Saturday, May 10, 2025 - Akureyri, Iceland

Akureyri, often called the "Capital of the north" with a population of around 19,000, offers an enchanting blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture and historical allure.  It stands as a serene alternative to the bustling Reykjavik.  It captivated us with its colorful wooden houses, heart-shaped traffic lights, and breathtaking mountainous backdrop.  

Akureyri is a kaleidoscope of colors and contrasts.  Its brightly painted wooden houses dot the landscape like cheerful confetti against the backdrop of towering mountains.  Even its traffic lights are whimsical, glowing red hearts that remind residents of the importance of kindness and community--a touch of warmth in a city just shy of the Arctic Circle. The streets are alive with cozy cafes, bustling bars, and boutique shops, each inviting visitors to pause and savor the slower pace of life here. 

Beyond its urban charm, Akureyri serves as a gateway to North Iceland's natural wonders.  Whale watching tours offer the opportunity to encounters humpback whales and dolphins in stunning seascapes.  Nearby, there are also geothermal marvels and traditional houses which offer a window into Icelandic life centuries ago. Since we have been here previously, we decided to forego the out of town excursions to the waterfalls and focus on seeing the downtown since we hadn't done that on our previous visits.

Our day in Akureyri - a walk through the old town

Akureyri's setting is a masterpiece painted by the hand of nature itself.  The air is crisp and clean, tinged with the scent of sea spray and wildflowers, and the Arctic Circle lies just a breath away, only 37 miles to the north.  Strolling through Akureyri's compact downtown, we were greeted by a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. 

We had intended on taking the hop on-hop off bus to see all the major sites in town.  According to our destination lecturer, it was quite easy.  

However, once we were in town we started asking various locals about this bus and no one knew anything or much about it.  We heard various opinions, such as "it doesn't run on weekends," "it doesn't really have a schedule.  It comes when it comes."  "Never heard of it,"  "You have to make a reservation, and even then it's not terribly reliable,"  "I don't know - the locals don't use it."  So, after hearing the various opinions, we decided to give up and simply walk through the old downtown area independently.  It turned out to be a great option for us. 

Walking through downtown Akureyri is like stepping into a vibrant tapestry of history and color nestled against Iceland's dramatic northern fjord.  We began our stroll at the lively Town Hall Square, where the pulse of the town beats strongest.  As we wandered southward into the old town, a charming cluster of vividly painted wooden houses greeted us, their corrugated iron and pressed iron plate facades shimmering in hues of reds, blues, and yellows--a unique architectural hallmark of Akureyri.  Each building is a chapter in Akureyri's unfolding saga.

The cobbled streets tell stories of centuries past.  Passing the venerable Laxdalshur, the oldest building dating back to 1795, we could feel the weight of history in the air.  As we walked, the old theater and hospital, relics from the 19th century, stood proudly, whispering tales of a bygone era.  Informative signboards peppered the route, inviting us to delve deeper into the town's rich cultural heritage. 

 

 

The iconic Akureyri Church crowns the skyline with its striking stepped concrete facade and twin spires offering a serene sanctuary and breathtaking vistas.  Along the way the scent of fresh Icelandic air mingles with the sweet aroma of sweet rolls from any one of the numerous bakeries.  We succumbed to the temptation and stopped for a coffee and muffin at Cafe Blaa Kannan.  After finishing our coffee and muffin we headed back to the shuttle but we got sidetracked when we spotted a shop which was selling authentically Icelandic made items.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful necklace in the window caught our attention.  In talking to the shop owner we discovered that the necklace was made with an Icelandic knitting technique termed "micro-knitting."  It is often used to describe knitting techniques that create very small, detailed patterns or fabrics.  It is constructed using very fine, delicate yarn and small needles. We decided we couldn't live without it so we are now the happy owners of a beautiful red micro-needled necklace! Once our purchase was completed we continued our walk back to the shuttle to return to the ship.

 

 

 This walk through Akureyri was a sensory feast--a harmonious blend of vivid colors, historic charm, and breathtaking natural beauty.  Although the old downtown area is quite compact, it definitely encapsulates the spirit of Iceland's "Capital of the North".

Akureyri may be small in size but is boundless in charm.  It offers serenity without sacrificing vibrancy and tradition alongside modernity.   This charming village is a way to escape from Reykjavik's crowded streets.   It provided an opportunity for us to slow down and appreciate the breathtaking natural beauty surrounding us. We felt that Akureyri welcomed us with open arms --- and glowing red hearts!!

This charming village has been a much needed opportunity to relax and slow down the pace of our travels.  We were here a couple of years ago, but we enjoyed the opportunity to return and enjoy the spectacular natural surroundings without the hectic pace of the larger cities.  We will enjoy these next few ports in Iceland and Greenland where the pace of life is slower and there is more of a community feel than in many of the large European cities.   Now, we are ready to set sail to our next Icelandic port, Isafjordur.  

UPDATE:  As we are getting ready to sail, our Captain just made an announcement that the fjord on our way out is rich with whales so we need to watch for them.  What an unexpected and exciting event!!! As we have just begun to sail, it has started raining/snowing.  Although it's quite soft and gentle, we are thrilled we were able to take our walk before it commenced!!!

Later....unfortunately, Bob only caught a very quick glimpse of a whale's back and I only saw two whale spouts!!!  However, we did sail past the "Troll's Seat." which our destination lecturer talked about yesterday.  According to local legend, the trolls are huge, mean creatures and one of them sat down on the mountain and created an enormous dent.  Anyway, not as good as seeing a whale but at least it was something!!!  Now, onward to Isafjordur!