Things to do in Akureyri
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Top 10 attractions in Akureyri
Route 1
Route 1is Iceland's national main road, also known as the Ring Road because it circles the entire island. Completed in 1974, it has a total length of over 1,300 km and connects major towns such as the capital, Reykjavik, and the Capital of the North, Akureyri. It also connects most natural scenic spots, excluding the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes, making it a classic route for a self-drive tour around the island. Most sections of this road are two-way paved roads with good road conditions. Summer days are long, making it suitable for first-time visitors to plan an itinerary of about one week around the island. In winter, there is a chance to encounter the aurora along the way, but be aware of potential temporary road closures due to icy and snowy weather.Iceland · Olfus
Akureyri church
Akureyri church is a landmark in the major town of Akureyri in northern Iceland. This Lutheran church sits on a small hill in the town center, with a long flight of stairs leading from the town center directly up to the church entrance. It was designed by the Icelandic state architect Guðjón Samúelsson, who also designed Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik. Both churches were inspired by volcanic basalt, but this one is more compact with straight, clean lines. Its twin-tower facade is often described as resembling a 1920s American skyscraper, and it was completed in 1940. Standing at the top of the stairs, you can overlook the layers of rooftops and Eyjafjörður; this is also a popular photo spot in the town. The interior of the church holds many items worth a closer look: the large stained glass window above the altar was not made in Iceland, but is an old window from Coventry Cathedral in the United Kingdom; a model ship hangs from the ceiling, reflecting the ancient Northern European tradition of offering model ships to pray for loved ones at sea; a large pipe organ with thousands of pipes is one of the highlights here; the reliefs of the life of Christ on the walls are by Icelandic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson, and the baptismal font is a replica of a work by Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen. During the day, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the fjord along the stairs, and on clear winter nights, visitors often come specifically to wait for the aurora; if you happen to catch a choir performance or the organ playing, feel free to slow down and step inside to listen for a while.Akureyri · 1 km from downtown
Akureyri Botanical Garden
Akureyri Botanical Garden is the world's northernmost botanical garden. Located in the city of Tromso, north of Arctic Village in Norway, it is managed by The Arctic University Museum of Norway and officially opened in 1994. The botanical garden is open 24 hours a day, year-round, with no admission fee. It brings together Arctic and alpine plants from all over the world, including those from Arctic Village, the Himalayas, and the Andes in South America. It houses over 7,000 species of plants and covers 27 themed botanical zones. The garden uses natural large boulders, moss, and lichen to create a Nordic mountain landscape, featuring lakes, streams, and woodlands. Despite being located in Arctic Village, the plant diversity here is amazing, thanks to the moderating effect of the Gulf Stream.Akureyri · 1.2 km from downtown
Hlidarfjall Akureyri
Akureyrarbaer · 5.2 km from Akureyri
Goðafoss Waterfall
Goðafoss Waterfallis located in northern Iceland, right beside Route 1 (the ring road), between Akureyri and Myvatn, and is a classic roadside stop on a self-drive trip around the island. Its name comes from an old Norse story: according to legend, in 999 or 1000 AD, when Iceland decided at the national assembly to convert to Christianity, the lawspeaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson threw the statues of the old Norse gods into this waterfall on his way home to renounce the old faith. The name Goðafoss thus comes from this event and literally means the waterfall of the gods. The waterfall has a drop of more than 10 m and is approx. 30 m wide, with the curtain of water spreading in a semicircular arc and a large rock dividing it into two channels in the middle, giving it the appearance of an open fan. The water plunges over a basalt cliff with a powerful flow and a thundering roar. On sunny days, rainbows are often visible in the mist.Thingeyjarsveit · 25.7 km from Akureyri
