Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Day Trip

Goðafoss is the star here: a broad, 39-foot waterfall where Icelandic history and raw natural power meet. From there, the route sweeps through Lake Mývatn’s strange volcanic world, with pseudocraters, black lava formations, steaming ground, and wide water views packed into one shore day.

I like the efficient route, which gives you several very different sights without wasting time, and I like the guides’ personal touch. Johanna has handed out bug nets near the lake and lava fields, while Agust, Siggi, Bo, and others have earned praise for humor, flexibility, and clear explanations. The main caution is the schedule: seven hours is a tight fit, especially if you add the Nature Baths or lose time to traffic or a vehicle problem.

Key points to know before you book

• Goðafoss comes early: You reach the waterfall after about 30 minutes in the van, with roughly 45 minutes to see it.
• Lake Mývatn packs in variety: Pseudocraters, Dimmuborgir lava formations, Hverir’s steaming mud, and the tectonic divide all appear on the same loop.
• The group moves efficiently: Guides have adjusted the route for shorter cruise stops and still reached the main sights.
• The Nature Baths are optional: A 1.5-hour soak may be added if your ship’s departure time allows, but admission is not included.
• Lunch costs extra: Food and drinks are not part of the $179 price, so budget for the restaurant stop.
• Port details matter: Akureyri has more than one cruise berth, and you need to give the operator your ship’s name.

Why this is one of Akureyri’s strongest shore trips

Akureyri makes a fine base for seeing northern Iceland, but a cruise stop gives you only a slice of the region. This tour uses that slice well. In seven hours, you get a waterfall, a volcanic lake, lava formations, geothermal ground, and a glimpse of Iceland’s plate boundary.

That variety is the chief reason I’d consider the trip. You are not spending the whole day looking at one type of scenery. The route keeps changing, so the drive itself becomes part of the experience.

The tour costs $179 per person. That is not cheap, but Iceland excursions rarely are, and this price includes port pickup, transport, a live English-speaking guide, and a full day away from the ship. You still pay for lunch, drinks, and the Nature Baths if you use them. The value is strongest for cruise passengers who want a single organized outing and do not want to arrange a rental car, navigate unfamiliar roads, or keep track of ship time alone.

Leaving Akureyri Port along Eyjafjörður

Your day begins at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal. The first drive takes about 30 minutes, with photo opportunities along the coast of Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords.

The exact meeting point depends on your berth. At Tangabryggja, look for several small wooden houses outside the cruise area. Star Travel operates from house number 3, where you meet the guide. At Oddeyrarbryggja, look for the Icewear shop and the nearby agent area. Staff should have a Star Travel sign, and a guide may be wearing a bright yellow jacket.

This is worth taking seriously. Akureyri has multiple cruise ports, so send the company your vessel name and check your pickup details before leaving the ship. If you are staying in town instead of arriving by cruise, select the correct accommodation for pickup. Keep the phone number you provided reachable in case the operator needs to make a change.

The first stretch is not filler. Eyjafjörður gives you open views of the water and surrounding mountains, and your guide can point out features you might miss from a regular transfer. Still, remember that weather can affect what you see. The tour’s real sightseeing begins at Goðafoss.

Goðafoss: a powerful first stop

After about half an hour, you reach Goðafoss, or the Waterfall of the Gods. The Skjálfandafljót River pours over a low, curved rock shelf in several broad streams. The waterfall is about 39 feet tall, but its width and force make it feel larger than the height suggests.

You get around 45 minutes here. That gives you time to walk to viewpoints, take photographs, and listen to the guide’s explanation without turning the stop into a rushed dash.

The name Goðafoss carries a famous Icelandic story. In the year 1000, the law speaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði is said to have thrown his pagan idols into the falls after Iceland adopted Christianity. The supplied tour information does not promise a formal history talk, so treat that as useful context rather than a guaranteed presentation, but the site is a good place to connect Iceland’s natural setting with its past.

I like having Goðafoss near the beginning. It gives you a memorable landmark right away, then the route shifts toward the more unusual volcanic scenery around Mývatn. The possible drawback is weather. Spray, wind, and wet paths can make the viewpoints less comfortable, so waterproof outerwear and sturdy shoes are sensible.

