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CaveNorth Iceland

Grjótagjá

North Iceland, IcelandSelf-guidedModeratehelmet, flashlight

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CaveNorth Iceland

Grjótagjá

North Iceland, IcelandSelf-guidedModeratehelmet, flashlight

About

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave near lake Mývatn in Iceland. It has a thermal spring inside.

Underground, the usual rules don't apply. It's dark, quiet, and slightly unnerving in the best way.

Formed during volcanic eruptions when lava flowed beneath a hardened crust. When the lava drained, it left behind these tunnels.

Bring a headlamp or flashlight even on guided tours. Caves are dark. Really dark.

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Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Grjótagjá

Grjótagjá is in North Iceland at 65.6272°N, 16.8817°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

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Plan your visit

Getting there: Road 1 (Reykjahlíð)
Off the main road: 1.3 km from Route 1
Nearest town: Vogar við Mývatn — 1.7 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 290 km in a straight line
What else is close: 230 mapped places within 20 km

Grjótagjá weather and conditions

At Grjótagjá in North Iceland, conditions as of 31 August 2026, 16:15 (Iceland time): 10°C (feels like 6°C), mostly clear, wind 4 m/s gusting to 7 m/s. Daylight today: 15 h 00 m (sunrise 05:38, sunset 20:38). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 31 August 2026, 16:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

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Visit now · Open year-round · 30 min stop · Visibility —

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North Reykjavík South Coast West East Westfjords Reykjanes Highlands

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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation

KEF airport pickup 24/74.8

SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic

12,750 kr15,000 kr/day

Reserve −12%

Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

Tours near Grjótagjá

Free cancellation

Small groups

Sightseeing

(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

Duration6 hours 30 minutes

HighlightsNorth Iceland

(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

Duration6 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyri

The freedom of covering all kinds of terrain on a snowmobile is something everyone should experience.

Duration5 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

Photos & videos

Grjótagjá — photo by Chris 73 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Chris 73 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Grjótagjá, no lookalikes. Search YouTube

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

Can I visit Grjótagjá without a guide?

Grjótagjá is generally open to self-guided visitors, but treat it seriously: it is dark and cold inside, the floor is uneven lava rock, and you must bring a head-torch and helmet. Never enter a cave alone or without telling someone your plans.

How do I get to Grjótagjá?

Grjótagjá is in North Iceland. Many Icelandic caves sit off highland tracks that need a 4WD — check live road and weather conditions on this page before you drive, especially in winter when routes close.

What should I bring to Grjótagjá?

A helmet and a proper head-torch or flashlight are the minimum — there is no daylight inside and the floor is broken lava rock. Add warm layers and sturdy boots; the cave stays near freezing year-round. Recommended gear: helmet, flashlight.

Does Grjótagjá cost anything to visit?

Grjótagjá is generally free to enter, though the access road may need a 4WD. Guided cave tours elsewhere in Iceland are paid. Conditions change with weather, so plan around the forecast.

Nearby

km column = your drive

1Grjótagjá< 1 km
2Kvennagjá< 1 km
3Stóragjá2 km
4Kirkja5 km
5Kirkjan38 km

Waterfalls

#1.Selfoss

30 km·~36 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#2.Dettifoss

31 km·~37 min drive

The most powerful waterfall in Europe. This beast moves 500 cubic meters of water per…

#3.Geitafoss

31 km·~37 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#4.Goðafoss

31 km·~38 min drive

The Waterfall of the Gods. Wide, horseshoe-shaped falls dropping 12 meters. According to…

4 waterfalls near North Iceland

Hot Springs

#1.Grjótagjá

100 m

Lava cave with hot spring near Mývatn. Yes, it's the Game of Thrones cave. Currently too…

#2.Geothermal hot spring near Þingeyjarsveit

1.5 km·~2 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

#3.Stóragjá Cave

1.7 km·~2 min drive

Lava cave hot spring near Mývatn. Grjótagjá's quieter neighbor.

#4.Geothermal hot spring near Laugar

24 km·~29 min drive

Laugar's municipal swimming pool per Visit North Iceland — water around 30°C. Not an…

4 hot springs near North Iceland

Campsites

#1.Vogar

1.7 km·~2 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

#2.Bjarg

2.1 km·~2 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

#3.Hlíð, Mývatni

3.2 km·~4 min drive

The scenery around the camp site is divers, good flat areas and lava tubs that offer good…

#4.CJA Campsite

23 km·~28 min drive

North Iceland camping option. Less crowded than the south, with dramatic landscapes and…

4 campsites near North Iceland

Supermarkets

#1.Krambúð

2.1 km·~3 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#2.Nettó

50 km·~61 min drive

Nettó supermarket — supplies

#3.Hagkaup

56 km·~67 min drive

Hagkaup supermarket — supplies

#4.Krónan

56 km·~67 min drive

Krónan supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near North Iceland

Gas stations

#1.Reykjahlíð

2.1 km·~3 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#2.Mývatn

9.7 km·~12 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

#3.Laugar

25 km·~30 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#4.Fosshóll

31 km·~37 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near North Iceland

Tours

#1.(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

6 hours 30 minutes

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

from 25.300 ISKView tour →

#2.(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

6 hours

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

from 25.900 ISKView tour →

#3.Adventure snowmobile tour Akureyri

5 hours

The freedom of covering all kinds of terrain on a snowmobile is something everyone should experience.

from 166.750 ISKView tour →

3 tours near North Iceland

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Chris 73 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
WikipediaEncyclopedic description · CC BY-SA 4.0
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community