Things to do in Myvatn
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Top 10 attractions in Myvatn
Route 1
Route 1is Iceland's national main road, also known as the Ring Road because it circles the entire island. Completed in 1974, it has a total length of over 1,300 km and connects major towns such as the capital, Reykjavik, and the Capital of the North, Akureyri. It also connects most natural scenic spots, excluding the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes, making it a classic route for a self-drive tour around the island. Most sections of this road are two-way paved roads with good road conditions. Summer days are long, making it suitable for first-time visitors to plan an itinerary of about one week around the island. In winter, there is a chance to encounter the aurora along the way, but be aware of potential temporary road closures due to icy and snowy weather.Iceland · Olfus
Myvatn
Lake Myvatn, also known as Lake Miva, is located in northern Iceland. It is an important tourist area in Iceland, and tourists here are not aware of it every year. Lake Myvatn is about 37 square kilometers and has a water depth of 2.5 meters. It is the fifth largest lake in Iceland. Tourists can take a boat tour of the lake and even fish by the lake. Due to the barrier of the mountains, Myvatn is regarded as one of the very dry areas in Iceland, and the weather is often good. In addition to the beautiful scenery, the complete volcanic geographical landscape is preserved here, including geothermal heat, geysers, craters, etc. Due to the rich landscape, the Icelandic government planned it as a special reserve in 1974. A small aquatic creature gathers in the lake, and the trout that feed on this creature thrives in the lake. There are many strange-shaped islands in the lake, inhabited by various water birds, only one type of wild duck, there are more than 10 kinds, the number of which is more than 100,000. At Skutustadargigar, you will see countless fake craters that were formed during a volcanic eruption more than 2,000 years ago. Under the hillside in the east of the lake, there is a cluster of dark and rugged rocks. Some of these rocks are shaped like spires and some are like castles. They are clustered around a long and narrow valley. From a distance, the crater looks like a majestic black The old castle, this is one of the wonders of Lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgir. Near Lake Myvatn stands a conical volcanic crater. The large and small lava in this area is the result of the eruption of this crater. Continue to the east, the left side of the mountain road is a series of low hills with a wide rock crevice on it. Going forward through the rock crevice, it is dark at first, and gradually, your eyes are suddenly bright, and suddenly, there will be an open bay. This is another scenic spot of Lake Myvatn - underground hot springs. The water in the underground hot springs is kept at about 27°C all year round and can be used for bathing all year round. Going further east, you will find many gaps on both sides of the road, the big ones are 1 to 2 meters wide, and the small ones are one or two feet wide. You can see the water vapor rushing out of the hole, making the area filled with yellow smoke. In the lower part, the mud is rolling and the steam is steaming. This is the third wonder of the Miwadden Lake area - the Krafla hot gas field.Thingeyjarsveit · 14.8 km from downtown
Lava field Dimmuborgir
Lava field Dimmuborgir, also known as the "Dark Fortress," is a vast area of black rock formations created by cooling lava after a volcanic eruption. With its bizarre shapes and undulating terrain, it forms a natural labyrinth. The park features winding trails, among which the route passing through a naturally formed "church" cave is particularly popular—this cavern is tall and wide, with a top contour resembling a church dome, a testament to nature's incredible craftsmanship. Lava field Dimmuborgir is also widely known as one of the filming locations for the TV series "Game of Thrones," attracting many fans who come to explore it. This unique lava landscape fully showcases the rugged imprint left on the surface by volcanic activity in Iceland.Thingeyjarsveit · 4.1 km from Myvatn
Grjótagjá cave
Grjótagjá cave is a hidden natural lava cave in the Myvatn region of northern Iceland, and its name means rock fissure in Icelandic. The cave contains a geothermal hot spring that was historically a favorite natural bathing spot for locals, but since the Krafla volcanic activity between 1975–1984, the water temperature has risen and is no longer suitable for bathing. The interior of the cave is dark and mysterious, with spring water flowing quietly beneath the rock walls and light filtering in through the rock fissures, creating a surreal play of light and shadow. As one of the filming locations for the TV series "Game of Thrones," it attracts many fans who come to visit.Thingeyjarsveit · 5.8 km from Myvatn
