I have been to Iceland three times now for more than two months total and still have much of the island I haven’t seen. One of the most surprising of places I have yet to explore is Akureyri, the “Northern Capital”. Much like the U.S., Iceland can be a very difficult place to explore without a car, which I do not have, and for the sake of saving money in one of the most expensive countries in the world, I have to plan many trips around the bus system. Fortunately, there is a bus from Reykjavik to Akureyri… It’s just 7 hours and over a hundred dollars one way.

Thankfully, the seats were very comfortable, Iceland is a stunning country, and I have been completely consumed by The Hunger Games books. So, after some photos of gorgeous landscapes, a few jaw dropping plot twists, and a couple power naps, I was there. Akureyri greeted me with great weather (for Iceland standards), it was just cloudy and windy as hell with very minor rain showers. But what really struck me first was the powerful and inescapable smell of cow manure, which was only the first indicator of how far I was from the capital region and how different Akureyri is. 

Akureyri feels distinctly unique from any other town I have been to in Iceland. Its history, architecture, and culture is rooted in its humble beginnings as a danish trading post and fishing hub. Many historical homes, that are still standing today, once belonged to danish wealth. Akureyri also has an abundance of trees, a rarity in Iceland, due to the Danish bringing their strong interest in gardening and planting with them to the North. Icelanders in Akureyri continued the movement and the town now boast the world’s northernmost botanical garden and a forest just south of town with over a million trees. 

This forest is where I would camp during my stay in the north and its beauty was incredible (and all the trees breaking up the wind was a nice bonus). Like I usually do when I camp, I got the best sleep you can imagine as the wind rustled the leaves in the tall birches around me and I awoke to the most beautiful sunsets pouring light down into the fjord. 

I got to see the northernmost botanical garden in the world, experience new areas of the country I had yet seen, learn about the rich and unique history of the town, explore some beautiful art galleries, and deepen my understanding of Iceland. 

Oh, and Icelandic hot dogs are just as good in the North as they are in the South.