Lake Myvatn Hot Springs & Godafoss Waterfall Tour From Akureyri

Godafoss earns its name—waterfall of the gods—from an Icelandic conversion event in the year 1000, when a lawspeaker threw pagan idols into the cascade to symbolize the nation's adoption of Christianity. The falls split the Skjálfandafljót River into twin arcs that drop twelve meters over a hundred-meter-wide basalt ledge. Parking sits on both the east and west banks, with the western viewpoint offering the most direct sightline to the full horseshoe. Most visitors spend thirty to forty minutes here before continuing east toward Lake Myvatn. The lake myvatn hot springs & godafoss waterfall tour from akureyri shifts character as you approach the Mývatn basin. The lake itself—Iceland's fourth largest—sits in an active volcanic zone marked by lava fields, steam vents, and pseudocraters formed when molten rock met shallow water two thousand years ago. The Mývatn Nature Baths, now rebranded as Earth Lagoon, opened in 2004 as the north's answer to the Blue Lagoon. The water originates from a borehole drilled into the Bjarnarflag geothermal area and emerges at temperatures requiring no external heating. High mineral content—particularly silica and sulfur—gives the lagoon its milky blue tint and smooth texture. Earth Lagoon's 12:00 opening means morning departures from Akureyri allow time at Godafoss without waiting at locked gates. The 7,900 ISK base entry includes lagoon access, showers, and towel rental; lockers and robes cost extra. The facility holds three hundred guests comfortably, but summer afternoons between 14:00 and 17:00 see the heaviest traffic. Arriving closer to noon or after 18:00 provides more personal space and better photo conditions as low-angle light hits the surrounding lava. The return drive to Akureyri retraces Route 1, passing Godafoss a second time if daylight permits a sunset stop. Total driving time for the circuit sits near three hours, leaving four to five hours for stops if you depart Akureyri by 09:00. Winter reduces daylight to five hours, compressing the itinerary but offering northern lights potential during the return leg. The road remains paved and plowed year-round, though ice and wind require caution between November and March.