This post was updated on May 17, 2021.
Akureyri Church overlooks Iceland’s fourth largest municipality.
The port city of Akureyri is often referred to as the “Capital of Northern Iceland.” Akureyri is a major fishing center and it is home to the headquarters for two of the five largest fishing companies in Iceland.
With a population of 18,191, Akureyri is Iceland’s forth largest urban area. The city is home to both the world’s northernmost botanical garden and 18-hole golf course.
Two spires of the iconic Akureyri Church puncture the skyline from its prominent site on the edge of a hill above midtown. Built in 1940, Icelandic architect Gudjon Samuelsson designed the stark modern Lutheran church. Samuelsson is the same architect who designed the famous Hallgrímskirkja (space ship church) in Reykjavík.
Despite its far north location, Akureyri has a surprisingly mild climate and an ice-free harbor, a fact related to Iceland’s active geothermal zone that provides underground heat.
Botanical Garden
The Akureyri Botanical Garden is known for its luxuriant flowers and beautiful walking paths. Founded in 1911, the garden showcases most plants found in Iceland as well as about 4,000 foreign plants. The Garden is free to the public.
Art and shopping mecca
Kaupvangsstrí;ti, a street that curves through central Akureyri is nicknamed Artists’ Alley. Home to the Akureyri Art Museum and the School of Visual Arts, the area is packed with artist studios, small galleries, restaurants and trendy clothing shops.
Iceland’s currency is the Icelandic krona pronounced “kro neh” and referenced as ISK.
Nearby Attractions
Many visitors take day trips to the nearby Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), Lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgir (towering lava formations) and the boiling sulpher pits at Hveranond. Another popular side trip involves flying to the small island of Grimsey on the Arctic Circle known for its intense birdlife.
Getting to Akureyri
Depending on traffic and weather conditions, it takes five or more hours to drive the 242 miles from Reykjavík to Akureyri on Route 1 — also called the Ring Road. The public bus makes the trip between Reykjavik and Akureyri in five and a half to six hours. Or, vistors can take a 40 minute flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri.
The easiest way to visit Akureyri is via cruise ship. We visited the city in 2007 via Holland America’s Northern Isles Adventures transatlantic cruise sailing from Copenhagen to New York City.
With Iceland opening its ports for cruise ships that are carrying all COVID-vaccinated passengers and crew in 2021, there are a number of ships making port calls in Akureyri. Check out the Port of Akureyri cruise ship calendar here. We plan to visit in 2021 via the Viking Sky cruise ship sailing around Iceland in eight days.
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