Akureyri: Goðafoss, Laufas & The Christmas House Combo Tour

Goðafoss is the star here, a broad, striking waterfall with a story tied to Iceland’s conversion to Christianity. You also get two very different slices of local life: the Laufás turf houses, which show how Icelanders lived before modern comforts, and the Christmas House, a year-round holiday shop with a playful Icelandic twist.

I like the way this tour packs three very different stops into four hours without asking you to plan transport. I also like the local storytelling, especially when guides such as Jon, Inga, Lilja, and Graham are leading the group. The main drawback is time. The schedule is busy, and the Christmas House may feel too commercial if you are not interested in ornaments and holiday shopping.

Key points at a glance

• Goðafoss gives you the tour’s strongest visual moment: You have about 40 minutes for photos, a walk, and the story behind the Waterfall of the Gods.
• Laufás puts Icelandic life into human scale: The old turf-covered buildings, church, rooms, and household objects make the past easier to picture.
• The Christmas House is festive all year: Expect a log fire, holiday music, seasonal scents, a magical garden, and plenty of merchandise.
• Local guides shape the experience: Jon is often praised for humor and clear storytelling, while Inga and Lilja bring strong local knowledge of Akureyri.
• The price can work well for cruise visitors: At $117, hotel or port transport and Laufás admission are included, and it may cost about half as much as a similar cruise excursion.
• Time management matters: The three stops are worthwhile, but you may wish for more time at Laufás and Goðafoss.

Why Goðafoss is the right first stop

The tour begins with a bus ride of roughly 40 minutes from Akureyri. That gives your guide a useful stretch of road for stories about Icelandic customs, local people, folklore, and the area around Eyjafjörður.

Goðafoss sits in the glacial river Skjálfandafljót. Its name means Waterfall of the Gods, linked to the story of Þorgeir, a local chieftain who reportedly threw statues of pagan gods into the falls after Iceland adopted Christianity. The tale gives the stop more weight than a quick photo break. You are looking at a force of nature tied to a turning point in Icelandic culture.

The waterfall itself is the visual high point of the outing. You will have time to walk, take photos, and view the falls from the area around the stopping point. At 40 minutes, the visit is long enough for a proper look, but not generous if you want to wander slowly or wait for perfect light.

I would keep your camera ready and wear shoes with a good grip. The tour information calls for a walk and sightseeing, but it does not promise a long hike, so think of Goðafoss as a scenic stop rather than a strenuous outing.

Several guides receive especially warm praise for this part of the trip and for the drive between stops. Jon is described as funny, careful, and full of useful local stories. One guide even turned the bus ride itself into a major part of the experience, explaining history and folklore without needing a microphone at every moment. That matters in Iceland, where the road between sights can be as interesting as the stop itself.

Laufás and the practical beauty of turf houses

After Goðafoss, the minibus continues for about 40 minutes to Laufás. You get around 50 minutes at the museum and heritage site, including a guided introduction, time to walk around, and some self-guided exploration.

Laufás was once a prosperous vicarage beside the Fnjóská River estuary in Eyjafjörður. The turf-covered timber buildings create an image many people carry in their heads before visiting Iceland, but the site is more useful than a pretty photo. It shows how homes were organized and how people adapted daily life to a cold, demanding climate.

The oldest building tradition at Laufás reaches back to the Middle Ages. The structures you see today were built between 1860 and 1877. Inside, rooms and passageways contain objects from Laufás and nearby farms, giving you a clearer idea of home life up to the early 20th century.

I find this stop valuable because it explains the ordinary side of Icelandic history. Goðafoss is dramatic. Laufás is about work, shelter, family life, and making do. You can look at the turf roofs, then step inside and see how the buildings functioned as a home rather than treating them as a simple outdoor monument.

The church is small and plain, but it has a pulpit dating from 1698. That detail helps connect the site to Iceland’s long religious tradition without requiring a museum lecture. Your guide may point out local customs and stories, while the self-guided portion lets you move at your own pace.

Fifty minutes is useful, though several visitors would prefer more. If you like historic buildings, domestic objects, and old churches, this is the stop where you will feel the clock most sharply. If you are mainly here for scenery, the allotted time may feel adequate.

The Christmas House is charming, but not for everyone

The final major stop is the Christmas House, reached after the Laufás visit. You have about 40 minutes for photos, free time, sightseeing, and shopping.

This is not a traditional museum. It is a year-round Christmas attraction built to feel like a fairy-tale setting. The garden is designed for photos, and inside you can expect a log fire, Christmas songs, festive scents, and shelves filled with holiday goods. Even in summer, the place keeps its seasonal mood.

One of the more unusual details is the hidden cave of Gryla, the troll mother of the Icelandic Yule lads. Icelandic Christmas folklore is not limited to one cheerful gift-bringer, and looking for Gryla gives children a small mission during the visit.

The attraction works best for families, collectors, and anyone who enjoys Christmas decor at any time of year. You can browse without needing to buy anything, but the shop is a large part of the stop. Some people find the merchandise prices high and the quality uneven. If shopping does not interest you, the visit may feel short on substance.

That makes the Christmas House the most personal stop on the route. I would treat it as a light, playful break after the waterfall and museum, not as a major cultural museum. If you are choosing between more time at Laufás and more time here, I would choose Laufás. Still, children may well prefer the Christmas House.

