Let’s get on with this 7 days in North Iceland:
7 days in North Iceland Route:
Day 1 – If you arrive at Iceland’s national airport Keflavík early daytime, you can catch a domestic flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri. Once in Akureyri, we recommend you visit many places: the town center, Listagilið, the arts district of Akureyri, Akureyri Church, and then try the Botanical Gardens, Listagarðurinn, where you can admire many varieties of plants and flowers. A dip in the city public swimming pool is a pleasant experience!
Days 2 and 3 – The next day, we recommend you take the road east to Myvatn. Halfway on your journey, stop and admire the magnificent waterfall Godafoss. Then, continue until Skútustaðir, your first stop around Lake Myvatn, where you can admire the pseudo-craters. A few kilometers, further along, you’ll reach the green paradise Höfði, and, on the opposite side, you can admire and walk across the peninsula Kalfaströnd, which is also an ideal place for bird watching.
Dimmuborgir
Dimmuborgir is the next stop, and probably one of the most impressive attractions; volcanic formations transformed into sculptures and you can walk through lava fields dating back over 2300 years ago. A few kilometers north you will discover the crater Hverfjall or Hverfell, where a path will lead you to the crater’s top; the view is spectacular. You can enjoy a swim in the Jardbodin Lagoon. Eat and spend the night in the area, then visit the site of bubbling-Hverir Namafjall Krafla and take a leisurely hike around the crater.
From there, make a detour and head east to the intersection that takes you to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Retrace your steps and join the west shore of the lake; if you like to walk and climb, stop by the Vindbelgjarfjall mountain with a summit that reaches 529 meters high. The first stop is the Museum of birds Sigurgeir (Fuglasafn Sigurgeirs), which is near Ytri-Neslönd. Then join Akureyri again and spend the night.
Days 4 and 5 – These two days will allow you to visit the beautiful peninsula Tröllaskagi. Take the number one road to Reykjavík and turn right on Highway 82 towards Dalvik. Hauganes is a whale watching point, and you can also see whales from Hjalteyri if you’re lucky. Hjalteyri, despite its little quiet community appearance, has a vivid artistic life and offers exhibits throughout the year. At Árskógssandur, you can take a boat to Hrísey Island or visit the little factory named Kaldi where they brew local beer.
Dalvik
Continuing on your route, you pass Dalvik, which is known as the host town for the fish festival, Fiskidagurinn Mikli. Every year in August, Dalvik hosts about 30 000 people (that’s almost 10% of the Icelandic population). Then, Ólafsfjörður welcomes you before you join the charming village Siglufjörður where the two museums of herring and Icelandic traditional music await you. Spend the night in the area.
The next day, continuing on your way and then, stop and see the village of Hofsós. It has 200 inhabitants and is best known for the magnificent view from its local swimming pool – we urge you to go and check it out! The road continues to Hólar; a former principal diocese that is today a dynamic village, thanks to its university; one can study aquaculture and marine biology, or equestrian studies or study tourism – outstanding for a village of just 100 inhabitants!
Midnight sun!
Then take Highway 75 leading to Sauðárkrókur, where you can experience the midnight sun during the few days of the summer solstice, or just three hours of daylight in the winter! The Glaumbær museum is worth a visit before you journey to Varmahlíð and return to spend the night in Akureyri.
Remaining days:
Day 6 – If there’s a chance your flight is early the next day, and today you have to reach Iceland’s capital, you might as well enjoy exploring Reykajvík. However, if you still have a free day and wish to stay up north, spend the day exploring Akureyri, or take a trip to Grimsey Island; you could even go in the highlands and explore Askja with a guided tour.
Day 7 – Welcome back!
Iceland24
© All rights reserved
