|
 The town of Akureyri has a population af 16,000 and is the administrative, transportation and commercial centre of north Iceland. The town lies at the head of the 60km long Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland.
Akureyri offers a sheltered natural harbour with three cruise berths and an anchorage for small and big ships. The anchorage has a 1,000mtr turning basin with a maximum depth of 25mtr. The cruise facilities are within walking distance of the town.
 In addition to the northernmost botanical garden and golf course in the world, Akureyri offers interesting museums and shops. Each summer from mid-June until end of August the town has a festival of arts and culture with concerts, exhibitions, theatre, lectures and a jazz event.
The most popular guided tour for cruise passengers is to Lake Mývatn, an hour’s drive away (see box). Mývatn Nature Baths is the latest addition to the region’s many visitor attractions. Opened in 2004  Iceland’s newest spa offers bathers a completely natural experience ranging from a dip in steam rising up from a fissure deep in the earth’s surface to a swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths up to 2,500mtr below, complete with mountainous backdrop.
Some passengers take a 25-minute plane ride north to the island of Grímsey the only part of the country crossed by the Arctic Circle. Visitors there are presented with a certificate to prove they have crossed into the Arctic.
POPULAR TOURS:
- Jewels of the North – Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss Waterfall.
- Whales and Waterfalls – Húsavík, whale watching and Goðafoss waterfall.
- Nature, Folk and Flora – Goðafoss, Laufás museum and Akureyri Botanical garden.
- Polar flight to Grímsey Island – a flight to a bird island located on the arctic circle.
- A glimpse of icelandic culture – Eyjafjörður fjord, including local buffet and horseshow.
|
