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Voykit pocket guide · Iceland
Mývatn
Give Mývatn 2 nights and a car: the 36 km lake road links the main sights, while local public transport is limited.
Mývatn is a shallow lake in North Iceland, formed by an eruption about 2,300 years ago and still set in an active volcanic area. Pseudocraters, lava formations, hot springs and summer birdlife make up the main visit. Stay two nights to cover the lake, Krafla and the geothermal baths without rushing.
- Country
- Iceland
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Winter driving can be difficult; check weather and road conditions before setting out. Midges are common in summer.
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ISK
- Money
- Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK, kr). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including remote petrol stations and toilets. About 145 ISK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget 2026 estimate: 8,000–14,000 kr excl. bed; check · Mid 2026 estimate: 14,000–25,000 kr excl. bed; check · High 2026 estimate: 25,000 kr+ excl. bed; check (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU/EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Emergency 112 · Non-urgent doctor 1700
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected.; Tour guide: Optional; ISK 1,000–3,000 for an excellent guide.; Taxi: Nothing.
- Water
- Cold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it.
- Toilets
- Few on long drives; petrol stations and paid toilets (ISK 200–500) at sites.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 2026 estimate: 500–800 kr; check |
| Soup or sandwich lunch | 2026 estimate: 1,500–2,500 kr; check |
| Main course at a hotel restaurant | 2026 estimate: 3,000–5,000 kr; check |
| Hverabrauð (geothermal rye bread) | 2026 estimate: 1,000–1,500 kr; check |
| Smoked trout | 2026 estimate: 1,500–2,500 kr; check |
| Mývatn Nature Baths entry | 2026 estimate: check |
| Petrol, per litre | 2026 estimate: check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AEY · Akureyri Airport
- Nearest listed airport; onward drive time and transport options: check.
- KEF · Keflavík International Airport
- For most international itineraries, then continue to North Iceland; drive time: check.
Get around
A car is the most flexible way to reach sights around the lake. The road around Mývatn is about 36 km; public transport in the area is limited. Buses connect Reykjahlíð with regional towns, but schedules and stops: check. Cycling is an option in suitable weather; expect exposure to wind and midges.A car is the most flexible way to reach sights around the lake. The road around Mývatn is about 22 mi; public transport in the area is limited. Buses connect Reykjahlíð with regional towns, but schedules and stops: check. Cycling is an option in suitable weather; expect exposure to wind and midges.
See and do
Known for
- Pseudocraters at Skútustaðagígar
- Dimmuborgir lava formations
- Hverfjall crater
- Mývatn Nature Baths
- Birdlife and midges
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Húsavík | Drive via Route 87; bus availability and schedule: check. | About 45–55 min by car; check |
| Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss | Drive east on Route 1, then onward on regional roads; route and seasonal access: check. | Check |
| Akureyri | Drive on Route 1 or check bus schedules from Reykjahlíð. | About 1 h 15 min by car; check |
Sleep
- Reykjahlíð
- Main settlement on the lake; a practical base for the east shore and the road to Krafla. Fuel and groceries: check.
- Skútustaðir
- South shore, close to the pseudocrater trails; accommodation is available in the area.
- Vogar and the north shore
- Guesthouses and camping are listed in this area; availability and seasonal opening: check.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Halló |
| Thank you | Þakka þér |
| How much is it? | Hvað kostar þetta? |
| Where is the toilet? | Hvar er baðherbergið? |
| Can I pay by card? | Get ég borgað með korti? |
| Help | Hjálp |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Using titles or surnames — there usually is no family name
- Pools: Shower naked first, keep the hot pot conversational; avoid: Swimwear in the showers
- Driving: Pull into lay-bys for photos, dip lights on single-lane bridges; avoid: Stopping on the road
- Nature: Stay on paths, carry litter out; avoid: Stone stacks, walking on moss
- Conversation: Ask about books, music, weather and the elves with good humour; avoid: Lecturing on whaling
Scams and watch-outs
- Midges and black flies can be numerous in summer; consider a head net and repellent.
- Geothermal pools and mud pots can be dangerously hot. Keep behind barriers and follow signs.
- Stay on marked paths at Dimmuborgir, where cracks and crevices can be hazardous.
- At Hverfjall, follow posted access rules and remain on permitted paths.
- Weather can change quickly; check forecasts and road conditions before driving.
- Neslönd is a protected nesting area; access restrictions apply during nesting season. Check local signs.
The main risks are changeable weather, hot geothermal features and unstable ground. Check the forecast and road conditions before driving, obey barriers and stay on marked paths. Use 112 for emergencies.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mývatn yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pseudocraters at Skútustaðagígar
- Dimmuborgir lava formations
- Hverfjall crater
- Mývatn Nature Baths
- Birdlife and midges
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Mývatn: www.visitmyvatn.is
- Mývatn Visitor Centre (Náttúra): www.nattura.is/svaedin/gestastofur
- Mývatn Nature Baths: www.myvatnnaturebaths.is/en
- Wikivoyage: Mývatn, revision 5291748 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5291748
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Mývatn
Á þetta heimilisfang, takk
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Embassies are in Reykjavík; contact your embassy for consular help.
Fuel and groceries are available in the area; current shop locations and opening times: check.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/myvatn). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.