Akureyri Iceland

Friday, 19 September
7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Akureyri is the largest town in northern Iceland, situated in Eyjafjörður fjord.

Akureyri is a city in the northern part of the Republic of Iceland). Nicknamed “the Capital of North Iceland,” Akureyri is an important port and fisheries centre, with a population of 17,304. It is Iceland’s second largest urban area (after the Greater Reykjavík area) and fourth largest municipality (after Reykjavík, Hafnarfjörður, and Kópavogur).

Akureyri is positioned on the west side of the inland end of the fjord Eyjafjörður. In earlier times a few spits of land (Icelandic: eyri, thus Akur-eyri) jutted from the narrow coast, but a lot of land has since been reclaimed from the sea so that today the coastline is more even except for the largest, Oddeyri, which was formed by the river Glerá which runs through the town.

• Expected/approximate sunrise: 6:59 a.m.
• Expected/approximate sunset: 7:08 p.m.

An entire page on the impossible Icelandic language, with helpful traveler’s phrases.

Webcams

Hlidarfjall
Reykjavik harbor

With a sheltered natural harbour within the Eyjafjordur fjord and a dramatic mountain backdrop to the south, Akureyri offers some of the best sumer weather in Iceland, as well as fabulous whale watching opportunities. The town is famous for its Botanical Gardens, the most northerly in the world, which are home to impressive examples of Icelandic flora and many other sub-arctic species. For those wishing to enjoy the very best of Iceland’s dramatic landscape, Akureyri is a gateway to a number of stunning natural features close by including the magnificent Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), the unique bubbling mud pools and geysers of Namakard, and the breathtaking Lake Myvatn, noted for its moon-like craters.

Situated only 100 km (62mi) from the Arctic Circle, Akureyri is known for some of the best summer weather in Iceland. The midnight sun provides 24-hour daylight during June and July. In addition to the northernmost botanical garden and 18-hole golf course in the world, Akureyri offers interesting museums and shopping opportunities.

A variety of half and full-day shore excursions include magnificent Lake Myvatn, Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) and Dimmuborgir (Dark Castles) where towering lava formations characterize the landscape. Another destination is the small island of Grimsey on the Arctic Circle with its amazing birdlife.

The town of Akureyri, with its population of approximately 16,000 Inhabitants, is the administrative, transportation and commercial center of North Iceland. The mountains surrounding the fjord, which Akureyri is in the bottom of, is called Eyjafjordur. It is the longest fjord in Iceland, or 60 km, the fjord that all ships have to go through, on the way to Akureyri. Akureyri has provided rural communities in these high latitudes with sundry services as well as educational and industrial facilities. Akureyri has its own theater, symphony orchestra, University and one of the biggest hospitals in the country.

At first sight, Iceland’s second largest city appears like it was transplanted from the Swiss Alps. It sits on the southwestern shores of the North Coast’s Eyjafjordur Fjord, one of the most breathtaking fjords in all of Iceland. Rising up immediately behind the city are azure farmlands that slope gently up to granite mountains. The mountains are capped by snow year round, and in the winter they offer the best skiing in the country.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of Akureyri is its warm climate. Although its sits only 60 miles from Arctic Circle, it has some of the best weather in Iceland. Summer temperature frequently range in the high 60's (20C), making the city the most popular weekend getaway for citizens of Reykjavik. To get an idea of just how warm it is, one need only to visit the city’s best known attraction, the Botanical Gardens, where over 2,000 species of native and non-native plants flourish without the help of a greenhouse.

Anywhere else, Akureyri’s 15,000 people would probably constitute what most places call a “small town,” but in Iceland a number like that definitely qualifies Akureyri as a city. In fact, you could even call it “a cultural capital.” It has more than its share of museums, including a Natural History Museum, a folk museum, and museums set in the homes of native poet Matthias Jochumsson and children’s book author Jon Sveinson. Outside the city are numerous opportunities for excursions, the most popular being the road skirting the beautiful western shore of the Eyjafjordur Fjord.

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Links to Info

• Akureyri
• Port of Akureyri
• North Iceland
• Visit Akureyri
• Akureyri - North Iceland
• Cool panoramic picture
• Akureyri and Eyjafjörður

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Reviews

I’ve been to Iceland several times and it’s inclusion is still one of the reasons that I chose this cruise. The port time in Reykjavik should be more than adequate to see the sights in that area. The city itself is very compact and the nightlife doesn’t even start until after 10:00 but there are several significant natural features that can be seen in the time given. If I had only the one day in that area, I would take the Golden Circle tour (whether through the cruise line or an independent). Akureyri is a new stop for us but it is one that my wife and I have looked at touring in the past. Again, I think that you will find the time adequate although if you are like us, it will only whet your appetite to see more of Iceland.