Grjótagjá
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About Grjótagjá
Grjótagjá is a small lava cave with a geothermal pool inside, just east of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland. The water is heated by the same volcanic system that runs under the whole Mývatn area, and the light through the cracks turns it a clear blue.
Locals bathed here for centuries until the Krafla Fires, a run of eruptions between 1975 and 1984, pushed the water temperature past 50°C. It has cooled somewhat since but is still hot enough to scald. The cave belongs to the farm Vogar, whose owners don't allow bathing, so respect the signs and keep your hands out of the water.
Most people know Grjótagjá cave from Game of Thrones, where it was the setting for the scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte in the Season 3 episode "Kissed by Fire." In person, it's smaller than it looks on screen. Climbing down to the water means a minute over uneven, often wet rock under a low roof, so watch your head.
The cave is a few minutes' drive from Reykjahlíð on a short gravel road off Route 1, and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Akureyri. A small parking lot sits close to the entrance, and there's no admission fee. Around 15 to 30 minutes is plenty, and midday light reaches farthest into the cave.
Grjótagjá is open all year, though in winter the path and the rocks inside can be icy, so wear shoes with grip. Pair it with a walk up Hverfjall, a couple of kilometers away.
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Good to know
Can you swim in Grjótagjá?
No. The landowners at Vogar don't allow bathing, and the water has been too hot to bathe in safely since the Krafla eruptions of 1975 to 1984.
Is Grjótagjá free to visit?
Yes, there's no admission fee, and a small parking lot sits close to the cave.
How hot is the water in Grjótagjá?
It rose above 50°C during the Krafla eruptions and has cooled somewhat since, but it's still hot enough to scald, so keep out of it.
Which Game of Thrones scene was filmed in Grjótagjá?
The cave scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte in the Season 3 episode "Kissed by Fire" was filmed here.
Where is Grjótagjá cave?
It's just east of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland, a few minutes' drive from Reykjahlíð on a short gravel road off Route 1.
Can you visit Grjótagjá in winter?
Yes, it's open all year, but the path and the rocks inside the cave can be icy, so wear shoes with good grip.
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