3 Days in Akureyri: The Perfect Itinerary

Are you planning on spending 3 days in Akureyri, Iceland? The city is becoming more accessible in winter, and here’s what you can get up to on a long weekend break. 

Of all of our trips to Iceland, this has by far been one of our favourites. 

Compared to the busy southern coast, we didn’t really know what to expect from Akureyri. But we ended up preferring the city to Reykjavik and did some absolute bucket list activities that we’d dreamed of doing for years!

We flew with easyJet, taking advantage of their new route from Gatwick to Iceland’s ‘Capital of the North’ and stayed for just a long weekend from Saturday to Tuesday. 

It turns out, we could easily have stayed longer, but this was a wonderful way to get acquainted with the area – and has given us lots of things to do when we return!

So, if you’re planning on visiting Akureyri, here’s how to spend the perfect 3 days in the city.

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Day 1: Explore Akureyri Town

The day you arrive may end up being more like half a day than a full day, especially if you’re visiting in the winter months when it gets dark around 4pm.

12:30 – Land and Pick up Your Rental Car

We landed around midday, collected our luggage, and went to pick up our rental car. 

We decided to hire a car for the duration of our trip, and this turned out to be the perfect choice, especially considering how difficult and expensive it would’ve been to get to our apartment and our booked activities without it. 

Collecting the car was fairly straightforward. There was a car rental desk outside the airport and we spoke to the people behind the desk, paid the deposit and collected the keys. 

We also used the bathrooms there to change into our winter gear as our light aeroplane outfit was not suitable for snowy Akureyri!

Despite the icy roads, we didn’t find driving too tricky.

We checked safe.is daily for road closures and also checked for any weather warnings and made sure to drive slowly and carefully to the conditions.

❤️ This is the company we use when we hire a car and they are fantastic!

14:00 – See the Heart Traffic Lights

We parked at one of the main car parks in the city (linked here), which was within walking distance of most of the top sights.

Our first stop was to head across the road opposite and see Akureyri’s famous heart traffic lights. All of the traffic lights in the city have little red hearts as the stop sign. 

They also have a dummy light located just across from this car park, which we visited just to snap a quick photo! It’s a quick stop, but it’s also a fun one!

TOP TIP: If you arrive on a weekend, this car park is free. We didn’t realise this and ended up paying for it!

14:15 – Visit Akureyri Church

Next, we walked into the city itself to visit the church. Located on top of a hill overlooking the city, Akureyri Church is beautiful and a symbol of the city. 

While it was closed when we visited, you can walk up to the top and admire the architecture. There are also great views on a clear day over the city and the fjord.

14:45 – Visit the Photo Frames

Once you’ve finished admiring the church, head back down the hill and find the photo frames. There are two photo frames in Akureyri – one heart-shaped one opposite the church, and another yellow rectangular one in the main square. 

These are both great photo spots in the city. We loved the heart one in particular, as it gave a really cute angle of the church.

15:15 – Go for a Walk Along the Waterfront

Next, we recommend going for a little wander along the waterfront. This is a great way to appreciate the views here. The mountains that surround Akureyri are stunning, and the city is really picturesque. 

There is a path that runs all along the waterside. If you visit in winter, it may well be buried under a lot of snow, but it’s well worth a wander if you find it.

The views are insane. We also saw a lot of locals walking their dogs here or even going for a run in the snow!

16:00 – Have an Early Dinner at Bautinn

Since we had an early flight on our first day, we decided to have an early dinner and then head back to our apartment.

We found this wonderful restaurant just across from the heart-shaped Akureyri photo frame, and it ended up being our favourite meal of the trip!

Bautinn is located in one of the most historic buildings in the city, which was first constructed in 1902. They offer a great selection of dishes from burgers and chicken dishes to pasta, pizza, and traditional Icelandic cuisine. 

It was absolutely delicious and not too expensive either! 

18:00 – Stock up on Groceries

After we’d eaten, we drove to Kronan to stock up on groceries. Since we were self-catering, we had planned to buy breakfast goods and make packed lunches for our trip. This is a great way to save money while exploring Iceland. 

The two cheapest supermarkets in Iceland are Kronan and Bonus, and these are both in Akureyri city centre. We headed to Kronan because it was closest and bought everything we needed for the next few days.

In total, our groceries for breakfast and lunch came to about £30, but this did include fresh chicken breast and some sweet treats, so you could make this cheaper.

