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must-visit in AkureyriPark & Garden

Lystigarðurinn Akureyri

📍 Eyrarlandsvegur, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
Lystigarðurinn Akureyri
1 photos
4.2/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Iceland, Akureyri
Category
Park & Garden
Duration
1–1.5 hours; allow 2 with a meal
Address
Eyrarlandsvegur, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
Coordinates
65.6860, -18.1100

Introduction

Lystigarðurinn, the Akureyri botanical garden, sits in central Akureyri between Þórunnarstræti and Eyrarlandsvegur, south of Akureyri Junior College and north of the district hospital, about a fifteen-minute walk from the centre. It is regarded as the world's northernmost botanical garden, roughly 50 km south of the Arctic Circle. Anna Cathrine Schiöth and her daughter-in-law Margrethe Schiöth drove its creation as a public garden in 1912, and a botanical section was added in 1957. The 3.6-hectare site now holds over 7,000 plant species, around 400 of them native to Iceland and the rest drawn from cold-temperate and alpine regions. The sheltered microclimate of Eyjafjörður and Akureyri's unusually mild summers for its latitude let many species survive here that struggle elsewhere in the country. Gravel paths link native alpine beds, perennial borders and a rock garden, around several of the town's oldest timber buildings including Stórð Eyrarland, once the county council. The LYST café and restaurant at the centre serves year-round, though the toilets close for winter.

✨ Highlights

1
The world's northernmost botanic garden
Just 50 km south of the Arctic Circle, with over 7,000 species — about 400 native to Iceland, the rest from cold-temperate and alpine regions.
2
Founded by women in 1912
Anna Cathrine Schiöth started it and her daughter-in-law Margrethe Schiöth spent decades tending it; a botanical section followed in 1957, and the site now covers 3.6 hectares.
3
The fjord's sheltered microclimate
Ringed by Eyjafjörður and unusually mild for its latitude, the garden keeps many species alive that struggle in the rest of Iceland.
4
Native alpine beds and a rock garden
Gravel paths link native alpine plantings, perennial borders and a rock garden, with labels that let you identify Icelandic wild species one by one.
5
Stórð Eyrarland house
The grounds hold some of Akureyri's oldest timber buildings, including the manor that once served as the county council, sitting calmly within the greenery.
6
LYST café, open year-round
The licensed café and restaurant at the centre of the garden serves year-round, 10:00–19:00 and to 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; in winter its toilets are for customers only.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：1–1.5 hours for the full garden; allow 2 if you eat at LYST or read every plant label.
→Transport：About a 15-minute walk from central Akureyri; the A1 city bus stops at Þórunnarstræti / Sjúkrahús, right by the entrance. It is also convenient for cruise passengers and those coming from the airport, with parking on site.
→Facilities：Two accessible toilets sit west of Jónshús, the larger of the two black timber buildings, closed in winter. Drinking fountains line the path west of the pond. The garden is fully accessible. Tel +354 462 7487.
→Best season：June to August is peak bloom, with alpine plants and wildflowers together from mid-June to mid-July. During the midnight sun there is still light at dusk, so a post-sunset stroll works well.
→Worth it?：Yes, especially under the midnight sun. It is free and the paths are level, which makes it an easy half-day stop on a cruise or between flights — but the site is small and not worth a dedicated trip.
→Watch out：Winter hours differ sharply — only the gates stay open. Some buildings inside the grounds are privately owned and closed to visitors; please stay on the paths when photographing.
→Opening Hours：Summer (1 Jun–30 Sep) gates and toilets 09:00–22:00; winter (1 Oct–31 May) gates open, toilets closed. LYST serves 10:00–19:00, to 23:00 Fri and Sat.
→Transportation：About a 15-minute walk from central Akureyri; the A1 city bus stops at Þórunnarstræti / Sjúkrahús. Handy for cruise passengers and the airport, with parking on site.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultFree

Free, all year — the garden functions as a public park for Akureyri residents and charges no admission.

💡 Tips

• Mid-June to mid-July is the sweet spot: alpine plants and wildflowers together, and the midnight sun still gives light at dusk.
• In winter only the gates open and the toilets close — check the seasonal hours instead of assuming summer times.
• The garden is small with level paths, which suits older visitors and families; gravel throughout, stroller-friendly though some side paths are uneven.
• Convenient straight off a cruise ship and equally close to the centre and the airport, so it fits neatly into a gap in the itinerary.
• Several of the oldest timber buildings here are privately owned and closed to visitors — photograph from the paths.
• Sitting with a coffee until the 22:00 close is a local habit, and under the midnight sun it is a treat worth planning for.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Lystigarðurinn Akureyri?

Summer (1 Jun–30 Sep) gates and toilets 09:00–22:00; winter (1 Oct–31 May) gates open, toilets closed. LYST serves 10:00–19:00, to 23:00 Fri and Sat.

How much is the admission for Lystigarðurinn Akureyri?

Adult: Free; Free, all year — the garden functions as a public park for Akureyri residents and charges no admission.

Any practical tips for visiting Lystigarðurinn Akureyri?

Mid-June to mid-July is the sweet spot: alpine plants and wildflowers together, and the midnight sun still gives light at dusk. In winter only the gates open and the toilets close — check the seasonal hours instead of assuming summer times.

How long should I spend at Lystigarðurinn Akureyri?

A typical visit takes 1–1.5 hours; allow 2 with a meal.

Hours, facilities and seasonal arrangements from the official lystigardur.akureyri.is (checked October 2026); collection size and history from the garden and Icelandic tourism sources. Winter and summer differ sharply — confirm on the site before visiting.