Is it worth it?

Lake Mývatn is worth a full day in the north

Short answer

Worth it

Worth it if you are in the north: lava pillars, craters, steaming ground and the Nature Baths within half an hour of each other. Not worth a flight from Reykjavík on its own for a short trip.

The short version

  • Worth it. Worth it if you are in the north: lava pillars, craters, steaming ground and the Nature Baths within half an hour of each other. Not worth a flight from Reykjavík on its own for a short trip.
  • We hold 40 day tours here from 13 operators, median €204 a person, cheapest €43.
  • Cheaper alternative: With a car, drive the lake loop yourself in an afternoon; nearly everything is signposted and free.

Worth it if

  • You are in Akureyri or driving the Ring Road.
  • You like volcanic landscape more than waterfalls.
  • You want a lagoon without the Blue Lagoon crowds.

Not worth it if

  • You have four days or fewer and are staying in Reykjavík.
  • You are here in midsummer and hate midges. The lake is named for them.

What you are actually paying for

A day tour from Akureyri is transport and a guide. The sights are free apart from the Nature Baths.

Across our own contracted catalogue, sightseeing day tours day tours run to a median of €204 a person, with the cheapest we hold at €43, from 13 operators. Private and per-vehicle products are excluded, because mixing them into a per-person figure makes it meaningless.

The cheaper thing to do instead

With a car, drive the lake loop yourself in an afternoon; nearly everything is signposted and free.

If you decide it is worth it

What we actually hold, with live prices and departures. Nothing here is a placeholder listing — if it is on this page, it can be booked.

Arctic Adventures

Mývatn, Goðafoss & Grjótagjá Half Day Tour From Akureyri

from €125 per person4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator

from age 6 · meet at the start point

6 h · from Akureyri

  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h
  • Book same day

Discover North Iceland’s highlights on a half-day tour to Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Hverir geothermal area, Dimmuborgir lava fields, Grjótagjá cave, and Skútustaðir craters.

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Magic Iceland Travel

Akureyri: Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss & Lava Fields Cruise Tour

from €161 per person4.80· 184 Google reviews of the operator

about the usual price

from age 6 · pickup included

6 h · from Akureyri

  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h

Explore the volcanic wonders of North Iceland on this comfortable shore excursion from Akureyri. Visit the majestic Goðafoss waterfall, the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the famous Mývatn craters and the surreal landscapes of the Fly Lands.

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Keep reading

Questions people ask

Is Lake Mývatn worth it?

Worth it if you are in the north: lava pillars, craters, steaming ground and the Nature Baths within half an hour of each other. Not worth a flight from Reykjavík on its own for a short trip.

How long do you need at Mývatn?

One full day covers the main stops and a soak. Two lets you add Dettifoss or Húsavík.

Why take our word for it

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 206 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Other things people ask about

All 42 verdicts →

Last updated · prices and departures checked 24 Oct 2026

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