Akureyri is also known as the capital city of the North and by far the largest town in this remote area. It is located just 60 miles away from the Arctic Circle and is the fourth-most-populous town in Iceland. The biggest city outside of the Greater Reykjavik region by population.

Akureyri is a bustling city with thriving industries from shops, cafes, and museums. With an impressive population of almost 20,000 people, Akureyri is the second-largest urban area in Iceland and the largest city in the North.

Akureyri is very convenient for drivers of the Icelandic Ring Road, the driving route that encircles the country. That said, the prosimity to Akureyri from Reykjavik is not necessarily any faster because of this road, it will still take just under five hours and possibly longer in the winter.

It is possible to fly to Akureyri Airport from Keflavik. The Akureyri Airport is one of only three international airports in Iceland. Icelandair offers multiple daily flights between Reykjavik and Akureyri. The airport is just one terminal and is very accessible to the town, only a five-minute walk away.

We recommend a taxi or renting a car. Strætó, the public bus system, has daily scheduled departures between Akureyri and Reykjavík. Check www.straeto.is or download the Klappið app for more information.

There are a few options when it comes to getting around the city:

By Scooter: Renting an electric scooter is a great way to get to know the city. There are a number of paths along the coast. Check out www.hopp.is bike for more information about electric scooter rentals.

By Bus: The Akureyri Citybus is free of charge and will take you anywhere you need to go in town. Just figure out the route you want to take and step on the bus! Each bus route starts and ends in the town center. Information is available at www.straeto.is and the Strætó app. Most bus stops with a shelter include a route map.

By taxi: If you need to get around after the buses stop running, or the buses don’t suit your needs, you can always take a cab. You can stop by the taxi station in the town center.

The downtown, clustered around Hafnarstræti, with Ráðhústorg Square at its northern end, is easily navigable on foot. Much of Akureyri is spread along a steep incline, however, so a car is helpful.

Akureyri is the gateway to the north's spectacular beauty, most notably the Myvatn region, Dettifoss waterfall, Godafoss waterfall, and Asbyrgi canyon, which can all be visited on day trips from Akureyri.

Akureyri has an active cultural scene, with several bars and renowned restaurants as well as frequent concerts and shows. During the summer there are several notable festivals and events in Akureyri and its surroundings, such as the annual Ein með öllu family festival on the first weekend of August and the Arctic Open, the world's only golf tournament where participants play golf under the midnight sun.

The Icelandic language spoken today has not changed much from the language of the early Norse settlers. For the foreigner, Icelandic is daunting, but most Icelanders, particularly the young, speak English fluently, as well as Danish, Norwegian and/or Swedish. We suggest you get a good guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Depending on what you want to get out of your trip, summer or winter may be better suited to your itinerary.

If you are intending to come to Akureyri on a golfing trip, the green is open from mid-May until the end of October, with the Arctic Open tournament taking place in June.

The area around Akureyri has one of the warmest climates in Iceland, even though it is only 62 miles from the Arctic Circle. The hottest month in Akureyri is August, with an average temperature of 53°F, while the coldest is March, with temperatures dropping as low as 30°F. July gets the most sun at around 6 hours a day, while the wettest month is January. In general, it rains a lot less in the North of Iceland than it would in the South.

Akureyri has a subarctic climate, with mild summers and cold but not severe winters, with snow arriving in October and disappearing by April. It’s worth knowing in advance that Akureyri is a very cloudy town, averaging only 1,047 hours of sunshine a year, with virtually no sunlight from November to February.

During the winter, Akureyri is a perfect location to spot the Northern Lights. If you are visiting Iceland between October and March, the chances are that you are going to see Northern Lights. The days are very short in the winter months, creating perfect conditions to see the Northern Lights. It is easy to travel outside the city and find a spot with no (or minimal) light pollution.

For the attractions in Akureyri within the city itself, you will need at least a couple of hours.

Add a few extra hours if you want to visit one of the museums, do some shopping, or go for a swim in the local swimming pool.

If you decide to join a whale watching tour or visit some of the top places outside of Akureyri, allow yourself a night or two, depending on your pace.

Most Akureyri shopping can be quickly found on Hafnarstræti (especially the northern, pedestrian-only stretch), Skipagata, and Ráðhústorg Square, where the two streets meet. North of the center, along Glerárgata just north of the Glerá River, is Glerártorg Mall.