Northeastern Region

Northeast Iceland, known in Icelandic as Norðurland eystra, is drier and often sunnier than the south and has its own capital of the north: Akureyri. A trip to the Northeastern region combines volcanic landscapes at Mývatn, mighty waterfalls and whale-watching off Húsavík.

Sights in the Northeastern Region

Akureyri sits at the inner end of Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord, and with around 20,000 residents it is the largest town outside the southwest. The church Akureyrarkirkja towers over the center, and the Botanical Garden shows an astonishing number of plants so close to the Arctic Circle. To the east, Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods, plunges over a semicircular edge; according to tradition, a chieftain threw his pagan idols into it around the year 1000. Lake Mývatn is surrounded by pseudocraters, the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the explosion crater Víti and the steaming solfataras of Hverir; at the Mývatn Nature Baths you can soak in warm, milky blue water. Húsavík is considered the whale-watching capital, with humpback and minke whales in Skjálfandi Bay. In Vatnajökull National Park, Dettifoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, thunders down, and the Ásbyrgi canyon is shaped like a horseshoe. The island of Grímsey, which the Arctic Circle passes through, can be reached by ferry or plane. On the Tröllaskagi peninsula lies Siglufjörður, whose museum brings the era of the herring boom to life. In summer, farms offer rides on Icelandic horses.

Landscape and Daily Life

The region stretches from fjords and valleys with sheep pastures to the highlands north of Vatnajökull. The Diamond Circle links the most important destinations into a loop tour. In winter, Akureyri is a ski town with its local mountain, Hlíðarfjall. Akureyri has a cozy center with cafés and an art museum, and its outdoor swimming pool is among the most popular in the country.

Food, Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Typical foods include smoked Arctic char from Mývatn, lamb, hverabrauð (rye bread baked in hot ground), and ice cream from farms. Akureyri has an airport with domestic flights from Reykjavík; by car on the Ring Road, it is a drive of about five hours. The best time to visit is June through September, and winter for the northern lights. In winter, some access roads, such as to the east side of Dettifoss, are closed.