{"id":4367,"date":"2026-10-05T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/?p=4367"},"modified":"2026-10-25T15:36:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T15:36:58","slug":"akureyri-worth-visiting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/destinations\/akureyri-worth-visiting\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Akureyri Worth Visiting? Iceland&#8217;s Northern Capital Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4367\" class=\"elementor elementor-4367 elementor-bc-flex-widget\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c61b63ae e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c61b63ae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdb1a531 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cdb1a531\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p><style>\n\/* -- Hide Astra default post title + meta for this post -- *\/\n.single-post .entry-title,\n.single-post .entry-meta,\n.single-post .ast-post-format-meta,\n.single-post .post-meta { display:none !important; }\n.single-post .entry-content { padding-top:0 !important; margin-top:0 !important; }\n.single-post 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class=\"htf-hero\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-inner\">\n<div class=\"htf-breadcrumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/\">Home<\/a>  \/  <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/category\/destinations\/\">Destinations<\/a><\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-category\">Iceland<\/span>\n<h1>Is Akureyri Worth Visiting? Iceland&rsquo;s Northern Capital <em>Explained<\/em><\/h1>\n<p class=\"htf-hero-deck\">Everyone flies to Reykjavik. Fewer make it north. We drove to Akureyri on our Ring Road trip and spent three days in a town that felt more like the real Iceland than anything on the Golden Circle. Here is what we found.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-hero-meta\">\n<div class=\"htf-meta-author\">\n<div class=\"htf-avatar\">J&amp;A<\/div>\n<div><strong>Joona &amp; Alla<\/strong>Rovaniemi, Finland<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-dot\">&middot;<\/span> October 5, 2026 <span class=\"htf-dot\">&middot;<\/span> 10 min read <span class=\"htf-dot\">&middot;<\/span>Updated for 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header><!-- HERO IMAGE -->\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img-inner\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img\" style=\"margin:24px 0;text-align:center;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4541\" src=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/publicco-land-rover-2203645_1280-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Akureyri Iceland Hungrytravelfamily\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:6px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/publicco-land-rover-2203645_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/publicco-land-rover-2203645_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/publicco-land-rover-2203645_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/publicco-land-rover-2203645_1280-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/publicco-land-rover-2203645_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- ARTICLE + SIDEBAR -->\n<div class=\"htf-wrap\"><!-- BODY -->\n<article class=\"htf-body\">\n<p>Akureyri is Iceland&rsquo;s second city, though calling it a city feels generous. Roughly 19,000 people live here, tucked at the head of Eyjafjordur, Iceland&rsquo;s longest fjord. It is 390 kilometers north of Reykjavik, a five-hour drive through some of the most dramatic landscape in Europe. Most Ring Road travelers pass through in an afternoon. We think that is a mistake.<\/p>\n<p>We spent three days here during our own Ring Road loop, and Akureyri became the unexpected highlight. If you are wondering whether Akureyri is worth visiting, the short answer is yes &mdash; and this guide explains exactly why, what to do, and what we would change next time.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"htf-tldr\">\n<div class=\"htf-tldr-label\">Short answer<\/div>\n<p>Yes, Akureyri is worth visiting. It is Iceland&rsquo;s most charming town, a <strong>perfect base for whale watching, Godafoss waterfall, Myvatn, and the Diamond Circle<\/strong>. Budget 2&ndash;3 days minimum. It feels more authentically Icelandic than Reykjavik, with <strong>better prices, fewer crowds, and a warmth<\/strong> that big-bus tourists on the Golden Circle never see.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"htf-toc\">\n<div class=\"htf-toc-label\">In this guide<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Why Akureyri is worth the detour<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">How to get to Akureyri<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">8 best things to do in and around Akureyri<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Practical tips for visiting Akureyri<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Akureyri vs Reykjavik: an honest comparison<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">Mistakes we made in Akureyri<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s7\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s8\">A final word from Rovaniemi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s1\">Why Akureyri is worth the detour<\/h2>\n<h3>The fjord setting<\/h3>\n<p>Akureyri sits at the base of Eyjafjordur, a 60-kilometer fjord surrounded by mountains that stay snow-capped well into summer. The town climbs up a hillside from the harbor, and from almost anywhere you can see the water and the peaks beyond. Coming from Rovaniemi, we are used to flat Arctic landscapes. Akureyri felt like someone had lifted the mountains out of Norway and dropped them around a Scandinavian university town.