Skútustaðagígar and the pseudocraters of Mývatn

The drive from Goðafoss to Lake Mývatn takes about 45 minutes. The lake area is famous for its volcanic features, and Skútustaðagígar is your introduction to one of the strangest: pseudocraters.

These rounded formations look like small volcanic cones, but they were not created by eruptions from their own vents. They formed when hot lava flowed over wet ground, causing steam explosions that left crater-like mounds behind. You see them scattered near the lake, giving the shore a pocked, almost moonlike appearance.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough for a walk and photographs, but not a long hike. This is a place where your guide’s explanation adds real value. Without context, the formations can look like simple bumps beside the water. With the geology explained, you begin to see why Mývatn is so unusual.

The lake itself adds a calmer note to the day. After the force of Goðafoss, you get water, low volcanic forms, and broad northern Iceland views. In warm months, small insects can be bothersome around the lake and lava areas. One guide, Johanna, has handed out bug nets, a practical touch that tells you what to expect. Bring your own repellent if you have it, but do not count on every guide providing nets.

Dimmuborgir and the black lava formations

Only about five minutes after Skútustaðagígar, the van reaches Dimmuborgir. The name means Dark Fortresses, and the stop lives up to it. This is a field of twisted lava formations, arches, towers, and rough black shapes created by ancient volcanic activity.

You have about 30 minutes to explore. That is enough to get a feel for the place and walk among the most striking formations, though it is not enough for every path in the area. If you like geology or unusual rock shapes, this may be one of the day’s highlights. The formations feel less like a conventional lava flow and more like the remains of a dark stone city.

Dimmuborgir also gives you a useful change of scale. At Skútustaðagígar, the view is open and spread out. Here, the rock closes in around you and creates a more enclosed, tense setting. Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground, and stay aware of the clock. Cruise excursions work best when you enjoy each stop without assuming you can explore every trail.

Hverir’s boiling mud and sulfur fumes

The next drive takes only about five minutes. Hverir is a geothermal area marked by boiling mud pools, fumaroles, and mineral-stained earth.

This is not a pretty stop in the usual sense. The ground can be yellow, orange, gray, or reddish, and steam rises from vents in the earth. The smell of sulfur can be strong. That is part of the point: Hverir lets you see and smell Iceland’s geothermal activity at close range.

You have around 30 minutes here. The stop is listed with shopping, but the main reason to get out is the geothermal field itself. Keep to marked paths and follow the guide’s directions. The ground around hot areas is not a place for casual wandering.

Hverir is also where the tour’s lunar-like description makes the most sense. Along with the pseudocraters and lava fields, the steaming earth creates a scene that feels far removed from ordinary European sightseeing. The area is stark rather than lush, and it rewards curiosity more than comfort.

A restaurant lunch and the question of timing

A lunch stop at a local restaurant is built into the day, but food and drinks are not included in the $179 price. The exact restaurant and menu are not specified, so plan to pay separately and keep the meal practical.

For a cruise passenger, lunch is not just a break. It is a chance to refuel before the final stretch and avoid buying an expensive meal back on the ship after a long day. At the same time, a restaurant stop uses time that could otherwise go to a longer walk. The guide’s job is to keep the schedule moving.

This tour has shown that flexibility matters. One guide adjusted the route repeatedly when a cruise ship had less time ashore and still reached the main sights. That is exactly the kind of judgment you want on a shore excursion. A guide who watches the clock can often protect the important stops, but you should not expect unlimited free time at every location.

The Mývatn Nature Baths, if your ship schedule allows

The Nature Baths are an optional addition, not a guaranteed part of every departure. If your ship’s berthing and departure times allow it, the schedule provides about 1.5 hours for swimming.

Admission is extra. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you want to use the pool. These are easy items to forget when your main plan is waterfalls and lava fields, so pack them before leaving the ship.

The soak can be a fine way to end the sightseeing. After walking around pseudocraters, lava formations, and steaming ground, warm geothermal water offers a slower final stop. But the bath comes with a tradeoff. If your ship has a tight schedule, fitting it in may leave less time at other places or create unnecessary pressure on the return drive.

The tour information makes the condition clear: the Nature Baths depend on the cruise ship’s departure time. Do not book this outing solely for the bath unless the operator confirms that it can fit your sailing. Think of it as an optional bonus, not the central promise of the day.

