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The title of “little town” is relative, especially in Iceland, where Akureyri, which serves as the northern capital of the country, is the second largest city in Iceland, with 17,000 residents. It’s also one of the most enchanting places on earth. Nestled (there is no other word for it) at the base of a fjord on the mountainous north coast, Akureyri is home to some fantastic skiing runs and other snow sports, for a very good reason: Icelandic weather.
Akureyri is only 240 miles from the nation’s capital, Reykjavik. However, in Iceland, distance is measured by weather, not kilometres. 240 miles can turn into an 8-hour drive when taken in November. If there is anything in this world that is unpredictable, it is what the weather is going to do in Iceland. In June, the sun is out 177 hours in the month, in November, there are 12 hours of sunlight in the month. December is pitch black. Snow storms can whirl up out of nowhere and dump 36 inches of snow in one night. It is a cold, beautiful land, and the weather can make it dangerous or enjoyable. Locals check the weather religiously.
Summer months in Akureyri allow for horseback riding, a national pastime, since much of the country is still rural, and summer drives to view the scenis countryside. Be careful driving in winter though; foreigners will be unfamiliar with what Icelandic winter does to roads, and, given that a majority of the roads in the country are unpaved in parts, city cars will have some spotty runs.
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