Best Photo Spots in Akureyri: 10 Locations Worth the Walk
Words by
Sigridur Bjornsson
The Light Never Lies: Chasing the Best Photo Spots in Akureyri
I have lived in Akureyri for more than a decade, and the thing that still stops me in my tracks every single week is how this town stares directly north across Eyjafjörður fjord at mountains that shift from lavender to crimson to white depending on the hour of the day. Travelers often ask me about the best photo spots in Akureyri, and I always start with a question back: what kind of photographer are you? Because this town changes personality completely between the harsh midday sun and the long, amber-lit Icelandic summer evenings. Whether you are hunting for the perfect blue hour shot or trying to catch the raw power of a breaking winter storm rolling off the water, the best photo spots in Akureyri reward those willing to lace up boots and walk a little further than the center of town.
There is a reason Akureyri gets called the capital of the north. Not because of its size, barely 19,000 residents, but because the light up here does something you will find nowhere else on the planet. Below I am sharing my ten favorite locations in and around Akureyri that I return to again and again, each one chosen for a specific photographic angle or moment of the day.
1. Akureyri Botanical Garden (Lystigarður Akureyrar)
The Botanical Garden sits on the warm south-facing hillside at the heart of town along Eyrarlandsvegur. Because Akureyri sits so far north, finding wildflowers is hit-or-miss, but here you can photograph Arctic species alongside sub-Arctic plants from around the world. In late June the roses explode into color, and by August the dahlias are towering head-height. The wooden gates and painted fences make a perfect foreground element leading the eye toward Eyjaförður.
What to See: The wooden summer house, Eyrarbakki, relocated from a remote northern farmstead, makes extraordinary sunrise framing with Eyjafjörður fjord behind it.
Best Time: Late June through early August, after 9 PM when the low sun casts long golden shadows across the flower beds.
The Vibe: Quiet and domestic, almost suburban, with elderly locals sunbathing on benches who might strike up conversation.
Local Detail: The garden is free to enter, year-round, even in January when it is blanketed in snow and looks like a Japanese ink drawing.
Insider Tip: Walk past the southern entrance and up the narrow trail behind the last greenhouse. The view from that higher path opens the whole fjord and town center into a single panoramic frame that most visitors miss entirely.
2. Akureyrarkirkja (The Church of Akureyri)
Perched on a hill at the top of Hafnarstræti, the concrete Lutheran church designed by Guðjón Samúelsson was completed in 1940 and dominates every skyline silhouette photograph you will ever take of this town. Its stark, basalt-inspired twin towers and strong geometric lines feel almost brutalist when shot from a low angle. Climb the long staircase from the town center and photograph it either from behind, with the town sprawling below and the fjord behind, or frame it straight-on with its massive organ pipes visible through the entrance doors when they are open.
What to See: The bronze sculpture of the Émile Jean Pin bas-relief at the front doors and the enormous pipe organ inside with 3,200 pipes.
Best Time: Morning, between 6 and 9 AM in summer, when the light hits the western face of the building and there are no people on the staircase.
The Vibe: Solemn and architectural. The silence inside is absolute, and tourists who whisper still sound loud.
Local Detail: There is a small fee, about 500 ISK, to enter, and the church is still an active parish, not a museum.
Insider Tip: The small path to the left side of the church as you face it leads down to an older neighborhood cemetery with headstones dating back to the 1880s. That cemetery shot, with the church towering above and the fjord beyond, is one of my go-to Instagram spots Akureyri photographers swear by.
3. The Christmas House (Jólahúsið)
Located on Laufásgata, this year-round shop may seem like an odd inclusion, but the red wooden facade surrounded by faux snow and handmade ornaments is a surprisingly popular subject, especially from November through January. The owner, Margrét, has run the place for over thirty years and displayed hand-painted Icelandic Yule Lads figurines in the window display that change yearly. From a purely visual standpoint, the saturated red building against a grey Icelandic sky creates a color contrast that is hard to replicate organically anywhere else in town.
What to See: The window displays, the tiny wooden Yule Lads, and the hand-stitched Icelandic wool ornaments inside.
Best Time: Late afternoon in December or January when the shop lights are glowing and the dark sky turns cobalt blue behind it.
The Vibe: Warm, cluttered, and nostalgic. The kind of shop that smells like cinnamon and pine.
Local Detail: The building itself dates back to the 1930s and was originally a bakery.
Insider Tip: Photograph from the lower side of Laufásgata looking uphill so the Christmas House fills the middle of the frame with the street sloping elegantly upward. Since it is one of the most photogenic places Akureyri offers in winter, expect crowds after 4 PM in December.
4. Pollalagoon Hot Pot (Northern Lights Hot Spot)
About five minutes south of the town center along the waterfront path, you will find two human-made tidal pools filled with geothermal-heated seawater, directly facing south across Eyjafjörður. The location became a local secret precisely because visitors pass it by on the way to Forest Lagoon, but Poolalagoon is free, easy accessible, and directly overlooks some of the best mountain and Northern Light viewing angles you will find anywhere in the region.
