11 Things To Do In Lake Myvatn Area

Myvatn is one of the prettiest regions in northern Iceland. Almost everyone doing a road trip along the Ring Road (Route 1), should plan for at least one full day there. But what should you do and see there? The list of possibilities is quite large. To help you, I have prepared a list of the 11 best things to do in the lake Myvatn area.

Lake Myvatn: General Facts

Lake Myvatn is part of the Diamond Circle sightseeing route, together with Dettifoss waterfall, Husavík town, and Ásbyrgi canyon.

If you are planning to spend some time in this area, here are some interesting facts about it:

It is a volcanic lake and it is believed to have formed around 2300 years ago during a big eruption.
Lake Myvatn is the 4th largest lake in Iceland.
The lake got its name from the small mosquito-like insects that are in the area. In fact, Lake Myvatn translates into English as “lake of midges”, which are tiny insects that are everywhere!
There is a huge diversity of animal life around the lake, particularly birds.

Accommodation in the Lake Myvatn Area

There are many things to see and visit around Lake Myvatn. To be able to enjoy this beautiful region in the North of Iceland, I recommend spending a minimum of one night here. Here are some hotel and guesthouse recommendations.

We stayed 2 nights at the Skútustadir Guesthouse and we had a fantastic time there. It is a family-owned guesthouse and they were super helpful and friendly.

Best Things to Do in the Lake Myvatn Area

Before I begin with my list of the best things to do near Lake Myvatn, I would like to say that the list is in no particular order. You should also not feel pressured to do or see all of them. This is just a list to help you plan your visit to the area.

The map at the end of the blog will show where everything is located (sightseeing places, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses, etc.).

1. Enjoy the beauty of Myvatn Lake

There’s a reason why Lake Myvatn is one of the top visited places in northern Iceland. If you are spending some time near the lake, make sure to at least stop at one or two of the many viewpoints it has all around it. The contrast between its clear waters and the volcanic lava covered in moss is absolutely beautiful.

In addition, if you enjoy bird spotting this is just the place for you. More duck species live in Myvatn than anywhere else in the world.

2. Go for a short walk in Hofdi

Hofdi (or Höfði in Icelandic) is a small peninsula in Lake Mivatn. There are two main reasons why you should visit Hofdi.

It has a small forest, which is quite unique for Iceland. These trees are there, thanks to a couple that used to spend their summers in Iceland. Tired of not seeing that many trees, they spent decades planting trees on this small peninsula. When the husband passed away, the woman donated the place and it was converted into a park.
From this park you will have a great view of the lava pillars of Kálfastrandavogar.

To complete a loop around Hofdi, you will only need 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how much time you take to admire the views.

3. Be impressed by the blue waters in Grjótagjá & Stjóragjá caves

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave with a geothermal hot spring inside it with beautiful blue water. In the past, it used to be possible to bathe in it but it is no longer possible. However, during the Krafla eruptions between 1975 to 1984, the temperature rose to around 70ºC and bathing has been forbidden ever since.

Grjótagjá used to be one of those “hidden gems” in Iceland until it appeared in the TV show Game of Thrones.

Next to Grjótagjá, there is a second lesser-known cave: Stóragjá. Reaching Stjóragjá is more complicated though and it involves descending through a small hole with ropes and chains. The temperature of the water in this cave is lower than in Grjótagjá but bathing is not allowed either.

4. Feel like you're out of this planet at Hverir Geothermal Area

Hverir is a geothermal area, next to the Ring Road full of boiling mud pools, fumaroles, and sulphur fields. Walking in between the mud and sulphurous mud potholes will make you feel you’re no longer on Earth.

If you have some extra time and energy, you can complete your visit to Hverir with a short 4km hike up to Námafjall mountain. From there you will get insane aereal views of Hverir!

5. Walk along the rim of a crater at Hverfjall

Hverfjall is a circular crater right next to the lake. It is 450m high and has a 1km diameter. The rim of the crater can be fully walked giving you an incredible 360-degree view of the crater and its surroundings.

There are two paths that you can take to get to the top of the crater, one at the northwest part and one to the south. However, keep in mind that the southern path is more demanding and it involves rock climbing at some points.

6. Relax at the Myvatn Nature Baths

Myvatn Nature Baths are the most popular geothermal pools in the north of Iceland. It is often called the Blue Lagoon of the North since the water has a similar blue color.

Here you will be able to:

Relax in its pool while admiring the view or even the Northern Lights during the winter.
Get a drink at its swim-up bar inside the pool
Steam-up inside its sauna.

Information about price tickets and opening hours is available on their website.

7. Explore the Dimmuborgir caves

Dimmuborgir is a big lava field west of Lake Myvatn, popular for its incredible lava formations and caves. These caves were created due to the hot air bubbles inside the lava.

There are several walking paths around Dimmuborgir depending on how much time you have.

If you are short on time, you can just do the yellow trail which already gives you a general idea of the area.
On the other hand, if you have some extra time, a combination of the yellow and red trails will ensure you get to see all the main sights.

8. Admire the blue lake inside the Krafla Viti Crater

The Viti Crater in the Krafla Caldera is one of those craters that you will not forget easily. Inside it, you will find one of the bluest lakes you can imagine! Just remember, even though you might be tempted, bathing in this lake is not allowed.

Visiting this lake is very easy. The parking is just a few meters away from the crater, and you don’t even have to go uphill to be able to see the water inside it.

9. Go for a hike in Leinhjúkur Lava Fields

Right next to the Viti Crater and also in the Krafla Caldera, you can find the Leinhjúkur Lava Fields. Going for a hike in these lava fields is another must-have experience in Iceland. It combines endless lava fields, where moss and little flowers are growing despite the arid conditions with boiling mud holes and sulfurous mountains.

10. Explore the Skútustaðagígar Pseudocraters

Located in the southern part of the lake, you can visit a weird geological phenomenon known as pseudocraters. These are shallow craters. Similar formations to these ones can also be found in Hawaii and on Mars.

There are two different trails you can follow if you want to visit them. The first one is only 1,5km long and it’s accessible for wheelchairs. The second one is 3km long.

11. Try the best ice cream in the Myvatn area.

Right across the road from the Pseudocraters, you can find a small family-owned ice cream shop, Skutais Ice Cream Farm. The ice creams in this shop are made with milk from the cows of the farm that owns the shop and I can guarantee you they are delicious!

Can you find a better way to end your day exploring Lake Myvatn? You can find opening hours on their website.

Tips for Visiting Lake Myvatn Area

To end this blog, here are some tips to prepare for your visit to the Lake Myvatn area.

When planning your visit, I recommend staying at least one full day (2 nights) in the area. This will allow you to at least visit the main sites without having to rush. This is what I did and I got to do many of the activities in this blog but was not able to do them all.
Get a mosquito net for your head. Particularly if you are visiting during the summer months. You may think you look ridiculous with it, but trust me, you will be thankful for it.
Food options are limited around the lake. The area around the lake is not very urbanized. This means that you might have to wait if you want to get a table or think about making reservations ahead of time.

Map with the Best Things to Do in Lake Myvatn

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