Food, cafés, geothermal swimming and culture, 25 minutes away.
Akureyri is about 21 km from Lundsskógur through Vaðlaheiðargöng. It is easy to spend a full day here without overplanning it: coffee and bakeries in the centre, a swim, museums and galleries, dinner by the fjord and live music after dark.
Bláa Kannan is an Akureyri classic, set in the blue Paris House from 1913, with coffee, cakes, soups and light meals. Kaffistofan is a smaller choice for coffee, while Ketilkaffi and Café Berlin work well for breakfast or brunch. For fresh bread and Icelandic pastries, stop at Bakaríið við Brúna.
Swimming pools are part of everyday life in Iceland, places to meet, talk and sit in hot water whatever the weather. In 2025, Icelandic swimming pool culture was inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Akureyri's geothermal pool is open all year, with outdoor pools, hot tubs and water slides.
For dinner, North serves contemporary Nordic and Icelandic cooking in an intimate room. Rub23 combines Icelandic seafood with Japanese-inspired dishes and sushi. Eyja is a relaxed wine bar and bistro, while Strikið sits on the fifth floor with views over Akureyri and Eyjafjörður. Later, Græni hatturinn is one of the town's best-known live music venues, and R5 Micro Bar is a quieter place for craft beer.
The Akureyri Art Museum and galleries along Art Street are in the centre. The Botanical Garden is at its best during the growing season. Check current opening hours and exhibitions before you go.
The road back to the house runs through Vaðlaheiðargöng. Pay the toll by card at the kiosk by the tunnel or online at veggjald.is, then turn right towards Lundsskógur immediately after the tunnel.
Akureyri town centre is about 21 km from Lundsskógur, about a 25 minute drive through Vaðlaheiðargöng.
Our choices are North for a special dinner, Rub23 for seafood and sushi, Eyja for wine and dinner, Strikið for dinner with a view, Kaffistofan for coffee, Bláa Kannan for a classic café, Bakaríið við Brúna for pastries and Græni hatturinn for live music.
Yes. Akureyri's geothermal swimming pool is open year round. Check its current opening hours before you go.
Stay at Lundsskógur