Where to Stay in Akureyri, Iceland: The 12 Best Hotels

Are you struggling to decide where to stay in Akureyri? Well here’s where we stayed and why, plus our top 12 accommodation choices in the city. 

We debated for a long time about the best places to stay in Akureyri. We couldn’t decide if we wanted to stay in the centre of the city so we were within walking distance of restaurants, or the outskirts of the city so we were slightly more remote. 

For a small city, there’s a good amount of choice for accommodations here. Whether you’re visiting for a short stay or a longer adventure, choosing the right accommodation can make all the difference in your experience. 

From cosy guest houses to luxurious hotels and secluded apartments, these are the 12 best places to stay in Akureyri, Iceland.

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

1. Viking Cottages and Apartments

This is where we stayed during our 3 days in Akureyri and it turned out to be absolutely perfect. You know how we were debating going remote or central? In the end, we decided to go for a balance of both. 

We chose Viking Cottages and Apartments because it was just outside the hustle and bustle of the city centre. We had a more peaceful atmosphere but were still within easy access to all the attractions, restaurants, and shops in Akureyri. 

Plus, since we visited Iceland in January, it would’ve been dark enough to see the Northern Lights from our apartment (had it stopped snowing long enough for them to make an appearance!). 

Each apartment has comfy bedrooms, a small kitchenette, and a modern bathroom. There’s a hot tub outside which was so lovely in the evenings, and a living space perfect for a cosy night in. 

It was too remote to walk to anything in under an hour, so if you stay here, you will need to hire a car. However, it was perfect for us, and we’d definitely stay here again.

BOOK A ROOM AT VIKING COTTAGES AND APARTMENTS

2. Centrum Hotel 

If you want to stay in central Akureyri, look no further than the Centrum Hotel. This highly rated hotel is close to many restaurants, grocery stores, and tourist attractions. 

Akureyri Botanical Garden is only a 12-minute walk away, and Akureyri’s church is less than 5 minutes on foot. Centrum Hotel offers double, twin, and studio rooms with ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, and WiFi.

Some rooms also feature a balcony and small kitchenettes. Meanwhile, the hotel has an on-site restaurant, storage facilities, and a shared lounge, and you can even hire ski equipment here! 

BOOK A ROOM AT CENTRUM HOTEL

3. Hotel Edda

Hotel Edda offers simple yet modern, affordable bedrooms for travellers visiting Akureyri on a smaller budget.

Several room options are available, including bedrooms with private bathrooms and bedrooms without a private bathroom still feature a wash basin.

Most rooms also have a seating area, desk, and storage space. As for amenities, Hotel Edda has a communal area with two pool tables, a cafe, and a bar. 

Another major draw to this hotel is its location. This budget hotel is only a short walk from the Eyjafjördur Fjord shore, Akureyri Botanical Garden, and Akureyri Swimming Pool.

BOOK A ROOM AT HOTEL EDDA

4. Hotel Akureyri

If you want to enjoy Akureyri in style, stay at Hotel Akureyri, a modern 4-star hotel with stylish bedrooms, retro decor, and luxurious amenities.

Like Centrum Hotel, this hotel is on the main street, Hafnarstræti. You’ll have easy access to town centre amenities and the church is only a 7-minute walk away.

When you’re not exploring Akureyri, enjoy the affordable luxuries at the hotel. Every room has a large bed, free WiFi, a minibar, and a TV.

Some rooms also offer sea views. Hotel Akureyri has an A-la-carte restaurant serving homegrown produce and local drinks. For entertainment, the hotel has a pool table and tour desk.

BOOK A ROOM AT HOTEL AKUREYRI

5. Saeluhus Apartments

Saeluhus Apartments is the perfect place to stay if you want to be self-sufficient. This 3-star property offers modern studio apartments with private kitchenettes, ensuite bathrooms, dining areas, and free WiFi.

Some studios even have balconies with hot tubs. Imagine spending the evening relaxing in a hot tub, overlooking Eyjafjördur Fjord, and keeping a lookout for the Northern Lights. 

