Akureyri in Winter: Is it Worth It? Here’s What to Expect

Are you planning on visiting Akureyri in winter? With the city more accessible than ever, here’s what you can expect when spending winter in the capital of the north!

When easyJet released their new flight route from London to Akureyri, we jumped at the chance to visit Iceland’s most northerly city in winter. This was our first time in the north and we were very excited to see a new side to this gorgeous country.

As always, Iceland did not disappoint.

We spent 3 days in Akureyri in mid-January – for my birthday, in fact – and absolutely loved it.

From our cosy little apartment on the outskirts of town to driving through a snowy wonderland, and despite the cold and the dark, we had the most wonderful few days exploring the city and its surroundings.

So, if you’re debating visiting Akureyri in the winter months, here’s everything you need to know.

*This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, read our disclaimer.

Akureyri Must-Do’s!

Short on time? You NEED to do these are 4 bucket-list things in Akureyri! ❤️

Where we stayed: Viking Cottages and Apartments

Why Visit Akureyri in Winter?

We had quite a few people telling us that it wasn’t worth travelling to Akureyri in the winter months. People were saying that it’s cold and dark and there’s not really a lot to do. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong!

Yes, it is cold and we’re not going to deny that it’s dark – it’s one of the darkest months in Iceland – however, there is so much to do!

Snow-covered street with colourful blue building and red turrets in Akureyri during winter.

The city is a winter wonderland with snowy trees, an icy fjord, cosy cafes, and the ever-present possibility of seeing the northern lights.

So, if you’re wondering whether visiting Akureyri is worth it, we can confirm it 100% is!

What is there to do in Akureyri in Winter?

There is a lot more to do in Akureyri in winter than you might think, and it still amazes us that many people only spend one day here. Despite the limited daylight, we managed to very easily fill 3 days and could’ve stayed at least 3 more!

Here are some of the best things to do in Akureyri in winter;

1. Go Skiing at Hlíðarfjall

Did you know there was a ski resort in Akureyri? We certainly didn’t before we visited Iceland in January! Located just a short drive from the city, Hlíðarfjall is a haven for winter sports lovers.

You’ll find slopes suitable for beginners or more seasoned skiers, and the views from the top are worth the trip alone!

Plus, you can enjoy it here even if you’ve never been skiing before, as they offer both equipment rental and lessons, making it accessible for everyone.

2. Go on a Whale Watching Tour

If you want to cross something off your Iceland bucket list, we highly recommend whale watching in Akureyri. This is one of our favourite experiences in the country to date and is absolutely amazing.

Woman in red winter coat and snow boots on boat deck with icy water and snow-covered landscape behind.

Akureyri is one of the best whale-watching spots in the world. You can find an abundance of marine life in the Eyjafjordur, including humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, minke whales, harbour porpoises, and sometimes even blue whales!

The whale we saw on our whale watching tour in Akureyri

Plus, one of the best things about joining a tour here is you can see these creatures all year round.

We visited in January and saw a humpback whale in the fjord. It’s an incredible experience and well worth doing while you’re in Akureyri.

❤️ We absolutely loved our whale-watching experience – book tickets here before they sell out!

3. Chase the Northern Lights

Can you visit Iceland in winter and not chase the Northern Lights? This is one of the main reasons people travel to Northern Europe during the winter season, and we can’t deny that spotting the aurora in Akureyri was also a draw for us.

Vivid green and purple aurora borealis dancing across a starry night sky above a small Scandinavian village. — *The Northern Lights in Iceland – this was taken down south on a different trip, as it was too cloudy to see them when we visited Akureyri*

It’s often a much better place to see the lights than in Reykjavik since it’s further north and a much smaller city, so you’ll have less light pollution.

Unfortunately for us, we visited during a snowstorm, and the clouds didn’t clear until the day we flew home. Typical, right? But if you’re lucky and get a clear night, Akuryri is a fantastic place to chase the northern lights.

❤️ For the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, book a guided tour!

4. Relax in the Forest Lagoon

Now, this is an experience we did have whilst in the city, and we absolutely loved it. The Forest Lagoon is Akureyri’s geothermal spa, located about 5 minutes by car from the centre of town, and it’s magical in the winter.

The lagoon is themed around nature, surrounded by trees and has beautiful views over the Eyjafjordur. There’s a swim-up bar where you can order cocktails, a sauna and a cold plunge pool as well as the main spa.

Woman in a red swimsuit enjoying a thermal pool with snow-covered trees in the background. — *Relaxing in the Forest Lagoon*

Hand holding a pink frozen drink in a glass with a straw against snowy trees and sky. — *My strawberry Margherita in the Forest Lagoon*

In the winter months, it’s even more spectacular, especially if you visit on a snowy day. It snowed non-stop while we were in the lagoon, and the snowy scenery mixed with the relaxing warm water was just superb.

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

👉 For more info, check out our full guide to visiting the Forest Lagoon!

5. Drive to Godafoss Waterfall

If you’re looking for stunning waterfalls in Iceland, you can’t go wrong with Godafoss. It’s one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Northern Iceland and is just beautiful.

The water is bright blue, which is a stark contrast with the snowy landscapes surrounding it.

The drive to Godafoss from Akureyri is about 30 minutes in good weather.

