Reykjavik to Akureyri: How to Travel Between Iceland's Two Largest Cities in 2026
Empty Route 1 highway winding north through Iceland toward the mountains
Your complete guide to journeying from Iceland's capital to the charming northern hub of Akureyri, with transport options, route highlights, and accommodation tips.
Why Travel from Reykjavik to Akureyri
Akureyri, Iceland's second-largest city with around 20,000 residents, offers a completely different experience from the capital. Nestled at the head of Eyjafjörður fjord in North Iceland, this charming town serves as the gateway to attractions like Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss waterfall, and some of Iceland's most reliable whale-watching spots. The journey from Reykjavik covers approximately 390 kilometres and takes you through some of the country's most dramatic landscapes.
Making the trip north allows you to experience Iceland beyond the well-trodden Golden Circle route. Akureyri itself boasts excellent restaurants, the northernmost botanical garden in the world, and a thriving cultural scene. Winter visitors can enjoy skiing at Hlíðarfjall, while summer brings the midnight sun and hiking opportunities in the surrounding mountains. Securing accommodation in Akureyri before your journey ensures you have a comfortable base for exploring the north.
Driving the Ring Road: The Most Flexible Option
The most popular way to travel from Reykjavik to Akureyri is by car along Route 1, Iceland's famous Ring Road. The drive typically takes 4.5 to 6 hours depending on conditions and stops, though winter travel can add significant time when snow slows the mountain passes at Öxnadalsheiði and Holtavörðuheiði. Leaving the capital you head north through Borgarnes, skirt the long inlet of Hrútafjörður, and cross into Skagafjörður before the final climb over the heath into Eyjafjörður. Fill up in Borgarnes, Blönduós or Varmahlíð — fuel stations thin out on the longer stretches.
A rental car runs roughly $70 to $130 a day in summer for a small two-wheel-drive, which handles Route 1 fine because the road is paved the whole way. In winter, pay for a four-wheel-drive with studded tyres and check road.is (the national road administration) and vedur.is (the met office) every morning before setting off. Give yourself the full day rather than racing it: Grábrók crater near Bifröst, the turf church at Víðimýri, and the Kolugljúfur canyon are all a few minutes off the road and worth the stop.
Taking the Bus: The Budget Route
If you'd rather not drive, the scheduled coach is the cheapest way north. Straeto route 57 runs between Reykjavik's Mjódd terminal and Akureyri in about 6.5 hours, usually with a change or stop in Varmahlíð or Blönduós. A one-way adult ticket costs around 12,000 ISK (roughly $85), with two to three departures a day in summer and fewer in winter. Book ahead through the Straeto app or website, as seats on the long legs sell out on peak-season services.
The coach makes sense if Akureyri is your base and you plan to join guided day tours from there, since you won't need a car in town — the centre is walkable and the local buses are free. The trade-off is flexibility: you can't pull over for the waterfalls and craters along the way, and the timetable ties you to fixed departures.
Flying to Akureyri: The Fastest Option
Icelandair runs domestic flights between Reykjavik's city airport (RVK) and Akureyri (AEY) several times a day. The flight takes just 45 minutes, and one-way fares usually land between $90 and $160 depending on how far ahead you book. It's the obvious choice if you're short on time or travelling in deep winter, when the passes can be slow or closed altogether.
Note that the domestic airport sits in central Reykjavik, a short taxi or bus ride from downtown hotels — not out at Keflavík, where international flights arrive. Akureyri Airport is likewise only a couple of kilometres from the town centre, so transfers at both ends are quick and cheap. Book directly with Icelandair and travel light: the domestic baggage allowance is tighter than on international routes.
Where to Stay in Akureyri
Akureyri has a compact cluster of hotels, guesthouses and apartments within walking distance of the harbour, the Hof cultural centre, and the pedestrianised shopping street. Central three- and four-star hotels run roughly $200 to $300 a night in summer, while guesthouses and apartments sit closer to $120 to $180. However you travel north, book your Akureyri room before you leave the capital — the town has a limited number of beds and fills quickly in July and August and during the winter ski season.
Staying central lets you walk to the botanical garden, the geothermal swimming pool and dinner without a car, and pick up whale-watching or Mývatn tours that collect from town-centre hotels. If you've driven up, confirm your accommodation has parking; most central hotels do, but a few older guesthouses rely on street parking, which is free but limited.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reykjavik.
Plan on 4.5 to 6 hours for the 390-kilometre drive along Route 1 in good conditions. In winter, snow and short daylight can add an hour or more, and the mountain passes occasionally close — always check road.is before you set out.
Fly if you're short on time (45 minutes, from about $90). Drive if you want to stop at waterfalls and craters along the way and explore the north on your own schedule. Take the bus (around $85, 6.5 hours) if you're on a budget and plan to base yourself in walkable Akureyri without a car.
No — in summer a two-wheel-drive is fine, as Route 1 is paved the entire way. In winter, book a four-wheel-drive with studded tyres and check the road and weather forecasts each morning, since the passes over Öxnadalsheiði and Holtavörðuheiði can get snowy.
Yes. Grábrók crater near Bifröst, the Kolugljúfur canyon, the turf church at Víðimýri and the Glaumbær turf-farm museum in Skagafjörður are all short detours off Route 1. Goðafoss waterfall sits just before Akureyri and is a required stop.