You can also stay in a fully-equipped house big enough for seven guests. Other amenities include shared laundry facilities, ski storage, and a drying room.

As for location, Saeluhus Apartments is only 500 metres from Akureyri Botanical Garden and 800 metres from Akureyri town centre.

BOOK A ROOM AT SAELUHUS APARTMENTS

6. Akureyri Backpackers

Akureyri Backpackers is one of the best hotels in Akureyri for families. This 4-star hotel offers super affordable family bedrooms with access to shared bathroom facilities right in the centre of town.

Located on Hafnarstræti, you’ll never be far from Akureyri’s best attractions, shops, cafes, and restaurants. A swimming pool and hot tub facility is only a 1-minute walk away. 

Akureyri Backpackers offers two types of family rooms: one that sleeps six and one that sleeps four. The hotel also has a bar, restaurant, and a buffet breakfast served daily. 

The hotel staff can help organise rafting, sightseeing, and horse riding excursions.

BOOK A ROOM AT AKUREYRI BACKPACKERS

7. Hrimland Cottages

Hrimland Cottages is an excellent option for large groups of travellers.

Hrimland offers several options – large cottages outside of Akureyri or their downtown apartments.

The large, fully equipped cottages, are located approximately 2.4 miles from central Akureyri and can sleep up to eight people. They feature a kitchen, multiple bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, and an outdoor terrace with a private hot tub.

Admittedly, the location isn’t ideal for exploring Akureyri, as the city is a one-hour walk away. However, you can enjoy skiing, hiking, and horse riding at the resort. Plus, the surrounding natural scenery is exceptional.

Their downtown apartments are also fantastic; well-equipped, nicely designed, and central. It’s the ideal self-catering option in the middle of the city.

BOOK A ROOM AT HRIMLAND COTTAGES

8. Hotel Kea by Keahotels

Hotel Kea by Keahotels is ideally located on Akureyri’s main pedestrian street, a 3-minute walk from Akureyrarkirkja (the city’s church) and steps away from the Eyjafjördur Fjord shoreline.

This modern 4-star hotel offers a range of standard, deluxe, and superior double and twin bedrooms at a reasonable price.

Every room has an ensuite bathroom, flat-screen TV, desk area, and free WiFi. Some bedrooms also have balconies with sea views.

Regarding hotel amenities, Hotel Kea has an in-house restaurant specialising in Icelandic dishes, a cocktail bar, and an outdoor seating area. The hotel also offers a variety of activities, such as cycling, hiking, skiing, and horse riding.

BOOK A ROOM AT HOTEL KEA

9. Acco Luxury Apartments

If you’re looking for a more luxurious place to stay in Akureyri town centre, consider staying at Acco Luxury Apartments. This stunning apartment building offers a variety of gorgeous, modern apartments with sleek, stylish designs.

Every apartment features high-end furniture, a private bathroom, a kitchen, a flat-screen TV, and free WiFi. There’s also a dishwasher, coffee machine, and a hairdryer.

Acco Luxury Apartments offers one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in a fabulous location. You’ll only be a short walk from Hof Cultural Center, Elding Whale Watching Akureyri, and Akureyri Botanical Garden.

BOOK A ROOM AT ACCO LUXURY APARTMENTS

10. Torg Guest House

The 3-star Torg Guest House is situated inside a historical house in the middle of Akureyri Town Square. As such, many shops, cafes, restaurants, and tourist attractions are only a stone’s throw away. 

For example, Akureyrarkirkja (Akureyri’s church) is a 6-minute walk away. To make your trip easier, Torg Guest House offers self-check-in, which is handy if you plan to arrive in Akureyri late. 

As for the rooms, you can choose from comfortable double and twin rooms and apartments. All rooms feature private bathrooms, high-quality furniture, free WiFi, and a coffee machine. 

Some rooms also feature well-equipped kitchens and balconies with town and mountain views.

