An aerial view of a city and a body of water

Akureyri

Akureyri is a port and fishing centre at the head of Eyjafjörður, a long fjord in north Iceland, and is nicknamed the Capital of North Iceland. Its relatively mild climate lets the Botanical Gardens grow plants outdoors.

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Akureyri sits at the head of Eyjafjörður, a long fjord in north-central Iceland, and is often called the Capital of North Iceland. It is the fifth most populous municipality in Iceland and the second largest outside the Capital Region, after Reykjanesbær. The town is an important port and fishing centre, and two of Iceland's largest fishing companies, Brim and Samherji, have their headquarters here. The centre grows around Ráðhústorg, the Town Hall Square, close to the harbour.

The town is about 100 km from the Arctic Circle, and its climate is relatively mild, which lets the Botanical Gardens grow plants outdoors without a greenhouse. Winters are cold and snowy, with snow on the ground from late October to April. The town is also cloudy, with about 1,051 sunshine hours a year and very little sun from November to February. Summer suits a visit best, since most festivals take place then. Icelandair flies several times a day to Reykjavík, and Route 1 covers the 390 km between the two towns by road.

Akureyri in five

Ride the free city busesAll city buses within Akureyri are free. Weekday service runs from 6:28 to 22:55 and weekend service from 12:18 to 18:55, and every route loops from the Miðbær stop by the town square.Free city bus
Expect paid parking in the centerZones P1 and P2 charge on weekdays from 10:00 to 16:00, according to the municipality, and some street bays have a 2-hour limit. Pay with a parking app or at the pay stations in the center.Parking in Akureyri
Choose your whale harbor firstTours leave from the pier by the Hof culture house, from Hauganes (25 minutes by car), Dalvík and Árskógssandur (about 30 minutes) and Húsavík (about 1 hour). The harbor sets the drive and the bay.Akureyri or Húsavík
Fly or ride the bus from ReykjavíkIcelandair flies Reykjavík to Akureyri several times a day in about 40 minutes. The Strætó route 57 bus takes about 6 hours, so the flight suits short trips and the bus suits tight budgets.
Plan auroras for clear nightsVisit Akureyri gives late August through mid April for northern lights on clear nights. Check the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast, then drive out of town light and allow several evenings.Aurora forecast

Things to do in Akureyri

See all attractions in Akureyri

Garden · AkureyriSouthern entrance Botanical Garden

Museum · AkureyriNonnahús

Museum · AkureyriAkureyri Museum

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AkureyriPut the places you like in Akureyri on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Akureyri (AEY), 3 km from the center; Reykjavík flights about 40 min
Getting there: Ring Road from Reykjavík, or Strætó route 57 (about 6 hours)
Getting around: Walkable center plus free city buses
Best base: Town center, old town or the harbor by Hof
Time needed: 2 nights; 4 with Goðafoss, Húsavík and Mývatn

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow18 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-7°Aurora, skiing
FebruarySnow17 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-6°Aurora, skiing
MarchSnow16 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh0°Low-6°Late snow, lights
AprilCloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh3°Low-2°Quiet, thaw
MayCloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low1°Long days
JuneRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low5°Midnight sun
JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Warmest, whales
AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Whales, warm
SeptemberRain18 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low3°Lights return
OctoberRain17 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh4°Low-1°Lights, quiet
NovemberSnow17 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh0°Low-5°Dark, quiet
DecemberSnow19 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-7°Darkest, lights

Average daily high and low in Akureyri, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Akureyri

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 58%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 71%

Akureyri

08:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today13°9°71%Monday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 71%.
Tue13°4°22%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 22%.
Wed7°2°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 1%.
Thu10°0°17%Thursday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 17%.
Fri3°-4°18%Friday: Fog. High 3°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 18%.
Sat8°1°22%Saturday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sun6°-1°24%Sunday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 24%.

Updated 08:36 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 121.8 ISK

Amount

Converted to

ISK · Icelandic Króna

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Day trips from Akureyri, the full guide

Goðafoss35 km east on Route 1A 12 m high, 30 m wide waterfall; bus 79 stops at Fosshóll-Goðafoss with 19 seats.Read the guide
Húsavíkabout 1 hour by carWhale capital of Iceland on Skjálfandi Bay, also reached by bus 79.Read the guide
Hrísey island15-minute ferry from ÁrskógssandurFour hikes and birdlife; the ferry has up to 9 departures a day.

Before you go to Akureyri

Rooms in AkureyriCenter and old town on footCheck availability

Whale watching toursEyjafjörður and Húsavík departuresCompare tours

eSIM for North IcelandMaps on fjord and mountain roadsRead the guide

Insurance for a north loopWeather delays on Route 1Read the guide

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Rules for Akureyri, checked

Botanical Garden: open all year; June 1 to Sept 30 weekdays 08:00-22:00, weekends 09:00-22:00; Oct 1 to May 30 gates open, facilities closed.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Akureyri Church: summer opening is weekdays 15:00 to 18:00; it closes when funerals or other services take place.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

All Akureyri guides

Where to stayWhere to stay in Akureyri: center, old town, harbor or the hillsChecked Oct 3, 2026

Head to headWhale watching from Akureyri or Húsavík: which harbor to chooseChecked Oct 3, 2026

ItineraryAkureyri in 2 days: garden, church, old town and GoðafossChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Akureyri

All of Iceland

The country picture behind a northern base

Read the guide North Iceland

Diamond Circle, Mývatn and the Arctic Coast Way

Read the guide Best time to visit Iceland

Aurora months, midnight sun and ski season

Read the guide Renting a car abroad

Excess and gravel cover for the Goðafoss loop

Read the guide

Akureyri FAQ

How many days do you need in Akureyri?

Two nights cover the garden, church, old town, a swim and Goðafoss. Add one night for Húsavík whales and another for Mývatn. Fewer than two nights makes the trip from Reykjavík feel long unless you fly.

Is Akureyri worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a town with museums, a botanic garden, services and short drives to whales and waterfalls. It is the practical base of North Iceland; the big landscapes lie around it, not inside it.

Is the Akureyri city bus really free?

Yes. Visit Akureyri states that travel on all city buses within the town is free. Routes loop from Miðbær in 30 to 50 minutes, weekend service is shorter than weekday service, and holidays vary.

When can you see the northern lights in Akureyri?

Late August through mid April on clear nights, according to Visit Akureyri. Auroras cannot be promised; cloud and solar activity decide, so allow several nights and check the Met Office forecast.

Can you reach the Arctic Circle from Akureyri?

Yes, on Grímsey island. The Sæfari ferry sails from Dalvík, about 45 km from Akureyri, in about 3 hours each way, and Norlandair flies Akureyri to Grímsey on a schedule.