Akureyri, Iceland: what to see and do
The site of Akureyri's Old Town gained its first dwelling in 1778. The Old Hospital is one of the town's oldest surviving buildings.
Things to do in Akureyri: the botanical garden
The botanical garden started life as a public park in 1912. Its formal designation as a botanic garden followed in 1957. Today the garden occupies approximately 3.7 hectares. Its plant collections include 430 species native to Iceland alongside 6,600 non-native taxa. The grounds have expanded on three occasions since 1912 and sit at an altitude of 40 to 50 metres.
The church and local culture
Guðjón Samúelsson was the architect of Akureyri's church, whose consecration took place on 17 November 1940. Inside, the organ dates to 1961 and was made in Oettingen, Germany, by Steinmeyer & Co. Above the altar, the central stained glass window belonged to a set from England.
The unveiling of the Christmas Cat sculpture at Ráðhústorg square took place on 28 November 2009. Akureyrarvaka marks the town's birthday on the final weekend of August.
Birdlife and skiing
27 bird species nest in Krossanesborgir, about 35 percent of Iceland's bird species.
The ski area at Hlíðarfjall is 5 km outside Akureyri, with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,000 metres above sea level. Snowmaking equipment has been installed there since 2006.
Fjords and northern lights
The Akureyri half-day tour with fjords, handcraft and a brewery visit lasts 4 hours and includes transport along the fjord coast from Akureyri, a visit to Hjalteyri fishing hamlet, a local refreshment tasting, a guided beer tasting at Kaldi Microbrewery and return transport to Akureyri.
Auroras form at altitudes of 100 to 250 km above the earth. The guided northern lights tour from Akureyri lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes, with coach or minibus transport, a local guide, aurora forecast monitoring and commentary on culture and folklore included.
North Iceland: waterfalls and Lake Mývatn
At Goðafoss, the water drops 12 metres across a span of 30 metres. The Goðafoss express guided tour from Akureyri takes 2 hours and 30 minutes and includes return shuttle transport, driver assistance, route guidance and time to view the waterfall.
Lake Mývatn extends over 37 square kilometres. The guided 4x4 tour of Lake Mývatn and waterfalls in Iceland lasts 8 hours and 30 minutes and includes 4x4 transport, a local guide, a Goðafoss visit, stops around Lake Mývatn and a visit to the geothermal mud pools and fumaroles at Hverir, with visits to Dettifoss and Selfoss dependent on conditions.
In Bárðardalur valley, Aldeyjarfoss drops about 20 metres amid basalt columns on the Skjálfandafljót river. That river begins at the Vatnajökull and Tungnafellsjökull glaciers and is one of Iceland's longest rivers.
The northern coast and islands
The Arctic Coast Way stretches for 900 km across North Iceland, passing through 21 villages and 18 municipalities. The route officially opened in June 2019. Siglufjörður is 77.5 km from Akureyri. In 1900 it was a small village engaged in shark fishing, before developing into a centre for Atlantic herring fishing.
Grímsey sits on the Arctic Circle, approximately 40 km off Iceland's northern coast. The island has a small community of a few dozen residents and about one million seabirds. Travel from the mainland to Grímsey takes approximately 3 hours by sea or 30 minutes by air.
Frequently asked questions
When did Akureyri Botanical Garden become a botanic garden?
The park formally became a botanic garden in 1957.
Who designed Akureyri's church?
The church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and consecrated on 17 November 1940.
How high is Goðafoss?
Goðafoss has a drop of 12 metres and a width of 30 metres.
How large is Lake Mývatn?
Lake Mývatn covers 37 square kilometres.
Where is Grímsey?
Grímsey lies on the Arctic Circle, about 40 km off Iceland's north coast.