18:30 – Drive to Your Apartment

Finally, head to your apartment or hotel. We love self-catering in Iceland. We love the extra space, plus it can save you a LOT on food, so we stayed at the incredible Viking Cottages and Apartments on the outskirts of the city. 

Located just a 10-minute drive from Akureyri city centre, these luxury apartments were perfect for us.

They were remote enough that we could’ve seen the northern lights from then if the sky was clear, but close enough to the city that we didn’t have to travel far. 

They also had a private hot tub, which was perfect for relaxing in the evening. 

❤️ We highly recommend booking these apartments in Akureyri

👉 If you’re considering staying here, check out our full review.

Day 2: Natural Akureyri

For your second day in Akureyri, we’ll be exploring some of the natural locations in and around the city – and crossing something off your bucket list!

11:00 – Go Whale Watching

Since the sun doesn’t rise in Akureyri in January until about 11am, we spent a relaxed morning in our apartment cooking breakfast, drinking coffee, and admiring the snowy scenery.

Then, at 10:30am, we hopped in our car and drove to the harbour. 

We’d wanted to go whale watching in Iceland for ages, but I get quite travel-sick, so I was unsure whether I’d feel awful for a few hours and not see any whales. 

But, if you’re like me and can’t handle rocky boats, I highly recommend whale watching in Akureyri.

The waters of the fjord are so sheltered by the mountains that they’re much calmer than the open sea. Not only is this ideal for spotting these magnificent creatures, but it also means that people like me can actually fully enjoy the experience!

Plus, since the fjords are such a great habitat for the whales, you can see them all year round. When I initially got in touch with the tour operator, they told me that they had a 96% sighting success rate for January, which is amazing. 

14:00 – Grab Lunch at Bláa Kannan

The tour lasted around 3 hours, and we were back in the harbour just after lunchtime. We’d brought a picnic with us from our apartment, so we sat in the car on the waterfront to eat. 

However, if you’d prefer a more classy lunch, head back to the place you parked yesterday and grab some food from Bláa Kannan Cafe.

They serve a range of lunch options including paninis, salads, and sandwiches along with delicious cakes and coffees.  

15:30 – Relax in the Forest Lagoon

For your afternoon activity, head to the Forest Lagoon. This is Akureyri’s answer to the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik and is located just across the bridge, about 5 minutes from the centre of town. 

The Forest Lagoon was one of the most relaxing things we did during our 3 days in Akureyri. The lagoon perfectly blends nature and relaxation and we had a fantastic time soaking in the warm waters while the snow fell around us. 

As well as the main pool, there’s a swim-up bar that serves delicious cocktails (I recommend the strawberry margarita!), a sauna, and a cold plunge pool. There’s also a bistro serving food and drinks. 

It was the ideal way to end what was a pretty incredible day.

❤️ Book tickets to the best thermal spa in Akureyri – we loved our visit!

18:00 – Dinner at Indian Curry House

For dinner, head back across the bridge to Indian Curry House. This restaurant is located in the town square, so we parked at the same place again and walked about 2 minutes to the restaurant. 

Once again, the food here was delicious and not too expensive. But, we recommend ordering the extra rice as the standard rice portion wasn’t enough for us.

Day 3: Explore the Surrounding Area

For your third day in Akureyri, we recommend spending it exploring more of the nature surrounding the city. There are a lot of beautiful places just a short drive from Akureyri including a few more bucket list experiences.

TOP TIP: Be sure to check the weather forecast before considering a drive like this in the winter months. The weather in Iceland in winter can change quickly, and never attempt long drives in adverse weather conditions.

11:00 – Visit Goðafoss Waterfall

Start our day with a trip to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, Goðafoss. This gem is located about a 30-minute drive from Akureyri. To reach it, you’ll also need to go through the only toll road in the country, the Vadlaheidarargöng Tunnel.

The toll costs 1,500 ISK per journey, which works out to around £17 or $21 for a round trip. As such, it’s worth making sure you get the most out of visiting that area!

Goðafoss is definitely worth it. Meaning “Waterfall of the Gods,”, the water is bright blue against the snowy surroundings and cascades over the horseshoe-shaped rocks. It’s often partially frozen in the winter which is just stunning.

Unfortunately, we had cloudy conditions when we visited, but if you have a clear day and get here for sunrise (which is around 10-11am in winter), it’s even more beautiful.

❤️ If you don’t fancy driving, this tour includes Godafoss Waterfall.

