Akureyri
Popular tourist destination for short or long visits.
Akureyri is situated in north-east Iceland, in one of the longest fjords in the
country and is surrounded by mountains reaching 1000-1500 m. The Arctic Circle in
only 60 km north of Akureyri but still the climate is mild, with summer temperatures
up to 25°C and winter temperatures in average around 0˚C
Akureyri is the second largest urban area after the capital area of Reykjavik, with
a population of about 17200. Akureyri is the centre of trade and services in northern
Iceland. It is also a town of culture and education, building on a firm foundation.
Akureyri is a popular tourist destination for short or long visits. The town offers
a wide range of activities and interesting places e.g. notable museums, the world's
most northerly botanic garden, one of Iceland’s most popular swimming facilities,
18-hole golf course, the best skiing area in the country, good hiking trails and
free city bus. Our guests can choose between excellent range of restaurants, some
of which specialize in local food.
The town is also a good base for many of Iceland’s most beautiful natural wonders
as waterfalls, volcanic areas and canyons as well as exciting activities as river
rafting, hiking, fishing, whale watching and horse riding.
Tourist Information Bureau
The Tourist Information Bureau is located in the Akureyri Bus Terminal which is
near to the town centre. There one can find information on all trips and regular
bus schedules which are on offer in the vicinity of Akureyri, booklets - Just few
steps from Hotel Akureyri.
Contact :
Tourist Information Bureau
Hafnarstraeti 82
Tel: 553 5999 / Fax: 553 5909
Email: info@visitakureyri.is
Boat excursions - Whale watching
The boat “Huni II” offers 3 different tours (two 1.5 hrs tours and one 5 hrs tour)
on a regular basis during the summer months. The tours are arranged Fridays, Sundays
and Wednesdays, in the evening - a perfect way to end the day. The boat can take
up to 100 passengers. The sailing period is from the middle of June till the middle
of August. Departure from the harbour “Torfunesbryggja", just below the city-centre.
For groups it is possible to hire the boat for special arrangements - for price
and availability contact the company.
Contact :
Phone: (+354) 848 4864
Email: steinipje@simnet.is
Sea Angling
With the boat Haffari you can participate daily on 3 hours tours on the fjord for
sea-angling or sightseeing. The boat excursions start around middle of May until
middle of September. There are offered two 3 hours tours a day at 15.30 and 20.00.
The boat can take up to 10 passengers. For more information, bookings and special
requests call (+354) 860 3890. Departure from the harbour “Torfunesbryggja", just
below the city-centre.
For groups it is possible to hire the boat for special arrangements - for price
and availability contact the company.
Contact :
Phone: (+354) 8603890
Email: sigurdur@haffari.is
Horse Rentals
There are two horse-rentals close to Akureyri. The horse-rental "Katur", about 5
minutes drive from Akureyri, which specializes in shorter tours along the banks
of the river Eyjafjardara and the horse-rental "Polar Hestar", about 20 minutes
drive from Akureyri, which specializes in shorter and longer tours in the countryside
and mountains.
Katur : Phone: +354 695 7218 / +354 847 2208 * E-mail: midgerdi@gmail.com
Polar Hestar : Tel: +354 463 3179 * Fax: +354 463 3144 * Email:
polarhestar@polarhestar.is
Sundlaug Akureyrar – outdoor swimming pool, 2 pools, hut tubs, play areas and waterslides
The Akureyri Swimming Pool is one of the most popular pools in the country, every
year about 350,000 people go there. The pool area has a 25-m competition swimming
pool along with four geothermal hot pots, a Turkish bath, waterslides, a children's
pool as well as an indoor and outdoor pool. Next to the pool is a family garden
with popular playground equipment.
Contact :
Tel: (+354) 461-4455 / Fax: (+354) 461-4460
Email: sund@akureyri.is
Golf course - The northern most 18-hole golf course and the competition “Artic Open”
The Golf Club Akureyri was established in 1935. The golf Course "Jadarsvollur" is
18 holes, par 36/35 and has excellent facilities.
Arctic Open is probably the most renowned tournaments held in Iceland during summer
solstice. First held in 1986, this four-day championship event, open to international
professional and amateur golfers, takes place at the Akureyri Golf Club, the most
northerly 18-hole golf course in the world, beneath snow-capped mountains in the
far north of Iceland, and the midnight sun.
Participants need not worry about playing too slowly, since competitors can tee
off at 3am and still be certain of seeing where their ball has landed - it is light
all night at midsummer on the Arctic Circle.
Located just outside the city, the Akureyri club has facilities including changing
rooms, a restaurant, bar and pro-shop. You can hire clubs if you need to.
Contact :
Golf Course Jadarsvollur
Tel: 462 2974
Email: gagolf@gagolf.is
Skate-rink
The Skate Club of Akureyri was established in 1937 and runs a first rate skating
rink. The rink is open from the beginning of September until middle of may. A skate
rental and a shop is run in the rink.
Opening hours for the public is:
Wednesdays until Fridays between 12.00 – 14.50.
Friday nights a skate-disco is open between 19.00 and 21.00.
Saturdays and Sundays is open between 13.00 and 17.00.
Contact :
Tel: 461 2440
Email: vidar@sasport.is
Hlidarfjall - The best skiing area in the country
For nearly 40 years, the mountain Hlidarfjall has been one of the prime skiing areas
in Iceland. The hallmarks of Hlidarfjall are high quality snow, extensive cross
country tracks and exciting ski slopes with a breathtaking view of Eyjafjordur,
extending as far as Mount Herdubreid, the queen of Icelandic mountains. Recently
purchased snow blowers are capable of providing fine skiing conditions during the
entire winter. The diverse environment ensures that all skiers can find a situation
to suit even the most demanding taste. No matter whether you are a beginner or thoroughly
experienced in tackling challenging mountain slopes, you will at all times be able
to seek advice and assistance from skiing and snowboard trainers who will demonstrate
the basics, fine tune your style, or introduce you to the Carving technique. Our
favorites', the children, are cared for at the Hlidarfjall Skiing School for
Children. Longer skiing and snowboard courses are also on offer. A ski and snowboard
rental is operated at Hlidarfjall, where all equipment may be rented, including
skiing overalls.
