Krafla, located north of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland, is one of the country’s most active and distinctive volcanoes. Famous for its dramatic eruptions and vast geothermal features, Krafla’s caldera spans about 10 km in diameter and is part of a volcanic fissure zone up to 90 km long.
The area lies directly atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates continually pull apart, making it a hotbed of both volcanic and geothermal activity.
Visitors to Krafla can explore rugged lava fields, steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and several striking craters. The most notable is the Víti crater, a deep explosion crater with a vibrant blue geothermal lake at its center.
The landscape around Krafla is otherworldly, shaped by repeated eruptions—the most recent, the “Krafla Fires,” occurred between 1975 and 1984 and left behind still-warm lava fields and vents.
The Krafla Geothermal Power Station harnesses this energy and is open for informative tours on Iceland’s sustainable energy.
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Scenic beauty
Krafla stuns visitors with black and red lava flows, steaming geothermal fields, vivid crater lakes, and panoramic mountain views. The nearby Leirhnjúkur lava field is still alive with steam and colors from ongoing geothermal processes.
Accessibility
Krafla is a short 20-minute drive from Lake Mývatn and about 1.5 hours from Akureyri, easily reached by well-maintained roads off the Ring Road. Free parking is available at the main sites, including Leirhnjúkur and Víti crater. Marked trails lead through lava fields and up to crater rims; sturdy footwear and warm clothing are highly advisable due to rough terrain and unpredictable weather.
Cost
Visiting Krafla and its main attractions, including the Víti crater and Leirhnjúkur lava field, is free of charge as of 2025. Parking is also free, making exploration accessible for everyone. Tours of the Krafla Power Station may have a modest fee if booked in advance.
Crowd level
While Krafla is a major attraction in North Iceland, its remote location and broad open spaces mean it’s rarely crowded, even in summer. Most visitors come during daylight hours—to avoid crowds, consider a morning or evening visit, especially for sunrises, sunsets, or geothermal mist photography.