped by powerful volcanic forces over thousands of years. Visitors can witness the raw geological power of Iceland's volcanic heritage through dramatic lava fields, craters and unique rock formations.

Learn More

Herring Era Museum

Herring Era Museum is a cultural attraction in North Iceland. This museum offers visitors fascinating insights into Iceland's rich history and heritage. Explore captivating exhibitions and learn about the country's people, traditions and remarkable story from the age of the Vikings to today.

Learn More

Heydalur Hot Spring is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Husavík Whale Museum

Husavík Whale Museum is a cultural attraction in North Iceland. This museum offers visitors fascinating insights into Iceland's rich history and heritage. Explore captivating exhibitions and learn about the country's people, traditions and remarkable story from the age of the Vikings to today.

Learn More

Hverfjall Crater

米湖附近一个巨大且近乎完美的圆形火山口，提供 1 公里宽的边缘步道，可欣赏周围火山景观的全景。

Learn More

Hverir (Námaskarð) Geothermal Area

Hverir (Námaskarð) Geothermal Area is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Hverir Geothermal Area

Learn More

Námafjall

米湖以东的贫瘠、类似火星的山脊和地热区，拥有旺盛的蒸汽喷口、沸腾的泥浆池和色彩缤纷的硫磺沉积物。

Learn More

Námaskarð

Námaskarð is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Reykjafjardarlaug is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Reykjanes Geothermal Pool is a natural hot spring located in north-iceland. This geothermal pool offers visitors a chance to relax in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by Iceland's stunning natural landscape. Perfect for those seeking an authentic Icelandic bathing experience away from the crowds.

Learn More

Selfoss Waterfall

Selfoss Waterfall is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Selfoss Waterfall

Selfoss Waterfall is a stunning waterfall located in North Iceland. This magnificent cascade showcases the raw power and beauty of Iceland's landscape. Fed by glacial meltwater and rainfall, the waterfall is a spectacular sight in all seasons, surrounded by dramatic lava rock formations.

Learn More

Skútustaðagígar

Skútustaðagígar is a unique destination and attraction in North Iceland. Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Iceland such a special place to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, history or simply stunning scenery, this attraction offers something memorable for every visitor.

Learn More

Tjörnes

Tjörnes is a remarkable natural wonder in North Iceland. This breathtaking natural attraction showcases the diverse and dramatic landscapes that make Iceland one of the world's most unique destinations. From its geological formations to its rich biodiversity, this site offers an unforgettable experience.

Learn More

Hidden Gems

Secret spots in North Iceland

Hidden Gem

Aldeyjarfoss Waterfall

Aldeyjarfoss is one of Iceland's most beautiful and underrated waterfalls, hidden in the highlands south of Goðafoss. The 20-meter cascade is framed by spectacular hexagonal basalt columns that look like a giant pipe organ carved into the canyon walls — similar to Svartifoss in Vatnajökull but far less visited. The waterfall sits on the Skjálfandafljót river in a remote area that requires a 4x4 vehicle and a drive inland from Route 1. The F-road (Route F26) leading here is only open in summer and can be rough, but the reward is a pristine waterfall surrounded by black basalt cliffs and white glacial water. The contrast between the dark geometric basalt columns and the foaming white water creates one of Iceland's most photogenic scenes. There's a small parking area and a short trail to viewpoints. Visit on a clear day for the best photo opportunities, and ideally in late afternoon when the sun illuminates the basalt columns.