Contact :
Skiing area 462 2280
Information telephone: 878 1515
hlidarfjall@hlidarfjall.is
Hiking in and around Akureyri
Within the town limits there are many interesting recreation areas and hiking paths.
In this regard, the area around the mouth of the river Eyjafjardara in the south
of the town can be mentioned, as well as the nature conservation area Krossanesborgir
north of the town and the woodland Kjarnaskogur which is a recreational area south
of the town. In Kjarnaskogur there are many walking paths as well as playgrounds,
pick-nick areas and barbecue facilities. An interesting path can also be found in
the middle of the town, along the river Glera and for those who like to go up into
the heights we recommend a walk up to the mountain Sulur raising 1214 meters over
the town, inviting to an astonishing view over the town and the fjord.
Walking tours with guide
A guided historical walk through the old town of Akureyri. The walk goes from the
church steps outside Hotel KEA in to the old part of the town and ends just outside
the Akureyri Museum. During the walk information about the development of the town
is given as well as interesting sights and stories are told.
Duration about 2 hours (walking distance, easy terrain, about 1.5 km). Note that
return from the old town is on own responsibility, either by foot or by bus (no
schedules are on Saturdays). Note that local busses are free.
Contact :
Helgi magri - walking tours
Phone: +354 863 2080
Email: hergu@ismennt.is
The old town – old houses and museums
If you take a stroll from the Akureyri’s central towards south you will have the
opportunity to walk through the history of early Akureyri. Among others you will
walk past the old Theatre, the old Primary School , and the Old Hospital built in
1827, the first two-storied house raised in Iceland and the oldest building in Akureyri
the Laxdalshus built in 1795. You will also have the possibility to visit several
museums
Nonnahus; Jon Sveinsson Memorial Museum
The Nonni House, believed to have been built in 1849, now belongs to the Akureyri
Zonta Club and accommodates a museum dedicated to the memory of the writer and pastor
Jon Sveinsson, Nonni (1857-1944). The house was granted the status of a protected
building according to the law on national heritage in the year 1978 and is in most
respects a good example of the oldest type of timber house in Iceland. There are
on display in the museum several objects relating to Nonni, his pictures and books
in numerous languages.
Contact : Tel: 462 3555
Akureyrarkirkja - church, design and interior
The Akureyri church is the symbol of Akureyri. It is a Lutheran church and was designed
by architect Gudjon Samuelsson and consecrated in 1940. The central stained glass
window above the altar formed a part of a set which was destroyed in an air raid
on Coventry Cathedral in England. The bas-reliefs on the nave balcony are by sculptor
Asmundur Sveinsson and the baptismal font is a replica of a work by sculptor Bertel
Thorvaldsen.
The Botanic garden – Icelandic flora as well as about 4000 foreign plants
The Public Park was opened in 1912 but the Botanic section in 1957. The park has
been enlarged three times since 1912 and is now about 3.6 ha and lies at 40-50 m
altitude at Eyrarlandsvegur road near midtown. There are about 6600 alien taxa growing
in the garden now in beds and nursery and around 400 species of the native taxa.
The Botanical Garden is equally popular with the local population and visitors to
Akureyri. A wide variety of both Icelandic and foreign flora is to be found there
and new species are always being added to the collection. The garden, therefore,
is an excellent choice for those wishing to take a break from the stress of daily
life, playing as they do, the role both of a peaceful public park and also a beautiful
plant collection.
Contact : Tel: 462 7487
The Art Museum and Artist ‘Alley
In Kaupvangsstraeti, a street extending downhill through Grofargil into the centre
of Akureyri-town, is Akureyri Arts Centre in everyday language is known as "Listagil".
There you can find e.g.: The Akureyri Art Museum, Akureyri School of Visual Arts,
Work shops and Galleries of Akureyri´s most common artists, multifunctional art-
and performance halls Deiglan and Ketilhouse and much more
One aspect of the enhancement of the cultural life in town is “Listasumar” or The
Summer Arts Festival, which is a joint project by all those who are engaged in promoting
cultural activities in Akureyri and surroundings during the summer. The Summer Arts
Festival 2008 is now on the agenda for the 16th time with a program more ambitious
than ever, starting on June 19th. For ten weeks you can enjoy e.g.: concerts, exhibitions,
dancing, theatre and literature. The Summer Arts Festival “grand finale” will be
on August 30th.
For further information please contact us by: E-mail listagil@listagil.is or Tel.:
+354 4662609.
Restaurants – promoting local food
Dining in Akureyri is a culinary celebration where the chefs have the advantage
of cooking with pure and natural Icelandic ingredients. Vegetables are grown organically
in greenhouses or in the pure nature and meat and dairy products are free of additives
and growth hormones. Seafood is caught fresh daily from pollution-free waters around
the coast. In a town with only 17.200 inhabitants you have a amazing variation of
restaurants with international cousin and local food.
During the day, Akureyri may seem to be a peaceful town, but if you thirst for night
life, you are in the right place. The liveliest evenings are on Friday and Saturday
when the town centre vibrates with life and dancing at the hot spots. Each place
has its unique features, and all age groups should find something to their liking.
The people of Akureyri know how to have fun; whether in the glow of the midnight
sun or at the height of winter, they receive the town's guests with open arms.