Go North!
Only Five Minutes to Get Anywhere in Akureyri Sigurður Karl Jóhannsson, owner of the restaurants Strikið and Bryggjan, shares his favorite spots in and around his hometown of Akureyri.
thoroughfare. I recommend a leisurely walk around the old part of town—the old houses from the turn of the 20th century are charming to look at. For a bit of relaxation, the swimming pool is a great place to visit. The Viking shop, situated in the city center, offers a wide selection of hand made Icelandic woolen sweaters. They’re a good investment for those traveling around the country, and anyone who wears one automatically becomes Icelandic.” 2 Best place for some peace and quiet:
“The Botanic Garden in Akur eyri is the perfect spot to unwind and have a little picnic in beauti ful surroundings. Plants from
three towns are all very different and have a lot to offer visitors.”
The best family activity: “Akureyri is a town well-suited for families. It has numerous playgrounds and areas for out door activities. For avid hikers, I recommend a walk up Súlur, the mountain that sits above the town. It’s a scenic route and the view from the top is breathtaking. Those who’d rather drive could do a trip around Eyjafjörður fjord. On the way there are lovely, old churches and interesting museums.” 5 What’s the best thing about living in Akureyri:
“The size of the town. And the fact that children can walk wher
There are countless possibilities for pleasant day trips from Akureyri. One can easily visit the towns of Dalvík, Ólafsfjörður, and Siglufjörður in one day. every corner of the world can be found in the garden, and time really does fly by there.” 3
Sigurður Karl Recommends a hike up Súlur, the montain that sits above Akureyri. Photo/Auðunn Nielsson
What not to miss while in Akureyri: 1
“There are plenty of interesting museums to visit in Akureyri. Among them are the Akureyri Museum and Nonni’s House, a museum dedicated to the childr en’s book author and Jesuit priest, Jón Sveinsson. Both muse ums are located in Aðalstræti See more local recommendations Street, the town’s oldest at IcelandMag.com
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Favorite cafe or bar:
“This is a tough question because the town is full of wonderful cafes and bars. I guess it depends on the mood you’re in. There’s a lovely new cafe located in the Botanic Garden and there are many more in the city center.”
Best day trip from Akureyri: 4
“There are countless possibilities for pleasant day trips from Akur eyri. One can easily visit the towns of Dalvík, Ólafsfjörður, and Siglufjörður in one day. The
ever they need to go. Another quality is that it takes only takes five minutes to get anywhere. You can drive the kids to school, pick up your colleague, and grab a coffee to go, all in a mere five minutes.” 6 Some maintain that Northerners are different from Southerners, is that true?
“No, that’s just a myth. The only difference is that people in Akur eyri live in closer proximity to nature and each other. The town is small and there’s a strong sense of community among its inhabitants.”