Port of Akureyri cruise port guide

Port of Akureyri — Akureyri, Iceland.

Akureyri is Iceland's second city — a university town of 20,000 people at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord, 50km from the Arctic Circle. The superlatives are modest by global standards but striking for a remote subarctic city: the most northerly botanical garden in the world, a thriving arts and café culture, whale watching in the fjord just minutes from the city centre, and extraordinary geothermal and volcanic landscapes within an hour's drive. In summer — June through August — the midnight sun means 24-hour daylight; Godafoss waterfall, the Mývatn geothermal area and the highland roads are all bathed in endless golden light.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Akureyri?

Cruise ships dock at Akureyri's deep-water pier on the western shore of Eyjafjörður — the city centre is a 15-minute walk along the fjord waterfront, or a 5-minute taxi.

How do I get from the cruise port to town?

No shuttle is typically required for the city centre. Car rental offices are in town (Avis on Hjalteyrargata) and at Akureyri Airport, about 3km south (Hertz, Budget) — a rental car is strongly recommended for reaching Godafoss, Mývatn and the Ring Road landscapes. The city itself is compact and walkable.

Getting around

Akureyri's city centre is a pleasant 20-minute walk in its entirety — the pedestrianised Hafnarstræti street, the church, the botanical garden and the old town are all close. For the key regional attractions (Godafoss: 50km east, 45 minutes; Mývatn: 100km east, 1 hour; Húsavík whale watching: 90km northeast, 1 hour), a rental car is effectively essential — public buses exist but are slow and infrequent. Book the car before arrival in peak season (June–August). Local Icelandic rental firms are worth comparing with the international chains.

Don't miss

• Whale Watching in Eyjafjörður (3 hrs) — Akureyri has some of the most reliable whale watching in Iceland — the protected fjord hosts humpback whales, minke whales and white-beaked dolphins from June through October. Several operators (including Ambassador and Elding) run 2–3-hour tours directly from Akureyri's harbour, a 5-minute walk from the pier. The deep fjord water and seasonal plankton blooms make sightings very consistent. The midnight sun tour is extraordinary.
• Godafoss Waterfall (1.5 hrs (+45 mins drive each way)) — The 'Waterfall of the Gods' — a broad, horseshoe-shaped 12-metre waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót River, named for the event in 1000 AD when Iceland's law speaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson threw his Norse god idols into the falls after converting Iceland to Christianity. About 50km east of Akureyri on the Ring Road (Route 1). Both banks of the river are accessible on foot. One of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls, and completely accessible in 30 minutes of walking.
• Mývatn Geothermal Area (5–6 hrs (full morning excursion)) — Lake Mývatn and its surrounding geothermal landscape is one of Iceland's greatest natural environments — pseudocraters (formed when lava flowed over wetland), the Hverfjall tephra crater (a 1km-diameter volcanic ring), boiling mud pools and steam vents at Námaskarð, the Dimmuborgir lava field (eroded into cathedral-like towers), and the Earth Lagoon Mývatn, formerly the Mývatn Nature Baths (a geothermal lagoon, cheaper and less crowded than the Blue Lagoon; opens at noon). A 100km drive east; allow 5–6 hours.
• Akureyri Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn) (1 hr) — The most northerly botanical garden in the world — 7,000 plant species growing at 65°N latitude, thanks to Akureyri's unusual microclimate (sheltered fjord location with more sun hours than the rest of the north). The garden is at its peak in June–August with the midnight sun producing extraordinary blooms. Free entry. A lovely, surprising 1-hour walk.
• Akureyrarkirkja church & old town (1 hr) — The modernist Akureyrarkirkja church (1940, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, who also designed Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík) sits on a hilltop above the town with views down Eyjafjörður. The interior has stained glass windows from the original Coventry Cathedral (removed before the WWII bombing). The old town streets below have wooden houses, cafés and the best bookshop in northern Iceland.

Planning your day

Rent a car. The choice is Godafoss (close, beautiful, 2 hours round trip including 45 minutes at the falls) or Mývatn (further, more comprehensive, 5–6 hours for the full circuit including Earth Lagoon, Námaskarð, Dimmuborgir and Hverfjall). Godafoss plus Akureyri city — botanical garden, church, cafés — is a full and comfortable day without stress. Mývatn is a full-day commitment that leaves little time for the city; do it if the ship calls for a full day or stays overnight. Whale watching fits between Mývatn and a city walk — tours leave several times a day from the harbour, 5 minutes from the pier. Don't underestimate the Arctic light: bring sunglasses, and if the ship stays past 10pm, the midnight sun on Eyjafjörður is worth staying up for.

Food & drink

Akureyri punches well above its size for food — a university city with genuine café culture, good lamb, outstanding Arctic char and the freshest dairy products in Europe. The local skyr is remarkable; the Icelandic lamb is grass-fed, free-range and as good as anywhere in the world; the Arctic char from the glacial rivers is delicate and clean. Two or three good restaurants cover the entire serious dining scene; the cafés and bakeries are excellent.