Hidden Gem

Grjótagjá Cave & Hot Spring

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave near Lake Mývatn containing a natural hot spring with crystal-clear blue water. The cave was created during volcanic eruptions and sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Rift — the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which is slowly tearing Iceland apart. For centuries, locals used Grjótagjá as a natural bathing spot, with the water maintaining a comfortable 40–45°C. However, volcanic activity in the 1970s heated the water to over 60°C, making it too hot for bathing. The temperature has since stabilized around 43–46°C, but bathing is officially discouraged due to unstable conditions and the fragile cave environment. Despite this, Grjótagjá gained international fame when it was featured in Season 3 of Game of Thrones as the cave where Jon Snow and Ygritte's romance began. Today visitors can walk down into the cave and admire the crystal-clear blue water, though swimming is not recommended. The cave is easily accessible from the main road near Mývatn, and there's a smaller sister cave called Stóragjá nearby.

Hidden Gem

Siglufjörður & Herring Era Museum

Siglufjörður is a remote fishing town of 1,200 people nestled in a narrow fjord surrounded by towering mountains on Iceland's northern coast. From the 1900s through the 1960s, Siglufjörður was Iceland's herring fishing capital and one of the wealthiest towns in the country during the 'herring boom.' Tens of thousands of seasonal workers flooded the town each summer to process the massive herring catches, creating a wild, prosperous atmosphere. When the herring stocks collapsed in the late 1960s, the town's economy crashed. Today, Siglufjörður has reinvented itself as a cultural destination. The award-winning Herring Era Museum (Síldarminjasafn) is Iceland's best industrial museum, with restored processing stations, workers' quarters, and a salting boat that bring the herring era to life. The town is also known for its vibrant folk music festival and as the setting for the BBC crime series 'Trapped.' Two tunnels built in 2010 finally connected Siglufjörður to the rest of Iceland by road year-round, ending decades of winter isolation. The scenic drive along Route 82, with ocean views and mountain passes, is spectacular.

Legends & Christianity

North Iceland is where Iceland's most important religious transformation took place. In the year 1000 AD, the lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made the historic decision that Iceland would adopt Christianity, ending the pagan era. According to tradition, after returning from the Alþingi (parliament), Þorgeir threw his carved wooden idols of the Norse gods Thor and Óðinn into the waterfall now known as Goðafoss — the 'Waterfall of the Gods.'

The spectacular horseshoe-shaped canyon of Ásbyrgi has its own mythological origin. According to Norse legend, the canyon was created when Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of the god Óðinn, touched down with one massive hoof while galloping across the sky. The canyon's name means 'Shelter of the Gods,' and Icelandic folklore holds that it is the capital of Iceland's hidden people (elves), who live unseen within its forested walls.

North Iceland is also one of the best places in Iceland to witness the Northern Lights (aurora borealis). In Norse mythology, the lights were believed to be the Bifröst — the rainbow bridge connecting Midgard (Earth) to Asgard (the realm of the gods). Others saw them as the Valkyries riding across the night sky, their armor reflecting moonlight as they carried fallen warriors to Valhalla. Today we know the lights are caused by solar particles colliding with Earth's atmosphere, but their ethereal beauty remains deeply spiritual.

⛪

Christianity

Adopted 1000 AD

🌈

Norse Mythology

Northern Lights

🏰

Hidden People

Elves of Ásbyrgi

👻

Haunted North Iceland

Discover the ghost stories of North Iceland...

⚔️

Ghost Story 1

Location

Ghost story paragraph 1

Ghost story paragraph 2

💀

Ghost Story 2

Location

Ghost story paragraph 1

Ghost story paragraph 2

The Draugar

Draugar description...

★★★★★

5.0 (25 reviews)

From $463.54

Book Now

Loading tours...

Lake Mývatn Tours

Explore geothermal wonders

Cooking lessons

★★★★★

5.0 (41 reviews)

From $297.14

Book Now

Loading tours...

Akureyri Day Tours

Explore North Iceland

Cooking lessons

★★★★★

5.0 (41 reviews)

From $297.14

Book Now

View All

Loading tours...

FAQ

Question 1?▾

Answer 1

Question 2?▾

Answer 2

Question 3?▾

Answer 3

Question 4?▾

Answer 4

Question 5?▾

€€Restaurant

Greifinn is a classic Akureyri steakhouse and pizzeria popular with families and visitors for its generous portions.

