Akureyri City Breaks

Serenely nestled at the base of Eyjafjörður (the longest fjord in Iceland), less than 100 kilometres away from the Arctic Circle, Akureyri is the primary urban settlement in the north of the country. Although relatively tiny in both population and geographical size, even making Reykjavik look like a vast metropolis in comparison, Akureyri is home to a thriving cultural scene, with a cluster of intriguing museums, quirky art galleries, cosy cafes and a remarkably diverse selection of restaurants.

You needn’t venture far beyond the town itself to discover some of Iceland’s most beguiling landscapes, ranging from hilly pastures and barren swathes of uninhabited tundra to snow-capped mountains and lunar-like geothermal fields blistered with belching mud pots and hissing fumaroles. When you’re not out and about exploring Akureyri’s spectacular natural surroundings, you may be tempted to go for a dip in the town’s geothermally-heated swimming pool, check out the hilltop Lutheran church, or take a wander through the world’s northernmost botanical garden. 

In the height of summer, the sun barely dips below the horizon, bathing Akureyri in 24-hour daylight, so the days can be stretched out as long as you like. In the winter, it’s one of the best places in Iceland to see the Northern Lights and embark on thrilling outdoor adventures in the snow-blanketed wilderness.