What is the Diamond Circle?

A ~250 km loop in North Iceland linking Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss (Europe's most powerful waterfall), Ásbyrgi canyon and the whale-watching town of Húsavík.

Where is the best whale watching in Iceland?

Húsavík in North Iceland — nicknamed the whale-watching capital of Europe — with high summer sighting rates for humpbacks, minke and even blue whales.

How do I get to North Iceland from Reykjavík?

Drive the Ring Road (~5 hours to Akureyri) or fly Reykjavík–Akureyri in about 45 minutes.

Is Akureyri worth visiting?

Yes — Iceland's 'Capital of the North' has a charming centre, botanical gardens, good restaurants, a ski resort and is the gateway to the whole region.

Can you swim in Lake Mývatn area?

Not the lake itself, but the Mývatn Nature Baths are a geothermal lagoon with milky-blue mineral water and mountain views — quieter than the Blue Lagoon.

The most powerful waterfall in Europe by volume, in Vatnajökull National Park. The west bank (Road 862) is paved and easier; the east bank offers closer views.

When can you see the Northern Lights in North Iceland?

September to April on clear, dark nights. The north's long winter nights and inland dark-sky areas make it excellent for aurora hunting.

How many days do you need in North Iceland?

Two to three days to cover Akureyri, the Diamond Circle and Mývatn comfortably without rushing.

Is the Mývatn area good in winter?

Yes, for Northern Lights, geothermal bathing and snowy landscapes — but check that the Dettifoss and mountain roads are open.

What geothermal areas are in North Iceland?

Hverir (Námaskarð) boiling mud pots, Krafla volcano and Leirhnjúkur lava fields, plus the Mývatn Nature Baths — all near Lake Mývatn.

Whales, Waterfalls & Geothermal Wonder

North Iceland
Travel Guide

Watch humpbacks off Húsavík, soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths, stand over the thundering Dettifoss and loop the Diamond Circle through craters and lava fields.

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From Reykjavík

5 h drive / 45 min fly

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Main town

Akureyri

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Best time

Jun–Sep

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Nearest airport

Akureyri (AEY)

01Introduction

The North: Iceland at Its Most Elemental

If the South Coast is Iceland's greatest hits, the North is its wild heart. This is the land of Europe's most powerful waterfall, of a lake ringed by pseudo-craters and boiling mud, and of the sheltered bay of Skjálfandi where whales gather in astonishing numbers each summer.

At its centre sits Akureyri, the friendly 'Capital of the North', with its botanical garden, café culture and ski slopes — a proper town to base yourself in while you explore. Around it the Diamond Circle strings together Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi canyon and Húsavík.

The North rewards those who venture beyond the Ring Road: the Vatnsnes peninsula's seals and the Hvítserkur sea stack, the Tröllaskagi peninsula's fishing villages and hairpin passes, and some of the country's best dark-sky aurora viewing in winter.

02Quick Facts