Akureyri
At first sight, Iceland’s second largest city appears like it was transplanted from the Swiss Alps. It sits on the southwestern shores of the North Coast’s Eyjafjordur Fjord, one of the most breathtaking fjords in all of Iceland. Rising up immediately behind the city are azure farmlands that slope gently up to basalt mountains. The mountains are capped by snow year round, and in the winter they offer great skiing.
One of the most extraordinary aspects of Akureyri is its warm climate. Although its sits only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, it has some of the best weather in Iceland. Summer temperatures frequently range in the high 60''''''''s (20°C).
Anywhere else, Akureyri’s population of 15,000 would probably constitute what most countries call a “small town,” but in Iceland a number like that definitely qualifies Akureyri as a city. It has more than its share of museums, including a Natural History Museum, a folk museum, and museums set in the homes of native poet Matthias Jochumsson and children’s book author Jon Sveinson. Akureyri is also home to the world’s northernmost botanical garden and 18-hole golf course. Outside the city are numerous opportunities for excursions, the most popular being the road skirting the beautiful western shore of the Eyjafjordur Fjord. It is also possible to take an organized day trip from Akureyri to the island of Grimsey, which straddles the Arctic Circle.