Where to eat

• Rub23 — Akureyri's most celebrated restaurant — a seafood-led menu of fresh fish, sushi and sashimi (notably good for a subarctic city) alongside meat dishes. The sushi is surprisingly excellent. Weekday lunch (11:30am–2pm) and dinner from 5pm daily; reserve ahead in summer.
• Strikið — A top-floor restaurant with views over Eyjafjörður — a broad menu from Icelandic lamb and fish to sushi platters. More casual than Rub23; a good option for a weekday lunch with a view.
• Bláa Kannan — The iconic Akureyri café in a blue-painted wooden building — excellent coffee, homemade cakes (skyr cake, kleinur, rye bread with butter), and a warm interior that embodies the hygge of northern Iceland. The right place for a mid-morning break.
• Earth Lagoon Mývatn bistro — If doing the Mývatn excursion, the Earth Lagoon Bistro at the lagoon (formerly the Mývatn Nature Baths) serves drinks and refreshments with views over the lake. The lagoon opens at noon, so save the soak for the end of your circuit. A soak in the geothermal water followed by coffee by the lake is one of the great experiences in Iceland.

Must try

• Icelandic lamb (kjöt) — Iceland's free-ranging, grass-fed, herb-eating sheep produce some of the world's most flavourful lamb — the meat is leaner, more gamey and more complex than intensively farmed lamb. Slow-roasted leg (lambakjöt), lamb soup (kjötsúpa) and grilled lamb fillet are the standard preparations. Any serious Akureyri restaurant will have it.
• Arctic char (bleikja) — A freshwater fish from Iceland's glacial rivers and lakes — smaller and more delicate than salmon, with orange-pink flesh and a clean, subtle flavour. Poached, smoked or pan-fried with butter and dill. The best in Iceland comes from cold spring-fed rivers; Mývatn lake char is particularly prized.
• Skyr — Iceland's ancient cultured dairy product — technically a fresh cheese, eaten as a thick, high-protein yogurt with cream, berries and honey. Ísey Skyr from Akureyri's dairy is exceptional. Available at every supermarket and café; eat it fresh, local, and preferably with wild blueberries from Mývatn.
• Kleinur (Icelandic twisted doughnuts) — The traditional Icelandic pastry — a lightly cardamom-spiced twisted doughnut, fried and dusted with sugar. Found at every bakery in Akureyri. Eaten with black coffee at 10am in a warm café while watching the fjord outside is the Akureyri experience.

Know before you go

• 🗣️ Language — Icelandic, with excellent English spoken universally — Akureyri is a university city and English fluency is essentially complete among working-age adults. Signs and menus are bilingual. No translation difficulties.
• 📋 Documents — Passport required. Iceland is a member of the Schengen Area — EU/EEA citizens need only an ID card; US, UK, Australian and Canadian citizens are visa-free for up to 90 days. Keep your ship card.
• 🛍️ Shopping & hours — Shops open 10am–6pm Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm Saturday; many closed Sunday. Best buys: Icelandic wool products (lopapeysa sweaters — look for hand-knitted ones rather than the machine-knit tourist versions), skyr (Icelandic yogurt, available fresh at any supermarket), Icelandic sea salt, dried fish (harðfiskur), and locally made birch or seaweed cosmetics. The Penninn Eymundsson bookshop on Hafnarstræti has excellent Icelandic literature in translation.
• 🌤️ Weather — Arctic maritime — summers are mild and bright (10–17°C / 50–63°F), with the midnight sun providing daylight around the clock from mid-May to mid-July. July is warmest; June and August have similar temperatures. Rain and wind are possible at any time; layers and waterproofs are essential. The summer light is extraordinary — bring sunglasses and, paradoxically, a sleep mask if you're sensitive to continuous daylight.
• 📶 Connectivity — Excellent 4G/LTE coverage in the city and on main roads. Roaming from most European and US carriers works well. Wi-Fi at cafés and the terminal. Download offline maps (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) before driving to Mývatn, where signal can be patchy on minor roads.
• ♿ Accessibility — Akureyri's city centre is hilly but the main pedestrian street is flat. The botanical garden has accessible paths. Godafoss viewing areas are paved and accessible from the car parks. Earth Lagoon Mývatn (formerly the Mývatn Nature Baths) moved into a new facility in 2026 — check access with the lagoon directly. The Hverfjall crater and Dimmuborgir lava trails are rougher underfoot. Whale watching boats require boarding from the dock — operators can advise on specific access.
• ⏱️ Getting back — The pier is central; the city is minutes from the ship. For Mývatn excursions, leave by 7am for a full morning and return by 1–2pm. Godafoss can be done as a 2-hour round trip. Allow a generous buffer on the Ring Road — Highland roads in Iceland should never be rushed, and road conditions can slow progress. Self-driving visitors should always check road.is before departing.

Sources: visitakureyri.is (official); visiticeland.com; iqcruising.com