Visit North Iceland is responsible for marketing and promoting North Iceland, a friendly and tranquil area with a population of 36 thousand, including Akureyri, the largest town outside Reykjavík, and several historic coastal towns. The most visited attractions are Vatnajökull National Park, where you find Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, and Lake Mývatn geothermal region with hot springs, volcanic areas, craters, geothermal nature baths, and fantastic lava formations. Here you'll find magical winters, Iceland's most popular ski area, energizing off-piste skiing slopes, the 13 Yule Lads (Santas), and unique locations for Northern Lights observation.
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easyJet offers flights from Manchester to Akureyri in North Iceland
The British airline easyJet announced today that it will offer flights from both London and Manchester to Akureyri next winter. The announcement follows a successful winter for easyJet, which offered flights from London to Akureyri for the first time. Flights will operate on Saturdays and Tuesdays from Manchester and London. -
New hotels under construction in and near Akureyri in North Iceland
Travellers and agencies will have plenty of new options when looking for accommodation in Akureyri and nearby in the near future. This spring, announcements have been made about two new hotels in Akureyri, with the third one close to being completed this year at Grenivík – just a half an hour's drive away from Akureyri. Increased availability of direct flights to North Iceland year-round, both scheduled and chartered, has increased the demand for hotel rooms as well as the increased number of visitors to Iceland in general. -
easyJet offers flights to Akureyri through February 2025
British airline easyJet announced this morning its flight schedule for December 2024 to February 2025. In addition to October and November, which had previously been announced, trips to and from Akureyri are now possible during this period. The fligh… -
Tourism unaffected by fourth eruption in four months
A new fissure eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula by Hagafell and Stóra-Skógfell at 8:23 PM on March 16. This marks the fourth eruption in the area since December of 2023.
Top destinations
Aldeyjarfoss
Aldeyjarfoss waterfall is considered the most beautiful one in the river Skjalfandafljot. The waterfall is framed with long, natural basaltic columns.
Arctic Henge
Similar to its ancient predecessor, Stonehenge, the Arctic Henge is like a huge sundial, aiming to capture the sunrays, cast shadows in precise locations and capture the light between aligned gateways.
Ásbyrgi
Ásbyrgi is one of the wonders of nature, a well-forested horse-shoe shaped canyon in Öxarfjörður. Ásbyrgi is a part of Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, within the Vatnajökull National Park.
Dettifoss
The Dettifoss waterfall is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, 500 cubic meters of water per second plunge over the edge
Goðafoss
The Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters.
Hvítserkur
Hvítserkur is a 15 m-high sea stack just off shore on the eastern side of Vatnsnes. Good seal spotting place at the estuary of the Sigridarstadir lake, south from the stack.
Kálfshamarsvík
Kálfshamarsvík is a small cove in the northern part of Skagi, with unusual, beautifully formed sea cliffs of columnar rock, created about 2 million years ago
Direct flights to North Iceland
Akureyri International Airport is located only 3 km from the center of Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. Akureyri Airport has a relaxing atmosphere and flexible services. The airport is well located for international flights, only 3 hours from London and 6.5 hours from New York.
Akureyri International Airport serves domestic flights, a series of inbound charters, outbound charters and incoming private jets. It is also the base for ambulance flights in Iceland.
Winter Magic
Activities
Jeep and glacier tours
Many travel agencies specialize in different kinds of jeep exhibitions. A jeep tour on a glacier with breathtaking views is an unforgettable experience.
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Snowmobile and snowcat tours
Many agencies offer snowmobile and snowcat tours. They are suitable for anyone looking for a little excitement and adventure while on vacation.
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Travel suggestions
Akureyri
Akureyri is the little big city of Iceland. It is large enough to offer a rich selection of entertainment, art and culture, yet small enough to be very personal and close to nature. It‘s easy to be fascinated by Akureyri with it‘s with brightly painted wooden houses, cosy bars and steep streets leading down from the hills into the friendly city centre.
Skagi and Skagafjörður
Experience adventure as you go whitewater rafting or on a horseback ride. Skagi and Skagafjörður offer scenic views from the coast and places where you can take a step back into Icelandic history.
Eyjafjörður and islands
Discover enchanting fishing villages, rich in history and options for food and drinks.
Eyjafjarðarsveit and Grenivík
Driving around Eyjafjörður Countryside has long been a very popular route, which is not surprising since the area has a lot to offer and is one of the most prosperous counties in the country.
Edge of the Arctic
Go on the northernmost point of Iceland, picturesque lighthouses and the amazing Arctic Henge. The Langanes peninsula has a great variety of birdlife, there are many sea stacks to explore and hiking trails.
Víðidalur and Austur-Húnavatnssýsla
Discover natural wonders like Kolugljúfur and Vatnsdalshólar as you travel through an area where so many events of the Icelandic history transpired. In the town of Blönduós, take a walk through the old town and see how Iceland's textile has been made through centuries.
Þingeyjarsveit and Mývatn
Explore on of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, Goðafoss waterfall. Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area is widely known as it is a natural wonder like no other.
Film in North Iceland
Destinanation management plan
The Destination Management Plan for North Iceland presents a plan for the development of tourism services for the three years of 2021-2023. There is focus on the development of the destination as a single entity, as much work and investment has been devoted to building up the image of North Iceland ever since the year 2003.
Part of the Destination Management Plan is a list of priorities for projects that must be completed in order to ensure strong tourism services. These projects are submitted by municipalities and tourism clusters.
Click here to see a summary of the plan
Sustainability
Sustainable tourism might be a challenge, but it is also an opportunity, and tourism in Northern Iceland takes this responsibility seriously. Through the development of specific projects such as the Arctic Coast Way or the Birding Trail, a more balanced distribution of visitors is achieved which relieves visitor pressure on individual natural areas. By developing sights and attractions in remoter areas, the economically weaker communities benefit from tourism as a new source of local income.
