What are the best day trips from Akureyri?

The Diamond Circle (Húsavík, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss, Mývatn) is the premier day trip route from Akureyri — it covers north Iceland's greatest natural highlights in a full 9–10 hour day. Shorter options: Lake Mývatn alone (2 hours each way), Goðafoss plus Forest Lagoon (3 hours), or Húsavík whale watching (2 hours return).

How far is Húsavík from Akureyri?

Húsavík is 60 km from Akureyri — approximately 1 hour by car on Route 85. This makes it Iceland's most accessible major whale watching destination. A morning whale tour from Húsavík and return to Akureyri before lunch is entirely comfortable.

Can I do the Diamond Circle in one day from Akureyri?

Yes, but it is a long day — approximately 400 km of driving and 10–11 hours total. The main stops are Húsavík, Ásbyrgi canyon, Dettifoss, and Lake Mývatn. A dedicated Diamond Circle day with an early start (08:00) covers all four comfortably.

Is Lake Mývatn worth a full day?

Yes. Lake Mývatn alone warrants 4–6 hours — the lake perimeter (birdwatching, lava formations), Hverfjall crater, Dimmuborgir lava formations, Mývatn Nature Baths, Námaskarð hot spring area, and Grjótagjá cave with turquoise water. Covering all of this meaningfully takes a full day.

Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) is a 30 m wide, 12 m high waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót river, 40 km east of Akureyri. According to the sagas, the lawspeaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson threw his Norse idols into the falls after Iceland officially adopted Christianity in 1000 AD. It is free to visit and very accessible — a 10-minute walk from the car park.

Are there guided tours from Akureyri for day trips?

Yes. Several operators run Diamond Circle tours, Lake Mývatn tours, and whale watching day trips from Akureyri. These are useful if you do not have a rental car or want expert local commentary.

Day Trips from Akureyri: Best Routes in North Iceland Guide

Akureyri is Iceland’s second city, positioned at the inner end of Iceland’s longest fjord (Eyjafjörður) and serving as the hub for north Iceland. Its position makes it an ideal base for day trips into one of the country’s most dramatic and least-visited landscapes — the Diamond Circle, Lake Mývatn, and the Húsavík whale watching grounds are all within easy reach.

North Iceland is quieter than the south. The same quality of geological and wildlife spectacle as the Golden Circle and South Coast, but with noticeably fewer tourists from July through September. Akureyri visitors who explore the surrounding region consistently rate it among the highlights of their Iceland trip.

Day trip 1: Diamond Circle (full day, 400 km loop)

The Diamond Circle is north Iceland’s answer to the Golden Circle — a loose loop connecting the region’s greatest natural attractions. The four anchor points are:

Húsavík: the whale watching capital of Iceland, 60 km north of Akureyri on Route 85. A morning whale watching tour (depart 08:00 or 09:00, return 11:00–12:00) fits naturally into the Diamond Circle day. See our Húsavík whale watching guide.

Ásbyrgi canyon: a horseshoe-shaped canyon 30 m deep and 3.5 km long, supposedly formed by one of Odin’s eight-legged horse Sleipnir’s hoofbeats. The canyon floor is birch woodland; cliff walls rise on three sides. A short trail (30–45 min) through the birch forest to Botnstjörn pond is the standard visit.

Dettifoss: Europe’s most powerful waterfall by volume, dropping 44 m across a 100 m wide gorge on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum glacial river. The volume is extraordinary — the grey glacial water thunders into the gorge creating a permanent mist cloud. Both banks have viewpoints (west bank road Route 862 is paved; east bank Route 864 is gravel). Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Lake Mývatn: the largest lake in north Iceland, extraordinarily productive for birdwatching (15 duck species breed here simultaneously). The standard Mývatn circuit also includes Hverfjall crater, Dimmuborgir lava castle formations, Námaskarð sulphur hot spring area, and the Mývatn Nature Baths geothermal pool.

