Akureyri sits in north-east Iceland, at the base of a long fjord. It suits travelers who want a small town as a base for waterfalls, whales and day trips, with Goðafoss 22 miles (35 km) away and Reykjavík about 250 miles (400 km) by road.
Getting there takes planning. Akureyri International is the only international airport in North Iceland, and the drive from Reykjavík runs 4.5 to 6 hours.
At a glance
- Location: north-east Iceland, at the base of a long fjord
- From Reykjavík: about 250 miles (400 km) by road, 4.5 to 6 hours
- Airport: Akureyri International, the only international airport in North Iceland
- Local buses: free within Akureyri
- Day trip: the Diamond Circle, about 155 miles (250 km), up to 10 hours
- Town festival: every year at the end of August
Where is Akureyri and what is it like?
Reykjavík is about 250 miles (400 km) away by road, and Akureyri International Airport is the arrival point for flights into North Iceland.
Most accommodation is in the town center or a short walk from it. Several hotels and cottages look out over the fjord, and Hafnarstræti is the main shopping street. The town also has a sense of humor: visitors photograph the traffic light hearts, a symbol of town pride and positivity.
Local habits are easy to join. Brynja Ice Cream has been a local treat for generations, and the town celebrates its festival with locals every year at the end of August.
What is there to do in Akureyri?
Goðafoss
Goðafoss is 22 miles (35 km) from Akureyri. The water of the Skjálfandafljót River falls 39 feet (12 meters) high and 98 feet (30 meters) wide. The falls are close to Route 1, Iceland’s Ring Road, so it’s an easy stop on a drive east.
There are parking areas on both sides of the river, with well-maintained trails to scenic viewpoints. The shortest walk to the falls starts on the west side.
Whale watching in Eyjafjörður
Tours run in the calm, sheltered waters of Eyjafjörður and leave from the pier just below the town center. Whale Watching Akureyri offers a specially designed ship that takes 200 passengers, and RIB speedboats that take small groups of 12 with a guide and a specially trained captain.
Whales, including humpbacks, have been seen in the fjord, even in Pollurinn off Akureyri. The company offers a Whale Guarantee: see the whales or try again for free, in Akureyri or Reykjavík.
Choose the ship for more room and the speedboat for a small group.
The Diamond Circle and Mývatn
The Diamond Circle has five key destinations: Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi and Húsavík. Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and Húsavík is known for whale watching.
The Mývatn tour covers Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, Kálfaströnd, Hverfjall, Námaskarð, Víti, Krafla and Jarðböðin. Dettifoss is about a 30 minute drive from Mývatn.
The full loop is about 155 miles (250 km) and can take up to 10 hours. Leave early and keep the day free for it.
Siglufjörður and the north coast
The drive to Siglufjörður passes through Dalvík, Múlagöngin, Ólafsfjörð and the new Siglufjarðargöngin tunnel. In Siglufjörður, visitors go to the Herring Era Museum.
Hrísey is a small island in the middle of Eyjafjörður, 22 miles (35 km) from Akureyri, with a population of around 165. Grímsey Island is reached by a 25-minute flight from Akureyri or a 3-hour ferry ride from Dalvík.
Hlíðarfjall and the town itself
In summer, the lower chairlift, Fjarkinn, takes visitors up the mountain for the bike park or hiking. The area is open to walkers, runners and bikers, with or without the lift, and outside lift opening hours.
In town, visitors can sample craft beers from Víking/Einstök and Kaldi at local breweries. The golf course is the world’s northernmost 18-hole course and home of the Arctic Open. Akureyri is also a base for river rafting, hiking, fishing and horseback riding.
If you want waterfalls and big scenery, choose Goðafoss and the Diamond Circle. If you want wildlife, book the whale tour. For an easy day without a car, stay in town, or ride up Hlíðarfjall. Anyone short on time should skip the islands.
How many days do you need in Akureyri?
A long weekend covers the essentials. Give one full day to the Diamond Circle, which can take up to 10 hours over about 155 miles (250 km). Use another for the whale tour from the pier and a walk through town.
