Iceland review - 2014, Page 96

94 ICELAND REVIEW
With its welcoming atmosphere and abundance of events and activi-
ties, Akureyri is worth a visit in all seasons. An attraction in itself, the
town is also a base for exploring North Iceland.
all-year DesTinaTion
Boasting a number of museums, galleries, shops, restaurants, cafés,
clubs and concert venues, the local art and music scene is bustling and
the town is home to the country’s only professional theater outside
Reykjavík.
The culture center Hof at the harbor has a varied program and also
houses the North Iceland tourist information office. The Botanical Gar-
den is a favored hangout, as is the local thermal pool and forest Kjar-
naskógur, just outside town.
Visitors can choose between a variety of sightseeing tours and activ-
ities, including golfing, hiking, diving, sea angling and whale watching.
A stroll through the town’s center or old town is a delight.
As winter falls, the landscape transforms with a cover of powder
snow and Iceland’s most popular ski resort in Hlíðarfjall mountain—ten
minutes from town—gets busy. After darkness falls, the northern lights
often come out; a major attraction among visitors to North Iceland.
islanDs exTraorDinaire
Two inhabited islands are part of the Akureyri municipality. Hrísey,
a nature reserve since 1977, is famous for its varied birdlife and
vegetation. It takes 15 minutes to reach the island from Ár-
skógssandur (a 30-minute drive from Akureyri) by ferry.
Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost inhabited island, which lies on
the Arctic Circle, can be reached by a three-hour ferry ride from
Dalvík (a little further than Árskógssandur), or by air from Akurey-
ri. Also a paradise for bird lovers, its sea cliffs are filled with nest-
ing puffins, guillemots and other seabirds in the summer.
The little big city of the fair north looks forward to your visit.

visitakureyri.is/en
akureyri – liTTle Big CiTy
As the largest municipality in Iceland outside the capital region, with 18,000 inhabitants,
akureyri is, in essence, a small town with a big city atmosphere.
Travel
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North iCeLANd
akureyri is located in the innermost part of the long fjord eyjafjörður.