Goðafoss, 15 minutes from Hótel Laugar
The waterfall of the gods on the Skjálfandafljót, where the law speaker is said to have thrown the old idols into the river in the year 1000. The closest of the big sights, 15 km from the hotel, and light enough to visit at midnight in June.
- By road
- 15 km
- Drive
- 15 min west
- Time needed
- An hour, or half a day
- Best
- Early morning or late evening
Goðafoss is the first sight on the road west from Laugar, fifteen minutes along the ring road. Here, the river Skjálfandafljót drops in a wide horseshoe, about twelve metres high and thirty metres across, into a pool the colour of glacier milk. Its name carries a story: when Iceland adopted Christianity at the Alþingi in 1000, the law speaker Þorgeir of Ljósavatn is said to have ridden home and thrown his pagan idols into the falls.
There are car parks and paths on both banks, each a few minutes’ walk from the falls. Fosshóll, on the east bank, has self-service petrol.
From Laugar, you can reach the falls early, before the day gets busy, or visit after dinner. In June and July, the light lasts past midnight.
- On the way to AkureyriGoðafoss sits on the ring road between the hotel and Akureyri, so an hour here fits into the Akureyri day without a detour.
- SprayClose to the water the spray carries in the wind. A shell jacket does it.
- FosshóllSelf-service petrol on the east bank, right at the falls.
- AldeyjarfossAstrid’s personal favourite: a waterfall framed by basalt columns, about 40 km from Goðafoss towards Sprengisandur. Roads 842 and 844 lead up Bárðardalur to F26. Plan it as a there-and-back day trip; continuing across Sprengisandur is a separate highland journey. Because it is out of the way, there are usually no groups and very few people.
- The last stretchThe F26 approach needs a four-wheel-drive suitable for F-roads, and opens seasonally as conditions allow. Without one, the walk from road 842 is about 8 km there and back. From the falls car park, a path leads down a steep slope to the lava beside the waterfall, where you can sit in the spray. Check road conditions before setting off.
By road from the hotel
15 km · 15 min west
Measured on OpenStreetMap roads, October 2026
Hótel Laugar is the red square, Goðafoss the blue pin.
Directions from the hotel (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
Pairs with
Questions
How far is Goðafoss from Hotel Laugar?
Goðafoss is 15 km from the hotel, about 15 minutes by car west along the ring road.
Can I visit Goðafoss in the evening?
Yes. In June and July it is light past midnight, and the hotel is a quarter of an hour away, so the falls fit after dinner, which is served from 18:00 to 21:00.
Do I need a four-wheel-drive for Aldeyjarfoss?
Yes, for the F26 approach to the falls car park. Check that the road is open before you go. The alternative is a walk from road 842, about 8 km there and back.
What can I combine Goðafoss with?
Akureyri: the falls are on the road there. Or make it the first stop of the Diamond Circle and continue north to Húsavík.
Two to four nights in Laugar
Goðafoss is 15 km by road, and dinner is served from six. Book direct for our best available rate.
You finish on the hotel’s own booking page.
