Akureyri

Akureyri is known as the “capital of the north”. It’s a small city, but it’s brimming with distinctly Icelandic charm in its trendy cafés, art galleries and quirky restaurants. Those that enjoy whale-watching and winter sports should consider using Akureyri as a base to explore northern Iceland.

Iceland’s second-largest settlement, Akureyri is home to the country’s only other international airport apart from Keflavik. You can hop on a direct budget flight from London to Akureyri from November 2023. If you’re arriving into Reykjavík to start your Icelandic adventure, you can reach Akureyri by a short domestic flight from Reykjavík Airport (in the centre of the capital), taking just 45 minutes. If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, there is a daily bus service between Reykjavík and Akureyri which takes around six hours depending on road conditions and weather.

Of course, you can always hire a car. Due to its small population, Iceland is an easy place for a self-drive adventure and Akureyri sits on the Route One main road that loops around the entire island. It’s a popular overnight stop for those road-tripping around the coast of Iceland and is a 388-kilometre (241-mile) drive from Reykjavík, taking around five hours without stopping.

Country

Iceland