Plan

Diamond Circle

The Diamond Circle can be described as a magnificent circuit of 251km in the Northeast of Iceland, which includes some of the most stunning sights and spots for unearthly landscapes.

The Diamond Circle has 5 key destinations which include the historical and picturesque Goðafoss, the unearthly blue and green landscapes of Lake Mývatn nature paradise, the uncontrollable white energy of Dettifoss the most powerful waterfall of Europe, the crescent-shaped wonder of Ásbyrgi canyon and Húsavík the buzzing whale capital of Iceland with the deep blue seas ahead.

The Diamond Circle offers even more. Discover the astonishing valley of Vesturdalur with the bizarre rock formations of Hljóðaklettar; the otherworldly volcanic fields of Krafla, the geothermal area of Hverir and the black lava formation at Dimmuborgir. 

On the Diamond Circle, you could even find some of the hidden corners and forgotten spaces which are just as surprising as the most famous ones: The beautiful Tjörnes peninsula which hides fossils and bird nests,  the lush valley of Hólmatungur and the lesser-known locations around Mývatn such as the circular explosion crater Hverfjall and the turquoise warm pool in Grjótagjá.

The Diamond Circle truly is not only a circuit of 251km. It is the chance for an epic and unforgettable adventure that is waiting for you. 

More info

Getting here
Mývatn is situated in North Iceland, right by the Arctic Circle. 
From abroad, the town is easiest to get to by plane via Keflavík (KEF). Inside Iceland, Mývatn can be reached by plane through Akureyri or Húsavík, coach or car. 
Please see below detailed information on transport to and from Mývatn.

Road connections

Mývatn is easy to get to by car from all directions.

If you plan on travelling around Iceland by car, be sure to allocate enough time for the long distances and changing weather conditions, particularly in the winter.

Up-to-date information on road conditions is published by the Road.is.

Coach connections

The coach services by BUS.is cover a great deal of Iceland’s road network.

When to go

The best time of travelling to Mývatn depends on what you are after – the constantly changing seasons all have their own characteristic light, temperature, natural phenomena and ideal activities.

Summer - enjoy 24 hour daylight and our warmest days

If you want to experience the Midnight Sun, June-July are the months to visit Mývatn. These are also our warmest months of the year, although you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to weather in Iceland. 

The warmest time of year in Iceland gives our nation the opportunity to throw outdoor events and festivals. At Mývatn you can find free guided hikes and free cultural events during summer time! You will never want to go to sleep because the midnight sun gives you the energy you need to stay up later than ever. Expect to get stuck in the moment and lose track of time. 

Autumn - when the Auroras appear and it starts to snow

Early August is still considered summer by many, but by the end of the month, it’s definitely autumn. The Northern Lights start appearing in late August, and September and October are ideal Aurora viewing months. The colors of our nature change and this season is no less impressive for landscape lovers than summer or winter. It starts getting cooler outside and it temperatures might start dropping below zero! 

Winter - Meet the Icelandic Yule Lads and enjoy all the winter activities at Mývatn, Winter Wonderland

November - February can be very snowy months shrouded in the darkness of the Polar Night. The sun finally comes out in February and starts making us feel warm again. This is also a wonderful time of the year to go Northern Lights but they are visible through March! 

Dimmuborgir in Mývatn is the Official home of the 13 Iceland Yule Lads (Santa Claus). Come visit them in December and have the time of your life with your friends and family. Many people flock to Dimmuborgir to meet the Yule Lads in person and experience the Winter Wonderland. 

The winter is a great time for a number of activities both in the snow outside and experiencing local culture inside. Check out the local winter activities here.

Spring - Catch the Northern Lights before summer arrives and join us for a run! 
The spring around Mývatn is relaxed and everyone is preparing for summer. The midges are not visible yet, snow is fading and the grass is getting greener and greener. We host the Mývatn Marathon in May and we highly recommend this unique run around the lake in our beautiful landscape.