03
Akureyri excursions, from the 3-hour falls to the 8-hour loop
The short, central trips come first, then the long days inland, then the free option in town.
For berths, buses and taxis, see our Akureyri cruise port guide. Durations and prices are as of October 23, 2026.
If you only leave town for one thing, make it this. It’s the shortest of the big trips from the pier, and it fits most calls.
Goðafoss is about 50 km from the pier — roughly 45 minutes each way on a paved main road. That makes it a half-day trip, not a full one.
P&O sells Leisurely Akureyri and Goðafoss at 3 hours, rated low activity. It adds the botanic garden and a panoramic drive around town, and the line shows no price on its public page.
There’s a cheaper route, too: an SBA Norðurleið bus tour to Goðafoss of about 2.5 hours from Hof, on selected dates only. Iceland Highlights sells a 2.45-hour express version from $92.
It’s short and close, and it leaves the afternoon for town — or for a whale boat.
- Time commitment
- About 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Getting there
- Coach or minibus from the pier or from Hof. Route 79 stops near the falls, but service is limited.
- Suits
- First-timers, short calls and anyone who wants Iceland’s north in one picture.
- Ship or independent
- Either. At this length, a local operator’s timing risk is small.
Why it's worth considering
It’s a big north-Iceland sight that sits comfortably inside a short call — no sprint back to the gangway.
The cheap options are real options here — you’re not stuck with a premium tour to see it.
The catch
On a busy day, you’ll share the viewpoint with several coachloads.
The SBA bus runs on selected dates only, so check it matches your call.
Verify before you book
- Whether the SBA tour runs on your date
- Return time against all-aboard
Mývatn is the big draw inland. It’s also an hour and a half from the ship.
The lake is about 90 minutes east by road. Guide to Iceland’s cruise version stops at Goðafoss, the Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters, the Dimmuborgir lava field, the Grjótagjá cave and the steaming Námaskarð area.
Its listing says 5.5 hours in the title and 6 in the summary, for groups of up to eight. Bus Travel Iceland also runs a 6-hour version. Golden Circle Day Tours’ own estimate for a Mývatn round trip is longer — 7 to 8 hours — so treat six as the tight end.
That spread is the warning. A six-hour tour on an eight-hour call is fine — on a seven-hour call, it’s a gamble, not a plan.
- Time commitment
- About 5.5 to 6 hours on cruise-timed tours.
- Getting there
- Minibus or coach from the port. Guide to Iceland meets cruise passengers at the pier.
- Suits
- First-timers on a full day, and anyone who came for the volcanic landscape.
- Ship or independent
- Either on a long call. Ask the operator in writing what happens if the minibus runs late.
Why it's worth considering
Five volcanic sights in one loop, plus Goðafoss on the way — a whole landscape, not one viewpoint.
Guide to Iceland caps its version at eight passengers, so each stop is quicker to clear than with a full coach.
The catch
Guide to Iceland doesn’t spell out a late-ship policy. Get one in writing.
Bus Travel Iceland says its return is guaranteed and asks you to finish at least 30 minutes before departure — compare that wording across operators.
Verify before you book
- Your call length against a 6-hour tour, plus tender time if any
- The operator’s written return-to-ship policy
This is the lagoon day with a volcano view — and it costs you most of the call, not an afternoon.
Holland America sells it as Earth Lagoon, the new name for the Mývatn Nature Baths, at 5½ hours from $259. The tour stops at Goðafoss, then gives you time in an outdoor pool the line puts at 100–104°F.
Meals aren’t included. Bring a swimsuit and towel, or rent them there — the line also notes a 300 ISK restroom charge, card only.
Iceland Highlights sells a 6-hour Goðafoss-and-baths version with admission included, if you’d rather book locally.
- Time commitment
- About 5.5 hours.
- Getting there
- Coach via Goðafoss; the lagoon is out by Lake Mývatn.
- Suits
- Couples and anyone who wants a soak with the drive.
- Ship or independent
- Either. Holland America rates it moderate and says it isn’t wheelchair accessible.
Why it's worth considering
Goðafoss and a geothermal soak in one day — two of the north’s draws for one booking.
The water is the reward at the end of a long road.
The catch
Much of that 5.5 hours is on the road, not in the water.
If you want a soak and not the drive, Forest Lagoon is about five minutes from town.
