Akureyri, one of Iceland’s most popular cruise destinations, is situated at the end of Eyjafjördur, the country’s longest fjord. This vibrant town, despite having only 18,500 residents, is often referred to as the woodland town due to its proximity to a forest. It is also celebrated as a cultural and educational hub, offering comprehensive education from kindergarten to university.

The town boasts a variety of museums, art galleries, international exhibitions, conference facilities, music venues, theatres, and cinemas. The Cultural House HOF is a notable venue hosting diverse events and featuring a concert hall that seats 500 guests. Akureyri’s culinary scene includes over 20 restaurants that serve both Icelandic and international cuisine, with top chefs emphasizing local ingredients. The town is also home to numerous specialty cafés, local micro-breweries, and farms offering food tastings.

Akureyri caters to both groups and individuals with a wide range of activities and events. Local companies provide tours for all group sizes, including fishing, caving, flying, hiking, whale and bird-watching, horse riding, and visits to Iceland’s elves or ‘hidden people’. The town itself offers attractions like the old town, botanical garden, art trails, and outdoor areas. It also serves as a convenient base for exploring Iceland’s natural wonders, such as Lake Mývatn, the volcanic areas of Krafla and Námaskarð, and the majestic waterfalls Goðafoss and Dettifoss, the latter being Europe’s most powerful waterfall.

Additionally, Akureyri includes two islands worth visiting: Hrísey, located in the middle of the fjord and known for its tranquil and healing atmosphere, and Grímsey, situated further out in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling the Arctic Circle and home to vibrant puffins.

Whale watching from Akureyri
The departure place, Hofsbót is in the city centre and only 200 metres from the main cruise pier.
Eyjafjördur is the longest fjord in Iceland and greatly sheltered with high mountains on both sides.

That means you won’t be affected by the high and heavy swells you are more likely to experience in the open ocean.
The calm seas of the morning, the arctic sunset and the beautiful mountainous region of Eyjafjördur, all help to make whale watching here a truly memorable experience.

Mývatn Nature Baths
A designated nature reserve, Mývatn is an area of fragile beauty where tourist services have been developed in such a way as to cause as little disruption as possible to what is a unique and highly delicate ecosystem.

Drawing on a centuries-old tradition, the tastefully designed bathing complex offers bathers a completely natural experience that begins with a relaxing dip amidst clouds of steam rising up from a fissure deep in the earth´s surface, and ends with a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2,500 metres.

Tour to Goðafoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn and the highlight of Northern Iceland
Goðafoss, or “Waterfall of the Gods” derives its name from the momentous occasion on which the Chieftain, Thorgeir of Ljósavatn, threw his pagan idols into the falls as a demonstration of his conversion to the Christian faith.

Mývatn is famous for its abundant bird life — in fact, one of the largest concentrations of breeding ducks in the world can be found here.

The surroundings are truly magnificent — the volcanic and geothermal features succeed in reminding the admiring tourist of the incredible forces that surge below the ground.

The grotesque lava formations of Dimmuborgir have been forged into a maze of towers, castles and caves that resemble a fantastic giant’s playground.

The area is considered one of the world’s natural wonders and is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist resorts.