Grjotagja Cave is one of the most photographed spots in the Lake Myvatn area of North Iceland. The cave is a lava fissure with a clear thermal pool inside, and its glowing turquoise water against dark rock is what draws most visitors. It sits right on the Diamond Circle sightseeing route and just off the Ring Road.
Why You Can Trust Our Content
Guide to Iceland is the most trusted travel platform in Iceland, helping millions of visitors each year. All our content is written and reviewed by local experts who are deeply familiar with Iceland. You can count on us for accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy travel advice.
Because it's a short walk from a roadside car park, Grjotagja is easy to add to any North Iceland itinerary. Most travelers visit by rental car or on guided Myvatn tours, and it's a common stop on self-drive tours that loop through the north. It's about 470 kilometers (292 miles) from Reykjavik and only 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Akureyri.
You can no longer bathe in the spring because the water is too hot and unpredictable, but viewing the cave is free and takes just a few minutes. Below, you'll find its outlaw history, its Game of Thrones moment, how to get there, and what else to see in the Myvatn area.
Key Takeaways
-
Grjotagja Cave is a lava fissure with a geothermal spring near Lake Myvatn in North Iceland.
-
It featured in Game of Thrones Season 3 as the setting for the Jon Snow and Ygritte cave scene.
-
Bathing has been banned since the 1970s because the water became dangerously hot; viewing is free.
-
It's roughly 470 km (292 mi) from Reykjavik and 80 km (50 mi) from Akureyri, just off the Ring Road.
-
Nearby you'll find Myvatn Nature Baths, Hverfjall crater, Dimmuborgir, and the Namafjall geothermal area.
A Lava Cave With a Geothermal Spring
Grjotagja, spelled "Grjótagjá" in Icelandic, is a low lava cave split by a rift in the earth. Inside, a pool of geothermally heated water sits beneath the rock, lit by daylight filtering through the openings. The blue-green color of the water is the main draw.
The cave formed through volcanic activity linked to the Krafla volcanic system. Lava flowing beneath the surface left behind a hollow passage, and groundwater later filled part of it, warmed by the heat still close beneath the ground. Liquid rock sits roughly two kilometers (just over a mile) below the surface here, which is why the spring's temperature can shift so quickly.
A smaller sister fissure called Stóragjá lies nearby. It's quieter and narrower, with cooler water, and sees far fewer visitors than its famous neighbor.
History of Grjotagja Cave
Grjotagja's recorded history starts in the early 18th century, when it was used as a hideout by the outlaw Jón Markússon. Iceland's lava caves were long avoided by law-abiding people, who associated their darkness and jagged rock with trolls, which made them ideal shelters for those cast out of society.
In the decades that followed, locals used the warm spring as a bathing spot. That changed during the Krafla Fires, a series of nine eruptions between 1975 and 1984. The volcanic activity pushed the water temperature well above 50°C (122°F), at times near boiling, making it unsafe to enter.
The water has cooled since the eruptions ended, but it still fluctuates unpredictably, usually between 40°C and 50°C. The cave also sits on private land, and the landowners ask visitors not to bathe in order to protect the site. For both reasons, bathing is no longer allowed.
Grjotagja Cave in Game of Thrones
Grjotagja's otherworldly look caught the attention of HBO's Game of Thrones, which used it as the setting for one of the show's best-known love scenes. In Season 3, Episode 5, "Kissed by Fire," Jon Snow and the wildling Ygritte consummate their relationship in the cave.
Close-up filming actually took place on a set that recreated the cave, with a waterfall added using CGI, but the location itself is otherwise much as it appears on screen.
Grjotagja is far from the only Icelandic location in the series. Nearby Dimmuborgir stood in for the wildling camp of Mance Rayder. Elsewhere, Mount Kirkjufell, the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks, Vatnajokull Glacier, and the area around Thingvellir National Park all appear.
