Explora Journeys in Akureyri

Akureyri is Iceland's largest town outside the Reykjavik area, set at the head of Eyjafjordur, the country's longest fjord, on the north coast. It is the gateway to North Iceland's geological heavy hitters, Godafoss waterfall and the volcanic Lake Myvatn district, while the town itself is compact and walkable with a hilltop church, the world's northernmost botanical garden, and a fjordside cultural center. The setting, ringed by mountains that hold snow well into summer, does much of the work.

What to do on a day in Akureyri

• Godafoss, the 'waterfall of the gods', roughly a 45-minute drive east of the port, where the Skjalfandafljot river drops in a wide horseshoe (a short-transfer excursion rather than a walk)
• Lake Myvatn district, about an hour and a half out, taking in the Hverir mud pools and steam vents at Namaskard and the lava pillars of Dimmuborgir (a full-day excursion)
• Akureyrarkirkja, the modernist hilltop church that towers over the town center, reached on foot by a flight of steps from the main street
• Lystigardurinn, the town botanical garden, free to enter and billed as the northernmost in the world, an easy walk from downtown
• Hof cultural center on the waterfront, a circular concert hall with views across Eyjafjordur and a useful stop for local information

Getting ashore

Ships berth at the Oddeyrarbryggja or Tangabryggja quays, roughly a 5 to 10 minute walk from the town center, so Akureyri itself needs no transfer. One day is enough to combine a walk through town with one major outing, but Godafoss and Myvatn each eat several hours, so choose one rather than both.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• June to August. The mildest months, with typical daytime highs around 50 to 54 Fahrenheit (10 to 12 Celsius) and near-constant daylight in June, when the sun barely sets. Skies are often cloudy with passing showers, so a jacket and sweater are sensible even at the height of summer.
• September. Cooler and noticeably wetter, with daytime highs typically around 46 Fahrenheit (8 Celsius), shortening days, and roughly a 40 percent chance of rain on a given day. Mountain snow can return to the higher slopes.