A week in North Iceland: what to do around Akureyri and Mývatn
A week through North Iceland Just enough to see all the highlights. What can you do around Akureyri and Mývatn? Prepare yourself, the country is truly unlike any other place... It's so impressive and there's so much to do! You can arrange everything yourself, or you can book through Voigt Travel, just like we did. Then everything is wonderfully taken care of. What's on the agenda? Think whale watching, seeing the Northern Lights, snowmobiling, hiking through the snowy forests, snow shoes, see waterfalls, ride a super jeep through the snow, soak in hot springs, and more. And yes, it's cold in Iceland, but Icelanders know how to warm up with their rich wellness culture. Remember: layers, layers, layers!
You fly into Akureyri International Airport, and this is also a perfect first stop. Akureyri is often called the "capital of North Iceland." Not only is the airport located here, it's also a popular spot for viewing the Northern Lights, and you can enjoy excellent whale watching in the fjord. Be sure to put this activity on your agenda, because there is a very good chance you will encounter them. And don't worry about the cold; you will be given a very warm suit. Eskimo feelings all over.
Hot tip: after whale watching, go to the Forest Lagoon to warm up. Think luxury, wood, and a naturally heated outdoor pool billowing with steam. There's also a floating bar (Yes!) and sauna. If you're lucky, you can sometimes even see the Northern Lights from here. Side noteAlcohol is very expensive in Iceland. Spend your money on (even if quite expensive) activities, or don't forget to enjoy your expensive drinks, wink.
"You can stay overnight at the Centrum Hotel in Ayureki. The name says it all: wonderfully central. The hotel has a cozy lobby and delicious food!"
Before you go whale watching you will have lunch at Baccalá restaurant in HauganesA tiny fishing village with only about 140 inhabitants. Fun fact: Iceland has a population of only about 340. This is because the climate is harsh, large parts of the country consist of volcanoes, glaciers, and lava fields, and the island was very isolated for a long time. Okay, back to Baccalá: this restaurant specializes in fish and is very quaint and cozy. Besides Baccalá, there are hottubs where you can sit before or after dinner with a view over the fjord. For the real daredevilsThere is a local fish shop where they sell shark meat, a traditional Icelandic dish. Those sharks accidentally got caught in fishing nets and died as a result. Therefore, sharks are not actively hunted.
Even more fun ones all: ice hiking of snowshoeing through Kjarnaskógur: the forest just outside Akureyri where you can walk along snow-covered paths towards views walking across the fjord. The view is literally breathtaking. Also nice: dhe botanical garden of Akureyri is one of the world's northernmost botanical gardens and contains more than 7.000 plant species specially adapted to the cold Arctic climate. The garden houses a restaurant LYST, a trendy wooden restaurant with a delicious menu. Another good tip is the ice cream shop Brynja, where you can choose from 30 different toppings. Locals go for 'ice cream date' and get an ice cream here to eat it nice and warm in the car. In the evening we ate at RUB23, the fresh sushi here is really too good. Try the sushi pizza too. Sounds crazy, but it's really delicious.
Uh, need we say more? This is why you come to Iceland, right? The chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Akureyri is very high. The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's atmosphere. They can appear suddenly, but disappear just as quickly. So don't blink… When they are really 'on', the green lights literally dance in the sky. Tip: you see the light even brighter through your iPhone screen!
Driving through Iceland alone can be considered a highlight. Left and right you have constant panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. And yes, you can also winter sports In North Iceland! Put on your skis or snowboard and go! How cool is that?
Tip: Stop on the way to Mývatn for a hike to the top of the dormant volcano HverfjallThis takes about 1 to 1,5 hours (up and down), so it's easily doable. Hverfjall is an almost perfectly round volcanic crater formed about 2.500 years ago by a major eruption at Lake Mývatn. You can walk around the crater.
Next stop: Of Dettifoss waterfalls. One of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. In winter, you can only really get here with a super jeep tour guide. Definitely do it! The drive there alone is amazing.
Once you arrive in Mývatn you will stay at Berjaya Iceland Hotels. A cozy boutique hotel with a trendy interior, a welcoming bar with games in the cupboard and a wonderful hot tub where you can warm up in the evening or start the day in style. The hotel includes Mylla restaurant, where you can enjoy a delicious meal. The local bar is next to the hotel, where fun activities like karaoke are organized every evening. If you're lucky, you can even see the Northern Lights from your bedroom.
The area around Lake Lake Mývatn It makes you feel like you've landed on another planet. Everywhere you look, you see black lava, small craters, and spots where steam rises from the ground. These craters were formed when lava flowed over wet land thousands of years ago. The water beneath became so hot that it exploded.
Fun fact: in some places, Icelanders use the earth's heat to bake rye bread. They place a pot of dough in the warm ground near geothermal areas and leave it there for hours. Tip: drive the loop around Lake Mývatn. The scenery is constantly changing along the way, and you'll see just how special this place truly is.
Another absolute must when you go to Mývatn: snowmobilingYou'll ride through a rugged Icelandic landscape, and even across a frozen lake, on your own snowmobile. Hit the gas and go.
Also stop at HverirIt's a geothermal area with bubbling mud pools, sulfur springs, and steam rising from the earth, giving the landscape an almost otherworldly feel. But beware, the mud is scorching hot, so you can't really take a dip here.
Also a nice waterfall to visit nearby is GodafossYou really can see this one up close. The waterfall is about a 45-minute drive from Mývatn and is one of the most famous waterfalls in North Iceland. The name means "Waterfall of the Gods" because, according to legend, pagan idols were thrown into the water here in the year 1000 when Iceland became Christian.
Also visit after this GeoSeaAnother super beautiful hot spring. Here you don't just bathe in regular hot spring water, but in warm seawater with a view of the ocean – whale watching from a warm bath is a real thing.
Dine in Mývatn at VogafjósThis was by far our favorite restaurant of the trip. It's literally right next to a cowshed. No worries, you can't smell them. While you're eating, you can watch the cows being milked through a window. Farm to table. taken to the next levelMany ingredients come directly from the farm itself: smoked lamb, trout, and cheese and mozzarella from their own cows. Even the traditional Icelandic rye bread is made here in an underground bakery.
What makes it even more fun: after dinner, you can often pop into the stable to see the calves or sample fresh milk. And you can even stay overnight!
You've probably already got a picture of North Iceland. It's rugged, quiet, magical, and sometimes even otherworldly. That's precisely why you want (no, you must!) to go there someday. Want to do it all and just pack your own suitcase? Then book your trip through Voigt Travel. Everything was perfectly arranged... Wonderful!
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