Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Day Trip

Goðafoss is the star here, but the real treat is how quickly the scenery changes after you leave Akureyri. In one day, you move from the long waters of Eyjafjörður to a waterfall, volcanic pseudocraters, twisted lava formations, steaming mud, and the broad blue setting of Lake Mývatn. I especially like the efficient route and the chance to see several very different sides of northern Iceland without changing hotels.

I also like the small-group feel and the guides’ flexibility. Johanna has handed out bug nets near the lake and lava areas, while Agust, Siggi, Matti, and Bo have earned strong praise for their friendly, capable driving and clear explanations. The main caution is time: this is a busy cruise-port day, and the optional Mývatn Nature Baths visit may not fit if your ship has a tight departure schedule.

Key points at a glance

• Goðafoss comes early: You get roughly 45 minutes at one of Iceland’s most graceful waterfalls, enough for several viewpoints and photographs.
• Lake Mývatn packs in variety: Pseudocraters, lava formations, geothermal vents, and plate tectonics all appear on the same circuit.
• The route suits cruise passengers: Pickup is at Akureyri Port, with a planned return to the cruise terminal after about seven hours.
• The small-group approach saves time: Guides can adjust the schedule when a ship’s time ashore changes.
• The baths are optional: The geothermal soak can take about 90 minutes, but admission costs extra and depends on your sailing schedule.
• Lunch is not included: Plan for a restaurant stop, but budget separately for food and drinks.

Why this Akureyri shore trip works so well

At $179 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride, but it covers a large stretch of northeastern Iceland in one day. You get port pickup, transport, an English-speaking guide, and stops at the region’s most important natural sights. For a cruise passenger, that matters. Renting a car for a short port call brings its own risks, especially when your return time is fixed.

I like the way the route builds from one major sight to the next. Goðafoss gives you a dramatic opening. Lake Mývatn then supplies the unusual geology: round green pseudocraters, black lava, steam, mud, and evidence of the earth’s moving plates. The scenery is not all about one big waterfall. It keeps changing, and that makes the long drive feel worthwhile.

The strongest part of the experience is the guiding. You are not simply dropped at a viewpoint and told to be back in 20 minutes. Guides explain what you are seeing, allow time to walk around, and adjust the plan when needed. One guide worked around a shortened shore visit and still fitted in the main stops. That kind of quick thinking is valuable on a cruise excursion.

You should still keep your expectations realistic. The day has a lot of driving, and each stop is fairly short. If you want long hikes, quiet photography, or a slow afternoon at the baths, this is not the right format. If you want a well-organized first look at the Mývatn area before your ship sails, it makes much more sense.

Leaving Akureyri along Eyjafjörður

Pickup begins at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal. The first drive takes about 30 minutes, with scenic views and photo stops along Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. I like this opening because it gives you a gradual introduction to the region rather than rushing straight to the headline waterfall.

Akureyri uses more than one cruise port, so you need to know where your ship docks. At Tangabryggja Port, Star Travel meets passengers at wooden house number 3, just outside the cruise ship area. At Oddeyrarbryggja Port, look near the Icewear shop and the designated agent area for a Star Travel sign and a guide in a bright yellow jacket.

That detail is easy to overlook. Provide your ship’s name and keep the phone number used for booking reachable. The operator needs those details because port locations and ship schedules can vary. If you are staying in Akureyri rather than arriving by ship, choose the correct accommodation pickup when booking.

Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods

After the first drive, the group spends about 45 minutes at Goðafoss. The waterfall drops 39 feet from the Skjálfandafljót River, forming a broad, powerful curve rather than a single narrow plunge. It is an excellent first stop because you can see its shape quickly, yet still have time for photographs and a short walk.

I find Goðafoss especially appealing because it feels wide and open. You are not looking at water squeezed into a dark gorge. The river spreads across a rocky ledge, and the surrounding terrain gives you several ways to frame the falls. Your guide can also add context about the waterfall and the region, which makes the stop more than a quick photo break.

