Diamond Circle: route guide

The circle runs from Akureyri east along the Ring Road (Route 1) to Goðafoss, continues to the Mývatn area, then north on Route 85 past Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi to Húsavík, and back west to Akureyri. It is a loop, so you can drive it either direction; most people go clockwise to reach Goðafoss early.

Distances below are road distances between stops and are approximate; check current road conditions and closures before setting out, especially on the Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi spurs.

Goðafoss sits just off the Ring Road and is the easiest big stop: a wide horseshoe of water with parking on both banks and a short walk to viewpoints. It is the traditional first stop out of Akureyri.

The Mývatn area is where most of a day disappears. Reykjahlíð is the service base; nearby are the geothermal vents and mud pools at Hverir, the lava formations at Dimmuborgir, and the crater Hverfjall. Allow two to three hours here at minimum, more if you hike.

Dettifoss is reached by a gravel spur off Route 85. It is the most powerful waterfall in Europe by volume, and the walk from the car park to the viewing edge takes about ten minutes each way. The east-bank road is rougher; the west-bank approach is the more common one.

Ásbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped canyon north of Dettifoss, with easy walking trails on the canyon floor. Húsavík, on the coast, is the whale-watching town and the natural overnight stop before the drive back to Akureyri.

Summer, roughly June to August, is when every road and service on the loop is open and daylight is long enough to drive late. This is also the busiest period, so book Mývatn and Húsavík accommodation well ahead.

May and September are quieter and usually still drivable, but some gravel spurs and facilities may be closed; check before relying on them. In winter the loop is not a casual drive: snow, ice and short daylight make it a specialist trip, and some sections and side roads close.

Akureyri is the largest town in the region and the usual base before or after the loop, with the widest choice of hotels, guesthouses and hostels. Mývatn (around Reykjahlíð) puts you inside the geothermal area and is the best base for a two-day version. Húsavík suits whale-watching mornings and has a good spread of guesthouses and hotels.

For a one-day loop you can sleep in Akureyri both nights. For two days, sleep at Mývatn or Húsavík and split the driving. Camping is possible in season at Mývatn and near Húsavík; check opening dates.

You need your own car or a tour; there is no public transport that covers the full circle. Fill the tank in Akureyri or Húsavík, as fuel stops on the loop are limited. Carry food and water, as services between towns are sparse.

Check road conditions and weather before you leave, and again before the Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi spurs, which can be gravel and rough. Fuel up, charge your phone, and tell someone your plan if you are driving the loop late in the day.