North Iceland is the proud region of Iceland with dramatic landscapes, gigantic waterfalls, beautiful villages & of course, lots of Nature. There are many attractions in North Iceland that are really worth visiting. I
Watch my complete video on North Iceland
spent 4 days in the North & here are all the places that I have been to:
1. Mývatn
When you are in North Iceland, the first thing that you should do is visit Mývatn Nature Baths. This is similar to the more famous Blue Lagoon located in the Reykjanes Peninsula but cheaper, cozier & less-crowded. Mývatn is one of the most popular nature baths in the country. It is easily reachable from Akureyri (97 km). There are 2 separate pools of different temperatures, a restaurant & a bar. It is not as crowded as Blue Lagoon which makes it more private & enjoyable.
2. Námafjall & Hverir
Only 15 km away from Mývatn Nature Baths, there’s a volcanic mountain called Námafjall. At the foothills of Námafjall is Hverir. Few of the most active mud pots, mud pools, hot springs & fumaroles are present at Hverir. All in the same spot.
North Iceland’s this part of the terrain is so different that you will feel like you are walking on a different planet. The entire patch of the land is quite barren. It is a fascinating site & you will easily spend at least 2 hours walking around Hverir. The various colors & the amalgamation of geological wonders is simply amazing.
Because of the constant fumes, sulfur & acidic nature of it, there is literally no fauna. Stay on the walking path & do not wander elsewhere because it can be dangerous.
3. Hvítserkur
Hvítserkur rock formation is located in a little remote region of North Iceland. This rock formation is a quite fascinating site to see. Hvítserkur is not a very famous site hence you will hardly find a lot of tourists here. That alone makes it even more special because you can enjoy this spot in peace.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is that Hvítserkur gets immensely windy. A windproof jacket will be very useful. Also, take care of your bags, equipment, because they WILL FLY AWAY! Also, if you want to go down to take a picture of the rock formation, be very careful while getting down & coming up because it is slippery (and risky, according to my mom).
4. Hofsós – The Prettiest Village of North Iceland
This was a quite unique village on my bucket list.
Hofsós is an extremely beautiful town/village located in North Iceland. It is so small that there are only 180 people living in it. In the past, Hofsós was a very important trading post but now, this is a simple town with lesser people & beautiful vistas all around.
The main attraction of this town is the Hofsós Swimming Pool. Located on the seaside & near the entrance of the town, this particular swimming pool was designed by the same architect who designed the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Take a stroll around the town (visit the port), take a dip in the swimming pool, chat with locals & create memories!
5. The Arctic Henge, Raufarhöfn
What kind of places do you like? Other than all the beautiful & pretty attractions, I also like mysterious sites. The Arctic Henge of Raufarhöfn is one of those mysterious sites. It is still under construction but it looks pretty majestic even after a few % of the total construction.
The project of Arctic Henge started in 1996 North Iceland’s remote village of Raufarhöfn. It is a homage to Iceland’s Nordic roots & pagan beliefs. You can read about The Arctic Henge in detail on its official website here.
If you get a chance to spend a night in winter at Raufarhöfn, then don’t miss the chance to catch the Northern Lights from this particular site. It looks phenomenal from The Arctic Henge.
6. Goðafoss
Ah, Goðafoss. The mighty waterfall of the gods. Only 45 minutes away from Akureyri town lies Goðafoss. Located on the ring road, Goðafoss is very reachable.
This waterfall is amazing, okay? This is one of my most favorite spots in Iceland. There are so many opportunities to take pictures here (Like the one above). The waterfall isn’t too dangerous to reach or even see. You will find many people here (but less than Gulfoss). So what’s the story of Goðafoss?
In the year 1000, the king of Iceland made Christianity the official religion of the country. All the remains of the Norsk religion (statutes etc) were submerged in this very waterfall. Goða means Gods’ & foss means, well, waterfall. So Goðafoss essentially means Gods’ Waterfall. It indeed is!
7. Dettifoss
What is I told you the Goðafoss has a BIG (HUGE) brother in the North Iceland itself. Dettifoss is considered to be Europe’s most powerful waterfall. When you see it in real, you know why that title goes to Dettifoss.
To reach Dettifoss, you will have to take a detour of about 30 km from the ring road. The road is paved & open even in Winter. Once you reach the parking spot of Dettifoss, you will have to walk for at least 2 km in snow, mud, water & mostly in rain. If you are prepared to go through all this (which you should be), then you are in for a mighty show of your lifetime.
Dettifoss is one of the natural wonders of the world & I suggest you brave the weather, follow the signs & reach the waterfall. If it is too dangerous, then it will be closed for good, but if it is open, I suggest you take the chance. You can also visit a smaller waterfall nearby -Selfoss in the region. This entire trip can take about 3-4 hours due to all the walking etc., so make sure you have enough time to experience these attractions.
Pictures: Parichay Mehta
Check out more regions of Iceland:
South Iceland | The Golden Circle | Reykjanes Peninsula | West Iceland | West Fjords
Want to know the budget of my Iceland trip? Here you go!
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