Diamond Circle classic guided tour from Akureyri — full-day, Húsavík, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss, Mývatn, small group, expert guide

Self-drive timing:

08:00: Depart Akureyri
09:00–12:00: Húsavík (whale tour + town)
12:30–13:30: Ásbyrgi
14:15–15:15: Dettifoss
15:45–18:30: Lake Mývatn circuit
20:00: Return to Akureyri

Day trip 2: Lake Mývatn (half or full day, 200 km return)

Lake Mývatn warrants a dedicated visit rather than a quick Diamond Circle stop. The lake and its surroundings are densely packed with attractions:

Skútustaðagígar: pseudocraters (not actual volcanic craters but formed by steam explosions when lava flowed over water) on the south shore — a short walk among the crater field
Dimmuborgir: a surreal landscape of lava pillars and formations, formed when a lava lake collapsed around steam vents. Walking trails through the formations take 30–90 minutes
Hverfjall: a near-perfectly circular tephra ring crater, 140 m high and 1 km across. A steep path to the rim (30 min) gives panoramic views over the lake and surrounding landscape
Grjótagjá cave: a lava cave with a geothermally heated turquoise pool. Once a local bathing spot, it became too hot for swimming after the 1975–1984 Krafla volcanic eruptions. Now visited for the visual impact of the blue-lit cave pool
Námaskarð: a sulphur hot spring field 5 km east of the lake, with boiling mud pots, steam vents, and vivid yellow sulphur deposits
Mývatn Nature Baths: a geothermal spa on the north shore with milky blue water similar to the Blue Lagoon but smaller and more affordable (~5,500 ISK / €36 admission)

Lake Mývatn classic day tour from Akureyri — 6-hour guided tour, Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir, Mývatn Nature Baths, expert guide

Day trip 3: Goðafoss and Forest Lagoon (half day, 120 km return)

A shorter, more relaxed option for those who want to combine a waterfall visit with the Forest Lagoon thermal spa:

Goðafoss is 40 km east of Akureyri — a 30 m wide, 12 m high crescent-shaped waterfall that is one of Iceland’s most aesthetically pleasing. The bridge over the Skjálfandafljót river between the two viewpoint car parks gives a symmetrical view of the full waterfall. Easy access, no hiking required.

Forest Lagoon (Fossalaug) is a modern geothermal spa on the hillside above Akureyri with fjord views — the setting is arguably Iceland’s most scenic of any geothermal facility. Admission around 5,900 ISK (€38). Book ahead in peak season.

Half-day itinerary:

09:00: Goðafoss (1 hour)
10:30: Forest Lagoon (2–3 hours)
13:30–14:00: Return to Akureyri

Day trip 4: Húsavík whale watching (morning/afternoon, 120 km return)

The simplest and most focused option: drive directly to Húsavík for a morning or afternoon whale watching tour, and return to Akureyri the same day.

The 09:00 departure from Húsavík returns at 12:00, giving you a morning on the water and the afternoon free for Akureyri activities. Alternatively, the afternoon tour (13:00 departure, 16:00 return) allows a relaxed Akureyri morning first.

Akureyri whale watching by ship — 3-hour classic tour in Eyjafjörður fjord, expert naturalist guide

Note: whale watching in Eyjafjörður fjord from Akureyri itself also exists, primarily for minke whales and dolphins. For humpback whales specifically, Húsavík (Skjálfandi Bay) remains the better option.

Day trip 5: Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi without the full Diamond Circle

If you want to see Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi specifically without the full 400 km loop, a focused day works:

08:00: Depart Akureyri
09:15–10:15: Goðafoss (en route)
11:00–12:00: Ásbyrgi canyon
13:00–14:00: Dettifoss
15:00–17:00: Optional: Jökulsárgljúfur canyon trail (1-hour river gorge walk downstream from Dettifoss)
19:00: Return to Akureyri

Getting around without a car

Guided tours from Akureyri are available for the Diamond Circle, Mývatn, and Goðafoss. Operators including Arctic Adventures, Guide to Iceland, and local Akureyri-based companies run daily departures. These are the best option for visitors without a rental car.

For car renters: Akureyri has a Hertz, Europcar, Avis, and several smaller operators. Booking ahead is advisable in summer. All roads to the main attractions are paved except portions of the Diamond Circle (Route 864 to the east bank of Dettifoss is gravel, suitable for 2WD in summer).

