Popular routes
Diamond Circle
A roughly 250-kilometre loop in the northeast between Akureyri and Húsavík. A fraction of the crowds of the south, and every bit as ambitious in scale.
- Distance
- ~250 km
- Time
- 1 – 2 days
- Base
- Akureyri or Húsavík
If the south has its Golden Circle, the north has its Diamond Circle, and the most obvious difference between them is the crowds. Waterfalls and breathtaking views on the same grand scale are waiting here too, but you don’t need to leave at first light to find a parking space.
The route draws a loop between Akureyri and Húsavík and links four very different attractions: Europe’s most powerful waterfall, a bubbling geothermal field, a giant horseshoe-shaped canyon and the country’s whale-watching capital. It fits into one day, but at a brisk pace; spending a night in Húsavík makes the trip far more relaxed.
The order of stops matters too. In winter you need to factor in road conditions to reach Dettifoss. Leaving Húsavík for the end of the day is the most practical choice: you can join an afternoon whale-watching trip and finish with a good dinner in town.
The short answer
- Where to start
- Akureyri or Húsavík
- Which direction
- Goðafoss first, Húsavík last
- Car
- A small car is fine
- Whale season
- April – October
- Season
- All year · Dettifoss west bank closed in winter
Stops on the route
In driving order. Each stop has its own page with coordinates, road conditions and what to know before you go.
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Waterfall Free
Goðafoss, Waterfall of the Gods
One of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, Goðafoss is the historic spot where the statues of the pagan gods were thrown into the water when Christianity was adopted in the year 1000. Pouring in a crescent over the Skjálfandafljót river, it is one of North Iceland’s grandest natural wonders.
Akureyri 27 km Reykjavík 268 km
- 45 min
- Paved
- Easy
-
Viewpoint Free
Mývatn
A shallow lake with a crater landscape around it; in summer be ready for clouds of midges.
Húsavík 51 km Reykjavík 284 km
- 3 hours
- Paved
- Easy
-
Waterfall Free
Dettifoss
With vast volumes of glacial meltwater pouring over it every second, Dettifoss is Europe’s most powerful waterfall by flow. Framed by a black canyon and its roaring water, it shows the raw power of Icelandic nature more strikingly than anywhere else.
Húsavík 50 km Reykjavík 320 km
- 1 hour
- Gravel
- Easy
-
Hiking trail Free
Ásbyrgi Horseshoe Canyon
In Norse mythology Ásbyrgi was formed where Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse, set down a hoof. With its giant horseshoe shape, 100-metre sheer basalt cliffs and the hidden birch wood inside, it is one of the grandest natural wonders of Vatnajökull National Park.
Húsavík 38 km Reykjavík 329 km
- 1 hour
- Paved
- Easy
-
Town Free
Húsavík
On the shore of Skjálfandi Bay, Húsavík is known as the “Whale-Watching Capital of Europe” for its high sighting rates. With its colourful wooden houses, Whale Museum and geothermal sea baths, it is one of North Iceland’s most charming coastal towns.
Akureyri 53 km Reykjavík 301 km
- 3 hours
- Paved
- Easy
-
Geyser Free
Námaskarð (Hverir)
Boiling mud pools and the smell of sulphur; also known as Hverir.
Húsavík 50 km Reykjavík 293 km
- 45 min
- Paved
- Easy