★ View reviews on Tripadvisor

Supernatural Iceland

Haunted Places in North Iceland

North Iceland contains some of the country's most famous supernatural legends — from the Yule Lads and their monstrous mother to outlaw ghosts and canyon mythology born from Norse gods.

😈

Dimmuborgir Lava Fields

Believed to be the home of the Icelandic Yule Lads and their fearsome mother Grýla — a giant troll said to feast on misbehaving children.

⚔️

Drangey Island

The outlaw Grettir the Strong died on this island after a years-long siege. Unexplained footsteps have been reported by visitors ever since.

🐎

Ásbyrgi Canyon

According to Norse mythology, the canyon was formed by the hoofprint of Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir as it touched down from the sky.

🌑

Hverfjall Crater

Stories describe trolls wandering the surrounding lava desert after dark, searching for travelers who stray too far from the path.

👻 Explore All Haunted Places in Iceland →

🌌 See the Northern Lights

Track real-time aurora activity and plan your Northern Lights trip with AuroraVision.

Book Aurora Tour Aurora Forecast →

Download the App

📱

AuroraVision for iOS

Download on the App Store

🤖

AuroraVision for Android

Get it on Google Play

✈️ Book with Trip.com

Complete Travel Services

🏨

Holiday Packages

Flights + hotel bundles to Iceland — compare hundreds of deals in one place. Save up to 30% when you book together.

Find Packages →

🚗

Car Rentals

Compare car rental prices from top providers — 4WDs, campervans, economy cars. Free cancellation available.

Compare Cars →

🚐 Getting Around Iceland

Airport Transfers & Sightseeing Rides

Pre-book a private transfer from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík, or explore Iceland by private sightseeing ride. Fixed prices, professional local drivers, instant confirmation.

Book Transfer →

⚔️ Viking Heritage

Saga sites and Viking routes in this region

🛡️• 1238 AD• Sturlung chieftains

Orustuhóll

Battle Hill of the Sturlung Age Conflicts

Orustuhóll, meaning "Battle Hill," is located near the site of the Battle of Örlygsstaðir in 1238, one of the largest conflicts in Icelandic medieval history. Although slightly later than the Viking Age, the battle reflected the continuing power struggles between chieftain families whose origins traced back to Viking settlement leaders.

💡 Did you know?

The Battle of Örlygsstaðir involved thousands of warriors and marked one of the turning points leading to Iceland coming under Norwegian rule.

⚔️• ~1031 AD• Grettir Ásmundarson

Drangey

Last Refuge of Grettir the Strong

Drangey Island was the final refuge of Grettir the Strong, one of Iceland's most legendary outlaw heroes. He lived here for years before being defeated by enemies who climbed the island cliffs.

💡 Did you know?

Climbing Drangey today still follows routes similar to those described in Grettis saga.

🏪• ~1200 AD

Gásir

Northern Iceland Trading Harbor

Gásir was one of the most important medieval trading centres in northern Iceland where merchants from Norway and mainland Europe exchanged goods with Icelandic farmers.

💡 Did you know?

Annual trading markets were held here long before permanent towns existed in North Iceland.

🧭• ~860 AD• Garðar Svavarsson

Húsavík

One of Iceland's Earliest Viking Winter Settlements

Explorer Garðar Svavarsson stayed in Húsavík after sailing around Iceland and proving the land was an island during the 9th century.

💡 Did you know?

Garðar's winter stay helped confirm Iceland's geography for early Viking explorers.

🗺️ Viking Routes in this Region

⚔️

Settlement Route of Iceland

2–3 days • Multi-region

⚔️ All Viking Sites →🗺️ All Viking Routes →

Explore More Regions

🌊South Iceland 🏭️West Iceland 🦅Westfjords 🌲East Iceland 🏛️Capital Region 🌋Highlands