14:00 – Go Husky Sledding

Once you’ve admired Godafoss, head to another of the most incredible activities you can do during 3 days in Akureyri – husky sledding!

Most people associate dog sledding with Norway or Finland, but you can actually go in Iceland too! This is another wonderful experience and one of the best things we’ve ever done in Iceland.

This is a family-owned business located on a farm between Akureyri and Myvatn Lakes. It was clear when we arrived how well cared for the dogs were and they were all so cute and friendly. 

Once we got geared up in warm overalls, we hopped on the sledges and went on an hour-long ride around the Icelandic wilderness. It was absolutely magical and we highly recommend doing this if you are in Akureyri in the winter months. 

But, if you’re visiting in summer, they also offer summer karting with the huskies which is an equally unique experience.

The dog sledding experience lasts around 2 hours and then you’ll have around an hour-long drive back to Akureyri from the farm. By this time, it’ll likely be dark, so head to a restaurant for dinner.

❤️ We highly recommend husky sledding in Akureyri as it was fantastic!

17:30 – Dinner at Greifinn

For our final dinner in Akureyri, we headed to Greifinn. We’d been recommended this place by several Icelanders and absolutely loved it. 

It’s part of a hotel and serves a delicious range of food including burgers, pizza, pasta, and traditional Icelandic dishes. It’s also reasonably affordable.

I went for the lobster pasta which was superb and Andrew had a meaty pizza. 

After that, head back to your apartment for one final soak in the hot tub before you head home tomorrow after a wonderful three days in Akureyri!

If you have more time in Akureyri

We could definitely have stayed in Akureyri longer than 3 days. There are so many wonderful things to do in Akureyri, and there were at least another two full days’ worth of things we could’ve done. 

So, if you’re thinking of staying a little longer, here are a few more things you can do in and around the city.

Explore Akureyri’s Museums

As well as the sights in and around the town, you can also explore some of Akureyri’s museums. There are several fascinating museums to visit, offering an insight into the region’s history, culture, and way of life. 

The Akureyri Museum houses a range of artefacts from the town’s past, while the Icelandic Aviation Museum highlights the country’s aviation history. 

Art lovers can explore the Akureyri Art Museum, which features contemporary Icelandic works (and a funky rainbow path outside it).

For something more unusual, the Motorcycle Museum of Iceland provides a glimpse into the nation’s motorcycling heritage.

👉 If you’re also visiting South Iceland, here’s our perfect 3-day Reykjavik itinerary.

Drive to Husavik

If you’re in Akureyri, you’re only about an hour away from Husavik. This tiny town is mostly known for being the whale-watching capital of Iceland, but there’s also plenty to do in the town itself. 

You can explore their fascinating whale museum, admire the colourful church and visit the Eurovision Exhibition. Don’t forget to soak in the gorgeous GeoSea spa overlooking the whale-watching spot – you might even see whales from there! 

Visit the Christmas House

If you love the festive season, you’ll love the Christmas house! Located just outside of Akureyri about 10 minutes from the city centre, this house is decked out in full festive decor all year round!

Inside, you’ll find a range of products you can buy from gingerbread to ornaments and Christmas decorations to things relating to Icelandic festive folklore. It’s a very unique place to visit and well worth a stop.

Explore Mývatn Lakes

This is also around an hour’s drive from Akureyri but is one of the most beautiful places in Northern Iceland.

The area has some stunning landscapes, with dramatic lava fields, steaming geothermal vents, and serene lakes that create an otherworldly atmosphere. 

Lake Mývatn also offers a great place for wildlife watching with plenty of birdlife – there’s even a bird museum there! 

A few highlights include hiking through the Dimmuborgir lava fields, soaking in the Mývatn Nature Baths, or marvelling at the bubbling mud pools of Hverir.

❤️ If you don’t fancy driving, this tour will take you to Mývatn Lakes.

Is spending 3 days in Akureyri worth it?

Yes! While many people will spend their first 3 days in Iceland exploring Reykjavik, we almost preferred our time in Akureyri. It’s so peaceful, has beautiful architecture and stunning natural surroundings.

It’s amazing that some people only spend a day in Akureyri as we could’ve probably spent at least a week!

The fjord is just so beautiful and the fact that we got to cross two things off our Iceland bucket lists during this trip was really the cherry on top for us! If you’re thinking of visiting Iceland in winter, really don’t miss this gem!

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👉 Don’t know where to stay yet? Here are our favourite hotels in Akureyri!

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