Akureyri
Akureyri is Iceland's northern capital, a small town surrounded by fjords with a free botanical garden and access to whale watching and geothermal wonders.
Country
Iceland
3 cities and towns
Iceland is famously expensive, but the real attractions, the waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, volcanic landscapes, and Northern Lights, are almost entirely free to experience. Camping, self-catering from supermarkets, refilling at the free public swimming pools, and splitting a rental car keep costs down if you plan carefully. The Ring Road links the main stops, including Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Vik. Shoulder months on either side of summer mean cheaper car hire and accommodation while the roads stay open.
Where to go
Cities and towns in Iceland
Each one with what it costs to spend a day there.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the world's most northerly capital, compact enough to walk in hours, with colorful houses, street art, and free-to-visit landmarks.
Vik
Vik is the southernmost village in Iceland and the obvious overnight on any Ring Road leg beyond Skógafoss. The black-sand beach at Reynisfjara and the basalt sea stacks offshore do most of the work for the town's reputation. Everything else is a cluster of guesthouses, a single grocery store, and the red-roofed church on the hill.
Coverage of Iceland is still thin. The full list is here.
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