Akureyri as a base

Akureyri makes an excellent 2–3 night base for north Iceland. The town itself has:

Akureyri Botanical Garden (free; impressive given the latitude)
Akureyri Art Museum and regional museum
Good café culture along Hafnarstræti
The large heated outdoor pool Sundlaug Akureyrar (open year-round)

See our north Iceland itinerary for a full 4-day plan covering Akureyri and the surrounding region.

Frequently asked questions about day trips from Akureyri

Is there a bus service for day trips from Akureyri?

The Strætó bus network connects Akureyri with Mývatn and Húsavík in summer. Timetables are fixed and infrequent — the bus works for reaching destinations but not for flexible multi-stop touring. Hiring a car or joining a guided tour gives far more capability.

What is the most important day trip from Akureyri if I only have one day?

The Diamond Circle. It combines the four greatest highlights of north Iceland — whale watching (Húsavík), a dramatic horseshoe canyon (Ásbyrgi), Europe’s most powerful waterfall (Dettifoss), and the world-class duck habitat of Lake Mývatn — in a single demanding but rewarding day.

Can I do the Diamond Circle in winter?

The Diamond Circle road is not fully operational in winter. Route 864 to Dettifoss’ east bank closes in winter; the paved Route 862 to the west bank typically stays open. Ásbyrgi and Húsavík are accessible. Mývatn is spectacular in winter. Check vedur.is for conditions.

Is there a ferry from Akureyri anywhere?

Not for tourism purposes. Eyjafjörður fjord is not crossed by ferry — the road wraps around the fjord head. Ferries from Akureyri’s port are not a tourist feature.

Akureyri as a base: the city itself

Before committing to day trips, allocate time to Akureyri itself — it is a more interesting city than its size (about 20,000 people) suggests.

Akureyri Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn): an Arctic-latitude botanical garden that has operated since 1912, making it one of the world’s northernmost public gardens. The plant collection is impressive given the climate — roses, dahlias, and tender perennials that should not theoretically survive this latitude. Free entry. Open May–September, 08:00–22:00.

Akureyri Art Museum (Listasafnið á Akureyri): contemporary Icelandic art in a well-designed waterfront building. Rotating exhibitions. Entry ~1,500 ISK (€10).

Akureyrarkirkja: the town’s landmark church, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson (the same architect as Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík), sits on the hill above the main street with fjord views. Free to enter.

Hafnarstræti street: the main pedestrian strip with cafés, bookshops, and a handful of good restaurants. Strikið (Skipagata 14) is the most respected restaurant — Icelandic lamb and fish dishes at around 4,500–6,500 ISK (€29–42) per main. Rub23 offers sushi and Icelandic seafood combos in a more casual format.

Sundlaug Akureyrar: the outdoor geothermally heated swimming pool is a genuine local social institution, open year-round. Entry around 1,000 ISK (€7). A good morning start before a day trip departure.

Getting to Akureyri from Reykjavík

Domestic flight: the fastest and most common approach. Air Iceland Connect runs 6–8 daily flights (45 minutes, from ~10,000 ISK / €65 one way). Book at least 2 weeks ahead for the best prices; July and August fares rise significantly.

Bus: the Strætó bus service runs the Reykjavík–Akureyri route (5–6 hours, from ~7,000 ISK one way). Slower but scenic along the Ring Road.

Driving: 390 km from Reykjavík via the Ring Road and Holtsvegur (Route 1 north), approximately 4.5–5 hours. The drive is pleasant; an overnight stop at Blönduós or Varmahlíð is an option for those who want to break the journey.

North Iceland beyond Akureyri

For visitors spending more than 3 days in north Iceland, additional destinations beyond the standard day trips are worth considering:

Siglufjörður: 65 km northwest of Akureyri via the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. A former herring capital, now a charming fjord village with excellent hiking and the Herring Era Museum (Síldarminjasafn) — three buildings documenting the boom period when Siglufjörður was one of the largest fishing towns in Iceland. A popular cycling route connects it to Ólafsfjörður and Akureyri.