What to See: The concrete rim of the pool, the steam rising off the water at sunset, and on clear winter nights the aurora borealis dancing straight above.
Best Time: Sunset to early blue hour from mid-August through March; the golden hour light reflecting off the pool surface is extraordinary from September onward.
The Vibe: Relaxed and communal. Locals linger here for hours and are happy to chat.
Local Detail: There are no facilities, no changing rooms, and no lifeguards. This is just a pool in the rock.
Insider Tip: Walk fifty meters past the main pool along the rocky shore to a smaller, lower pool that almost nobody uses. The angle from that lower pool back toward Akureyri town, with the church towers silhouetted and the mountains behind, makes for one of the very best Akureyri photography locations, especially during the summer midnight sun.
5. Hlíðarfjall Ski Area
Driving or cycling up the winding road to the base of Hlíðarfjall, about fifteen minutes south of the town center, rewards you with a completely different perspective on Akureyri. From the base station you can look down on the entire town, the fjord, and the surrounding valleys in a single sweeping photograph. In winter, the ski lifts occasionally operate even when the resort is closed, and the frozen chairlift cables, dusted in snow, create lines that draw the eye deep into the frame. In late spring the contrast between the snow-covered peaks and the green valleys is dramatic.
What to See: The panoramic terrace at the base station café and the upper trail that branches left toward the summit ridge.
Best Time: Mid-morning in winter for mountain shadow detail, or late afternoon in September when the birch leaves are turning and the first snow caps the ridgeline.
The Vibe: Quiet outside of ski season, almost eerily still on weekdays in May or October. You might have the entire summit to yourself.
Local Detail: The road up is paved but narrow, and it can be icy well into April. Chains or winter tires are essential before May.
Local Drawback: The skiing infrastructure is visible in every summer shot, and it can be hard to get a clean "wilderness" frame in July. The parking area also gets congested on winter weekends around 11 AM.
6. Kjarnaskógur Forest Trail
South of the town center and accessible by a 25-minute walk or a five-minute bus ride, Kjarnaskógur is a planted birch and pine forest that feels improbably deep for being inside a town boundary. The network of trails creates layer after layer of organic, branching wood lines that become almost abstract in close-up photographs. In spring the forest floor is carpeted in moss. In autumn the dwarf birches turn a deep rust color that under overcast skies looks like the forest is smoldering.
What to See: The pond reflection spot at the north end of the main loop, and the old stone bridge on the eastern path.
Best Time: Dusk in September or October, when the low light filters through the birch canopy and the air turns hazy.
The Vibe: Peaceful, mossy, and slightly melancholic, even when the sky is clear. This is where Akureyri residents come to grieve, to walk dogs, or to think.
Local Detail: The forest was planted as a community project in the 1950s, and many of the trees were grown from seeds collected in places as distant as Alaska and northern Norway.
Insider Tip: Bring waterproof boots. Several of the best photographic angles on the eastern trail require stepping off the gravel path onto wet, boggy ground. If you are hunting the most photogenic places Akureyri has to offer in autumn, this forest is where I spend the most time.
7. Brynjartún Walking Street (The Old Town Pedestrian Zone)
Brynjartún, paralleling Hafnarstræti, is where the oldest residential architecture in Akureyri survives. Several wooden houses from the 1890s line the street, painted in deep burgundy, slate blue, and forest green. This is the street I send every visiting photographer to because it compresses the entire character of old Akureyri into three hundred meters of walkable history. Potted geraniums in windows in summer, frozen puddles in winter, and always the smell of coffee drifting from one of the nearby cafés.
What to See: The row of painted timber houses between Brekkugata and Strandgata, and the historical plaques on several buildings.
Best Time: Overcast days in winter when the paint colors pop against grey skies, or mid-morning in July when the geraniums are in full bloom.
The Vibe: Intimate and residential. You are literally walking through people's front gardens.
Local Detail: One timber building, number 14, survived a devastating fire in 1875 and remained standing while the surrounding block burned to the ground.
Insider Tip: Walk to the western end of Brynjartún and turn left onto the small path that descends toward the harbor. From that low vantage point, you can frame the old houses in the foreground with the mountains rising behind and the harbor below. This is a personal favorite spot for those exploring Instagram spots Akureyri locals recommend.
8. The Akureyri Waterfront and Harbor
The working harbor, stretching along the Strandgata waterfront, is where Akureyri's identity as a North Atlantic trading port is still visible. Trawlers bob in the morning mist, their cables taut, while behind them the mountains of the Dalvík valley rise in layered blue-grey planes. The Skeifan walkway extends into the harbor and offers a rare angle where you can photograph the town without a single road sign or modern building in sight, just mountains, water, and the curve of the shoreline.
