Attractions

The Akureyri church is the symbol of Akureyri. It is a Lutheran church and was designed by architect Gudjon Samuelsson and consecrated in 1940.

Gásir, situated 11 km north of Akureyri on the shore of Eyjafjörður, is a unique historical place. In no other place in Iceland is it possible to find so many remainings from a trading post from the Middle Ages. In July each year Medieval lifa at Gásir is reconstructed for days called "Miðaldardagar".

A pearl on the Arctic Circle north of Icleand. Grimsey Island - far away in the north: the home of one hundred people - and one million seabids.

A statue of Helgi the Lean and Thorunn Hyrna, the first settlers of the area, about the year 890, stands on the Hamarkot Rocks on the street Brekkugata near the police station.

Hrísey is a peaceful island in the middle of Eyjafjörður, it is the second largest island in Iceland, after Heimaey in the south. The island is a well known paradise for bird watchers.

The old rectory at Laufas is under the administration of the Akureyri Museum. The oldest part of the farm was built in 1840. The buildings are considered to be the prototype of the Icelandic architecture, but much larger than most other such complexes.

Leafbread is the traditional icelandic Christmas bread. It is an extremely thin bread, evolved a long time ago in poverty when wheat was an expensive rarity. Families and friends gather before Christmas and decorate each individual bread by carving intricate patterns into them.

The mountain Súlur is the Town-mountain of Akureyri, rising above the town in south-west. There is a popular trail – walking path up to the peaks, the walk/hikes takes about 5-6 hours forth and back.

The Northern Lights – also called Aurora Borealis – are one of the most spectacular shows on earth and can frequently be seen in Akureyri and surroundings. Season: September through April.

If you take a stroll from the Akureyri’s central towards south you will have the opportunity to walk through the history of early Akureyri.

The garden is on of the northern most botanical gardens in the world. The Public Park was opened in 1912 but the Botanic section in 1957.

The Christmas Cat at Ráðhústorg Square was unveiled on the 28th of November 2009 and is an artwork built by young people under the guidance of artist Aðalheiður Eysteinsdóttir. The cat appears on the towns square on the Saturday before the first Sunday on the advent (at the end of November) and leaves on the 6th of January.

Only ten minutes drive from the center of the town of Akureyri, in the Jólagarðurinn or Christmas garden you will find the magical world of Christmas. A shop, garden and pick-nick area. Open whole year.

The heart in the traffic lights, the heart that beats in the Mt.Vaðlaheiði and the red hearts in the windows have caught the attention of those visiting Akureyri and the hearts of the inhabitants.

The area Krossanesborgir was made a sanctuary in 2005. It consists of many rock formations, made of basalt which is about 5-10 million years old.