<\/p>\n<p>The setting alone makes Akureyri worth visiting, but the town has substance behind the scenery. There is a surprisingly good restaurant scene, a botanical garden that somehow grows trees at 65 degrees north, and a cultural life that belies its size.<\/p>\n\n<h3>The gateway factor<\/h3>\n<p>Akureyri is the natural base for north Iceland&rsquo;s biggest draws. Godafoss waterfall is 40 minutes away. The Myvatn geothermal area is an hour. Husavik, Iceland&rsquo;s whale watching capital, is 90 minutes. The Diamond Circle &mdash; Iceland&rsquo;s answer to the Golden Circle but with a fraction of the tourists &mdash; starts and ends here. Without Akureyri, you are driving these distances from the middle of nowhere.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Godafoss<\/strong> &mdash; one of Iceland&rsquo;s most photogenic waterfalls, 40 minutes east.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Myvatn<\/strong> &mdash; volcanic craters, lava fields, natural baths, and pseudocraters, 1 hour east.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Husavik<\/strong> &mdash; Europe&rsquo;s whale watching capital, 90 minutes northeast.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dettifoss<\/strong> &mdash; the most powerful waterfall in Europe, 2.5 hours via the Diamond Circle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dalvik and Hrisey Island<\/strong> &mdash; fishing village charm and Iceland&rsquo;s second-largest island, 30 minutes north.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"s2\">How to get to Akureyri<\/h2>\n<h4>By car (Ring Road)<\/h4>\n<p>The drive from Reykjavik to Akureyri via Route 1 takes about five hours in good conditions. The road is paved the entire way and passes through some of Iceland&rsquo;s most varied terrain: lava fields near Borgarfjordur, the highland passes around Blonduos, and the long descent into Eyjafjordur. We drove it in June and the landscape changed every 30 minutes.<\/p>\n\n<h4>By domestic flight<\/h4>\n<p>Icelandair and PLAY operate 45-minute flights from Reykjavik Domestic Airport (not Keflavik) to Akureyri multiple times daily. Prices range from 8,000 to 25,000 ISK (roughly 50 to 160 euro) depending on timing. If you are short on time and want to skip the drive, this is the fastest option. The approach into Akureyri airport, threading between mountains and the fjord, is worth the ticket alone.<\/p>\n\n<h4>By bus<\/h4>\n<p>Streto runs a daily bus service from Reykjavik to Akureyri. The journey takes about 6.5 hours with stops. It is the cheapest option at around 7,000 to 9,000 ISK one way, but you lose most of a day. If you are on a strict budget and do not mind the time, it works. We would not recommend it for anyone with fewer than two weeks in Iceland.<\/p>\n\n<h4>From abroad<\/h4>\n<p>Akureyri airport receives direct flights from Copenhagen on Icelandair during summer. This is the secret shortcut: fly directly to north Iceland, skip Reykjavik entirely, and start your Ring Road from the north. It saves a full day of driving.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s3\">8 best things to do in and around Akureyri<\/h2>\n<h4>Our tested highlights<\/h4>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">01 &mdash; Walk the Akureyri Botanical Garden<\/div>\n<blockquote>The world&rsquo;s northernmost botanical garden with international species. It is free, calm, and somehow lush at 65 degrees north. We visited in the evening when locals were sitting on benches with coffee. It felt like a secret that tourists do not know about.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">02 &mdash; Drive to Godafoss at golden hour<\/div>\n<blockquote>Godafoss is stunning at any time, but in the low evening light it transforms. The water turns blue-white against dark basalt. In summer, the midnight sun means golden hour lasts for hours. We had the falls nearly to ourselves at 10 pm.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">03 &mdash; Spend a full day at Myvatn<\/div>\n<blockquote>The Myvatn area deserves more than a quick stop. Drive the craters at Skutustadagigar, walk the Dimmuborgir lava formations, then finish at the Myvatn Nature Baths. It is like the Blue Lagoon without the crowds and at a third of the price.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">04 &mdash; Whale watch from Dalvik or Husavik<\/div>\n<blockquote>Both towns offer whale watching, but the experiences differ. Dalvik is smaller, more intimate, and 30 minutes from Akureyri. Husavik is the bigger operation with higher whale-sighting rates, especially for humpbacks. We went from Dalvik and saw three humpbacks surface within 50 meters of the boat.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">05 &mdash; Hike up Sulur mountain<\/div>\n<blockquote>The hike to the summit of Sulur (1,213 meters) starts from the edge of town and takes about 4 to 5 hours round trip. The views over Eyjafjordur and across to the Troll Peninsula are the best panorama we found in north Iceland. Bring layers &mdash; it is exposed and windy at the top.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">06 &mdash; Visit Akureyri Church (Akureyrarkirkja)<\/div>\n<blockquote>The Gudjon Samuelsson-designed church perches above town with twin towers visible from everywhere. Inside, a ship model hangs from the ceiling &mdash; an Icelandic tradition. The stained glass windows were salvaged from a Coventry church destroyed in World War II. Free to enter and worth 20 minutes.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">07 &mdash; Eat fresh fish at Strikid or Rub23<\/div>\n<blockquote>Akureyri punches above its weight for food. Strikid has fjord views from a rooftop terrace and serves local Arctic char that rivals anything in Reykjavik. Rub23 does creative sushi with Icelandic fish. Prices are 20 to 30 percent lower than comparable Reykjavik restaurants.