Whatever the time of year, Akureyri is a lively and energetic town, and home to around 20.000 inhabitants. It is by far the most densely populated community outside the Reykjavík area, and is the centre of trade, culture and services for the north of Iceland.

It is a town closely associated with educational institutions and cultural events, all of those having strong traditional roots. Two of the largest fisheries in Iceland are based in Akureyri, and the growth of the tourist industry means that this is playing an ever more important role in the life of the town.

Akureyri is close to many of Iceland's most renowned natural beauty spots and the town itself is a popular stopping place for both long and short stays.

Below is a list of places we would recommend as being well worth a visit while in Akureyri:

• The Akureyri Botanical Garden (with 400 plants indigenous to Iceland and more than 7,500 foreign species)
• the Akureyri Art Museum Listagil Art Centre
• Akureyri swimming pool
• Húni II - a boat built from oak in 1963, which is to be found at Torfunefsbryggja pier
• restaurants which offer dishes prepared from produce originating in the surrounding countryside
• Kjarnaskógur wood the
• old town -museums, a church and historical buildings
• Jaðar golf course - the most northerly 18-hole golf course in the world
• Hrísey island - the pearl of Eyjafjörður
• the Akureyrarvaka festival which is held in August each year and is the culmination of the Summer Festival (Listasumar) which runs from mid -June until the end of August
• beer from the local breweries, Víking and Kaldi
• Brynja ice cream - a favourite with the local people
• Akureyri Church
• Hlíðarfjall ski slopes.