Akureyri Overview

Although Akureyri (ah-KOO-rare-ee) has only 17,500 inhabitants, it claims the title “capital of the north.” A college town with a few trendy hangouts, Akureyri also serves as an outpost for exploring the region’s breathtaking highlands.

Transportation And Practical Information. Flights arrive from Reykjavík at Akureyri Airport (AEY), 3km south of the city along Drottningarbraut, the seaside road. Book online or fly standby—you may get rates cheaper than bus fares. See for more info. Buses run from the Trex bus station, Hafnarstræti 77, to Reykjavík (6hr.; 8:30am, also 5pm in summer; 7900ISK). For taxis, try BSÓ, Strandgata. (☎461 1010. Open M-F 7am-2am, Sa-Su 24hr.)

Mountains and the harbor border Akureyri to the west, while the Eyjafjörður fjord lines the east. Within the city, follow Hafnarstræti to its end to reach Akureyri’s main square, Rádhústorg. Most major services, including banks, can be found around Rádhústorg. The police station is at Þórunnarstræti 138 (☎464 7700). The hospital, Eyrarlandsvegur (☎463 0100), on the south side of the botanical gardens, has a 24hr. emergency department. The tourist office is in the fjord-side culture house at the corner of Glerárgata and Strandgata. (☎553 5999; www.nordurland.is and www.visitakureyri.is. Internet 300ISK per 30min. Open late June-Aug. daily M-F 7:30am-7pm; Sept.-May M-F 8:00am-4pm. Sept. and Oct. also weekends 9am-1pm. AmEx/MC/V.) Postal Code: 600.

Accommodations And Food. Akureyri’s only hostel,   Stórholt , Stórholt 1, draws an adventurous crowd. (☎894 4299; www.akureyrihostel.com. Linens 700ISK. Laundry 600ISK. Free Internet and Wi-Fi. Reception June-Aug. 8am-10pm; Sept.-May 9am-8pm. Dorms 2300ISK; singles 3500ISK; doubles 5600ISK. Cabins 7000-15,000. 200-400ISK HI discount. AmEx/MC/V.) Guesthouse Sulur , Þórunnarstræti 93, is in a hilltop home just behind the main square. (☎461 1160. Free laundry and Wi-Fi. Reception 24hr. Sleeping bag accommodation 3600ISK; singles 5000ISK; doubles 5600ISK; triples 8100ISK. MC/V.)

The famous Brynja , Adalstræti 3, has an Icelandic treat: frozen yogurt smothered in chocolate or caramel. (☎462 4478. Cones from 200ISK. Open M-F 9am-11:30pm, Sa-Su 10am-11:30pm; in winter daily 11am-11pm. AmEx/MC/V.) For other cheap food options, try the pedestrian alleys off Rádhústorg.

Sights And Nightlife. For a glimpse of late 19th-century life in Akureyri, walk down Aðalstræti and take a look at numbers 14 and 50, the city’s oldest houses. Be sure to find Laxdalshs, the oldest building in the city at Hafnarstrti 11, which has a small museum. Back on Aðalstræti, Nonnahús, Aðalstræti 54., focuses on famous Icelandic author Jón Sveinsson, whose children’s book Nonni and Manni has been translated into over 40 languages. (☎462 3555. Open from June to mid-Aug. daily 10am-5pm; call ahead in low-season. 500ISK. AmEx/MC/V.) Up the hill, Akureyri Museum, Aðalstræti 58, is marked by a well-kept garden at the entrance. The first floor chronicles Icelandic history, while the basement focuses on Akureyri. (☎462 4162. Open June-Sept. 15 daily 10am-5pm; Sept. 16-May Sa 2-4pm. 500ISK. 700ISK combination pass with Nonnahús. AmEx/MC/V.) Organ music emanates from Akureyrarkirkja, við Eyrarlandsvegen, the town’s main church. The building looks similar to Reykjavík’s Hallgrímskirkja—they were designed by the same architect, Guðjón Samúelsson. (☎462 7700. Open daily 10am-noon and 1pm-5pm and M-Tu and Th-F 5pm-10pm and W 5pm-8pm. Free.) Truly worth a visit are the northernmost botanical gardens in the world located at Hrafnagilstræti and Eyrarlandsvegen. (Open June-Sept. M-F 8am-10pm, Sa-Su 9am-10pm. Free.) Travelers can hike to Mount Súlur (1213m) along a trail that starts 5km out of town. More challenging hikes requiring glacier gear include Strỳta (1456m) and Kerling (1536m). Visit the tourist office for maps (200-300ISK). A popular swimming pool, Þingvallastræti 21, is just 370ISK. Try the waterslide, sauna, or hot tub. (Towel 350ISK. Open M-F 7am-9pm, Sa-Su 7:30-6:30pm. MC/V.) The Summer Arts Festival (from mid-June to late Aug.) includes walks, concerts, and theater performances.

Many streets in Akureyri are deserted at night, but lines of cars circle one building in the town square in a tradition known as Rúnturinn. It’s popular among high schoolers for passing time and flirting. Inside the circled central building, a well-dressed crowd spends hours at   Café Amour. Beer starts at 700ISK, but look for deals on five bottles (1500ISK) during occasional Happy hours and student discounts (400ISK). Amour becomes a techno dance hall on the 2nd floor during weekends. (☎461 3030; www.cafeamour.is. Mixed drinks from 1350ISK. Open M-Th and Su 10am-1am, F-Sa 10am-4am. AmEx/MC/V.) Kaffi Akureyri, Strandgata 7, is a no-frills bar, with a crowd ranging from 20- to 60-year-olds. Knock down Opal and Topas shots with locals for 500ISK.