Verify before you book
- Whether admission is included in the price you’re quoted
- Towel and swimsuit rental if you’re packing light
Dettifoss is the powerful one, and it’s a long way out.
It’s about two hours each way from Akureyri. Guide to Iceland’s cruise version folds it into a day with Goðafoss, Mývatn, the Hverir geothermal area and Dimmuborgir, at 8.5 hours, March to October.
Iceland Highlights and Bus Travel Iceland both sell a Diamond Circle Express at 8 hours.
Most of this list is a plan. This one is a commitment — on a standard call it uses nearly all of it.
- Time commitment
- About 8 to 8.5 hours.
- Getting there
- Minibus or coach from the cruise terminal.
- Suits
- Active travelers and repeat visitors who have seen Goðafoss before.
- Ship or independent
- Ship, or an operator whose return guarantee you’ve read. At 8 hours, there’s no slack.
Why it's worth considering
Two big waterfalls and the Mývatn area in one day — a lot of north Iceland for a single call.
The catch
Calls here typically run about 7–10 hours. An 8.5-hour tour fits only the long end of that.
A lot of the day is road time — around four hours of it is the Dettifoss leg alone.
Verify before you book
- That your call is long enough, after any tender time
- Whether lunch is included
Here the whale boats leave from the middle of town — a few minutes’ walk from your berth, not a coach ride.
The boats leave from Hof. Elding’s tour runs about 3 hours, with departures at 9:00 and 13:00, for $104 per adult. Humpbacks are the most common sighting, with minke whales and dolphins often seen too.
Iceland Highlights sells a 2-hour express boat as well, for a tighter day.
Elding promises a wildlife guarantee — or another trip for free. That second trip only helps if you’re still in town, which on a cruise you usually aren’t.
- Time commitment
- About 3 hours, or 2 on an express boat.
- Getting there
- On foot. Hof is about 400 m from the pier.
- Suits
- Families with older kids, wildlife fans and short calls.
- Ship or independent
- Independent is straightforward — no transfer, no coach.
Why it's worth considering
The boat is the excursion, not the bus — there’s no road time at all.
The 9:00 sailing leaves the afternoon free for Goðafoss or the town.
The catch
Elding says the tour runs in most weather, which isn’t the same as all weather.
Expedia shows both free cancellation and “non-refundable” on the same page — read the terms.
Verify before you book
- The cancellation terms, given the conflicting wording
- Warm, windproof clothing for the open deck
Forest Lagoon is the lagoon for a short call — the distance, not the name, is why.
It’s in Vaðlaskógur forest, about 3.6 km from central Akureyri — 5 minutes’ drive or a 40-minute walk. Guests with pre-booked tickets get a free shuttle.
Warm entry costs 7,490 ISK, with ages 6–15 at 3,790 ISK and under-6s free. In 2026 it opens daily from 9 am.
Iceland Highlights sells a 2-hour visit with transfers. Or pair it with the falls on its 5-hour Goðafoss-and-Forest-Lagoon tour, from $209.
- Time commitment
- About 2 hours with transfers.
- Getting there
- The lagoon’s free shuttle for ticket holders, a taxi, or the walk.
- Suits
- Couples, families with kids and anyone who wants a soak without a long ride.
- Ship or independent
- Independent. Book a slot and you’re set.
Why it's worth considering
A geothermal soak for a fraction of the travel time of Mývatn.
Child pricing makes it the easier lagoon for families.
The catch
Entry is tied to a time slot, so book ahead on cruise days.
The free shuttle runs on a seasonal schedule — check it lines up with your call.
Verify before you book
- A time slot that leaves a buffer before all-aboard
- The shuttle schedule for your date
Húsavík gets the whale-watching reputation. From an Akureyri berth, though, it’s a long way to go for a whale boat.
The town is about 90 minutes northeast, and the whole day runs 6–7 hours — about 3 on the water and 3 in the car.
Compare that with the 3-hour boat from Hof. Unless you’ve a specific reason to sail from Húsavík, the town pier does the job — in about half the day.
- Time commitment
- About 6 to 7 hours.
- Getting there
- Coach or minibus; it’s a long road day.
- Suits
- Repeat visitors who have already been out on Eyjafjörður.
- Ship or independent
- Either, with a firm return time.
Why it's worth considering
A different town and coastline, with the boat trip on top.
