Hotels in Iceland

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North Iceland hotels: Akureyri, Mývatn, and the fjord towns

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North Iceland hotels: Akureyri, Mývatn, and the fjord towns

Iceland’s second-city region, quieter than the South Coast, stronger for aurora than Reykjavík. Akureyri (Ah-kuh-ray-ree) is the base, Mývatn the geothermal lake, Húsavík the whale-watching capital, Siglufjörður the herring-history fjord town.

Sub-areas of North Iceland

Akureyri

Iceland’s second city, 18,000 people, one of the country’s best domestic-flight routes from Reykjavík (45 minutes). The Christmas-tree town centre, the botanical garden, and a genuinely walkable main street.

Mývatn

The lake and the geothermal area. Hverir mud pools, Grjótagjá cave, Mývatn Nature Baths (the northern Blue Lagoon, better value). 90 minutes east of Akureyri.

Siglufjörður + Húsavík

The fjord towns. Siglufjörður for the herring museum and the Siglo Hotel, Húsavík for whale-watching (the world’s best chance of a blue whale sighting in summer).

The best hotels in North Iceland

  1. Siglo Hotel, Siglufjörður – Waterfront in the herring town, hot pots by the harbour, from $290.
  2. Icelandair Hotel Akureyri – The reliable Akureyri anchor, from $230.
  3. Hotel Kea by Keahotels – Central Akureyri, from $200.
  4. Fosshotel Húsavík – Whale-watching base, from $210.
  5. Sel-Hótel Mývatn – Lakeside Mývatn, from $220.
  6. Fosshotel Mývatn – Modern Mývatn option with lake views, from $260.
  7. Hotel Natur Akureyri – Countryside quiet 20 minutes north of Akureyri, from $190.

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Aurora in the north

The north sees the aurora as often as the south, but the weather is more variable and cloud cover more common. September to March is peak. Siglo Hotel, Sel-Hótel Mývatn, and Hotel Natur are the strongest aurora hotels; all three are far enough from Akureyri’s light pollution to give you a real chance.