Blönduós

Understand

There is no exaggeration in describing North Iceland as Iceland in miniature. It is an area of extremes: The lush farmland of Skagafjörður and Eyjafjörður, the rugged mountains of Tröllaskagi many capped by small glaciers, the almost desert-like landscapes of the far north-east, and Grímsey sitting on the Arctic Circle. The region as a whole is characterised by wide bays and fjords, surrounded by mountains on two sides and long river-shaped valleys on the third. It is probably the region in Iceland best suited for outdoor activities, but the north is also interesting for its cultural heritage. As Iceland's second largest urban area, Akureyri is an important centre for art and commerce. Many of the smaller villages offer an experience that rustic, rural Iceland with its deep traditions in farming and fishing.

Getting there

By car The Ring Road passes through much of north Iceland and the region is easily reached by car from any other regions. The distance from Reykjavík to Blönduós (the first town reached when driving into North Iceland from the west) is 244km with another 144km to Akureyri. From Egilsstaðir in East Iceland to Akureyri the distance is 260km.

By bus Buses operated by Sterna link North Iceland with the West and Southwest regions. SBA has buses between Akureyri and Egilsstaðir.

By plane Multiple flights a day, operated by Icelandair, link Akureyri with Reykjavík. Norlandair operates flights from Akureyri to Grímsey, Nerlerit Inaat, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn. Seasonally, Akureyri has international flights from London (Gatwick), Zurich, and Amsterdam. From Reykjavík, there are also flights to Sauðárkrókur, operated by Air Arctic. And to Húsavík, operated by Eagle Air.

Getting around

By car The ring road passes through North Iceland. The stretch of road between Mývatn and Egilsstaðir (in East Iceland) one of the most remote parts of the road with very few settlements. Because of the shape of the area, many settlements in North Iceland aren't served by the ring road, but road connections are mostly good. Siglufjörður used to be quite cut off, but a tunnel now links it with Ólafsfjörður making connections with Akureyri much better. When travelling from Akureyri eastwards towards Mývatn or the other way around using the Ring Road, a toll must be paid for using the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel within 24 hours prior or after passing, or within 3 hours with a foreign license plate. The toll can be paid online at Veggjald. Alternative routes (Routes 83 and 84 being the shortest alternative) may be available depending on their condition. These can be checked at the map of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration. Car rentals include Hertz and Budget at Akureyri airport, Bílaleiga Akureyrar at Akureyri airport, Tryggvabraut in Akureyri and in Sauðárkrókur and Avis at Akureyri airport and in Sauðárkrókur.

By bus Sterna operates scheduled buses along the western stretch of the Ring Road in North Iceland as well as between Varmahlíð (in Skagafjörður) and Siglufjörður, and Akureyri and Ólafsfjörður. SBA serves the stretch of the Ring Road from Akureyri to Egilsstaðir in the east, as well as the route between Akureyri and Húsavík and Akureyri, Þórshöfn and Raufarhöfn on the other.

By thumb Iceland is typically a great country for hitchhiking, but be extremely careful of the weather in this region, as it is highly unpredictable. As late as March or April, terrible Arctic blizzards can blow in off the sea, and hit you in an instant. If you're even a couple kilometres out of town, and one of these storms hit, you will be stranded for an indefinite amount of time. In such a situation it’s possible to freeze to death, or at least come down with hypothermi

See

Hólar í Hjaltadal –The former seat of the bishop of North Iceland, in Skagafjörður. The current cathedral is from the 18th century, making it one of the oldest buildings in Iceland, and it contains religious artefacts from the 15th century onwards. Also the location of a folk museum and a small agricultural university. Goðafoss is one of Iceland's most magnificent waterfalls. It is just off the ring road 50 km east of Akureyri in Fossholl. Ásbyrgi is a very unusual, and very large, cliff formation 60 km east of Húsavík, in Jökulsárgljúfur said to be the hoofmark of Odin's horse.

Do

North Iceland is probably the best destination in Iceland for outdoor adventure or activity tours. Practically anything that's available somewhere in Iceland, is available in the North.

Horse riding - Many people come to Iceland in part to try out the Icelandic horses. Skagafjörður, in North Iceland, is the often regarded as the home of the Icelandic horse, and is a great place to either just give it a try or to set off on a longer riding tour. If you're not going by Skagafjörður, there are various other horse rental options dotted around the region. Swimming - There are swimming pools in almost every village. Those heated by geothermal power are usually outdoors. The swimming pool in Hofsós provides one of the finest views over the nearby fjord. Soaking - In addition to swimming pools, there are several other hot pools to visit in North Iceland. Grettislaug is a pool fed by a natural hot spring just a few meters from the sea in Skagafjörður, about 20km north of Sauðárkrókur. The Nature Baths by Mývatn are another option, forming a sort of less crowded alternative to the Blue Lagoon in the Southwest. River rafting - The glacial rivers of Skagafjörður are, hands down, the best rivers for rafting in Iceland. Several companies offer rafting tours, they are mostly based around Varmahlíð. Skiing - Unlike most of the rest of the country, North Iceland offers some good skiing. Akureyri is a popular skiing destination among Icelanders, and Dalvík and Ólafsfjörður both offer very good and reliable skiing runs. Tröllaskagi (Troll Peninsula) is a world class ski touring and ski mountaineering destination with the season lasting from around mid March and lasts until mid June. Whale watching - Both Húsavík and Dalvík are excellent whale watching locations due to their close proximity to the Greenland Sea.

Buy

1 Kidka Wool Factory Shop, Höfðabraut 34, Hvammstangi, ☏ +354 451 0060, [email protected]. Mid-May–Oct M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00; Nov–Mid-May M-F 08:00-18:00. Wool products made with 100% Icelandic wool. In fact, they are made in the same building to the left of the store. It often has small free giveaways for you to take home. Products are cheaper than the stores in Reykjavik. (updated Jun 2026)

Go next

North Iceland has fjords on either side: the West Fjords and the East Fjords (in East Iceland). Both area easily accessible by car or by bus. With well-equipped 4x4s or on specially arranged tours, it's possible to go onto the highlands and cross Iceland by crossing either Kjölur or Sprengisandur. These are the only routes across the island. There are seasonal flights from Akureyri to London, Zurich and Amsterdam.