Akureyri: Iceland’s Perfect New Long-Weekend Escape

When you think about an Iceland break, chances are your first thought is Reykjavík, the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle.

But there is another side of Iceland that I think is about to become much more popular. Akureyri.

With a new direct service from London Gatwick, Iceland’s second-largest city suddenly becomes a very realistic option for a long weekend — and having recently visited, I was surprised by just how much you can experience in a few days.

We combined the dramatic landscapes around Lake Mývatn with time in Akureyri itself, fitting in waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, a sunrise adventure, local food, a brewery tasting, a sunset buggy tour and several geothermal experiences.

And the best part? You don’t have to spend your holiday constantly changing hotels.

Starting in the Lake Mývatn area

We began our trip at Hotel Laxá, which made a great base for exploring the Lake Mývatn area.

This is where Iceland really starts to feel other-worldly. The landscape around Mývatn is volcanic, dramatic and completely different from anything you’ll see at home.

One of our first stops was Goðafoss, the spectacular waterfall known as the “Waterfall of the Gods”. Even in winter, with the surrounding landscape covered in snow and ice, it was seriously impressive.

We also stopped at Vogafjós for lunch, a working farm and restaurant where you can enjoy local Icelandic food in a wonderfully atmospheric setting.

It’s these kinds of stops that I think make a trip to Iceland so memorable. You’re not simply ticking off attractions; you’re eating, exploring and experiencing the landscape as you go.

We then geared up for some sunset snow buggying, perfect for when there isn't enough snow for snowmobiling. Such a thrilling ride!

Sunrise at Hverfjall — Iceland style!

One of my favourite experiences was an early morning trip to Hverfjall.

But this was definitely not your typical morning hike! We climbed aboard some insanely huge Super Jeeps, specially equipped for the ice and snow, and headed across the frozen landscape towards the volcanic crater. Just getting there was an adventure in itself.

Once we reached Hverfjall, it was only a short walk to the summit, where we watched the sun come up over the incredible volcanic landscape around Lake Mývatn.

What made it even more special was the storytelling that accompanied the experience. We weren’t simply being taken somewhere beautiful to take photographs; we were hearing about Iceland, its landscape and the stories behind the places we were seeing. And despite the dramatic-looking Super Jeeps and Arctic surroundings, this wasn’t a strenuous hike — making it a great way to experience Iceland’s wild landscapes without needing to be an experienced hiker.

You don’t need to keep moving hotels. This is something I’d definitely point out if you’re considering an Akureyri trip.Although we stayed at Hotel Laxá for part of our trip and then moved to Hotel Akureyri, you don’t have to do this.

The Lake Mývatn experiences can be visited as day trips from Akureyri, so you could choose to base yourself in Akureyri for the entire stay and explore from there.We chose to split the accommodation because we wanted to experience two different areas and hotels, but if you’re looking for a really easy long weekend, staying in one place and using Akureyri as your base makes a lot of sense.

Then on to Akureyri.

Our second base was Hotel Akureyri, putting us right in the heart of the town. Akureyri is small, colourful and incredibly easy to explore on foot. We took a city walk, wandered around the streets and got a feel for the restaurants, cafés and little shops.

And if you enjoy food, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We ate extremely well during our trip, including dinner at North Restaurant, and I’ll definitely be writing more about the food scene separately because there are some great places to discover.

We also headed out towards Hjalteyri and Hauganes, two small coastal communities that offer a completely different perspective on North Iceland.There was more food, of course — including a visit to Kaldi Brewery for a tasting and a taste of Icelandic fish biltong. It’s these smaller experiences that I particularly enjoy when travelling. They’re not necessarily the places that everyone has heard of, but they give you a much better feel for the destination.

And then… a geothermal lagoon until midnight. After a busy day exploring, there is nothing better than getting into warm geothermal water while the temperature outside is decidedly less tropical! Forest Lagoon was one of my favourite stops. Set amongst the beautiful North Iceland scenery, it feels wonderfully secluded — and the fact that it stays open until midnight makes it perfect for a short break. You can spend the day sightseeing, have dinner and then finish the evening soaking in the warm water.

I’ll be writing a separate blog about the different lagoons we experienced because each one offered something quite different — and if you’re planning an Iceland trip, choosing which lagoon to visit is definitely worth thinking about.

What about the Northern Lights? We didn’t see the Northern Lights while we were there.

But here’s the important thing: don’t make the Northern Lights the whole reason for going. In fact, I have a photograph of the Northern Lights taken just one day before we arrived — so we know they were there! Sometimes you simply aren’t lucky with the conditions.

Of course, seeing the Northern Lights would have been the icing on the cake, but there was so much else to enjoy that I never felt our trip was a disappointment.

If you go to Iceland because you want incredible scenery, geothermal lagoons, adventure, food and a completely different experience from a normal European city break, then the Northern Lights become a magical bonus rather than something you have to see.

So, can you really do Akureyri in a long weekend?

Absolutely.

That was probably my biggest takeaway from the trip. I went expecting Akureyri to be somewhere you’d visit as part of a much longer Iceland itinerary. Instead, I came away thinking it works brilliantly as a destination in its own right.

You can explore Lake Mývatn and its incredible volcanic scenery, visit Goðafoss, experience a sunrise adventure, discover small coastal villages, eat extremely well, explore Akureyri itself and finish your evenings in a geothermal lagoon. And you can do all of this without spending your holiday packing and unpacking.

With the direct Gatwick service, a long weekend in North Iceland suddenly feels very achievable.

Who would I recommend Akureyri to? I’d particularly recommend it if you:

• Want to experience Iceland without committing to a full road trip
• Love dramatic scenery and outdoor experiences
• Enjoy good food and discovering local places
• Want a short adventure break rather than a traditional city break
• Like the idea of combining sightseeing with relaxation
• Have already visited Reykjavík and want to see another side of Iceland
• Fancy the Northern Lights but don’t want your entire holiday to depend on seeing them

For me, that’s the appeal of Akureyri.

It’s adventurous without being inaccessible, beautiful without feeling overwhelming, and small enough that you can experience a lot in just a few days. And with a direct flight from Gatwick, Iceland’s north suddenly feels much closer than you might think.

Thinking about an Akureyri escape? I can help you put together the right combination of flights, hotel, excursions and experiences — whether you want to make Akureyri a long-weekend escape or use it as a base for a longer Iceland adventure.