BOOK A ROOM AT TORG GUEST HOUSE

11. Hotel Natur

You have an excellent chance of spotting the Northern Lights at Hotel Natur. This 3-star hotel is approximately six miles from Akureyri town centre, surrounded by picturesque mountain and fjord scenery. 

As a result, the sky is much darker and clearer at night, making it easier to spot stars, planets, and the Northern Lights. Guests have even reported seeing whales during their stay (although for the best results, you’ll need to go on a whale-watching tour)! 

Better yet, the hotel has an observation turret that offers views from a higher perspective.

Other noteworthy amenities at this hotel include a sauna, a hot tub, and a restaurant. Regarding bedrooms, Hotel Natur offers single, double, and triple rooms with private bathrooms.

BOOK A ROOM AT HOTEL NATUR

12. Hafdals Hotel 

Two miles outside Akureyri, Hafdals Hotel is a fantastic accommodation option if you want to enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery. This comfortable and modern hotel overlooks Eyjafjördur and snow-capped mountains. 

It’s also possible to spot the Northern Lights from the property. Hafdals Hotel provides deluxe twin and family rooms with balconies that offer mountain views. 

Every room also features free WiFi, ensuite bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, and minifridges. Free parking is available on-site, should you wish to drive.

On the topic of driving, you’ll need to drive to Akureyri’s main attractions. Luckily, the town centre is only a 10-minute drive away.

BOOK A ROOM AT HAFDALS HOTEL

What is the best area to stay in Akureyri?

We think this depends on what you want from the city. 

If you’re visiting in the winter months and want an easy way to see the Northern Lights without booking a guided tour, then staying somewhere just outside of the city is ideal. This means you’ll have less light pollution and less tour costs!

However, if you’d rather be centrally located or within walking distance of shops and restaurants, then staying in the town centre is ideal. There’s also plenty of parking around the city which means it’s easy to do this if you have a hire car. 

If we were to visit Iceland in winter again, we’d opt for remote accommodation like Viking Cottages and Apartments. But, if we were visiting in summer, we might choose a more central apartment, like Acco Luxury Apartments.

When is the best time to visit Akureyri?

This once again depends on what you’re after. If you’re craving a winter trip and snowy scenery, then between December to March will be ideal. Although you’ll also have much less daylight during this time. 

If you visit during the summer months, you’ll have the midnight sun and long hours of daylight, but larger crowds and higher prices. It’s also the prime time for whale watching which is one of the most bucket list things to do in Iceland. 

We honestly don’t think there is a best time to visit Akureyri as every season is so different.

Is it easy to get around Akureyri without a car?

Yes, it’s easy to get around the city itself without a car. Akureyri is pretty compact and walkable and most of the main attractions are fairly close together.

There are also lots of guided tours that explore the surrounding regions of the city such as Myvatn Lakes. So, if you want to visit those places, and don’t have a car, it’s fairly easy to join a group tour. 

Of course, if you’re staying somewhere more remote like we did, then having a car is ideal and makes exploring much easier. Having a car in general will make it much easier to explore the city and surroundings on your own terms. 

However, if you’re not comfortable driving in Iceland, particularly in winter, it’s still easy to explore Akureyri and the surroundings. 

What are the best places to stay in Akureyri?

Overall, there is plenty of choice when it comes to where to stay in Akureyri. You can opt for hotels and apartments both in the city centre itself and the outskirts. 

If we had to choose, our top choice would be Viking Cottages and Apartments. We just loved our stay here so much and it was the perfect base for exploring the city and surroundings.

If we were after a centre location, we’d opt for Centrum Hotel or Acco Luxury Apartments if we wanted self-catering. And, lastly, if we were on a budget, our top choice would be Akureyri Backpackers.

However, all of the places on this list are great options and offer something slightly different. So, if you’re planning a trip to Akureyri, I hope this has helped you decide where to stay in this beautiful northern city.

👉 Looking for the best things to do? Check out our favourite things to do in Akureyri!

Pin for Later!