Mývatn · Iceland
Grjótagjá
Grjótagjá is a small lava cave in a fissure near Lake Mývatn, with a geothermal spring inside. It was a local bathing spot until volcanic activity in the 1970s pushed the water to 40–50°C. Bathing is prohibited today — the heat is one reason, the fact that the cave sits on private land is the other. Most people come because this is where Jon Snow and Ygritte’s scene in Game of Thrones was filmed.
I went in July. It was nice for a few minutes and then I was done. If you have no Game of Thrones connection, this is one you can skip — especially if a bus has just pulled in, because the space is tiny and a queue forms almost immediately.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
The blue water against the dark lava is good to look at. But the cave is small, you see all of it from the entrance, and that is the whole visit.
Grjótagjá is located near Dimmuborgir lava fields and can be reached via Route 1 and then Route 860. Visitors must walk a short but rocky path to reach the cave entrance. Caution is advised on uneven terrain and steep steps. The site is on private land, and visitors are asked to respect the owners' rules and not bathe in the cave.
Visiting Grjótagjá is free, but there are no facilities on site.
As a popular filming location and natural attraction in the Lake Mývatn region, Grjótagjá can attract a steady stream of visitors, especially during summer. Early visits or off-season trips provide a quieter experience.
Before you go
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