Akureyri: Goðafoss, Laufás Turfhouse & Christmas House Tour

4.58

(146 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I heard was the rush—like distant applause—before we even saw Goðafoss. Our guide, Jón, grinned as we stepped out of the minibus into that sharp Icelandic air. The waterfall wasn’t just loud, it was alive; mist hit my face and I could smell wet stone and something green underneath. Jón told us about the old chieftain who tossed his idols here—he made it sound like a story he’d heard from his grandmother. I tried to take a photo but honestly, it didn’t capture half of what it felt like standing there.

Driving to Laufás took maybe half an hour—enough time for Jón to share a folktale about elves (I’m still not sure if he was joking). The turf house museum is stranger than you’d expect: low ceilings, thick grass walls, corridors that twist like rabbit holes. There’s this bridal room with faded dresses hanging up—I touched the rough wool and tried to imagine waiting there on your wedding day with the wind rattling outside. We met a woman knitting by the window who showed us how they used to spin wool; her hands moved so fast I couldn’t keep up.

The Christmas House is…well, it smells like cinnamon and woodsmoke even in July. There’s a log fire going and Icelandic carols playing—felt odd but also kind of lovely. Kids were searching for Gryla (the troll mother) in her cave while I got distracted sampling berry jam in the shop next door. Outside, garden gnomes peeked from behind bushes—somehow not creepy at all. On our way back through Akureyri, Jón pointed out the church and said if anyone wanted to hop off at the botanical gardens, now was the time. I almost did—I might next time.