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Things to do in Akureyri

Our most recommended things to do in Akureyri

Akureyri: 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour

1. Akureyri: 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour

Experience the majestic beauty of the Eyjafjord's humpback whales and other marine life in their natural habitat on a cruise trip from Akureyri. Listen to your guide's commentary and discover how the warmth of the summer sun brings vibrant life and plenty of food for the larger-than-life mammals.  Benefit from the services of specially-trained whale watching guides who are experts at spotting the animals. Listen as they tell you about the behavior of the whales and answer any questions you may have. Journey aboard the only specially-modified, high-speed whale watching ship in Iceland. Capable of carrying 200 people, it provides spectacular views from its cinema-style viewing platforms. Relax aboard the boat and enjoy the ample indoor and outdoor seating. Purchase drinks and snacks along the way from the onboard bar and cafeteria. Experience a pleasant and comfortable ride, even at speed, and share your adventure live on social media with free Wi-Fi.

From Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn Shore Excursion

2. From Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn Shore Excursion

Benefit from pick-up from your cruise ship in Akureyri Port, and then drive to Lake Mývatn and the surrounding wetlands area near Krafla volcano. Stop at Goðafoss waterfall and hear about its important role in the history of Iceland. Continue to the pseudo craters of Skútustaðagígar, formed when hot flowing lava met with ice-cold water from the lake. See the lava fields of Dimmuborgir, rich in mythical sagas and stunning to look at for the lava pillars and rock formations.   Discover the thermal waters of an underground river at Grjotagja, where you will stand on the continental rift between Europe and America. End with a look at the boiling mud pools of Hverir and gaze in awe at the steaming fumaroles and sulfur pits. Return to Akureyri Port at least 1 hour before your ship’s departure for the end of the tour services.

From Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Day Trip

3. From Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Day Trip

Explore the natural beauty of Iceland during a day tour of Goðafoss Waterfall and Lake Mývatn. The tour starts with a drive and photo stops along the scenic coast of Eyjafjordur, one of the longest fjords in the country. The first stop will be at Goðafoss, a breathtaking 39-foot-tall waterfall, located in the Skjálfandafljót River. From Goðafoss Waterfall the tour continues to Lake Mývatn driving around the lake stopping at Pseudo Craters, Lavafields, Geothermal mud pools and the Divergent Plate Tectonics. A lunch stop at a local restaurant before continuing the sightseeing around the Lake Depending on the Cruise Ship's departure time from Akureyri Port an additional option can be to stop at the Myvatn Nature Baths for a relaxing soak in the geothermal pool.

Akureyri: 2–Hour Whale Watching Express by RIB Speedboat

4. Akureyri: 2–Hour Whale Watching Express by RIB Speedboat

Enjoy a 2-hour whale and bird watching tour starting from the floating pier in Akureyri. Experience and get close to the incredible humpback whales of the Eyjafjord, starting from the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri. With only 12 passengers on each boat, take part in an adventure of a lifetime on an intimate whale watching tour.   The specially made RIB boats allow you to get closer to the whales and wildlife than any other boat can offer. The RIBs are fast and small boats that will also get you quicker to the whales and cover a bigger area as you search for the wild life. This means a bigger chance of spotting whales, dolphins and bird life with out disturbing them in their natural habitat. If you have a passion for nature and love for adventure, this is the tour for you.

From Akureyri: Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss Shore Excursion

5. From Akureyri: Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss Shore Excursion

A great tour around the lake Mývatn area where we see how the power of nature has formed the country and how it's still working beneath our feet. We explore beautiful spots and enjoy the stunning scenery along the way. We start our tour in Akureyri and drive east towards the beautiful Goðafoss waterfall, where we'll make our first stop. The waterfall is a place of significant historic value connected with when Icelanders took Christianity. We continue east from Goðafoss; we'll pass through the valley of Reykjadalur and head to Skútustaðir, where we see the pseudocraters. Our next stop is the stunning lava formations at Dimmuborgir. Dimmuborgir were formed about 2300 years ago when a partly cooled lava lake drained out and left magnificent basalt pillars and sculptures. After a short walk in Dimmuborgir, we'll travel to Grjótagjá, which was a popular underground bathing cave until the volcanic eruptions at Krafla 1975-1984. Those eruptions heated the water in the cave, so now it's too hot to bathe there. We now continue through the Námaskarð pass and go to the Hverarönd fumarole fields, a spectacular area showing the earth's inner power. After this, we'll be heading back towards Akureyri; if time, weather and conditions allow, we'll find some good places to stop for pictures

Akureyri: Northern Lights Tour

6. Akureyri: Northern Lights Tour

We pick you up from your hotel in the evening and together we go in search of the Northern Lights in the sky. Named after the Roman goddess Aurora these colourful lights swirl around the sky in a dramatic dance, leave different patterns and shapes. We drive away from the electric street lights of Akureyri on our Northern Lights hunt. Once we find the lights, we make sure you get good time to both intake this beauty and take as good picture of it as you possible can. The Northern Lights have had a number of names throughout the history. The Greek´s called this phenomenon the “Dance of the Spirits”. In Europe, during the Middle Ages, these lights were commonly believed to be a sign from God. The old Icelandic folktale tell us about the angels dancing in heaven, their dresses were suppose to create these magnificent shapes of lights in the sky.

