Overview

Nestled at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord, Akureyri is north Iceland's largest fishing port, and its cultural, industrial, and trade capital. It's often called Iceland's "unofficial capital of the north." Most likely because it is the second-largest urban area outside Reykjavik. With a population of 20,000 people, Akureyri is a sophisticated and thriving city.

Akureyri's first known settler was Helgi the Lean, who arrived circa 890. By 1602 it was an active trading post, and by 1900 had 1,370 residents. The trade cooperative KEA, formed in 1886, still owns large shares of several Eyjafjörður businesses, and in 1915 Akureyri had the country's first social-democratic government. The University of Akureyri, established in 1987, is the only state-run university outside of Reykjavík.

Things to See & Do

Explore Downtown Akureyri. The downtown area is very walkable, and you should be able to explore the entire area in a day (or an afternoon, depending on what you do). Stop for coffee at a local cafe or enjoy lunch at any of the restaurants in town. The city isn't huge by any means, so you can easily walk around town and down by the harbor in the afternoon.

There is a self-guided tour of the city's historical trail. This is a great way to make your way through town. There are four different self-guided walking tours: The Historical Path (2.5 miles), First Settlers and town architecture (1.2 miles), River and Gardens (3.1 miles), and Sea and Oddeyrin (a fishing vessel) (0.6 miles).

See Akureyrakirkja (Akureyri Church). Even if you simply stop to admire it from the outside. It is a Lutheran church built in 1940 by famous architect, Gudjon Samuelsson. The church is at the top of a hill with several sets of stairs leading up to it, and it's an iconic symbol of the town.

Shop on Hafnarstræti (Main Shopping Street). If you're looking to do some shopping in Iceland outside of Reykjavik, Akureyri is the place to be. The main shopping street is called Hafnarstraeti. There are lots of excellent boutique shops selling local specialties.

Go whale watching and puffin spotting. You'll board a boat from the harbor in Akureyri to cruise on the Eyjafjord, Iceland's longest fjord. The trip takes 3 hours with excellent guides and spectacular views. Another option is to book a whale watching tour in Husavik.

In the summer months (June - August), you can also take an excursion to see the puffins. Iceland is home to 60% of the worlds Atlantic Puffin population, which adds up to 6 million of these colorful beaked creatures. Puffins live on the surface of the ocean but venture on land to breed. Most importantly, they only nest where they were born and exclusively when there are other puffins around. Therefore, if you head to the right place at the right time, you stand a very good chance of sighting. A whale watching tour is a great way to spot the puffins. Alternatively, take a trip over the Húsavík where you can board a boat to Flatey Island.

Visit the Akureyri Botanical Garden. This is a public park that first opened in 1912, and the gardens opened in 1957. Only 30 miles from the Arctic Circle, it has many unique varieties of plants and flowers that can grow in these colder climates. There are 429 native Icelandic species of plants and 6,600 foreign plants that grow there. The Akureyri Botanic Garden is open from the beginning of June until the end of September.

Take a Hike at Kjarnaskogur Forest. You can walk to the Kjjarnaskogur Forest right from town (it forms a loop trail that's about 7.5 miles in length). There's also a campsite in the forest, as well as a small lake.

Kjarnaskogur is a fantastic outdoor recreation space for locals and tourists alike. At the upper side of the forest, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Eyjafjörður fjord and Akureyri itself.

Educate yourself in the museums. Akureyri has several museums which are worth exploring but apparently, the best is the Art Museum which features an eclectic display from local artists. There is also plenty of public art to discover around the city and you can pick up your copy of the Akureyri Art Trail brochure from the tourist office to guide you in your exploration. If art isn't your thing, then check out the Into the Arctic or the Aviation Museum.

Step back in time at Laufás Turf House. Across the water from Akureyri is the Laufás Turf House & church which gives a fantastic insight into Iceland’s past. The house here is mentioned in historical records dating back to the first Icelandic settlers (874 – 930) and was a renowned chieftain’s residence. It was classed as a manor and housed between 20-30 people. The current buildings date back to the 19th century, as does the furniture displayed inside.

Cuisine

The city has plenty of cultural and culinary offerings. Because of its location on the bay, you can expect freshly caught seafood in Akureyri's restaurants, as well as other traditional Icelandic dishes sometimes served with an international twist.

Some popular dishes include Fermented Shark, also called hákarl, a way Icelanders stay in touch with their roots and ancestors, some still consider it a delicacy and go to great lengths to get their hands on a good "hákarl." Smoked Lamb, or as it is called in Iceland Hangikjöt, is usually cooked and served hot or cold in slices, traditionally with potatoes. A popular sweet treat is the Skyr, a 1,000-year-old Icelandic recipe in which skim milk is combined with unique yogurt cultures and a small amount of rennet. Kleina is a traditional Icelandic pastry. It is a type of twisted doughnut, often flavored with cardamom or vanilla.

Brennivin is a popular distilled liquor from Iceland considered the national drink.

Explore the Surrounding Area

If you have some extra time in the North it is ideal to explore the spectacular beauty of the surrounding area of Akureyri. The best way to get around is to rent a car and drive yourself. Some of the most beautiful landmarks of Iceland, including Goðafoss waterfall, Húsavík town, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn and Mývatn Nature Baths.

Hlíðarfjall Ski Resort

One of the best thing about Akureyri during winter are the ski slopes located in the mountain above the town. This is definitely the best ski resort in Iceland and it's immensely popular among Icelanders to travel to Akureyri and go skiing. The ski slopes vary in elevation, ranging from 1,640 ft to 3,280 ft above sea level.

The resort is usually open from December till the end of April and you can rent skis or snowboard gear for the day.

Northern Lights Hunt

North Iceland is great for the opportunity to experience the Northern Lights (the Aurora Borealis). Even though you can witness the Northern Lights everywhere in Iceland you probably have a better chance to see them in the North part of the country. The Northern Lights are visible for about eight months in Iceland, but only when it is dark and the sky is clear.

You can rent a car and go by yourself on a Northern Light Hunt or for a better chance of seeing them we recommend booking a Northern Light Tour.