Things to do in Akureyri
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Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Day Trip from Akureyri with BathsYou’ll stand close enough to Godafoss waterfall to feel its spray, walk through Lake Myvatn’s steaming mud pools and lava fields, and end your day soaking in natural baths (entry extra). With local pickup from Akureyri and a guide who shares stories only locals seem to know, this day trip leaves you with more than just photos.
Godafoss & Lake Mývatn Tour: Small Group Shore ExcursionA guided small-group tour from Akureyri port visits Godafoss waterfall, the pseudo craters and lava formations of Lake Mývatn, a geothermal area with boiling mud, and ends at the Nature Baths for a soak in geothermal water. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours with pickup and drop-off at the port, flexible departure times to match cruise arrivals, and a guarantee you return before the ship leaves. Guides speak English and drive a comfortable minibus; WiFi is available on board.Is it for me?Choose your departure time to align with your ship's schedule, then head straight from the port to Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn without coordinating transport separately.
Godafoss & Forest Lagoon tour: Small-group shore excursionThis small-group shore excursion departs from Akureyri port and visits Godafoss waterfall, the Laufás turf-house museum and Forest Lagoon geothermal baths in five hours, returning you to the ship on time. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide, transport by minibus, museum entry and port pickup; you choose a departure time that fits your cruise arrival. Meals and the Forest Lagoon bath entry are not included, so bring swimwear and a towel if you plan to soak.Is it for me?The five-hour route includes walking through the turf-house museum and standing at the waterfall, so wear sturdy shoes and layers for changing weather. If you plan to soak in the Forest Lagoon, bring swimwear and a towel, and budget the separate bath entry fee at the site.
Northern Lights Tour from Akureyri: Hunt with a Local GuideA Northern Lights hunt from Akureyri takes you by minibus from town into the dark countryside with a local guide who shares Icelandic stories along the way. The tour runs two to three hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off; if the lights don't appear, you get a free retry the next evening (when a group tour is scheduled). Children from age three are welcome.Is it for me?The two- to three-hour window fits a free evening or an afternoon that clears by nightfall, leaving the rest of your day in Akureyri open. If you're arriving in town and want to hunt the lights the same night, this tour works; if you need a longer outing or a full-day commitment, this is a focused night hunt instead.
Akureyri Food Walk: 4-5 Tastings With a Local GuideA 2.5-hour food walk through Akureyri led by a local guide who stops at 4–5 neighborhood restaurants and hidden spots to taste Icelandic lamb, fresh fish, hot dogs and ice cream. The guide shares stories about the city and Icelandic culture while you eat your way through the places locals actually go, not the tourist circuit.Is it for me?The guide speaks English, so you'll follow the stories and context without translation. It suits anyone who wants to eat the way locals do instead of following a tourist menu, and works for families with children from age 4 onward.
Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss tour: Nature baths, small groupA small group tour from Akureyri covers Goðafoss waterfall, pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir's lava formations, Hverir's boiling mud and the Mývatn Nature Baths in a single eight-hour loop with a driver-guide and hotel pickup included. The tour visits four distinct geothermal and volcanic sites, though entry to the Nature Baths and bathing gear are separate bookings you arrange at checkout.Is it for me?Eight hours is long enough to hit four distinct sites without rushing, but short enough to leave your afternoon free — if you want a full day of geology and geothermal activity without an overnight, this loop holds it all. If you plan to soak in the Nature Baths, book that entry separately and bring your bathing gear; if you skip the bath, the tour still stops there and you see the grounds.
Northern Lights Tour from Akureyri: Guided Bus TourA guided Northern Lights tour from Akureyri takes you on a three-hour bus journey through North Iceland with a local expert and an English-speaking guide, chasing clear skies to see the aurora. The tour includes pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and WiFi on board; children from age 6 are welcome. You travel to locations chosen for cloud cover and light pollution that night, so the route changes based on conditions.Is it for me?This tour suits anyone without a rental car or winter driving experience who wants to hunt the Northern Lights without navigating Iceland's dark roads themselves. The shared bus and fixed schedule mean you're not alone if the aurora doesn't appear, and the local guide reads the weather in real time — something a self-drive approach would require you to do.
Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour from AkureyriThis guided night tour from Akureyri starts at Forest Lagoon, a geothermal spa ringed by birch and pine trees with views across Iceland's longest fjord, where you soak in warm water for the first part of the evening. After the baths, your guide drives you outside the city to escape light pollution and search for the Northern Lights, a 4.5-hour tour that includes entrance to the lagoon, a towel, and a licensed English-speaking guide. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed, though the operator will offer a free return trip if they don't appear.Is it for me?At 4.5 hours including drive time, this tour fits into an evening without consuming your whole day—you soak in the lagoon and hunt the lights without needing to commit to a full overnight excursion or book separate activities.
Northern Lights Photography from Akureyri: Hunt Aurora BorealisA Northern Lights photography tour from Akureyri takes you by vehicle into the dark countryside and mountains surrounding the town, away from electric light, to watch and photograph the Aurora Borealis as it displays across the night sky. The tour runs three hours, includes a live English-speaking guide and pickup from Akureyri, and depends on clear skies and solar activity. Children from age 3 are welcome; you receive digital photographs of the Northern Lights captured during the tour.Is it for me?The guide speaks English throughout, so you can follow the commentary and the photography tips without translation. This works for families with children from age 3, solo travelers, and anyone comfortable with a late-night outing in the Icelandic winter cold.
Northern Lights Photography Tour: Akureyri 4x4 Local GuideA Northern Lights photography tour from Akureyri takes you by 4x4 into the countryside away from city lights, with a local guide, hot chocolate and biscuits included. The tour runs 2.5 hours. If no lights appear, you get a free retry the next evening (when a group tour is scheduled). Hotel pickup and drop-off in Akureyri are included, and children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Your guide drives a 4x4 into the dark countryside around Akureyri, moving to wherever the lights appear strongest that night—local expertise and a vehicle built for this terrain mean you're actually hunting, not just waiting.
Askja Volcano Tour Iceland: Hike Víti Crater & Geothermal LakeThe Askja Caldera tour is a full-day guided Jeep tour into Iceland's interior highlands, combining a drive through stark volcanic terrain with a hike to the explosion crater Víti and a geothermal lake. The day includes stops to meet locals, packed lunch with locally sourced ingredients, and dinner with non-alcoholic beverages; a live English-speaking guide leads the group, and pickup is included. Children are welcome from age 12.Is it for me?The usual Icelandic volcano tour stays on marked roads and paved viewpoints. This one takes you into the highlands where regular cars cannot go, puts you inside an active crater, and lets you bathe in geothermal water while standing where NASA trained for the moon—the Jeep and the guide handle all the logistics so you just show up and hike.