You can see several of these sites on this Game of Thrones tour bundle or this dedicated Game of Thrones vacation package.
How to Get to Grjotagja Cave
Grjotagja is in the Lake Myvatn area, part of the Diamond Circle and right beside the Ring Road, so it's simple to reach on a North Iceland road trip.
From Reykjavik, the drive is about 470 kilometers (292 miles) and takes roughly six hours along Route 1. From Akureyri, it's only 80 kilometers (50 miles), about one hour and 15 minutes. Either way, you follow Route 1 to the village of Reykjahlid, then turn onto Route 860, where the cave is clearly signposted.
Route 860 is a short gravel road suitable for two-wheel-drive cars, and there's a large car park at the site. From there, it's just a two- to three-minute walk to the cave entrance. The easiest way to visit is with a rental car, though the area is also covered on many guided Myvatn tours.
Visiting Grjotagja Cave: What to Know
Visiting is free and possible year-round, and the cave is open to view at any time of day. You can climb down into the openings to see the spring, but bathing is not permitted.
A few practical tips make the visit easier:
-
The rocks around and inside the cave are uneven and can be slippery, so wear sturdy shoes and watch your footing.
-
It's a popular stop and can get crowded midday in summer; early morning or evening is quieter.
-
The site has been temporarily closed in the past due to littering and damage, so treat it with care and take everything out with you.
Because Grjotagja sits in a geothermally active region, it pairs naturally with other Myvatn-area sights, so most visitors fold it into a half-day or full day exploring the area.
Attractions Near Grjotagja Cave
The Lake Myvatn area is one of the richest sightseeing regions in the north, and several major attractions sit within a short drive of Grjotagja.
-
Myvatn Nature Baths – the north's answer to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal lagoon where you can actually soak, just a few minutes away.
-
Hverfjall – a striking 1-kilometer-wide tephra crater you can hike around the rim of.
-
Dimmuborgir – a dramatic field of lava pillars and arches with easy walking trails.
-
Namafjall – a steaming geothermal area of bubbling mud pots and fumaroles east of the lake.
-
Krafla and Viti crater – a volcanic system with a vivid blue crater lake to the north.
Together with Grjotagja, these make Lake Myvatn an easy place to spend a full day or more.
More Lava Caves to Explore in Iceland
If Grjotagja sparks an interest in lava caves, Iceland has several you can go inside with a guide. Surtshellir, in the Hallmundarhraun Lava Field, stretches for over a mile and holds ice formations in winter. Vidgelmir, the longest lava cave in Iceland, is well set up for beginners.
A few guided cave tours worth considering:
-
The Raufarholshellir Lava Tunnel tour – walk through one of Iceland's longest and most accessible lava tunnels.
-
The Vidgelmir Cave tour – explore a vast lava tube shaped by past eruptions.
-
The Vatnshellir Cave tour – descend into an 8,000-year-old cave on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Towns Near Grjotagja Cave
A couple of northern towns make good bases for visiting Grjotagja and the wider Myvatn area, each with its own attractions and places to stay.
Husavik is often called the whale-watching capital of Iceland, sitting on the shores of Skjalfandi Bay. Beyond its whale-watching tours, visitors can explore the Husavik Museum and the GeoSea Geothermal Baths, with plenty of hotels and accommodations in Husavik to choose from.
Akureyri, the largest town in the north, sits at the head of Eyjafjordur beneath snow-capped mountains. It's the region's main hub for restaurants, shops, and services, with a wide range of accommodations in Akureyri.
Experience the Magic of Grjotagja Cave
Whether you're a Game of Thrones fan, a lava-cave enthusiast, or simply chasing North Iceland's most striking scenery, Grjotagja is an easy and rewarding stop. Pair it with a soak at the nearby geothermal baths and a walk around Hverfjall for a full day in the Myvatn area.
Planning a trip north? Browse Myvatn tours or a self-drive package to build Grjotagja into your route.
