Akureyri

Often referred to as the Capital of North Iceland, Akureyri is Iceland’s second-largest city, with a population of about 20,000 people. Its ice-free harbor and mild climate led to it being an important center of trade in early years; now it’s home to University of Akureyri, giving the town a very youthful feel. Akureyri is an excellent base for exploring the northern part of Iceland, especially for those who prefer to stay in a more urban environment and who want to be able to easily walk form their hotel to bars and restaurants.

What to do:

Attractions in North Iceland include the Myvatn Nature Baths (now renamed Earth Lagoon Mývatn), Godafoss waterfall, Lake Myvatn, Krafla volcano, and the town of Husavik, the whale-watching capital of Iceland (and the world). Additionally, it’s easy to arrange for horseback riding, paragliding, winter skiing, and summer golfing. On a longer day trip (in summer) one can also visit the mighty Dettifoss waterfall or the Askja caldera in the interior. Several companies like Saga Travel offer day trips around the area from Akureyri and Myvatn.

In the town, you can rent bikes, visit the beautiful botanical gardens, which contain every plant found in Iceland, visit the many art galleries and museums in town, or relax at one of the local swimming pools.

For a more upscale soak, the Forest Lagoon opened in 2022 on the other side of the fjord, about five minutes’ drive from the town center. It has two geothermal pools and a sauna set in birch and pine woods, with views back over Eyjafjörður.

My suggested itinerary for the area is three days: one day to arrive and explore the town, one to go horseback riding or whale-watching in Húsavík, and one day to drive around the area and visit Godafoss, Lake Myvatn and the Myvatn Nature baths, or to schedule a day trip into the interior to visit Dettifoss and Askja. If you have extra time, you could also go skiing or golfing depending on the season, hike along the many nearby trails, visit Hrisey Island or take a short flight to Grimsey. There are also countless nearby small towns to explore, ranging in population from just 80 to about 2600.

Where to stay:

Akureyri offers more accommodation choices than you’ll find elsewhere in Iceland, with the exception of Reykjavik. Stay in town at a hotel, hostel, guesthouse, or apartment, or venture a bit further out of the city for a farmstay or rural guesthouse accommodation.

>> Hotels in Akureyri
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Where to eat:

The number of restaurant options offered in Akureyri is surpassed only by the number in Reykjavik. No where else in Iceland will you find such a variety of cuisines, atmospheres and price-points, from quick and casual to haute cuisine. Grab a burger or a steak in one of the oldest buildings in town at Bautinn, try lobster soup, sandwiches, fresh fish, and burgers at Greifinn, one of the city’s most popular places to dine, or sample Icelandic specialties with an upscale twist and a view of the fjord at Strikid.

Given that it’s a college town, it’s no surprise that Akureyri also has a vibrant nightlife scene. For local beer, try Ölstofa Akureyrar, a bar near the church that pours local beer from Akureyri brewers like Einstök and Kaldi.

Getting there and around:

Once in Akureyir, it’s easy to get around the town on foot or via the free city bus. Getting there from Reykjavik is pretty straight-forward as well. Just take the Ring Road, which should take you 5-7 hours, depending on how many times you stop. You could also take a 45-minute Icelandair flight from Reykjavik. In recent winters easyJet has also flown direct to Akureyri from London Gatwick and Manchester, and Edelweiss flies in from Zurich in summer.

>> more on getting from Reykjavik to Akureyri

Photos by: -RobW-, Sushanta Meh