Forty-five minutes is a useful amount of time for most cruise passengers. It is long enough to move between viewpoints without turning the visit into a hike. Still, you should watch the clock. Icelandic weather can make paths wet, and the group cannot wait indefinitely for one last photograph.

Skútustaðagígar and the strange shape of pseudocraters

The drive from Goðafoss to the Lake Mývatn area takes about 45 minutes. Your first stop around the lake is Skútustaðagígar, where you spend about 30 minutes seeing pseudocraters.

These formations look like small volcanic craters, but they did not form in the same way as a traditional volcano. They developed when hot lava flowed over wet ground and trapped water beneath it. Steam pressure then caused small explosions, leaving the rounded shapes you see today.

This is one of the best stops for understanding why Mývatn feels so unusual. The surface is not simply a lake beside hills. It is marked by low circular forms and volcanic textures that give the area its almost lunar appearance. The stop is short, but the formations are close enough to appreciate without a long walk.

You might find insects around the lake in warmer months. Johanna has provided bug nets for the lake and lava areas, a small but useful touch. I would still bring practical outdoor clothing and be ready for changing conditions, since the tour takes place in exposed natural areas.

Dimmuborgir’s twisted lava formations

A short five-minute drive brings you to Dimmuborgir, where the group spends about 30 minutes. The name is often translated as Dark Castles, and the site earns it. Hardened lava has formed rough walls, pillars, and openings that create a tense, almost theatrical setting.

I like Dimmuborgir because it looks so different from Goðafoss and Skútustaðagígar. The waterfall is about moving water, the pseudocraters are about volcanic pressure, and Dimmuborgir shows what happens when lava cools into solid shapes. You can walk among the formations and see how uneven and sculptural the lava is.

Thirty minutes gives you a useful introduction, not a full exploration. If you enjoy geology or photography, you may wish for more time. On a port day, though, the short visit helps keep the whole route on schedule. Wear shoes suitable for uneven ground, and stay with the timing given by your guide.

Hverir’s boiling mud and sulfur steam

Another five-minute drive takes you to Hverir, a geothermal area where the earth releases heat through boiling mud pools and fumaroles. The colors and textures are striking, but the smell can be strong. That sulfur scent is part of the experience, not a sign that something has gone wrong.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. You can see mud bubbling, steam rising, and mineral-stained ground in shades that contrast with the darker volcanic rock. I think Hverir gives the tour a needed change of pace. After waterfalls and lava, you see Iceland’s heat working from below.

The schedule labels this stop as sightseeing with time for shopping, but the main draw is the geothermal area itself. Keep to marked paths and follow your guide’s instructions. This is an active geothermal site, and the ground is not a place to wander casually.

The Mývatn Nature Baths option

The planned itinerary includes about 90 minutes at the Mývatn Nature Baths, but this stop is optional and depends on your cruise ship’s departure time. Admission is not included in the $179 price, so you need to budget for the entrance fee separately.

If the timing works, the baths can change the feel of the day. After a series of outdoor stops, you get a chance to sit in a geothermal pool and rest before the drive back to Akureyri. I can see why this is a popular addition, especially for anyone who wants more than sightseeing.

Do not assume the soak is guaranteed. The tour has to get you back to the port, and the operator may adjust the schedule to match your ship. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you hope to enter. If the baths are not possible, the sightseeing portion still includes the waterfall, pseudocraters, lava field, geothermal area, and Mývatn scenery.

The drive back and the cruise-ship timetable

From the Mývatn area, the return drive to Akureyri takes about 75 minutes. That is a significant amount of time, but it gives you another chance to watch the scenery change as you leave the volcanic zone and return toward the fjord.

The tour lasts about seven hours from port to port. Cruise passengers should treat the ship schedule as the central fact of the day. The guide may shorten or rearrange stops if your time ashore changes, and that is a good thing. One guide managed to fit in the main sights during a shorter port call by continually adjusting the timing.