What to See: The boats at dawn, the fish-drying racks when they are in use during spring and autumn.
Best Time: Pre-dawn in summer, around 3 to 4 AM, when the midnight sun sits low and paints the water copper.
The Vibe: Working and functional, not manicured. Expect diesel smells and rope piles.
Local Detail: Akureyri's harbor handles roughly one-third of all Icelandic fish exports during certain spring months, making it one of the most economically important ports in the country yet visually under-documented.
Local Drawback: The area around the industrial fish processing section, at the far eastern end of the harbor, has a persistent smell in warm months that will break any romantic frame.
9. Grímsey Island (Day Trip Shoreline)
Technically located ninety kilometers off the north coast, Grímsey is reachable via a three-hour ferry from Akureyri and sits directly on the Arctic Circle. While not in Akureyri proper, no serious photography guide to the photographer up here should omit it. The stone arch formation at the island's western tip, the lighthouse at the southern point, and the nesting puffin colonies at the sea cliffs are all within walking distance of the ferry dock. The Arctic Circle monument, a painted stone orb relocated to match the shifting line, carries a weight that registers in photographs more powerfully than you might expect.
What to See: The Arctic Circle stone orb, the western sea arches, and the clifftop puffin burrows in July.
Best Time: Mid-June to mid-July for puffins; July or August for the clearest skies over the orb monument.
The Vibe: Remote, sparse, and windy even on calm days. Forty residents, no trees, and a single road.
Local Detail: The ferry schedule is limited, typically two or three departures per week in summer, and advance booking is essential.
Insider Tip: If you cannot make the ferry flight from Akureyri takes about thirty minutes on Norlandair, but advance booking is essential and weather cancellations are very common between October and April.
10. Góðakaffi (The View from Lindhóltskóli)
Not a single location, but a perspective I return to constantly. The small hilltop behind the Lindhóltskóli school, reachable via a footpath from Brekkugata, gives you a bird's-eye view of the old town rooftops, the church, the harbor, and the fjord simultaneously. Schoolchildren have been taking this same path for generations. On clear evenings the town glows warmly below while the last light catches the mountain ridge across the fjord.
What to See: The panoramic view of the entire Akureyri basin.
Best Time: The hour before sunset on any clear day in any season.
The Vibe: Elevated and contemplative. This is where I go when I need to remember why I live here.
Local Detail: The hill is also the site of a small geocache that has been active since 2010.
Insider Tip: The path entrance is unmarked and easy to miss, tucked between two residential fences. Walk to the school's eastern edge and look for a worn dirt track angling uphill. Once at the top, follow the ridge north for five minutes to an even higher vantage point that most residents of Akureyri have never visited. From there, the panorama rivals any of the major Akureyri photography locations featured in official travel guides.
When to Go and What to Know for Photographers
The light in Akureyri between June and August is a strange, prolonged affair. The sun barely dips below the horizon, producing hours of soft, directional light that can last from 2 AM to 8 PM on the best days. September through mid-October brings rapid transitions from golden hour to blue hour, sometimes giving you two or three golden periods in a single evening. Winter, November to February, is brutally short midday but the low, raking light lingers at sunrise and sunset far longer than you would expect. The aurora season runs from September through March, and the best viewing conditions are on cold, clear nights with minimal moonlight.
Bring a lens cloth and rain cover at all times. Icelandic weather delivers horizontal spray, sudden snow, thin rain, and blinding sun sometimes within the same thirty-minute walk to a nearby location. Most locals carry three jackets because they have learned the hard way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Akureyri that are genuinely worth the visit?
The Akureyri Botanical Garden is free year-round and offers exceptional photographic content. The Pollan lagoon, commonly known as the Northern Lights Hot Spot, is free, though it has no changing facilities. Kjarnaskógur forest is free and has marked walking paths suitable for all skill levels.
Do the most popular attractions in Akureyri require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?
Most outdoor sightseeing spots in Akureyri do not require tickets at all. The church has a small admission fee payable on-site. The Grímsey ferry or charter flight requires booking weeks in advance, particularly for weekend departures in July.
How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Akureyri without feeling rushed?
Two full days comfortably covers the town center, the garden, the church, the forest, and the waterfront. A third day allows for a half-day excursion to a nearby site such as Grímsey or the Goðafoss waterfall located forty minutes south.
Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Akureyri, or is local transport necessary?
The town center is compact enough to walk between all major locations in under twenty minutes each. The botanical garden, the church, the waterfront, and Brynjartún are all within a ten-minute walk of one another. Kjarnaskógur forest is about twenty-five minutes on foot or a short bus ride.
What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Akureyri as a solo traveler?
Walking is the safest and most practical option for all central locations. SBA Njörður operates five bus routes from the town center hourly during weekdays. Taxis are available through Hreyfill and operate 24 hours; a ride from the center to any edge of town costs roughly 1,800 to 2,500 ISK.
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