Dalabyggð and Sauðárkrókur: the Skagafjörður valley south of Akureyri is Iceland’s horse breeding heartland. Several farms offer riding tours and the valley’s flat farmland and mountain backdrop are classic north Iceland scenery.

Borgarfjörður Eystri (east of Akureyri, via the Ring Road): a puffin watching destination of the first order — see our birdwatching guide for details. It is 3 hours from Akureyri on a good road.

For a full north Iceland travel plan, see our 4-day north Iceland itinerary.

Practical notes for renting a car in Akureyri

Akureyri is a good place to pick up a rental car if you are flying in from Reykjavík — prices at Akureyri airport are competitive with Reykjavík rates, and you avoid the driving time from Reykjavík to the north.

Available agencies at Akureyri airport: Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Geysir Rental, and several smaller operators. 2WD vehicles are adequate for the paved Diamond Circle roads and Húsavík in summer. 4WD is recommended if you plan to access Dettifoss via Route 864 (gravel, not suitable for 2WD on wet days) or any interior Highland routes.

Booking ahead is essential in summer — Akureyri car rental stock is smaller than Reykjavík and popular vehicles (budget 4WDs, campers) go early. Book at least 4–6 weeks ahead for July.

Fuel note: Akureyri’s town petrol stations are N1 (on Oddeyrargate) and Orkan (near the Ring Road junction). Fill up in Akureyri before heading to Húsavík or Mývatn — Húsavík has an N1 station, but Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi have no fuel.

Diamond Circle guided tour comparison

If you are choosing between self-driving the Diamond Circle and a guided tour, here is the honest comparison:

Self-drive (rental car):

Cost: ~8,000–12,000 ISK (€52–78) fuel for the day, plus rental base cost
Flexibility: high — you control the pace at each stop
Navigation: Route 85 north and Route 862/864 for Dettifoss are straightforward
Best for: groups of 2+ people who want to linger at sites of interest

Guided tour:

Cost: approximately 18,000–25,000 ISK (€117–163) per person for a full-day tour
Flexibility: limited — fixed schedule, usually 20–30 minutes per site
Value: expert context at each stop, no driving fatigue, useful for solo travellers
Best for: solo travellers, visitors who want geological and historical background

For the whale watching component specifically: a guided tour that includes a Húsavík whale tour as part of the Diamond Circle day is extremely efficient — you get the marine biologist guide on the water and the geological guide on land in a single day.

From Akureyri — Diamond Circle tour with Húsavík, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss, and Mývatn, full day, local guide

Frequently asked questions about Day trips from Akureyri

How far is Húsavík from Akureyri?
Húsavík is 60 km from Akureyri — approximately 1 hour by car on Route 85. This makes it Iceland's most accessible major whale watching destination. A morning whale tour from Húsavík and return to Akureyri before lunch is entirely comfortable.
Can I do the Diamond Circle in one day from Akureyri?
Yes, but it is a long day — approximately 400 km of driving and 10–11 hours total. The main stops are Húsavík, Ásbyrgi canyon, Dettifoss, and Lake Mývatn. A dedicated Diamond Circle day with an early start (08:00) covers all four comfortably.
Is Lake Mývatn worth a full day?
Yes. Lake Mývatn alone warrants 4–6 hours — the lake perimeter (birdwatching, lava formations), Hverfjall crater, Dimmuborgir lava formations, Mývatn Nature Baths, Námaskarð hot spring area, and Grjótagjá cave with turquoise water. Covering all of this meaningfully takes a full day.
What is Goðafoss?
Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) is a 30 m wide, 12 m high waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót river, 40 km east of Akureyri. According to the sagas, the lawspeaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson threw his Norse idols into the falls after Iceland officially adopted Christianity in 1000 AD. It is free to visit and very accessible — a 10-minute walk from the car park.
Are there guided tours from Akureyri for day trips?
Yes. Several operators run Diamond Circle tours, Lake Mývatn tours, and whale watching day trips from Akureyri. These are useful if you do not have a rental car or want expert local commentary.