Lake Mývatn Panoramic Point is a roadside overlook on the southern side of Lake Mývatn, in Northeast Iceland near Reykjahlíð. The lake is shallow, averaging 2.5 metres deep, and was formed by a basaltic lava eruption about 2300 years ago. The view takes in open water, lava pillars and the birdlife of the shallows. A footpath leads on from the parking area along the shore. Big tour coaches pass this stop by.
Lake Mývatn Panoramic Point
Local name: Mývatn
Fifteen species of duck breed on Mývatn — more than at any other lake in Europe.
- Entrance
- Free — there is no ticket for the viewpoint.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking at the viewpoint.
- Parking
- Free car park at the pull-off, plus free parking along the roadside.
- Difficulty
- Easy. The view needs no walking at all; a footpath leads on from the pull-off along the shore.
- Transport
- Self-drive (Route 848 around the lake)
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Route 848, 660 Skútustaðir
What makes it special
Big tour coaches do not stop here, and that is the point of the place. From the pull-off the lake opens out — lava pillars, rocky outliers threading into the water, ducks working the shallows. Those pillars are what was left when a lava lake drained away after the eruption that formed Mývatn, about 2300 years ago. A footpath leads on along the shore for anyone who wants more than the view from the car. It is a smaller sight than the headline stops around the lake, and it is honest about that. You get Mývatn without the crowd.
Good to know
- Midges: the lake is named after them, and they swarm through the summer. Pack a head net — swatting them off ruins the stop.
- No toilets: there are none at the pull-off. Plan the stop around facilities elsewhere.
- Cold and wind: summers here are cool and winters long and cold. Bring a windproof layer in any season.
- Protected area: the lake, the Laxá river and the wetlands form a nature reserve of 4,400 km². Keep to the path.
Getting there
Come by car. The viewpoint is an easy pull-off straight from the road on the southern side of Lake Mývatn. Park, step out, and the lake is already in front of you — no walking is needed for the view itself. A footpath leads on from the pull-off along the shore, and the walking on it is easy. Big tour coaches do not stop here.
Best time to visit
Better: late spring onwards, once the ducks are back — most arrive from late April to early May. A stiff breeze helps as well, because wind holds the midges down.
Avoid: windless days in high summer. The midges are the reason the lake has its name, and standing still on the shore becomes hard work.
Nothing here depends on opening times. The stop is open around the clock, and it is the wind that decides how long you last outside the car.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Lake Mývatn Panoramic Point on the map
It is a pull-off on a live road — indicate and park fully clear of the lane, and mind the summer midges, which gather thickly by the water in calm weather.
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Frequently asked questions
Are there toilets at the viewpoint?
No. There are no toilets at the pull-off, so plan the stop around facilities elsewhere on the lake.How bad are the midges?
Bad enough to shape a summer visit. The lake is named for them: mý means midge, vatn means lake. A head net fixes it, and wind keeps them down.Is there anything to do beyond looking at the view?
A footpath leads on from the pull-off along the shore. The walking is easy, and it passes lava pillars and stretches of shallow water good for watching birds.Do tour buses stop here?
Big coaches do not. The trade-off is real: the stop is quieter than the main Mývatn sights and also less dramatic than they are.Is it suitable for children?
Yes. There are no toilets, and in summer children need midge protection as much as adults do.