Distance from Akureyri: 51 km
Approximate travel time: 45 minutes

One of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland located on the Skjálfandafljót river in the Mývatn district. The name of the waterfall has to do with the Icelandic history.

Somewhere around year 1000 the Viking and lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament – Þorgeir Þorkelsson Ljósvetningagoði – made Christianity the official religion of Iceland.

After his conversion it is said that upon returning from the parliament, Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall, for which it is now known in Icelandic as Goðafoss, the “waterfall of the gods”.

Distance from Akureyri: 144 km
Approximate travel time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Dettifoss is Iceland’s greatest and most majestic waterfall. It is situated on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, which flows from the Vatnajökull glacier and collects water from a large area in Northeast Iceland. It is also rated as Europe’s most powerful waterfall in terms of volume discharge. Dettifoss is 45 metres in height and 100 metres wide.

The average flow is 193 cubic metres per second but during floods it reaches up to 600 m3/s. Dettifoss enormous power can be felt if you lay your hand on a rock close to the waterfall, it vibrates!

Distance from Akureyri: 155 km
Approximate travel time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Ásbyrgi is undoubtedly one of Iceland’s most fascinated wonders of nature. The canyon measures approximately 3.5 km in length and 1.1 km across and is a part of Vatnajökull National Park. Ásbyrgi was most likely formed by catastrophic glacial flooding of the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum after the last Ice Age, first 8-10,000 years ago, and then again some 3,000 years ago.

The river has since changed its course and now runs about 2 km to the east. The legend explains the unusual shape of the canyon differently. It is said that the canyon was formed when Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, stepped down here leaving its giant hoof print.

Distance from Akureyri: 95 km
Approximate travel time: 1 hours 15 minutes

Húsavík town has become the whale watch capital of northern Europe due to whales of different species that frequently enter the Skjálfandi bay. There are two whale watching companies in the town, North Sailing and Gentle Giants, offering several guided boat excursions.

You can even have more fun if you go to the Húsavík Whale Museum – world class centre with stunning exhibits – located in the downtown by the harbor.

Distance from Akureyri: 78 km
Approximate travel time: 1 hours 20 minutes

We would like to recommend you to take a drive north out of Akureyri over road 1, in the direction of Reykjavík. After 10 km, turn right onto road 82. This beautiful road lies along the shore of Eyjafjörður fjord, and brings you to Dalvík, Ólafsfjörður and finally Siglufjörður village. The goal is to discover four Icelandic road tunnels what is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Before you arrive to the Ólafsfjörður village you will drive through a 3,4-kilometer long Múlagöng tunnel. Then you will drive through the Héðinsfjarðargöng tunnel. Héðinsfjarðargöng are in fact two tunnels, a 7,1-kilometer long tunnel between Ólafsfjörður and Héðinsfjöður fjord, and a 3,9-kilometer long tunnel between Héðinsfjörður fjord and Siglufjörður. Between the two tunnels in Héðinsfjörður fjord there is a pit stop where travelers can park their cars and enjoy the view. Finally, driving through the Siglufjörður village, you will discover the oldest Icelandic tunnel, a 800 meter long Strákagöng.

You can see more travel tips and information at North of Iceland’s home page, northiceland.is.