IcelandAkureyri is Iceland's second city, though with under twenty thousand people it feels more like a spirited large town, nestled at the head of the long Eyjafjordur fjord and ringed by snow-streaked mountains. Known as the Capital of the North, it has a walkable centre of colourful houses, a striking modernist church on the hill, botanical gardens that bloom improbably this far north, and a genuine cafe and dining scene that outshines anywhere else in the region. Locals are proud of small quirks like the heart-shaped red stop lights and a strong winter sports culture, since the ski slopes at Hlidarfjall sit minutes away. Use Akureyri as the hub for the entire north: the Diamond Circle of Godafoss, Myvatn, Dettifoss and Husavik whale watching all lie within an easy day's drive. Give the town a full day on foot for its museums, swimming pool and coffee houses, then radiate outward. The weather is milder and drier than the south, and the summer light is endless, making long driving days genuinely pleasant.
Day plans
Pick your trip length. The full 1-day plan is free, members unlock the 3 and 7-day plans.
Ease into the day with pancakes; the deep-blue Blaa Kannan cafe is the town's most photographed spot for a morning coffee.
The modernist church on the hill gives the best overview of the town and fjord; the interior has a suspended ship and stained glass worth a look.
Free to enter and astonishing this far north; allow an hour among the Arctic blooms if the weather is kind.
