Akureyri, Iceland is the country’s second-largest city and one of the country’s most important ports and fishing centers. Affectionately known as the Capital of North Iceland, it has a cool café scene, a growing gourmet movement, and a bustling nightlife that proves this city is more than meets the eye. From fabulous summer festivals fueled by the Midnight Sun, like the Akureyri Summer Arts festival (late June-late August), to some of the best skiing this side of the arctic circle, Akureyri, Iceland is a laid-back Nordic city and a study in contrasts. Soar into the blue sky to discover Grimsey Island, home to only 92 residents and thousands of sea birds. The city’s Botanical Gardens is famed for its collection of high-latitude plants and well worth a visit. Explore the ancient lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the geothermal landscape of bubbling mud and hissing fumaroles at Namafjall Mountain. The Great Fish Day of Dalvik, on the second Saturday in August, where revelers feast for free on the North Atlantic’s bounty is a paradise for seafood lovers.
The city is best known as the gateway to Iceland’s natural wonders – thundering waterfalls, gurgling lava fields, snow-capped mountains, sweeping fjords, and robust folk culture. Whatever you choose, it's sure to be the adventure of a lifetime.
