Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2019, Blaðsíða 50

TOWN GUIDE
Akureyri
Colourful Gardens, Posh Hostels and RIB
Boats in the Capital of the North
Words: Felix Robertson Photos: Art Bicnick
The largest urban area outside of
Reykjavík, there’s much to appre-
ciate about the so-called ‘Capital
of the North,’ from the stunning
views of the northern fjords to
a lively arts and cultural scene.
Akureyri is also a perfect base to
explore the Diamond Circle, north-
ern Iceland’s most dramatic sight-
seeing route.
Stay: Akureyri
Backpackers
vAkureyri Backpackers is techni-
cally a hostel, but you can banish
all images of dubiously stained
mattresses and feeble showers. In-
stead, Backpackers is a thoroughly
luxurious experience, with crisp
white sheets, comfortable reading
nooks and a charming communal
area. It’s also perfectly situated on
Hafnarstræti, Akureyri’s main
street, granting easy access to a
wide range of restaurants and
shops.

Café: Bláa Kannan
Situated jst next to the hostel, this
is a genuinely charming bar and
café, with well-priced and delicious
lunch options. We had a warming
broccoli soup and tuna pasta, while
engaging in keen people watching.
Swim: Sundlaug Akureyrar
Iceland’s swimming pools are gen-
erally sublime and Akureyri’s larg-
est public pool is no exception,
featuring two 25 metre outdoor
pools, multiple hot tubs, and a size-
able water slide. Most brilliantly
however, it features a plastic cur-
tain between the outdoor and in-
door pools, saving you from the
misery of stepping into the often
chilly air to get to the pool. Who
needs the Blue Lagoon, eh?

Walk: Akureyri Botanical
Garden
One of the most northerly botani-
cal gardens in the world, the
Akureyri Botanical Garden is fre-
quently ranked as one of Akureyri’s
most popular attractions and with
good reason. The garden stands
starkly in contrast to the usual
green and greys of Icelandic flora,
exhibiting a dazzling variety of co-
lours and flowers, diligently tend-
ed to by a dedicated team of locals.
Enjoy a gentle stroll through the
winding paths, and then enjoy a
cake and coffee in the strikingly
modern café.
Eat: Mulaberg
Bistro and Bar
Though a key attraction is the im-
pressively broad happy hour, Mu-
laberg is also a genuinely good
restaurant with a comfortably
plush interior and great views over
the fjord. We sampled the impres-
sive bistro menu, particularly en-
joying the club sandwich and duck
salad. They also offer a decently
priced catch of the day, bringing a
welcome local aspect to an other-
wise diverse international menu.
Museum: Akureyri Art
Museum/Akureyrarkirkja
Fans of art and craft will find much
to enjoy in Akureyri, especially on
Listagil, sometimes called Art
Street. One stop you cannot miss
is the Akureyri Art Museum, which
has occupied a central spot in the
Akureyri cultural scene for over 25
years. Recently renovated, the mu-
seum offers a diverse range of
modern and local art, including
recent displays by Hrafnhildur Ar-
nardóttir (a.k.a Shoplifter), who
recently exhibited at the Venice
Biennale. Enjoy a few hours here
and then head on up the street to
Akureyri’s imposing church, de-
signed by Guðjón Samúelsson, who
also designed Reykjavík’s celebrat-
ed Hallgrímskirkja.

What to do:
Whale Watching
While nearby Húsavík has long
been regarded as Iceland’s whale
watching capital, we can attest
from personal experience that
Akureyri is also a brilliant place to
view these magnificent creatures
in their natural habitat. Just re-
member to wear warm clothes and
prepare to have your mind thor-
oughly blown.
Travel Distance from Reykjavík: 388 km How to get there: Route One North to AkureyriAccommodation provided by: akureyribackpackers.isCar provided by: hertz.is
Akureyri loves you
The best of Icelandic produce
with a nod to Japan and South
America. Modern Icelandic
flavours, share plates and award
winning cocktails.
Sushi Social
Þingholtsstræti 5 • 101 Reykjavík
Tel. 568 6600 • sushisocial.is
Our kitchen is open
17.00–23.00 sun.–thu.
17.00–24.00 fri.–sat.
SOCIALIZE
WITH THE
LOCALS
ICELANDIC
SEAFOOD
makes world’s best sushi