Akureyri Botanical Garden
Ideal: Good for gentle walks, botany, North Iceland, and in-city breaks.
The garden was founded in 1912 through a local women's association and sits just above the 65th parallel, a few kilometers below the Arctic Circle — one of the world's northernmost botanical gardens. Yet nearly 7,000 species grow here; what makes that possible is almost uninterrupted daylight in summer, letting plants photosynthesize far longer during the short season. Species that should not survive at this latitude taking hold makes the garden an experimental site for botanists. Entry is free.
Did you know?
How is a botanical garden possible this far north?
The garden lies only 50 km south of the Arctic Circle and is one of the world's northernmost. The fjord-moderated climate and near-continuous summer daylight let the plants grow.
How was the garden founded?
It was started in 1912 on the initiative of a group of Akureyri women and run by volunteers for years. It now holds over 400 native Icelandic plants and thousands of foreign species.
Why are the traffic lights in the town heart-shaped?
Akureyri's red lights are shaped like hearts. The idea began after the 2008 financial crisis to lift people's spirits, and it stayed.
Why go?
- For a calm green break in North Iceland
- To see Akureyri's in-city nature atmosphere
- For a more peaceful garden experience within Iceland's harsh landscape
Travel tip
The garden is far livelier in summer; the experience can be more limited in winter.