Akureyri: Day Trip to Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn & Nature Baths

7. Akureyri: Day Trip to Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn & Nature Baths

Explore the natural beauty of Iceland during a day tour of Goðafoss Waterfall and Lake Mývatn. Visit a local hot spring and bathe in the soothing water of the nature baths. Leave Akureyri and drive along the scenic coast of Eyjafjordur, one of the longest fjords in the country. The first stop will be Goðafoss, a breathtaking 39-foot-tall waterfall, located in the Skjálfandafljót River. Next, head to Lake Mývatn, whose landscape is dominated by volcanic landforms due to a lava eruption 2,300 years ago. Continue on to the cave of Grjótagjá and stop at the hot spring area at Hverarönd in Námaskarð. Take advantage of the opportunity to relax in the steam baths and geothermal water of Mývatn Nature Baths. On the way back to Akureyri, see the unique lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the pseudocraters of Skútustaðagígar. The last stop will be in Eyjafjordur where you will have time to take plenty of photos with the fjord as your backdrop.

From Akureyri: Goðafoss and Húsavík Tour with Geosea Baths

8. From Akureyri: Goðafoss and Húsavík Tour with Geosea Baths

An easy tour to Goðafoss and Húsavík. Goðafoss is also known as the water of the gods, which played a role in the christening of Iceland. We drive to the waterfall and spend some time there, and then we head to Húsavík where we will make a stop at the Geosea baths where you can take a relaxing bath with a great view of Skjálfandaflói (Shaky Bay). The baths are with heated seawater, which is considered to be healthy for the skin. Afterwards we will take a little look at Húsavík and then head back to Akureyri, stopping at some good photo points on the way if conditions allow.

From Akureyri: Private Dettifoss Waterfall Jeep Tour

9. From Akureyri: Private Dettifoss Waterfall Jeep Tour

After being picked up in a super jeep, you will venture to Goðafoss, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, known as the waterfall of the Gods. Your tour will then continue to Lake Mývatn. This ancient lake was formed by a large basaltic lava eruption 2300 years ago and is surrounded by rare volcanic landforms, including lava pillars and rootless vents. Driving deeper into this otherworldly landscape, you will get a chance to see the hot spring area at Hverarönd in Námaskarð. Then gaze at the incredible might of Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. As you embark on your return journey, you will stop to investigate Skútustaðagígar, and area of pseudo craters, and the unique lava formations of Dimmuborgir. These are among the most popular tourist attractions in the Mývatn area. Finally, you will stop in Eyjafjordur and admire the scenic view over the fjord to Akureyri.

From Reykjavik: Winter 6-Day Small Group Tour of Iceland

10. From Reykjavik: Winter 6-Day Small Group Tour of Iceland

Your Icelandic adventure begins with pickup from Reykjavik and heads out along the Golden Circle. Marvel at the natural landmarks of Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir and Þingvellir National Park, admire hot water spouting from the earth, and learn about the history of Iceland while you travel. Spend your first night at a cozy hotel on the South Coast. On day 2, visit the waterfalls of Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the cascades for a truly breathtaking experience. From here you'll embark on a hiking tour to a nearby ancient glacier before heading back to the black sand beach at Reynisfjara. Spend the night in the small village of Vík, and enjoy free time in the evening to explore the local area or mingle with your fellow travelers. On day 3, discover Skaftafell National Park, where glistening white sheets of ice contrast against the stark black sand. Afterward, take a tour of a stunning ice cave and see huge blocks of ice floating in the glacier lagoon of Jökulsárlón. Spend the evening looking for the world-famous Northern Lights, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Day 4 takes you on a wildlife exploration through the East Fjords in search of wild reindeer and other native animals. Next, learn about the culture and way of life of nearby local villages then pass by Lake Lagarfljót, where a monster is said to live! Marvel at the forests of Hallormsstaðaskógur before spending the night at a sleepy village. Explore the geothermal region of Lake Mývatn on day 5 and see the lava pillars of Dimmuborgir. Continue to the Námaskarð Pass to gaze at the earth boiling and bubbling before your eyes, then spend the night in Akureyri, the Capital of the North. Finally, on day 6, wander along the breathtaking fjord of Eyjafjörður and visit Kaffi Kú to get to meet local farmers. You'll stop by Hauganes for a whale watching tour, included in this adventurous getaway. At the end of a busy and exciting 6-day trip, travel back to Reykjavik where your adventure comes to an end.

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What people are saying about Akureyri

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 912 reviews

David S. Was the best guide we could have asked for. We saw with him all the things we could see, we experimented all the possible experience and he was super funny. Best guide in the world and beautiful places!!! Thank you from Altea and Anna!!!

Charming! Two hours were spent getting to and from the island. We saw 4 whales and it was beautiful. Three approached the boat several times! The guide told us some curiosities and we were offered hot drinks and biscuits

Excellent tour with Lilja. All though conditions were not great we still got to see the Northern Lights for the first time. Lilja, our guide, was outstanding - friendly, efficient and plenty of good stories.

Great trip, we were lucky enough to see 3 humpback whales and learned a lot of interesting things. We recommend!

Highly Recommended! Very informative, easy to use.