Mechanical trouble has occurred at least once, causing a delay of about 90 minutes. That kind of problem is uncommon in any excursion, but it shows why you should confirm the operator’s return plan and avoid booking a ship departure too close to the advertised end time. The tour is designed for cruise passengers, but every shore excursion carries some timing risk.

Guides, group size, and the human side of the tour

The guides are one of the clearest strengths. Johanna has been praised for her enthusiasm and for her affection for Akureyri and its surrounding nature. Agust was described as especially accommodating, while Siggi made the day feel easy and enjoyable. Matti and Bo also received strong marks for their driving, professionalism, humor, and ability to explain the sights.

I would choose this tour partly for that personal element. A good guide can turn a string of stops into a connected story about water, volcanic fire, geothermal heat, and the people who live in northern Iceland. The guides also appear willing to give you time to wander rather than keeping everyone beside the van at every moment.

The group is described as small, though an exact maximum is not provided. In one case, passengers were moved to another company to consolidate groups. That did not prevent the tour from moving efficiently, but it is worth knowing that the operating vehicle or company may change.

Food, costs, and what the $179 includes

The $179 price includes pickup at Akureyri Port, transportation, and a live English-speaking guide. Food, drinks, and the Mývatn Nature Baths entrance fee are extra. There is a lunch stop at a local restaurant, so you should carry a payment method and allow room in your budget for that meal.

I consider the price reasonable for a cruise passenger who wants to cover this much ground with a guide. The route includes several separate attractions that would take planning and driving to connect independently. The value is strongest when your ship gives you only one day in Akureyri and you want the logistics handled.

The value is weaker if you already have a rental car, plenty of time in northern Iceland, or little interest in geology. You will spend much of the day in the van, and the stops are measured in minutes rather than hours. In that case, a slower private plan might suit you better, though it would likely cost more.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your cruise schedule is still shifting, but they do not remove the need to check your ship’s docking and departure times carefully.

Who should book this Mývatn day trip?

I would recommend it to cruise passengers who want a broad sample of northeastern Iceland in one organized outing. It suits you especially well if you like waterfalls, unusual volcanic formations, geothermal areas, and guided sightseeing more than strenuous walking.

It is also a good match if you value a guide who can explain what you are seeing and adjust the route when time changes. The positive feedback around Johanna, Agust, Siggi, Matti, and Bo points to a consistently strong guiding team.

I would hesitate if your priority is a long soak at the Nature Baths. The baths depend on the sailing schedule, and admission costs extra. I would also hesitate if you want to spend much time in Akureyri itself. One passenger wished for more town time, and that is a fair trade-off: this excursion sends you away from the city to see Mývatn.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you have one port day, want Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn in the same outing, and prefer a guide to handle the roads and timing. The route is busy, but it is packed with sights that feel genuinely different from one another.

Skip it if you want a slow day, a guaranteed bath visit, or extended time in Akureyri. For most cruise passengers, though, the combination of strong guides, flexible timing, and a varied volcanic route makes $179 a fair price for a memorable seven hours.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts about seven hours, including pickup at Akureyri Cruise Terminal and the return to the terminal.

Where does pickup take place in Akureyri?

Pickup is at Akureyri Port. At Tangabryggja Port, meet Star Travel at wooden house number 3. At Oddeyrarbryggja Port, look near the Icewear shop and designated agent area for a Star Travel sign and a colleague wearing a bright yellow jacket.

Is this tour designed for cruise ship passengers?

Yes. The tour is specifically intended for cruise ship passengers arriving in Akureyri.

What language does the guide speak?

The live guide speaks English.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour includes a lunch stop at a local restaurant, but food and drinks are not included in the price.

Is admission to the Mývatn Nature Baths included?

No. Entrance to the Mývatn Nature Baths costs extra.

Is the visit to the Mývatn Nature Baths guaranteed?

No. The stop depends on your cruise ship’s departure time. Bring a swimsuit and towel if your schedule allows you to enter.

What sights are included during the day?

The route includes Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters, Dimmuborgir lava field, Hverir geothermal area, and scenery around Lake Mývatn. The Mývatn Nature Baths may be added if time permits.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.