Goðafoss Waterfall
Goðafoss Waterfallis located in northern Iceland, right beside Route 1 (the ring road), between Akureyri and Myvatn, and is a classic roadside stop on a self-drive trip around the island. Its name comes from an old Norse story: according to legend, in 999 or 1000 AD, when Iceland decided at the national assembly to convert to Christianity, the lawspeaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson threw the statues of the old Norse gods into this waterfall on his way home to renounce the old faith. The name Goðafoss thus comes from this event and literally means the waterfall of the gods. The waterfall has a drop of more than 10 m and is approx. 30 m wide, with the curtain of water spreading in a semicircular arc and a large rock dividing it into two channels in the middle, giving it the appearance of an open fan. The water plunges over a basalt cliff with a powerful flow and a thundering roar. On sunny days, rainbows are often visible in the mist.Thingeyjarsveit · 26.9 km from Myvatn
Hverfjall
Hverfjall is a massive volcanic crater near Myvatn in northern Iceland, formed approx. 2,500 years ago by a steam explosion—when hot magma met groundwater, a violent explosion ejected basalt fragments to the surface, creating this nearly circular crater. The crater is approx. 1,000 m in diameter and approx. 100 m deep, making it one of the best-preserved craters in Iceland. Viewed from a distance, the wide, flat outline of the crater rim presents an impressively geometric regularity, and it is also one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones.Thingeyjarsveit · 5.7 km from Myvatn
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is located in southeastern Iceland, right next to the Glacier lagoon. The ice blocks in the Glacier lagoon originate from the Vatnajökull glacier. After breaking off, they drift into the Glacier lagoon and are then washed onto the black sand beach by the tide, forming ice blocks of various sizes and shapes. Some are as clear and transparent as glass, some are milky white, and others display a deep blue color due to long-term compression of the ice layers. Under the light, these ice blocks look like scattered diamonds, which is how Diamond Beach got its name. The strong contrast between the black volcanic sand and the colorful ice blocks creates a visually striking view, and because the ice blocks constantly washing ashore vary in shape, every visit offers a different experience. Occasionally, you can see harbor seals climbing onto the ice blocks to rest, adding vitality to this magnificent glacial landscape.Iceland · Hornafjordur
Dettifoss
Dettifossis located in the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon within Vatnajökull National Park in northern Iceland, and its Icelandic name means "falling." The waterfall is approx. 100 m wide with a drop of over 40 m. Hundreds of cubic meters of glacial meltwater crash into the valley floor every second, with the roar clearly audible from hundreds of meters away, and rainbows are often visible in the mist on sunny days. Thanks to the majestic momentum created by its water volume and drop, it is famous among waterfalls in Europe, and the opening scene of the movie *Prometheus* was filmed here. Viewing trails are available on both the east and west banks of the waterfall: the west bank is more accessible via a paved road, allowing you to feel the mist on your face up close; the east bank offers a wide view, perfect for capturing a panoramic shot of the waterfall and the canyon together. A short walk upstream along the river leads to the horseshoe-shaped Selfoss, which can be visited along with the main waterfall.Nordurthing · 36.5 km from Myvatn
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park is located in southeastern Iceland. Centered on the ice cap of the same name, the park covers more than one-tenth of Iceland's land area. The Vatnajökull ice cap has an average thickness of nearly 400 m. Beneath the thick ice lie several active volcanoes, including Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga. Geothermal heat generated by volcanic activity constantly acts on the base of the glacier. Here, "ice and fire" is not just a literary metaphor, but a geological process that plays out day after day—volcanic eruptions can even trigger glacial floods, with rushing meltwater carrying ice blocks downstream. The park encompasses a rich variety of landscapes, offering diverse activities such as hiking, glacier viewing, and caving. Every winter, blue ice caves naturally form at the edge of the glacier, with the deep blue ice walls displaying dreamlike colors as light penetrates them. Vatnajökull is also a filming location for the "Beyond the Wall" scenes in Game of Thrones. Standing on the vast ice field, visitors feel as small as dust in the boundless expanse, and that raw, cold natural power truly resonates with the atmosphere of the North in the show.Thingeyjarsveit · 91.7 km from Myvatn