The catch
Six hours of road and boat for wildlife you can look for from the town pier in three.
Verify before you book
- Total duration including the drive
- The boat’s departure time against your all-aboard
Akureyri’s center is small enough to cover on your own feet, not on a tour ticket.
Start at Hof, by the water, then head up through the center to Akureyrarkirkja. The church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and consecrated in 1940. In summer it opens on weekdays from 3 to 6 pm.
Further up the hill is Lystigarðurinn, the botanic garden, open 9 am to 10 pm from June through September. Entry is free. Give it about 45 minutes.
The whole town walk takes about two hours. The free A1 bus stops near the garden if you’d rather ride up.
- Time commitment
- About 2 hours — longer if you linger.
- Getting there
- Walk off the ship. The free city buses fill the gaps.
- Suits
- Budget days, short calls and anyone not paying for a coach.
- Ship or independent
- Independent. Akurinn Bus’s hop-on hop-off is the seated option, booked on the spot.
Why it's worth considering
Close to free — the walk, the garden and the buses cost nothing.
You can pair it with whales or Forest Lagoon in the same day.
The catch
The church keeps short summer hours and closes for services.
Weekend buses don’t start until about 12:18 pm.
Verify before you book
- Church hours for your date
- Bus times if your call is on a weekend
04
Akureyri with the ship or on your own
Short trips: go local
Goðafoss, the whale boats and Forest Lagoon all start in town or close to it — short hops, not long hauls. Local operators meet ships at the pier, and the boats leave from Hof.
Iceland Highlights, for one, offers a 95% refund if your ship can’t dock because of weather. That’s the clause to look for in any local booking.
Long days: read the return promise
On a 6- to 8.5-hour tour, a late return is the line’s problem only if you booked with the line.
Local wording varies. Bus Travel Iceland says it guarantees the return to the ship. Guide to Iceland’s Mývatn page states no late-ship policy at all.
Ask before you pay: what happens if the minibus is late back — the ship-late promise is the easy one.
Where the prices come from
Holland America publishes its Earth Lagoon price, from $259. P&O makes you ask. Local prices come from Iceland Highlights, Guide to Iceland and Elding.
Guide to Iceland doesn’t post prices for its Mývatn or Dettifoss cruise tours. Get a quote in writing, with the return policy, before you compare.
How each option compares in Akureyri
| Excursion | Lean ship excursion when… | Independent works when… |
|---|
| Goðafoss | For P&O’s low-activity version with the garden and town drive | Usually — it’s about 45 minutes each way |
|---|
| Lake Mývatn | On a call under about eight hours | With a small-group operator and a written return policy |
|---|
| Earth Lagoon | If you want transfer and entry in one booking | With a 6-hour local tour that includes admission |
|---|
| Dettifoss / Diamond Circle | Nearly always — at 8-plus hours, let the line carry the risk | Only on a long call with a firm guarantee |
|---|
| Whale watching | Rarely needed | Easily — boats leave from Hof |
|---|
| Forest Lagoon | Only if the ship bundles it with Goðafoss | Almost always, with a booked slot |
|---|
Short answer
On a full call, do Lake Mývatn with Goðafoss on the way, through the ship or a small-group operator whose return promise you’ve read. On a shorter call, take Goðafoss alone and add the whale boat or Forest Lagoon. Book Dettifoss through the ship or skip it.
06
Akureyri logistics: the berth, the buses and the fee
From the pier to town
Oddeyrarbryggja handles most ships; small ones may get Torfunefsbryggja, by Hof. On the busiest summer days, some ships tender.
One operator guide mentions Krossanes, about 3 km out, for bigger ships, with a shuttle. Details are on our Akureyri cruise port guide.
- City buses are free, from the Miðbær stop near Hof
- Hreyfill taxis: +354 461 1010
- Car rental offices by the harbor
The cruise fee
Iceland’s infrastructure fee is 1,600 ISK per passenger per started 24-hour period in its waters, in force since January 1, 2026.
Your cruise line pays it, so check whether it’s already in your fare.
Money and paperwork
Króna is the currency, and cards are accepted almost everywhere in Iceland. Carry your PIN.
Iceland is in the Schengen Area. US citizens need no visa for up to 90 days.
Weather and season
Most ships arrive May to September.
Conditions can swing from sun to snow in a day. Pack layers and a waterproof for any excursion here — the lagoon days too.
