Akureyri

Nicknamed 'The Capital of Northern Iceland', Akureyri is Iceland's second largest urban city after Reykjavik and the ideal base from which to explore the beautiful and dramatic scenery, which makes up the north of the island.

Settlers first came to the region in the 9th century; therefore it has a long and important history as a trading post. Akureyri also became a popular region in which to live, as more people moved from the countryside to the cities. In more recent history, the city has grown in popularity as a tourist destination for visitors to the north of Iceland.

It is also a key city for the fishing industry due to its harbour which remains ice-free and is home to the headquarters of two of the country's largest fishing industries.

Due to the city's position at the end of a long fjord and surrounded by mountains, the climate is more inland than coastal. This means greater variations in temperature ensuring hot summers and cold winters.

The area has a varied cultural scene, with a reasonably extensive range of shops, restaurants and museums. The people here are known for their relaxed and easy going temperament and guests are readily welcomed.

The town is a wonderful base from which to explore the nearby scenic attractions of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Lake Mývatn, Húsavík and tours of Akureyri (all can be combined with a lot of our other Icelandic tours).

Photography by Visit North Iceland