Tourist Attractions
The Icelandic Aviation Museum is located in a large hangar at Akureyri Airport. The museum covers Iceland's aviation history with photographs, videos, artefacts, models and historic aircrafts, which some are in airworthy condition and fly in the annual air show held by the museum in June.
The exhibition takes you back in time, as you explore the development of aircrafts and airlines from 1919 to the present, and are allowed to access the interior of few of the aircrafts.
Goðafoss waterfall is located in the river Skjálfandafljót in north Iceland, the fourth largest river in Iceland.
It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country, falling from a height of 12 metres (39 feet) over a width of 30 metres (98 feet).
Hidarfjall near Akureyri is arguably the best lifted ski area in Iceland. Hlidarfjall provides a respectable skiable vertical of over 500m off the ski lifts, plus easy access to vast backcountry ski terrain.
A new quad chair was being installed for season 2019/20 increasing the ski terrain within the resort, but it failed to spin. It is all set for season 2020/21 ......... assuming it happens!
Into The Arctic was opened in beginning of 2017. The exhibition consists of three main themes. A collection of the ancient maps and charts of Iceland and North Europe, where the oldest map is possibly around 300-400 years old. The explorers and the arctic, telling stories and showing pictures and artifacts about the polar explorer Vilhjálmur Stefánsson, telling about his journeys around the arctic. In addition to show presentations about other explorers such as Vigfús Sigurðsson, Wegener and Koch who went over the Greenland icecap. Finally the exhibition has a big collection of birds and information about the wildlife in the Arctic.
Into the Arctic gives a good insight into the life in the north, introduction of the life of Inuits, samples of boats/ships and airplanes, old navigational equipment and of clothes from ancient times as well as to the coastal life in Eyjafjörður.
In many places in the North you can join a whale-watching tour; Eyjafjörður is a good location to see whales. From time to time bottlenose whales, humpbacks and mink whales have even been seen deep in Eyjafjörður, even right in front of Akureyri.
Several companies in the north specialize in whale watching. These include Whale Watching Akureyri in Akureyri, Keli Sea Tours in Akureyri, Whale Watching Hauganes in Hauganes (aprox 25 min drive from Akureyri), Whale Watching Hjalteyri in Hjalteyri (aprox 20 min drive from Akureyri), and Arctic Sea Tours in Dalvik (aprox 30 min drive from Akureyri).
Tourist Attractions
Tourist Attractions
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are one of the most popular features in the country. The Aurora Museum offers an exhibition to learn about the Northern Lights. The visit is recommended to be completed on 30-45 minutes for the entire exhibition, but as soon as you enter the museum, you can stay as long as you want. The exhibition includes a variety of interactive areas for all ages. The Northern Lights season in Iceland begins in early September and goes until March, but a lot of factors together will make it easier or more challenging to catch them. Statistics say October and March are the best months to see the auroras because the weather is more stable, and with less precipitation than other months.
The Aurora Museum offers an Aurora Forecast that can be checked by anyone in Iceland. They also have outstanding tours to see the Northern Lights, and other experiences such as glaciers, super jeep and visiting some cool places in the country. If you are interested in learning how to photograph the Northern Lights, don’t miss their tour on the Northern Lights Photographs.
"The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are one of the most popular features in the country. The Aurora Museum offers an exhibition to learn about the Northern Lights. The visit is recommended to be completed on 30-45 minutes for the entire exhibition, but as soon as you enter the museum, you can stay as long as you want. The exhibition includes a variety of interactive areas for all ages.
The Northern Lights season in Iceland begins in early September and goes until March, but a lot of factors together will make it easier or more challenging to catch them. Statistics say October and March are the best months to see the auroras because the weather is more stable, and with less precipitation than other months. The Aurora Museum offers an Aurora Forecast that can be checked by anyone in Iceland. They also have outstanding tours to see the Northern Lights, and other experiences such as glaciers, super jeep and visiting some cool places in the country. If you are interested in learning how to photograph the Northern Lights, don’t miss their tour on the Northern Lights Photographs."