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-prompt\">\n<div class=\"htf-prompt-title\">08 &mdash; Take a day trip to Hrisey Island<\/div>\n<blockquote>A 15-minute ferry from Dalvik brings you to Hrisey, a quiet island with 150 residents and zero cars. You can walk the entire island in a couple of hours. Ptarmigan roam freely, and on a clear day the views across Eyjafjordur are extraordinary. It is the kind of place Iceland was 30 years ago.<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Newsletter signup -->\n<div class=\"htf-nl\">\n<div class=\"htf-nl-label\">Letters from Rovaniemi<\/div>\n<h3>Honest travel stories, once a month<\/h3>\n<p>We write about slow Nordic travel, shoulder-season trips, and the places we keep going back to.<\/p>\n<form action=\"#\"><input type=\"email\" placeholder=\"Your email\" \/><button type=\"submit\">Subscribe<\/button><\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s4\">Practical tips for visiting Akureyri<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Budget 2 to 3 nights minimum.<\/strong> One night means you only see the town. Two nights lets you do Myvatn and Godafoss. Three nights adds whale watching and the Diamond Circle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rent a car &mdash; there is no way around it.<\/strong> Public transport barely exists outside Reykjavik. All the best attractions around Akureyri require a car.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Book accommodation early in summer.<\/strong> Akureyri is small and fills up fast from June to August. Guesthouses and Airbnb options are limited compared to Reykjavik.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fuel up in town.<\/strong> Petrol stations are frequent on Route 1, but prices are cheaper at the N1 and Orkan stations in Akureyri than at roadside stops.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bring layers even in summer.<\/strong> Eyjafjordur funnels wind into town. A sunny 15-degree day can feel like 8 degrees with windchill on the waterfront.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The swimming pool is the local hangout.<\/strong> Sundlaug Akureyrar has hot pots, a sauna, and a water slide. Locals go daily. At 1,000 ISK (about 6 euro), it is the best-value activity in town and a great way to meet Icelanders.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Red heart traffic lights are real.<\/strong> Akureyri replaced standard red lights with heart shapes after the 2008 financial crisis as a morale boost. They are still there. Look up at the intersection near Hafnarstrett.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Download offline maps for Diamond Circle detours.<\/strong> Cell coverage drops on the gravel roads between Dettifoss and Asbyrgi.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"s5\">Akureyri vs Reykjavik: an honest comparison<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Size:<\/strong> Reykjavik has 140,000 people and feels like a small European city. Akureyri has 19,000 and feels like a large village. If you want nightlife, museums, and variety, Reykjavik wins. If you want calm and authentic atmosphere, Akureyri wins.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scenery:<\/strong> Reykjavik is coastal but relatively flat. Akureyri is surrounded by mountains and sits on a dramatic fjord. For sheer natural setting, Akureyri is hard to beat anywhere in Iceland.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Day trips:<\/strong> Reykjavik gives you the Golden Circle, Vik, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Akureyri gives you Godafoss, Myvatn, Husavik, Dettifoss, and the Diamond Circle. Both are excellent, but north Iceland is less crowded.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prices:<\/strong> Akureyri is 15 to 25 percent cheaper for accommodation and eating out. Car rental prices are similar since most people pick up in Reykjavik or Keflavik.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Crowds:<\/strong> Reykjavik can feel overrun in summer. Akureyri never does. Even at peak season, we found restaurants without reservations and hiking trails without queues.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Getting there:<\/strong> Reykjavik is the obvious gateway with Keflavik international airport. Akureyri requires either a five-hour drive or a domestic flight. The extra effort is the filter that keeps it less touristy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"htf-pull\">Akureyri felt like the Iceland we had imagined before we arrived &mdash; small, fjord-wrapped, and genuinely warm in a way that big tourism sometimes erases.<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s6\">Mistakes we made in Akureyri<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Only staying one night.<\/strong> We treated Akureyri as a stopover and ended up rushing Myvatn and skipping Husavik entirely. Two nights would have been the bare minimum; three would have been ideal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Driving to Godafoss at midday.<\/strong> Tour buses arrive between 10 am and 2 pm. We joined the crowd and fought for photos. On the drive back we stopped again at 9 pm and had the falls to ourselves. Time your visit around the buses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Skipping the swimming pool.<\/strong> We almost did not go because it seemed too ordinary. It turned out to be the most local, most relaxing thing we did in Iceland. Hot pots at sunset with a mountain view for 6 euro. Do not make our mistake.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Not booking the whale watch in advance.