The northern city of Akureyri boasts a dramatic coastal location that’s helped to shape its history over the years. From its settlement in the 9th century by Norse Vikings to its use as an airbase during World War II, the city has developed as the northern hub of Iceland.
With its skyscraper-esque church, art museum, and a whole host of repurposed industrial buildings, Akureyri has its own brand of Nordic cool. Add to this the benefit of being within easy reach of impressive waterfalls, snow-capped peaks for skiing, and whale-watching opportunities. The city is a natural base for exploring the region.
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A Guide to Akureyri, Iceland
Where is Akureyri?
Akureyri is situated in northern Iceland. Dubbed the “capital of the north”, Akureyri is the fifth-largest city in the country and though it’s small in size, it’s big in terms of culture and entertainment.
Specifically, Akureyri is located on a narrow strip of land, surrounded by mountains, and borders on the boundaries of the Arctic Circle (100 kilometers from it, to be exact). It is around 387 kilometers from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, and it takes just under five hours to drive between the two cities.
How to get to Akureyri
There are many ways to get between Reykjavik and Akureyri: by plane, bus, tour, or driving. Many travelers to Iceland will choose to hire a rental car and hit the road, getting to Akureyri at their own pace. In total, the journey will take around five hours.
Finding a rental car is easy enough, thanks to international rental companies being located in Reykjavik; make sure to book ahead of your travel, as things can get busy – especially in the high season.
Flying is probably the quickest way to get from Reykjavik to Akureyri. There are several daily flights throughout the year, and the journey takes only around 40 minutes.
Buses also run between the two cities, specifically along the NR1 highway. However, the schedule differs throughout the year, so make sure to check in advance if you plan on catching a bus to Akureyri.
If you don’t want to think about anything during your trip, then taking a guided tour is a good way to get from Reykjavik to Akureyri. Usually, transport and accommodation will be included in the price of the tour, meaning you won’t have to worry about driving, bus or flight schedules, or even finding a hotel for the night.
Where to stay in Akureyri
Hotel North: Situated in a rural setting just outside Akureyri, Hotel North is a pleasant place to spend a few nights in northern Iceland. Surrounded by rolling hills, the casual but contemporary rooms at this hotel feature large comfortable beds and modern bathrooms.
Amenities at this hotel include a buffet breakfast and an outdoor terrace, where guests can soak up those countryside views. There’s also a hot tub on the hotel’s wooden veranda: the perfect place to glimpse the northern lights at the right time of year.
Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Hotel Akureyri Dynheimar: This centrally located hotel – just a short walk from the main street of Akureyri – is the ideal place to be if you want entertainment on the doorstep. Inside this historic building, the hotel’s unique interior design is quirky yet comfortable; these carefully considered interiors stretch to the polished guest rooms.
Amenities at Hotel Akureyri Dynheimar include a fashionable eatery serving up modern twists on Icelandic cuisine, as well as a guest lounge to unwind in and even free parking onsite – perfect for those on a road trip around the island.
Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Things to do in Akureyri, Iceland
Visit Akureyrarkirkja
Akureyri’s 1940s-era church is the centerpiece of the city. Housing a 3,200-strong pipe organ, the Lutheran church features a striking modernist design that is reminiscent of early 20th-century skyscrapers.
The church also features an Italian white marble baptismal font, British-designed stained glass window (formerly located in Coventry Cathedral), and an altarpiece that dates back to 1863. Also inside is a ship hanging from the ceiling; this unusual addition is a nod to Viking tradition, which uses votive objects to protect family members out at sea.
See the Laufas Turf Houses
Just outside the city, along the road that leads to Grenivik, are these fascinating turf houses at Laufas. Now belonging to the National Museum of Iceland, these dwellings constitute a type of vernacular architecture that was once widely used across the island, which uses turf as natural insulation and general protection from the elements.
The houses are part of a former manor farm that dates back to the 1860s. Onsite, there’s also a timber church and a cafe that sells local handicrafts.
Go on a Whale Watching Tour
Iceland, in general, is a fantastic place to go whale watching, and the city of Akureyri is no different. It is possible to see various types of these marine mammals all year round from this coastal community; these include humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, harbor porpoises, and minke whales. You may see an orca whale and maybe even a majestic blue whale.
Whale-watching boat tours depart from the harbor and cruise around the Eyjafjordur. There are a number of different companies based in the town.
I recommend this 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour.
Stroll around Akureyri’s Botanical Garden
Famed for being the northernmost botanical garden in the world, Akureyri Botanical Garden sits on the edge of a residential part of town. Its location 45 meters above sea level, on the edge of the Eyjafjordur, offers the garden and its plant life protection from the elements and also provides a microclimate for the plants to thrive in.
Since their creation in 1957, the gardens have spread to cover an area of 3.6 hectares and include some 7,000 species of plant – only 400 of which are native. Over the years, gardens have been used for scientific research purposes. It’s free to enter but only open in summer.
Go to the Akureyri Art Museum
Akureyri Art Museum began life back in 1993 when local margarine factory entrepreneur Ragnar Jónsson donated his private collection of artwork to the Icelandic people. The building in which the art museum is located is interesting in itself, belonging to the early 20th century Bauhaus school of architecture.
Inside, the art museum is a compact yet comprehensive collection of paintings and sculptures that are centered around Icelandic artists. The centrally located museum is free to enter and there are special exhibits that happen throughout the year.
Eat Ice Cream at Brynjuís
Akureyri may be mere kilometers from the Arctic Circle, but that doesn’t mean people here aren’t allowed to enjoy ice cream. In fact, Akureyri is home to a famous ice cream shop in the form of Brynjuís.
One of the oldest ice cream shops in the whole country, Brynjuís has a focus on using natural ingredients to create delicious sweet treats. Inside, the store is sparklingly clean, the servings are enormous and the staff is friendly and helpful; there are even vegan options to suit different diets.
Kjarnaskógur Forest
Just a kilometer and a half outside the center of Akureyri, Kjarnaskógur Forest is the place to go for hiking. This is actually one of the largest forests in the country and has an interesting tale in its history. Previous to the 1950s, this area was used for agriculture and was primarily made up of large fields where potatoes were grown.
Locals then began to plant trees in this agricultural area, a practice which has now led to the forest as it appears today, covering over 800 hectares of land. It’s become a popular place to take some time out in nature, with a number of hiking trails, running routes, bike paths, and children’s playgrounds to enjoy here.
The Christmas House
Dubbed Jólahúsið in Icelandic, the aptly named Christmas House is located just to the south of Akureyri and is exactly what you think it might be: a place to enjoy Christmas year-round. For those who love Christmas and Nordic design, it’s worth stopping by.
Inside this conspicuously red-colored structure, you’ll find a number of unique Christmas ornaments and crafts to add to your roster of festive decorations. The Christmas House is also home to the world’s largest advent calendar.
Godafoss
Godafoss is one of the most visited waterfalls in Iceland. Meaning “Falls of the Gods,” the cascade features a 30-meter-wide curtain of water that plunges from a height of 12 meters from the river Skjálfandafljót. The story goes that when, in the year 1000, Iceland made Christianity its official religion, the lawspeaker (top official) Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði threw his statues of the old Norse gods into the plunge pool.
The waterfall is easily found. It’s situated close to the main road, NR1, and is around 25 kilometers from Akureyri – around half an hour’s drive from the city’s center. There’s also a bus that connects the two.
You might also like: From Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Day Trip.