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss has a drop of approx. 60m, with water sourced from glacial meltwater. The waterfall's unique feature is a natural recessed path at the base of the cliff, where visitors can walk behind the water curtain to experience the roar of the cascading water and the surrounding mist up close. Looking out from behind the curtain, the view of the distant fields and horizon through the splashing water offers a unique and picturesque perspective, making it a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. Sunset is an ideal time to capture the view from behind the curtain, as the warm light of the setting sun shines through the water from the west, creating exceptionally rich layers of light and shadow. When walking along the path, be mindful of the slippery rocks underfoot. The dense mist can also wet your clothing and electronic devices, so it is necessary to prepare waterproof gear in advance.Iceland · Rangarthing eystra
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Free things to do in Myvatn
Route 1
Iceland · OlfusMyvatn
Thingeyjarsveit · 14.8 km from downtownLava field Dimmuborgir
Thingeyjarsveit · 4.1 km from MyvatnGrjótagjá cave
Thingeyjarsveit · 5.8 km from MyvatnGoðafoss Waterfall
Thingeyjarsveit · 26.9 km from MyvatnHverfjall
Thingeyjarsveit · 5.7 km from MyvatnDiamond Beach
Iceland · HornafjordurDettifoss
Nordurthing · 36.5 km from MyvatnVatnajökull National Park
Thingeyjarsveit · 91.7 km from MyvatnSeljalandsfoss
Iceland · Rangarthing eystra
What travelers say about Myvatn
东张西望望东西March 28, 2020
5.0
Highway 1 is a must-go road to Iceland. The road is mostly covered with grasslands. The scenery is not special, but it is very interesting to see such a vibrant scene at the northern end of the earth.
Route 1
D了个YApril 19, 2022
4.0
Lake Mývatn is located about 90 kilometers east of Akureyri. It is the fourth largest lake in Iceland. It is a shallow lake with an area of about 37 square kilometers. We came from the Havel geothermal area and drove west along Highway 1. It didn't take long to get there. It is said that Lake Mývatn was formed by a volcanic eruption about 2,300 years ago. To this day, the volcanoes in this area are still very active. The neighboring Krafla volcano last erupted in 1984. Therefore, the geothermal resources here are really unique and endless.
Myvatn
竞波November 26, 2020
5.0
This is one of the attractions in the Myvatn scenic area in Iceland. It is full of strange rocks formed by the cooling of volcanic lava, like a black castle and a maze. Legend has it that this is where the Icelandic Santa Claus usually lives.
Lava field Dimmuborgir
浅末回首March 2, 2021
5.0
In the pristine cave, the hot spring water is at a suitable temperature. Warm and comfortable.
Grjótagjá cave
jkidd28September 2, 2022
5.0
The waterfall is located on Iceland's Highway 1. The surrounding area is covered with green grass in summer and snow in winter. The scenery is charming and fascinating. The waterfall is shaped like a hoof and the water falls straight down!
Goðafoss Waterfall
YoYo_0T9A3B0LOctober 1, 2025
5.0
Like falling diamonds from stars, they scatter on the icy beach. This cool beach is like nature's canvas, covered with sparkling diamonds, reflecting the dazzling light, just like the starry sky at night, so beautiful that people are intoxicated by this picturesque scenery.
Diamond Beach
诗意情节September 15, 2019
5.0
We walked through the desolate moon surface and came to Dettifoss, the waterfall with the highest drop and flow in Europe. Unfortunately, the weather was bad and the wind direction made it safe to pass without getting wet. So the Golden Falls in D2 was the most shocking, and the Lava Falls in D3 was my favorite.
Dettifoss
Lavender and SunJanuary 15, 2021
5.0
Vatna National Park (Vatna), located in southeastern Iceland, is the largest national park and nature reserve in Iceland. The park combines glaciers, volcanoes, canyons, forests and waterfalls, with spectacular scenery.
Vatnajökull National Park
zhangfeifeiMarch 18, 2020
5.0
Seljalandsfoss is the most famous waterfall in Iceland and one of the most popular natural attractions. There is a small path near the waterfall. Walking along the path to the side and back of the waterfall, the scenery is very spectacular. Be sure to wear waterproof clothes, otherwise you will get wet.
Seljalandsfoss