The Diamond Circle of North Iceland by car
The Diamond Circle is the finest day out in north Iceland: a loop of about 260 kilometres that strings together the Goðafoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn with its geothermal fields, mighty Dettifoss, the horseshoe canyon of Ásbyrgi and the whale-watching town of Húsavík. You drive it in one full day, or more slowly over two, on paved roads. You get one Google Maps link for the whole loop that starts wherever you happen to be, plus a GPX.
The route: Húsavík → Ásbyrgi → Dettifoss → Mývatn → Goðafoss → Húsavík
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Goðafoss · Dettifoss · Hverir.
The five highlights of the Diamond Circle
Clockwise from Húsavík. Allow a full day; take your time at every stop and you can split the loop over two.
Húsavík, the whale capital
Húsavík is regarded as the whale-watching capital of Iceland. From the colourful harbour, wooden boats head out into Skjálfandi bay, where humpbacks, minke whales and sometimes blue whales appear through the summer. On the quay, the whale museum tells the story behind them, and the 1907 wooden church is worth a look.
Ásbyrgi, the horseshoe canyon
Ásbyrgi is a vast canyon shaped like a horseshoe, its sheer walls up to a hundred metres high around a wood and a still pond. Legend calls it the hoofprint of Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse; geologists see the work of ancient glacial floods. A short path leads to the viewpoint above the cliff.
Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe
Dettifoss is reckoned to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe: a hundred metres wide and over forty high, carrying so much glacial water that the ground trembles with it. The west bank (Route 862) is paved and the easier side to reach; just upstream lies the gentler Selfoss. Stay back from the edges, as the rocks are wet and slippery.
Mývatn and the steaming earth of Hverir
Around the shallow Lake Mývatn, the earth bubbles. At Hverir, below Mount Námafjall, fumaroles hiss and ochre mud pots plop in a landscape with no plants. Nearby lie the lava shapes of Dimmuborgir, the warm cave of Grjótagjá and the Mývatn Nature Baths, where you soak in milky-blue water. Smell the sulphur and keep to the paths.
Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods
Goðafoss curves in a broad half-circle over a lip of black basalt. The name goes back to the year 1000, when the lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament is said to have thrown his pagan idols into the falls as the country turned to Christianity. Both banks give a fine view and are linked by a short walk.
Combining and extending it
The Diamond Circle pairs neatly with the Ring Road: many travellers pick up the loop as they pass through the north. To make more of it, stay overnight at Mývatn and carry on the next day. Nearby you will also find the churning falls of Aldeyjarfoss, with its neat basalt columns, and the volcanic Krafla area with its Víti crater. From Húsavík, a second boat trip is easily booked.
When to go and which car
The main route is drivable in an ordinary car for most of the year: Route 1 and the paved west bank of Dettifoss (Route 862) stay open in winter. The northern link between Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi can close in winter, so check the roads on road.is and drive the loop the other way round if needed. Summer brings the longest days and the most frequent whale tours; in winter the dark skies give you a chance of northern lights over Mývatn.
The Diamond Circle in numbers
| Loop | approx. 260 km through the north; around four hours of pure driving (guide value) |
|---|---|
| Dettifoss | 100 m wide, 44 m drop, average flow around 193 m³/s: one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe |
| Goðafoss | 12 m high and 30 m wide; legend has the lawspeaker throwing his pagan idols into it around the year 1000 |
| Ásbyrgi | horseshoe-shaped canyon, about 3.5 km long, walls up to 100 m |
| Húsavík | Iceland's whale-watching capital; boat trips on Skjálfandi bay, humpbacks are seen regularly (season roughly April to October, best in summer) |
| Toll | coming from Akureyri, the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel costs approx. 2,150 ISK (2024 indication); free alternative over the Víkurskarð pass |
| Fuel | approx. 18 litres at 7 l/100 km (guide value) |
Dimensions and flow: official Icelandic sources; driving times and fuel are guide values (July 2026).
Diamond Circle or Golden Circle?
The Golden Circle wins on convenience: it sits on Reykjavík's doorstep, which makes it the obvious pick on a short break. The Diamond Circle asks more of you, simply because you have to get to the north first.
Once you are up there, it serves the same variety, waterfalls, geothermal fields, a canyon and even whales, only wilder and much quieter. On a full round trip you would ideally drive both; for more ideas across the island, browse our Iceland page.
Whale watching from Húsavík
Húsavík owes its fame to Skjálfandi bay, where humpbacks are seen regularly. The season runs roughly from April to October, with summer as the peak. The boats leave from the harbour, right in the middle of town.
The only practical question is the order: take the boat trip in the morning and drive the loop afterwards, or do it the other way round and end the day on the water. Add a night at Mývatn and it becomes a relaxed two-day plan.
Dettifoss: west bank or east bank?
This route uses the west bank via Route 862: paved, the easiest choice, and with a good path to the falls. The east bank via Route 864 is a gravel road that only opens in summer, rewarding you with a rawer, more head-on view of the falling water.
There is no bridge at the falls, so switching sides means a long drive round. In winter the access roads can close after snowfall; check umferdin.is before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Diamond Circle take?
The loop is about 260 kilometres and around four hours of actual driving. With the stops it is a full day, and with a whale tour or a night at Mývatn you can spread it comfortably over two days.
Do you start in Húsavík or Akureyri?
Either works. Húsavík sits right on the loop and is the shortest start; Akureyri, with its airport and hotels, is an hour to the west and the base for many travellers. The Google Maps link simply starts from wherever you happen to be.
Do you need a 4x4?
Not in summer. The whole loop is on paved roads, including the west bank of Dettifoss. You only need a 4x4 for the east bank of Dettifoss or the F-roads into the interior. In winter the northern side of the loop can close, so check road.is.
When is the best time to see whales at Húsavík?
The whale season runs roughly from April to October, with the best chances in June, July and August. That is when the boats sail most often and the sea is usually calm. Humpbacks are the most common sight; with luck a blue whale appears, the largest animal on earth.
Diamond Circle or Golden Circle?
The Diamond Circle is wilder and much quieter; the Golden Circle sits close to Reykjavík and wins on convenience. If you are in the north anyway, the choice is easy; on a full round trip you would ideally drive both.
Which bank of Dettifoss should you choose?
The west bank via Route 862: it is paved, it is the easiest to reach and it is the side this route uses. The east bank via Route 864 is a gravel road, open in summer only, with a rawer view as the reward.
Can you drive the Diamond Circle in winter?
Partly. The main roads are maintained, but the access road to Dettifoss can close after snowfall. Check umferdin.is before you go.
How do you get to the Diamond Circle from the Ring Road?
From Akureyri you head towards Húsavík, through the Vaðlaheiðargöng toll tunnel or free over the Víkurskarð pass. The loop joins Route 1 again near Mývatn.