North Iceland: Wild, Remote and Unmissable

North Iceland is the least visited of Iceland's main regions relative to its size and attractions — a structural imbalance caused by the South Coast's proximity to Reykjavik and Keflavik Airport. Visitors who make the 5 to 6 hour drive from the capital (or fly to Akureyri) discover a region of extraordinary diversity: the Myvatn volcanic lake with its craters and geothermal fields, the whale watching capital of Europe at Husavik, the Godafoss waterfall, the powerful Dettifoss (Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume), and Iceland's second city Akureyri — a functioning cultural capital with more cafés, galleries and restaurants per capita than Reykjavik.

Akureyri

Akureyri sits at the head of Iceland's longest fjord, surrounded by mountains, and functions as North Iceland's logistical hub and cultural centre. The city has a botanical garden (the northernmost in the world) that flourishes despite being at 65°N, a well-developed restaurant scene including Rub23 (sushi and Icelandic seafood fusion), excellent guesthouses, and a Christmas House (Jólahúsið) open year-round selling Icelandic Christmas goods. Akureyri Airport has direct flights from Reykjavik (45 minutes) via Air Iceland Connect, making North Iceland accessible without the full Ring Road drive.

Husavik and Whale Watching

Husavik, 90km northeast of Akureyri, is the self-declared whale watching capital of Europe. The cold, nutrient-rich waters of Skjalfandi Bay attract humpback whales from June to September in remarkable numbers — tour success rates exceed 95% on most summer days. Multiple operators run traditional wooden boat tours and RIB speedboat tours. The Husavik Whale Museum provides excellent cetacean context before or after the tour. The small town itself is picturesque — a cluster of colourful houses around a harbour framed by the Kinnarfjoll mountains across the bay.

Dettifoss and Jokulsargljufur

Dettifoss — Europe's most powerful waterfall — is 2 hours from Akureyri via Route 1 and the F862 or F864 approach roads. The canyon it occupies, Jokulsargljufur, extends 25km north of Dettifoss and contains additional waterfalls (Selfoss, Hafragilsfoss) and the extraordinary Asbyrgi horseshoe canyon — believed in Norse mythology to be the footprint of Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir, and scientifically formed by a catastrophic glacial outburst flood.

North Iceland's distinctive advantage over the South Coast is the combination of geological, cultural, and wildlife diversity within a relatively compact area. The 200km from Akureyri to Dettifoss encompasses volcanic lakes, geothermal areas, Iceland's second city, Europe's whale watching capital, and the continent's most powerful waterfall — a concentration that even the celebrated South Coast cannot match for variety per kilometre. The North's disadvantage is access: the 5 to 6 hour drive from Reykjavik is the primary barrier. Air Iceland Connect's Reykjavik-Akureyri route (45 minutes, multiple daily flights) resolves this for visitors willing to fly within Iceland and collect a rental car at Akureyri Airport. This fly-drive approach to North Iceland is increasingly popular and efficient.

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