The First Settlers & Town Architecture

The first settlers of Akureyri, in the 10th century, were Helgi magri (Helgi the Lean) and his wife, Þórunn hyrna (Þórunn the Horned). Walking this route past their statues and along streets named in their honor gives a sense of modern-day Akureyri.

The route begins at Ráðhústorg Square and follows Brekkugata uphill, past the Municipal Library (Amtsbókasafn), to the roundabout at the top of the street. There, turn right onto the rocky outcrop, where the statues of Helgi magri and Þórunn hyrna stand. From there, continue south along Helgamagrastræti, passing the Hólmasól preschool. The preschool stands between Þórunnarstræti and Helgamagrastræti, both named after these settlers, and Hólmasól was the name of their daughter. The preschool operates under the Hjalli educational approach.

Walk south along Helgamagrastræti to the intersection with Þingvallarstræti. Turn right, continue to the next intersection, then turn onto Þórunnarstræti and follow it south past the Akureyri Swimming Pool, across Hrafnagilsstræti, and to the entrance to the dormitories of the MA and VMA schools (also Hotel Edda during the summer). Enter the parking area and proceed to the entrance of the Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn).

Walk through the garden and then down to Eyrarlandsvegur. Turn left (north), pass St. Peter’s Church, continue to Akureyri Church, and descend the church steps into the town center, returning to the starting point at Ráðhústorg Square.

About Helgi magri and Þórunn hyrna

Around 900 years after the birth of Christ, Norse Vikings began traveling to Iceland, according to the Book of Settlements (Landnámabók), which recounts the settlement of the island. One of them was Helgi magri (the Lean). He was born in Ireland, the son of an Irish princess, while his father was of Norse descent. As a child, Helgi was placed in foster care in the Hebrides. When his parents later returned to fetch him, he had been so severely starved that they did not recognize him, earning him the nickname “the Lean.”

Helgi’s religious beliefs were somewhat unusual. He believed in Christ but, before sea voyages and in times of great need, he invoked the Norse god Þór (Thor). According to tradition, Thor guided Helgi magri to Iceland.

Helgi’s wife was Þórunn hyrna. They reportedly sailed north to Iceland around the year 890, entered Eyjafjörður, and settled at Árskógsströnd on the western side of the fjord. They spent the winter there but moved the following year to Bíldsá on the opposite side of the fjord.

They later decided to settle permanently further inland at Kristnes. On the way, on an islet in the Eyjafjarðará River, Þórunn gave birth to their child — the first native of Eyjafjörður, Þorbjörg Hólmasól.