Akureyri sits at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord, beneath a wall of mountains that hold snow into June. With around 20,000 residents it is the largest town outside the capital region, and it carries itself accordingly: a proper café culture, a celebrated botanical garden improbably close to the Arctic Circle, a ski mountain above town, and heart shaped red traffic lights installed after the 2008 financial crash to lift morale. They never took them down.

More importantly for a traveler, Akureyri is the single best base in North Iceland. Here is what to do in town, and within striking distance of it.

In Town

1. Akureyrarkirkja

The church on the hill, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson (the architect behind Hallgrímskirkja), anchors every photo of the town. Climb the steps at golden hour, and note the central stained glass window, which began its life in Coventry Cathedral in England.

2. The Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn)

Founded in 1912 and one of the northernmost botanical gardens in the world, with over 7,000 species thriving 62 miles (100 kilometers) from the Arctic Circle, no greenhouse involved. Free entry, and the garden café in its modernist glass pavilion is the best coffee stop in town. Open June through September in full; the grounds stay walkable year round.

3. The Town Pool (Sundlaug Akureyrar)

Among the best municipal pools in the country: hot tubs at several temperatures, steam baths, water slides for kids, all geothermal. Around 1,200 ISK (about $9 / €8), and the social center of the town, every single day of the year.

4. Old Town and the Museums

Stroll Hafnarstræti’s colorful timber houses, then choose museums by interest: the Akureyri Art Museum, the Aviation Museum at the airfield, Nonni’s House (childhood home of author Jón Sveinsson), and the Motorcycle Museum of Iceland, which is more charming than it has any right to be.

5. Eat Better Than You Expected

Akureyri’s food scene outperforms its size: Rub23 for sushi and fish, Strikið for the fjord view dining room, Greifinn for the family pizza institution, and Brynja for the legendary ice cream stand that northerners insist beats anything in Reykjavík. Local rule: ice cream is a year round food.

6. Ski Hlíðarfjall (Winter)

Iceland’s most reliable ski area rises directly above town: 24 runs, fjord views from the lifts, and a season running roughly December to April, with floodlit skiing through the dark months.

7. Forest Bathing in Kjarnaskógur

Icelandic forests are rare enough to be a novelty. Kjarnaskógur, just south of town, is one of the country’s largest, with easy trails, mountain bike paths, and picnic spots locals actually use.

The Day Trips That Make Akureyri a Base

8. Whale Watching on Eyjafjörður

Humpbacks feed deep into the fjord, and Akureyri departures enjoy calm, sheltered water (a genuine advantage for anyone prone to seasickness). June through August is peak; sailings run much of the year.

9. Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods

Thirty five minutes east, the horseshoe falls where, the story goes, lawspeaker Þorgeir cast his pagan idols into the water when Iceland adopted Christianity in the year 1000. Both viewing banks are worthwhile, and winter turns it monochrome and spectacular.

10. The Mývatn Area

One hour east lies a full day of volcanic theater: the pseudocraters of Skútustaðir, the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, the steaming vents of Hverir, the Krafla caldera, and the Mývatn Nature Baths, the north’s answer to the Blue Lagoon at roughly half the price.

11. Húsavík

Under an hour away, the whale watching capital of Iceland, with its wooden church, the excellent Whale Museum, and the GeoSea cliff top baths. Full details in our Húsavík guide.

12. Siglufjörður and the Troll Peninsula

North along the fjord, through mountain tunnels, to the herring boom town turned charmer: the award winning Herring Era Museum, colorful harbor houses, and some of Iceland’s most dramatic road scenery on the way.

13. The Arctic Coast Way and Grímsey

With more time, follow the signed coastal route west or east, or take the ferry from Dalvík to Grímsey island, the only piece of Iceland that touches the Arctic Circle. Puffins included in summer.

14. Beer Spa in Árskógssandur

Twenty five minutes north, the Bjórböðin beer spa offers soaks in tubs of beer, water, hops, and yeast, with a tap within reach of the bath. Ridiculous and excellent.

15. Northern Lights, With Statistics on Your Side

The north often enjoys clearer winter skies than the south coast. In season, simply drive ten minutes out of town toward the fjord’s darkness and look up.

Practical Notes

Akureyri is a 45 minute flight from Reykjavík or roughly 5 hours by car on the Ring Road. Two nights is the minimum that does the area justice; three to four lets Mývatn, Húsavík, and the town itself breathe. Winter visitors should rent 4WD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Akureyri worth visiting?

Yes, both for itself and as the base that unlocks Mývatn, Goðafoss, Húsavík, and the Troll Peninsula.

How many days do you need in Akureyri?

Two to four: one for the town, one for Mývatn, and ideally one for Húsavík or Siglufjörður.

Can you see the northern lights from Akureyri?

In season, regularly. Minimal driving is needed to escape the town’s light.