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Galtarvatn

Highlands, Iceland

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LakeHighlands

Galtarvatn

Highlands, Iceland

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Plan your visit to Galtarvatn

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

Map of Galtarvatn

Galtarvatn is in the Highlands, Iceland at 65.1956°N, 19.9733°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Galtarvatn on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Off the main road: 11.1 km from Route 35
Nearest town: Laugarbakki — 45.1 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 150 km in a straight line
What else is close: 10 mapped places within 20 km

Galtarvatn weather and conditions

At Galtarvatn in Highlands, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 11:00 (Iceland time): 6°C (feels like 2°C), clear, wind 3 m/s gusting to 6 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 49 m (sunrise 05:56, sunset 20:45). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 11:00· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

Driving conditions

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Daylight today

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

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Highlands Reykjavík South Coast West North East Westfjords Reykjanes

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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 Galtarvatn

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

A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

Duration8 hours

HighlightsReykjavík area

Photos & videos

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Frequently
asked
questions

How do I get to Galtarvatn?

Galtarvatn is in Highlands. Check live road conditions on this page before you drive — highland lakes often need a 4×4 and some access roads only open in summer.

Can I fish at Galtarvatn?

Angling in Iceland requires a permit bought per water body from the landowner or local angling association, and gear used abroad must be disinfected first. Check the local rules for Galtarvatn before you cast.

Can I swim in Galtarvatn?

Icelandic lakes are cold year-round and swimming rules vary by lake — some are protected or have unstable shorelines. Check local signage at Galtarvatn before entering the water.

When is the best time to visit Galtarvatn?

Roadside lakes are visitable year-round, though winter access depends on conditions. Highland lakes and reservoirs are typically reachable only in summer once the F-roads open. Check live road conditions before you drive.

Nearby

km column = your drive

Waterfalls

#1.Kornsa Waterfalls

27 km·~33 min drive

A waterfall in North Iceland.

#2.Bergárfoss

29 km·~35 min drive

Bergárfoss is a 40-metre waterfall on the Bergá, a stream in western Iceland (height and…

#3.Kolufossar

32 km·~38 min drive

A waterfall in West Iceland.

#4.Kambsfoss

34 km·~41 min drive

A waterfall in West Iceland.

4 waterfalls near Highlands

Hot Springs

#1.Natural hot pot near Húnabyggð

40 km·~48 min drive

Swimming_pool hot spring

#2.Hveravellir Pool

41 km·~50 min drive

Highland pool on Kjölur route between glaciers. Remote, natural. Old highland oasis.

#3.Heimilishver

42 km·~50 min drive

Natural hot spring

#4.Mýrarhver

42 km·~50 min drive

Natural hot spring

4 hot springs near Highlands

Campsites

#1.Áfangi

13 km·~15 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

#2.Dæli Víðidal

35 km·~42 min drive

Beautiful family campsite.

#3.Tjaldstæði Húnaveri

37 km·~45 min drive

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

#4.Húnaver

37 km·~45 min drive

Húnaver campsite is located in Svartárdalur. The campsite is large and the scenery…

4 campsites near Highlands

F-Roads

#1.F586 Haukadalsskarðsvegur

22 km·~26 min drive

Mountain pass to Viking history

1 f-roads near Highlands

Supermarkets

#1.Kaupfélag Vestur-Húnvetninga

50 km·~61 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#2.Kjörbúðin

54 km·~64 min drive

Kjörbúðin supermarket — supplies

#3.Hlíðarkaup

62 km·~74 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#4.Skagfirðingabúð

63 km·~75 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near Highlands

Gas stations

#1.Víðihlíð

37 km·~45 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#2.Laugarbakki

45 km·~54 min drive

ÓB · 279.8 kr/L petrol

#3.Varmahlíð

47 km·~56 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#4.Hvammstangi

50 km·~60 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near Highlands

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.A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

8 hours

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

from 159.000 ISKView tour →

3 tours near Highlands

Data & sources

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

VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
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