Frozen Godafoss waterfall with icy edges and flowing water in a snowy landscape in Iceland.

However, be sure to check the weather before you set off because many of the roads are very open and would be dangerous to drive in a snowstorm. Use safe.is before you set off to check road conditions.

If you do manage to make it here, it’s so worth it and might just be your favourite sight around Akureyri.

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

6. Explore Downtown Akureyri

After spending plenty of time in Reykjavik, we were expecting Akureyri to have the same city feel compared to the natural beauty of the rest of Iceland, but we were pleasantly surprised.

Akureyri honestly felt more like a large town than a city.

Snow-covered church with tall twin towers and a clock, set against a snowy sky.

Framed by the towering snowy mountains on either side of the Eyjafjordur, the city is a maze of small streets, colourful buildings, restaurants, and shops.

You can walk up to the iconic church, take a photo by the heart-shaped photo frame, admire the heart traffic lights, and nip into 66° North to shop for winter gear.

One of the best restaurants in Akureyri - Bautinn — *One of our favourite restaurants in Akureyri – Bautinn*

There are some really great restaurants here (our favourite was Bautinn) and we honestly fell in love with the city.

It’s well worth simply going for a wander downtown area while you’re in Akureyri.

7. Go Husky Sledding

Another bucket list experience in Akureyri in winter is husky sledding. While you might think that husky sledding is reserved for Norway and Finland, think again, because you can actually do this in Iceland as well.

Group of four people in winter gear riding a dog sled across snow. — *Husky sledding is one of the best experiences in Akureyri in winter*

There are only a few companies that offer dog sledding in Iceland, and we went with this company.

It was completely incredible, and the huskies were so cute. We could tell that they wanted to run, and we adored the experience with them.

❤️ We recommend this husky sledding tour as they were fantastic!

8. Visit the Christmas House

A house that embodies that spirit of Christmas all year round? Yup, that’s Christmas House. Located about 10 minutes south of the city centre, this house is one of Akureyri’s top attractions.

It’s super quirky and combines global Christmas tradition with Icelandic folklore, and you can buy all sorts of things inside. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Akureyri in winter.

What is the Weather Like?

We had heard all sorts of stories from people saying that Akureyri in winter is miserable and not worth visiting. After visiting ourselves, we completely disagree with this.

Yes, the weather is unpredictable, but it’s unpredictable across the whole of Iceland. The north is certainly snowier and colder than the south.

During our time in Akureyri, it was -3°C each day on average, but it felt colder due to the wind chill.

We visited the south in mid-December and there was virtually no snow at all compared to mid-January in Akureyri.

*Skogafoss waterfall in December as a comparison*

It also just so happens that we visited during a snowstorm. The weather for the first two days snowed non-stop, and we woke up on our third day completely snowed in and had to ask a friendly local to plough us out with his tractor!

Person smiling and enjoying snow in a winter landscape with trees in the background. — *We were completely snowed in one morning!*

*Our car was almost impossible to get out!*

This did affect what we could do and we had to change our plans on that day. But, that’s all part of visiting Iceland in winter and to be honest, getting snowed in was quite an experience. We had never seen snow up to our waist before!

Car parked in deep snow with snow-covered trees and cloudy sky in the background. — *Our car, once we had dug it out of the snow!*

On the day we flew back home, the blue skies came out. The sunrise was beautiful, and the city was glowing. It was typical that it came on the day we were leaving, but at least we got to experience both!

All in all, you can’t predict the winter weather in Akureyri. You might get sunshine and blue skies, and you might get a snowstorm! But that’s all part of the fun!

👉Check out our full guide to the best time to visit Iceland for all our tips.

Is There Enough Daylight?

We didn’t find the lack of daylight too troublesome, considering December and January are the darkest months in Akureyri.

Around the winter solstice (21st December), Akureyri gets about 3-4 hours of daylight with the sun rising around 11:30am and setting around 2:30pm.

Snow-covered landscape with a small house and leafless trees under a cloudy, illuminated sky. — *This is what 9am looks like in Akureyri in January*

Snow-covered landscape with a cosy wooden house illuminated at night, surrounded by leafless trees and distant hills. — *This was 9:45am on the same day*

Days lengthen in Iceland in January, and, by the end of the month, the sun rises around 10:30am and sets around 4:30 pm.

Snow-covered trail flanked by pine trees under cloudy sky in winter. — *This was the daylight at around 10:45am in Akureyri in January*

We visited in mid-January and, for us, the sun rose about 11am, but the city was bathed in a soft blue light from around 10am. The sunset was about 4pm, but this was the same time as in the UK in winter, so it didn’t really bother us.

You definitely need to plan your activities around the daylight hours, but there is plenty of light to explore the best of Akureyri.

Is Visiting Akureyi in Winter Worth it?

Yes! Of our many trips to Iceland, this is easily one of our favourites.

The city is beautiful and there are so many bucket list things to do here, especially if you love winter landscapes, cosy atmospheres and the chance to see the northern lights.

Waking up surrounded by snowy mountains, soaking in a thermal spa overlooking the fjord, seeing whales, husky sledding, and so much more made this a trip we’ll never forget.

We’re so glad that Akureyri is finally getting the attention it deserves because it’s such a stunning part of Iceland.

If you have any questions about this, or any other trip to Iceland, feel free to ask them in our Facebook Group!

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