The return to Akureyri and cruise safety

From the Mývatn area, the return drive to Akureyri takes about 75 minutes. That is a substantial final leg, so the guide needs to leave enough time for road conditions, stops, and port arrival.

This is another reason the tour suits people who prefer an organized shore day. You are not responsible for finding the route back or calculating a safe return buffer. The operator is also familiar with cruise passengers and the need to return to the correct port.

Still, no excursion can remove every risk. One reported outing lost about 90 minutes to mechanical trouble, and the passenger felt compensation was warranted. That is a useful reminder to keep your own expectations realistic. The vast majority of the praise focuses on smooth guiding and careful time management, but vehicle or road problems can happen. If you have a very narrow window before departure, ask about the planned return time before booking.

Guides, group feel, and the value of local knowledge

The strongest theme across the named guide feedback is the quality of the driver-guides. Johanna has been praised for her enthusiasm and for explaining both Akureyri’s community and the surrounding nature. Agust was described as especially accommodating, while Siggi made the day feel easy and enjoyable. Bo earned praise for professionalism and humor, and Matti was singled out as an outstanding guide.

You should not assume you will get a particular person. Guides can change, and one departure even consolidated passengers with another company, Fox, creating a smaller group. That change did not prevent the outing from running well, but it shows that the operating arrangement can shift.

The smaller-group feel is important. A van can move more quickly than a large coach, and the guide can adjust stops when needed. You still have a fixed schedule, but you are less likely to spend the day waiting for a large crowd to board.

I also like that the guides do more than point out photo stops. The best moments here come from understanding what you are seeing: why a crater is not a true crater, how lava created Dimmuborgir, and why Hverir bubbles and steams. That turns a scenic drive into a lesson in Iceland’s geology without making the day feel like a classroom.

Who should book this excursion?

I would recommend it most strongly to cruise passengers who want the broadest possible view of northeastern Iceland in one day. You get the region’s major natural themes, and the route is varied enough to hold your attention from the first waterfall to the final geothermal stop.

It also suits you if you value an English-speaking guide, port pickup, and help managing a ship schedule. The guides have shown they can adjust when time is shortened, which matters more than a perfectly fixed timetable.

You may want another option if your main goal is a long hike, a slow day at the Nature Baths, or extensive time in Akureyri itself. One person specifically wished for more time in town, and that is a fair criticism. This excursion heads away from the city quickly and uses the day for the countryside.

The $179 price is reasonable if you would otherwise pay separately for transport, guiding, and a rental car. Add the cost of lunch and possibly the Nature Baths, and the total rises. Still, for a cruise stop with limited time, the convenience and range of sights make the price defensible.

Should you book the Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss trip?

Book it if you want a busy but rewarding day that covers waterfall power, volcanic geology, geothermal activity, and lake views in one loop. Pack waterproof clothing, walking shoes, insect protection if you have it, and a swimsuit and towel only if the Nature Baths are confirmed for your departure.

Skip it if you prefer to linger, spend more time in Akureyri, or avoid a schedule with several short stops. For most cruise passengers, though, this is a smart way to use a single day in port. The route is packed, the guides have a strong record of keeping things on track, and the scenery gives you a genuine sense of why northern Iceland is so special.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The full tour lasts about seven hours, including transport, sightseeing stops, lunch time, and the return to Akureyri Cruise Terminal.

Where does pickup take place at Akureyri Port?

At Tangabryggja, meet outside the cruise area near the small wooden houses at Star Travel’s house number 3. At Oddeyrarbryggja, meet near the Icewear shop in the designated agent area, where you should look for a Star Travel sign or a staff member in a bright yellow jacket.

What sights are included?

The route includes Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters, Dimmuborgir lava field, the geothermal area at Hverir, and scenery around Lake Mývatn. It also includes coastal views along Eyjafjörður.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Food and drinks are not included, and the tour makes a lunch stop at a local restaurant.

Can I visit the Mývatn Nature Baths?

You may be able to visit the Nature Baths if your cruise ship’s schedule allows it. The optional stop lasts about 1.5 hours, and the entrance fee is not included. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you plan to enter.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.