One Day in Akureyri for Cruisers: Shuttles, Maps, and Must-Do Stops

Full Blog Post: https://www.nowgoseeit.com/blog/akureyri-iceland-cruise-port Cruise Port Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Hr8kE0shYkcEpEWbPJuWyro_yfvhtcm Ready to explore Akureyri, Iceland on your cruise? In this episode of @NowGoSeeIt, we walk you through how to spend one perfect day in Akureyri, Iceland from a cruise ship—no excursion necessary. From waterfalls to gardens just miles from the Arctic Circle, here’s everything you can see and do when your ship docks right in the heart of Iceland’s northern capital. We kick off by explaining how easy it is to visit Akureyri on a cruise. Your ship docks right in town—no shuttle, no nonsense. You’ll step off into the main street within five minutes, and that means your adventure can start immediately. Just past the small souvenir shop, you’ll find a lineup of local tour operators and taxi drivers ready to take you on an Icelandic adventure. If you didn’t book anything ahead of time—don’t worry. This is one of the few ports where last-minute still works. We teamed up with another couple and grabbed a private taxi to Goðafoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most iconic sights, for about $70 USD per person. The drive to Goðafoss takes you through the Hringvegur tunnel—a 7-kilometer engineering marvel that slices through the mountain instead of going over it. We even stopped at a tiny cavern in the middle of the tunnel with a quirky exhibit about the tunnel’s construction. And then there’s Goðafoss. A wide, turquoise-blue glacial waterfall that absolutely lives up to its name: “Waterfall of the Gods.” We walk you through both sides of the falls, where to get the best views, and how long to spend there. Spoiler: 45 minutes is ideal unless you’re planning a hike. Also? Bring a rain jacket. You’re getting misted. On the way back into Akureyri, we took the mountain road instead of the tunnel. Pro tip: ask your driver. The views are great—snowy peaks, fjords, and a panorama of the whole town. Back in town, our first stop was Lystigarðurinn—the Akureyri Botanical Garden. This FREE garden is just 62 miles from the Arctic Circle and somehow has over 7,000 plant species, including hundreds that grow nowhere else in Iceland. There’s a cozy cafe and an impressive. From there, we walked to Akureyrarkirkja—the church that looms over town. It looks like a baby Hallgrímskirkja with bold art deco design and sharp symmetrical spires. It was closed during our visit, but we’ll show you the views from the top of the hill and give you the rundown of what’s inside if you manage to catch it open. We swing by the Akureyri Art Museum, which you can tackle in 20 minutes or less if you’re short on time. Need to get around? Akureyri’s city buses are completely free. You heard that right. Just hop on—no tickets, no QR codes, no fare cards. But! They don’t run at all on national holidays and only operate noon to 7pm on weekends, so check ahead if you’re planning to use them. We spent time walking Hafnarstræti, the main shopping street, with stops for Icelandic wool, design shops, and some genuinely good people-watching. We walked all the way past the main shops to visit the Landnemar statue—“The Settlers.” It’s small, but meaningful, and the hill it sits on gives you a panoramic view of the fjord. We looped back to the port with time to spare, passing the sleek, modern HOF Cultural and Conference Center. And then it was time to start watching the water—because if you’re visiting Akureyri, there’s a good chance of seeing whales. This is one of the best places in Iceland for whale watching. Even if you don’t book a tour, keep your eyes on the water as the ship sails out. We saw multiple humpbacks from the deck—tail slaps, breaches, and plenty of surface action. Akureyri is a perfect port stop. It’s compact, scenic, and packed with things to do whether you’re planning ahead or figuring it out on the fly. With epic nature, accessible sights, and real local flavor, this is a spot that delivers for cruise travelers. Want more info? We’ve got you covered at NowGoSeeIt.com. Check out the full blog post here for maps, detailed itinerary ideas, links to tours, and travel tips for every type of traveler: https://www.nowgoseeit.com/blog/akureyri-iceland-cruise-port This vlog is part of our Iceland Cruise Port series—watch the full playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Hr8kE0shYkcEpEWbPJuWyro_yfvhtcm If this video helped you plan your visit to Akureyri, help us out—click the like button, subscribe to our channel for more cruise port guides, and leave a comment with your favorite part of the day. And definitely check out the full Iceland Cruise series while you're here. FOLLOW US: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgoseeit X (formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/nowgoseeit Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nowgoseeit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nowgoseeit Thanks for watching! Now Go See Akureyri.