Hrísey adds at least about 2 hours to a day. With more time, add Siglufjörður and the Herring Era Museum, or the flight to Grímsey. Dettifoss is only about a 30 minute drive from Mývatn, so it stays in reach when you are already there.
With less time, drop the island and keep the Circle.
Where to stay in Akureyri
Most lodging is in the center or within easy walking distance. Centrum Hotel is in the heart of town, close to the church and the botanical gardens, with 14 double rooms and 5 studio apartments that sleep up to 4. Hotel Edda is a summer hotel with over 200 rooms, about a 10 minute walk from the center, open from mid June to the end of August.
Budget travelers have options. Akureyri Backpackers is a hostel on Hafnarstræti with 23 rooms, shared sleeping bag dorms or two-person rooms. Akureyri Hostel has 18 rooms from single to four-person. Sleeping bag accommodation, offered by many guesthouses, simpler hotels, hostels and farm stays, is cheaper than made-up beds.
For a view of the fjord, look at Hotel Akureyri, Hrimland Cottages or Hotel Natur. Sæluhús has 33 apartments and 7 houses near a swimming pool and the Botanical Garden. Skiers can look at Hotel Halond, a self service hotel in Hlíðarfjall. Book ahead for the end of August, when the town festival takes place.
How do you get to Akureyri and get around?
Akureyri International Airport is the only international airport in North Iceland. easyJet flies from London Gatwick on Tuesdays and Saturdays and from Manchester on Mondays and Fridays. Norlandair flies from Akureyri to the east coast of Greenland.
There is one daily bus in each direction between Akureyri and Reykjavík.
Once in town, all buses are free. Route 6 runs weekdays from 6:23 a.m. to 10:59 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 12:18 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. Route 78 links Akureyri and Siglufjörður via Dalvík, with 3 departures on weekdays, none on Saturdays and 1 on Sundays.
When should you go to Akureyri?
Winter and early spring are quieter and colder. January averages a high of 37°F (3°C) and a low of 26°F (-3°C), with almost no sun. April warms to a high of 44°F (7°C) and a low of 32°F (0°C), with 4 hours of sun a day and 7 rainy days.
What to know before visiting Akureyri
According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov): No visa needed for up to 90 days for tourism or business.
- Passports must have 3 months’ validity beyond your date of departure from the Iceland/Schengen Area. It is recommended to have 6 months validity. Two blank pages, proof of funds and an onward or return ticket are also required.
- Iceland does not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa free entry unless it has 3 months beyond your planned date of departure.
- No vaccinations are required.
- Buses within Akureyri are free of charge.
- Parking in zone P1 costs ISK 218 to 225 per hour and zone P2 costs ISK 109 to 113 per hour, with charging hours Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Booking guesthouses and hostels in Akureyri
Some guesthouses and hostels, including Sölvanes, Hveravellir and Ósar Hostel, ask guests to contact them for a price list and bookings. Sölvanes also takes bookings on solvanes.is.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- visitakureyri.is (https://www.visitakureyri.is/en/about-akureyri/highlights-of-akureyri), checked 2026-10-30
- visitakureyri.is (https://www.visitakureyri.is/en/plan-your-visit/accommodation), checked 2026-10-30
- visitakureyri.is (https://www.visitakureyri.is/is/komdu-i-heimsokn/radstefnur/skipuleggdu-vidburdinn/hvataferdir-afthreying/heildagsferdir), checked 2026-10-30
- visitakureyri.is (https://www.visitakureyri.is/en/plan-your-visit/transport/how-to-get-there-international), checked 2026-10-30
- northiceland.is (https://www.northiceland.is/is/gisting-og-veitingar/utilega/svefnpokagisting), checked 2026-10-30
- visitakureyri.is (https://www.visitakureyri.is/en/see-and-do/attractions/godafoss-waterfall), checked 2026-10-30
- visitakureyri.is (https://www.visitakureyri.is/is/moya/extras/allt-sem-thu-oskar-ther/whale-watching), checked 2026-10-30