Akureyri Travel Guide

Akureyrarkirkja sits on a hill above the fjord with a stepped modern design; it is the main landmark of North Iceland's capital.

Surprisingly lush for its latitude, Akureyri Botanical Garden showcases Arctic and sub-Arctic flora near the polar circle.

Forest Lagoon, opened in 2022, is a geothermal spa tucked into the birch and pine woods of Vaðlaskógur just southeast of Akureyri in North Iceland, with views across Eyjafjörður, the country's longest fjord. Its two infinity pools are fed by geothermal water first struck in 2015 while workers were drilling the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel—no chemicals are added. Soak at 37°C with a swim-up bar drink in hand, then brave the 11°C cold plunge beside the Finnish sauna. Capacity is capped at 200 guests, so book ahead, and come in winter to watch for aurora from the water.

Half an hour south of Akureyri, the Ring Road dives into Öxnadalur, a glacier-carved valley whose flanks rise in knife-edge ridges and rock spires, most photogenic being the 1,075-metre Hraundrangi.