The most prominent landmark in Reykjavik is Hallgrímskirkja church in the city's center. Since it can be seen from almost anywhere in Reykjavik, it is an easy way to navigate and it should be one of your first stops. The national monument is as stunning on the inside as it is on the outside.
It was built as a tribute to Icelandic poet, Hallgrimur Petursson. The magnificent 25-ton pipe organ inside the church is one of its most notable features. Construction on the Hallgrimskirkja church took more than 40 years, and it has become a symbol of Reykjavik. After you explore the main chapel, buy a token in the gift shop and ride the elevator up almost 74 meters to the steeple. This is the best view of the city.
"The most prominent landmark in Reykjavik is Hallgrímskirkja church in the city's center. Since it can be seen from almost anywhere in Reykjavik, it is an easy way to navigate and it should be one of your first stops. The national monument is as stunning on the inside as it is on the outside.
It was built as a tribute to Icelandic poet, Hallgrimur Petursson. The magnificent 25-ton pipe organ inside the church is one of its most notable features. Construction on the Hallgrimskirkja church took more than 40 years, and it has become a symbol of Reykjavik. After you explore the main chapel, buy a token in the gift shop and ride the elevator up almost 74 meters to the steeple. This is the best view of the city."
The National Museum of Iceland, located next to the University of Iceland campus, features a main exhibit of more than 2000 artifacts from around Iceland and illustrates Iceland’s rich history, from medieval times through to current contemporary culture. The most famous piece in the museum’s collection is the Valþjófsstaður door, a carved pine door dating to 1150 AD. The intricately carved medieval church door depicts a Lion-Knight legend, where a knight slays a dragon to free a lion. It is the sole Icelandic carved door in existence to contain runic script carvings.
The museum is open to visitors daily from 1 May through 15 September between 10:00 and 17:00. For the remainder of the year the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. It is located at Suðurgata 41.
"The National Museum of Iceland, located next to the University of Iceland campus, features a main exhibit of more than 2000 artifacts from around Iceland and illustrates Iceland’s rich history, from medieval times through to current contemporary culture.
The most famous piece in the museum’s collection is the Valþjófsstaður door, a carved pine door dating to 1150 AD. The intricately carved medieval church door depicts a Lion-Knight legend, where a knight slays a dragon to free a lion. It is the sole Icelandic carved door in existence to contain runic script carvings. The museum is open to visitors daily from 1 May through 15 September between 10:00 and 17:00. For the remainder of the year the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. It is located at Suðurgata 41."
The Perlan Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders is a stunning building with new, state-of-the-art exhibits focusing on the many natural wonders of the country, from the cliffs and volcanos to the sea life around the island. One of the most impressive exhibits is a replicated ice cave that you can explore at a chilling 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The glacier exhibition examines the history of glaciers in Iceland, as well as the future outlook for these natural wonders.
The Perlan planetarium is an immersive audio-visual experience where you can experience the Northern Lights even if you do not get to see them in the countryside during your visit. When you visit Perlan, head to the observation deck for a 360-degree panoramic view of Reykjavik.
"The Perlan Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders is a stunning building with new, state-of-the-art exhibits focusing on the many natural wonders of the country, from the cliffs and volcanos to the sea life around the island. One of the most impressive exhibits is a replicated ice cave that you can explore at a chilling 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The glacier exhibition examines the history of glaciers in Iceland, as well as the future outlook for these natural wonders.
The Perlan planetarium is an immersive audio-visual experience where you can experience the Northern Lights even if you do not get to see them in the countryside during your visit. When you visit Perlan, head to the observation deck for a 360-degree panoramic view of Reykjavik."
The Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) is a large steel sculpture of a ship, located on the road Sæbraut, by the seaside of central Reykjavík.
The work is one of the most visited sights in the capital, where people gather daily to gaze at the sun reflecting in the stainless steel of this remarkable monument.
The Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) is a large steel sculpture of a ship, located on the road Sæbraut, by the seaside of central Reykjavík.
The work is one of the most visited sights in the capital, where people gather daily to gaze at the sun reflecting in the stainless steel of this remarkable monument.