Forest Lagoon
Forest Lagoon is a geothermal spa resort that opened in 2022, nestled in the Vaðlaskógur birch and pine forest on the outskirts of Akureyri, offering a rare forest hot spring experience in Iceland. Both hot spring pools maintain a comfortable water temperature of approximately 37°C, with the larger pool spanning 530 square meters. From the water, you can overlook Eyjafjörður—one of Iceland's longest fjords—and take in panoramic views of the mountains stretching to the horizon and the fjord itself. On clear days, you can even see the distant Arctic Ocean. Facilities include a pool bar, a Finnish sauna at approximately 80°C (featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows), a cold plunge pool, and a light-meal restaurant, offering a rich and varied experience. Compared to popular hot springs like the Blue Lagoon, this location is quieter and more natural, making it an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the beauty of the fjords in northern Iceland from a local perspective.Eyjafjardarsveit · 3.5 km from Akureyri
Camping Hamrar
Akureyri · 4 km from downtown
Akureyri Swimming Pool
Akureyri · 779m from downtown
Hof Cultural and Conference Centre
Akureyri · 1.1 km from downtown
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is located in Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland. It is a geothermal hot spring formed by volcanic lava. The water temperature is about 37-39 degrees Celsius. The lake water is rich in minerals such as silicon and sulfur, making it appear faint blue. Hot spring experience The Blue Lagoon has now become a symbol of Iceland. Many people who come to Iceland will choose to take a good bath here. Volcanic mud mask Don't forget to apply some silica mud on your face as a mask when taking a hot spring bath. The silica mud here is volcanic mud, which contains many minerals. Sauna In addition, you can also go to the sauna on the shore to steam for a while, and then come out to continue soaking. If it snows, it feels very unusual to immerse your body in warm water and look up at the white snow flying all over the sky.Iceland · Grindavik
Experiences you can't miss in Akureyri
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More things to do
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Free things to do in Akureyri
Route 1
Iceland · OlfusGoðafoss Waterfall
Thingeyjarsveit · 25.7 km from Akureyri
Diamond Beach
Iceland · Hornafjordur
Seljalandsfoss
Iceland · Rangarthing eystra
Glacier lagoon
Iceland · Hornafjordur
Vatnajökull National Park
Iceland · Thingeyjarsveit
Hallgrimskirkja
Iceland · Reykjavik
Golden Circle
Iceland · Blaskogabyggd
Myvatn
Thingeyjarsveit · 51.9 km from Akureyri
Geysir
Iceland · Blaskogabyggd
What travelers say about Akureyri
东张西望望东西March 28, 2020
5.0
Highway 1 is a must-go road to Iceland. The road is mostly covered with grasslands. The scenery is not special, but it is very interesting to see such a vibrant scene at the northern end of the earth.
Route 1
sculptorJuly 6, 2023
4.0
阿克雷里是冰岛的第二大城市，但看上去像是一个小镇。市中心的大教堂也不大，不过教堂的建筑风格很有冰岛的特色，位于一个小山坡上，景色也不错。
Akureyri church
D了个YFebruary 18, 2022
4.0
One of the northernmost botanical gardens in the world, the garden is home to more than 2,000 species of flowers, plants and trees transplanted from all over Iceland and other countries. However, this is also the smallest botanical garden I have ever seen. If there were no signs, I would probably think it was just a street garden. To be honest, it doesn't even feel as big as the city parks in my great city, not to mention the country parks. It's not at the same level as the botanical gardens we understand. Of course, the good thing is that it is open to the public free of charge. If you live nearby, you can take a stroll around before or after dinner. It's still pretty good.
Akureyri Botanical Garden
jkidd28September 2, 2022
5.0
The waterfall is located on Iceland's Highway 1. The surrounding area is covered with green grass in summer and snow in winter. The scenery is charming and fascinating. The waterfall is shaped like a hoof and the water falls straight down!
Goðafoss Waterfall
VIVIAN圆October 6, 2026
5.0
As a landmark hot spring in Iceland, it's definitely worth a visit. The colors are truly unique, and the scenery is beautiful. Soaking in the hot spring while looking at the volcano and snow-capped mountains, and enjoying a cocktail is very relaxing.
Blue Lagoon
