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A Festive Three-Day North Iceland Escape from Akureyri

This is a source-faithful three-day Christmas itinerary based on the creator's route with her mum. Expect icy winter roads: the car slid despite the handbrake being on, and the drive to Húsavík took just over an hour at…

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Travel inspiration behind this plan

Things to do in Akureyri at Christmas: Iceland Travel Guide Watch on YouTube

Plan notes

Useful context before you go

This is a source-faithful three-day Christmas itinerary based on the creator's route with her mum. Expect icy winter roads: the car slid despite the handbrake being on, and the drive to Húsavík took just over an hour at reduced speed. If using the tunnel on the route to Goðafoss, pay the tunnel charge online within 24 hours to avoid a fine. Pack waterproof winter layers, warm footwear with good grip, and allow extra daylight and driving time. The source specifically highlights vegetarian and vegan food at Akureyri Backpackers, a vegan burger, cosy cafés, Christmas markets, geothermal bathing, museums, and festive attractions.

Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Day 1: Akureyri Town, History and Christmas Atmosphere

Stay centrally and explore on foot where conditions allow. This opening day follows the compact town route: café breakfast, historic museums, the church area, the botanical-garden lunch stop, and the waterfront Christmas market. The creator describes the town as having a surprisingly mild climate and more than 500 years of history.

  1. Bláa Kannan CaféBláa Kannan Café, Hafnarstræti 96, Akureyri, Iceland

    Begin with the apple-and-cinnamon cake and coffee. The creator describes the cake as creamy and especially good, making this a fitting warm-up stop before exploring the town.

  2. Akureyri MuseumAkureyri Museum, Aðalstræti 58, Akureyri, Iceland

    Use the museum visit to understand Akureyri's early settlement and merchant history. The creator paid 2,000 Icelandic króna per person and received access to additional small museums, including Nonnahús.

  3. NonnahúsNonnahús, Aðalstræti 54, Akureyri, Iceland

    Include Nonnahús as part of the museum admission described above. The house is associated with the Icelandic poet Nonnahús, and it provides a smaller, more intimate historic stop than the main museum.

  4. AkureyrarkirkjaAkureyrarkirkja, Eyrarlandsvegur, Akureyri, Iceland

    Look for the small church mentioned during the museum visit. The church area also provides a local architectural pause and a view toward the surrounding town.

  5. LystLyst, Botanical Garden, Eyrarlandsvegur, Akureyri, Iceland

    Stop for a mocha and avocado sourdough in the botanical gardens. The cabin-like building, fairy lights, snow outside, and warm interior are the main appeal of this lunch stop.

  6. Akureyri Christmas MarketAkureyri Christmas Market, Ráðhústorg, Akureyri, Iceland

    Visit the waterfront Christmas market for a compact festive stop. Try the Venezuelan arepa mentioned in the source and the very hot, very sweet drink served there.

  7. Hearts of Akureyri Traffic LightHearts of Akureyri Traffic Light, Hof Cultural and Conference Centre, Akureyri, Iceland

    Walk to the waterfront beside the cultural centre to find the heart-shaped traffic-light selfie point. The source notes that the lights were not operating during the visit, so treat the photo opportunity as weather- and maintenance-dependent.

Day 2: Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn Troll Search

This is the longest winter driving day. Allow roughly 40 minutes to Goðafoss and additional time for Lake Mývatn. Check road and ice conditions before leaving, drive cautiously, and remember the tunnel payment rule. The festive troll activity described at Mývatn is date-specific, so the lava-field scenery remains the dependable part of the stop.

  1. VaðlaheiðargöngVaðlaheiðargöng Tunnel, Iceland

    Use the tunnel on the route toward the waterfall only if road conditions and the chosen route require it. The creator specifically warns that the charge must be paid online within 24 hours of passage or a fine may follow.

  2. Goðafoss WaterfallGoðafoss Waterfall, Iceland

    Spend time at the waterfall of the gods, about 40 minutes from town in the source account. The creator explains that its name refers to the symbolic throwing of pagan statues into the falls when Iceland adopted Christianity.

  3. Mývatn Visitor CentreMývatn Visitor Centre, Reykjahlíð, Iceland

    Begin the lake visit at the visitors centre, as recommended in the source. Use it to orient yourself before continuing to the craters and lava formations.

  4. Lake MývatnLake Mývatn, Iceland

    Explore the lake area for the craters mentioned in the route. The source presents this as the first part of the Mývatn visit before continuing toward the lava fields.

  5. Mývatn Lava FieldsMývatn Lava Fields, Reykjahlíð, Iceland

    Continue to the lava fields and look for the volcanic pillars, arches, and caves described in the source. The creator says the formations are more commonly seen on the ocean floor than on land.

  6. HalifellHalifell, Lake Mývatn, Iceland

    Search the lava-field area for the 13 Yule Lads if your dates coincide with their appearance. The source says the visitor-centre staff had just seen them leaving and points toward the sign for Halifell as the place where they sometimes gather.

Day 3: Forest Lagoon, Húsavík and Christmas House

Use the final day for geothermal relaxation and a Húsavík excursion. The source estimates just over an hour to Húsavík in icy conditions, with whale watching as the town's signature activity but museums and the wooden church as the chosen winter alternatives. Finish with the Christmas House and return to the central hostel area.

  1. Forest LagoonForest Lagoon, Vaðlaskógur, Akureyri, Iceland

    Relax in the geothermal lagoon, use the swim-up bar, and look across the town. The source also specifically highlights the cold plunge and sauna. It is approximately a five-minute drive from town and opened in 2022.

  2. Húsavík Whale MuseumHúsavík Whale Museum, Hafnarstétt 1, Húsavík, Iceland

    Visit the whale museum, one of the principal museum options in this harbor town. Whale watching is the area's signature activity, but the source chose museums because there was not enough time for a boat trip.

  3. Húsavík MuseumHúsavík Museum, Húsavík, Iceland

    Add the local museum to the Húsavík museum pairing described in the source. It is a compact indoor option suited to the short winter daylight.

  4. Eurovision Exhibition HúsavíkEurovision Exhibition Húsavík, Húsavík, Iceland

    Visit the Eurovision exhibition associated with the film filmed in town. This provides a contemporary pop-culture contrast to the whale and local-history museums.

  5. HúsavíkurkirkjaHúsavíkurkirkja, Húsavík, Iceland

    Photograph the wooden church described as one of the town's most recognizable sights. The source notes that it is the image most commonly associated with Húsavík.

  6. Húsavík CaféHúsavík Café, Húsavík, Iceland

    Use this café as the reliable winter fallback when smaller restaurants are closing. The source found mushroom soup, a tomato-mozzarella panini, and a tomato-and-ham option here.

  7. The Christmas HouseThe Christmas House, Eyjafjarðarbraut vestri, Akureyri, Iceland

    Visit the giant Advent calendar tower and climb up to see its doors. The creator describes it as the world's largest Advent calendar and notes that one door is opened each day.

  8. Akureyri BackpackersAkureyri Backpackers, Hafnarstræti 98, Akureyri, Iceland

    Finish at this central, lively budget accommodation. The source describes pub-like atmosphere, a vegetarian section, a good vegan burger, and a location directly on the main street.