<\/strong> We assumed we could walk up in Dalvik. The afternoon tour was full. We got the evening departure but almost missed it because of traffic from Myvatn. Book online at least a day ahead in summer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Underestimating the Diamond Circle distance.<\/strong> The full Diamond Circle loop from Akureyri is about 260 kilometers and takes a full day with stops. We tried to squeeze it into an afternoon and had to skip Asbyrgi entirely.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Packing no cash.<\/strong> Iceland is nearly cashless, but we hit one small cafe in Dalvik that only accepted Icelandic krona notes. Having a few thousand ISK in cash is worth the peace of mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"s7\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"htf-faq\"><details>\n<summary>Is Akureyri worth visiting on the Ring Road?<\/summary>\n<p>Absolutely. Akureyri is the natural midpoint of the Ring Road and the best base for north Iceland. Skipping it means missing Godafoss, Myvatn, and the Diamond Circle. We recommend at least two nights here rather than trying to drive through in one day.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>How many days do you need in Akureyri?<\/summary>\n<p>Two days is the minimum to see the town, Godafoss, and Myvatn. Three days lets you add whale watching from Dalvik or Husavik and the Diamond Circle. If you have four days, add Hrisey Island and a hike up Sulur for the best fjord panorama.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>Is Akureyri expensive?<\/summary>\n<p>By Icelandic standards, Akureyri is moderate. It is 15 to 25 percent cheaper than Reykjavik for meals and accommodation. A couple can eat well for 15,000 to 20,000 ISK per day (about 95 to 125 euro). Accommodation ranges from 15,000 to 35,000 ISK per night depending on season and type.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>Can you fly directly to Akureyri from Europe?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes, during summer. Icelandair operates direct flights from Copenhagen to Akureyri. This is a great way to start a Ring Road trip from the north and skip the crowded south coast on day one. Check Icelandair&rsquo;s seasonal schedule, as frequencies change annually.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>What is the best time to visit Akureyri?<\/summary>\n<p>June to August for the best weather, longest days, and whale watching season. July is peak season with the most services open. September offers autumn colors and fewer tourists but shorter days. Winter brings potential northern lights but many attractions reduce hours or close.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>Is there anything to do in Akureyri in winter?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes, though it is a different experience. The ski resort at Hlidarfjall is 5 minutes from town. Northern lights are visible from September to March. The Christmas Garden (J\u00f3lagar\u00f0urinn) is open year-round. Some whale watching tours operate in winter with lower sighting rates. The town itself is cozy and quiet.<\/p>\n<\/details><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s8\">A final word from Rovaniemi<\/h2>\n<p>We live in a northern town that most tourists visit for one reason (Santa Claus Village) and then leave. We know what it feels like when a place has more to offer than its headline attraction. Akureyri is that same kind of place. People drive through on the Ring Road, glance at the church, fill up on petrol, and continue south.<\/p>\n<p>What they miss is a town with genuinely good restaurants, a fjord that rivals anything in Norway, and a location that puts three or four of Iceland&rsquo;s best natural wonders within easy reach. We came for one night and wished we had booked three. If you are planning an Iceland trip and debating whether to spend real time in Akureyri, our answer from one northern town to another is: do it. You will not regret it.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"htf-bio\">\n<div class=\"htf-bio-avatar\">J&amp;A<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"htf-bio-tag\">Written by<\/div>\n<h4>Joona &amp; Alla<\/h4>\n<p>A Finnish-Ukrainian couple living in Rovaniemi, Finland. Joona is a marketing professional in Lapland tourism; Alla is an AI and content specialist. Together we have visited 25 countries and share honest, locally-grounded travel writing from our home in the Arctic.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/our-story\/\">Read our full story &rarr;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<!-- SIDEBAR -->\n<aside class=\"htf-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"htf-sidebar-sticky\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb htf-sb-toc\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb-label\">Contents<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Why it is worth it<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">How to get there<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">8 best things to do<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Practical tips<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Akureyri vs Reykjavik<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">Our mistakes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s7\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s8\">Final word<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-sb\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb-label\">Share this story<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-sb-share\"><a title=\"Pinterest\" href=\"#\">Pin<\/a> <a title=\"Facebook\" 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