Akureyri, the main town of North Iceland, is about 40 minutes by plane from Reykjavík, or 4.5 to 6 hours by car or bus along Route 1 (Visit Akureyri, read 7 November 2026). The town is the starting point for whale watching in Eyjafjörður and for day trips to Goðafoss and the islands. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no cost to you.
Highlights
Akureyri church
Listed by the town's tourism office among its main attractions, with the Forest Lagoon, Goðafoss and the Christmas house.
Whale watching
Tours leave the town for Eyjafjörður; Akureyri: 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 3,844 reviews, from €92 on 6 November 2026.
Hrísey and Grímsey
Hrísey is a 15-minute boat ride; Grímsey is known for puffins and the Arctic Circle.
Kjarnaskógur
A forest the tourism office calls beautiful in every season.
Culture
Concerts, theatre and exhibitions at the Hof cultural house and at the Akureyri Art Museum.
The Christmas market
On Ráðhústorg, the town square, in late November and December.
Practical info
Tips
- The visitor centre is at the city hall, Geislagata 9 (phone +354 460 1000). In June, Akureyri gets nearly 23.5 hours of daylight, according to Visit Iceland. The town lists the swimming pool, whale watching and the Botanical Garden among its most searched sights. For whales, compare with the 3-hour Gentle Giants trips at Húsavík and read whale watching in Iceland. The flight from Reykjavík saves the 4.5 to 6 hours of driving, which matters on a short trip; see the 7 days in Iceland itinerary. From the north, see whale watching from Akureyri.
How to get there
Several airlines fly directly to Akureyri; otherwise fly to Keflavík and take the roughly 40-minute flight from Reykjavík, or drive or take a bus for about 4.5 to 6 hours along Route 1. See how to get around Iceland.
Opening hours
Nearby
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