A short Akureyri finish

After the Christmas House, the ride back to Akureyri takes about 10 minutes, followed by a short sightseeing tour of town. The exact shape of that final look around depends on the day and the guide, but it gives you a quick sense of Akureyri before drop-off.

The tour serves many pickup and drop-off points, including the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre, Akureyri Harbor Cruise Terminal, hotels, guesthouses, apartments, hostels, and Akureyri Airport. Cruise passengers can be collected at the harbor and returned there, while others can finish near their accommodation or in town.

That flexibility is useful. One group of friends was dropped in town to explore after the tour, while other passengers were taken back to their ship. If you are on a cruise, tell the operator clearly where you need to finish and keep an eye on the return time.

The guides make the bus time count

A four-hour tour with nearly an hour and a half of driving could feel like a transfer service with a few stops. Here, the guide is a big part of the value.

Jon receives repeated praise for mixing history, folklore, humor, and practical instructions. He is also noted for careful driving and for getting people back on time. Inga is praised for explaining Icelandic history, culture, and local life with humor. Lilja, a local of Akureyri, brings direct familiarity with the area. Graham has also led a small version of the tour and was described as an excellent driver and guide.

That does not guarantee a particular guide on your departure, but it tells you what kind of service to expect from the better outings: clear directions at each stop, useful commentary on the road, and enough flexibility to help the group stay on schedule.

There have been occasional practical annoyances. One passenger had trouble with the microphone system, though the guide fixed it. Another found the front seat uncomfortable because it had no adjustment. These are small issues, but they are worth remembering if you have a strong preference for seating or need clear audio.

Group size and transport details

The tour uses a minibus and advertises small groups of up to 15 people. That size is normally a good fit for a route like this. You spend less time loading and unloading, and a guide can answer questions more easily than on a full-size coach.

One important caution: at least one departure was described as a larger bus despite the small-group wording. I would confirm the vehicle and group size close to your travel date if that matters to you. The experience may feel very different with 10 people compared with a bus full of cruise passengers.

Pickup begins 15 minutes before departure. Wait in your hotel lobby, outside your accommodation, or near your cruise ship as directed. The operator provides hotel and port pickup and drop-off, but refreshments are not included, so bring water and anything you may want during the four hours.

The tour is conducted in English. Laufás admission is included, while food and drinks are not. The route has walks at Goðafoss and Laufás, so sensible outdoor clothing and comfortable shoes are a good idea.

Is $117 a fair price?

At $117 per person, this is not a budget bus ride, but Iceland rarely rewards careless budgeting. You are paying for transport from Akureyri, a local guide, three stops, and admission to Laufás. You also avoid arranging a car, driving unfamiliar roads, and fitting Goðafoss and Laufás into a short port visit.

The value looks strongest for cruise passengers. A comparable cruise excursion can cost about twice as much, and this tour still provides pickup at the harbor and a return option that works around ship schedules. That is a meaningful saving if you want a shore outing without paying the cruise line premium.

For independent visitors already renting a car, the calculation is different. You might prefer the freedom to spend longer at Goðafoss or Laufás and skip the Christmas House. But you would need to cover fuel, parking, admission, driving, and your own research. The tour earns its price through convenience and interpretation rather than through a long list of inclusions.

The 4.4 out of 5 overall rating from 173 ratings suggests a consistently solid experience, though not a perfect one. The repeated strengths are the waterfall, the turf houses, the guides, and the easy transport. The repeated weak points are the Christmas shop, limited time, and occasional uncertainty about the vehicle size.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors staying in Akureyri, cruise passengers with four hours to spare, families, and anyone who wants a guided introduction to the area without renting a car.

It is also a good choice if you enjoy hearing local stories as you travel. A strong guide can turn the drives into useful context about Icelandic customs, humor, religion, folklore, and daily life.

I would hesitate if your main goal is slow photography at Goðafoss, a long visit at Laufás, or a serious museum experience. The schedule keeps moving. I would also think twice if Christmas shopping sounds tedious, since the final stop is built around that theme.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a convenient, well-paced introduction to the sights around Akureyri and you value a good guide more than complete freedom. Goðafoss and Laufás are the real reasons to reserve, while the Christmas House adds a cheerful, family-friendly change of mood.

At $117, it is especially sensible for cruise passengers who want port pickup and a less expensive alternative to a ship excursion. Just keep your expectations clear: the waterfall is spectacular, Laufás is the most meaningful historic stop, and the Christmas House is a shop and seasonal attraction rather than a major museum.

FAQ

How long is the Akureyri Goðafoss, Laufás, and Christmas House tour?

The tour lasts four hours, including transportation between Akureyri and the three main stops.

What places does the tour visit?

It visits Goðafoss Waterfall, the Laufás Museum and heritage site, and the Christmas House. A short sightseeing tour of Akureyri takes place before drop-off.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from many hotels, guesthouses, apartments, hostels, the Akureyri Harbor Cruise Terminal, and Akureyri Airport.

Can cruise passengers join the tour?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available at the Akureyri Harbor Cruise Terminal. The tour also offers drop-off options for passengers returning to their ship or continuing into town.

Is entrance to Laufás included?

Yes. The entrance fee for the Laufás heritage museum is included in the tour price.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Refreshments are not included, so you should bring anything you want to drink or eat during the four-hour outing.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is advertised as a small-group experience limited to 15 participants. One departure was reported as using a larger bus, so confirm the vehicle details if group size is important to you.