Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Davíðshús
Bjarkarstígur 6 • June-Aug Mon-Fri 1-5pm • 800kr •
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akmus.is
From Ráðhústorg, head northwest up to the library, then south onto Oddeyrargata,
take the first right into Krabbastígur and finally turn left into Bjarkarstígur to reach the
austere
Davíðshús
, former home of one of Iceland's most famous poets, novelists and
playwrights,
Davíð Stefánsson
. Born in 1895 to the north of Akureyri, he published his
first anthology of poems at the age of 24 and went on to write verse and novels that
were often critical of the state. It was only after his death in 1964 that Davíð was finally
taken into Icelanders' hearts, and he is now regarded as one of the country's greatest
writers. Inside, in addition to his numerous books that adorn the walls, are many of his
personal effects, including his piano and writing desk as he left them.
5
Akureyri swimming pool
Þingvallastræti 21 •
Pool
Mon-Fri 6.45am-9pm, Sat & Sun 8am-7.30pm •
Sauna
women only Tues & Thurs 3-9pm; men only Wed & Fri
3-9pm • 470kr; with sauna 750kr
From the top of Bjarkarstígur, the long, straight Helgamagrastræti (named after Helgi
Magri, the first settler in the Eyjafjörður region) leads south to Þingvallastræti and the
town's excellent outdoor
swimming pool
. With two large pools, several hot pots, a
steam room and a sauna, it's an absolute treat, especially when the sun is shining.
Sjónlistamiðstöðin
Kaupvangsstræti 12 • Tues-Sun noon-5pm • Free •
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listasafn.akureyri.is
Head east down Þingvallastræti and you'll come to the frankly rather uninspiring
Sjónlistamiðstöðin
(Centre for Visual Arts). Inside, there's a collection of temporary
exhibitions of work by local artists as well as a number of studios, known as Listagilið,
where workshops are occasionally held.
The harbour
It's worth venturing east of the commercial centre of town to explore the harbourside, best
reached along the main road, Drottningarbraut, running parallel to Skipagata. Although
the small southern
harbour
, Akureyrarhöfn, is close to the junction of Drottningarbraut
and Kaupvangsstræti, it's really along Strandgata, which runs along the harbour's northern
edge, that the industrial face of Akureyri becomes more prominent. The shipyard and
freighter terminal here make up the largest
commercial port
outside Reykjavík, a bustling
part of town where the clanking of cranes accompanies the seemingly endless unloading
and loading of ocean-going vessels at the dockside. In summer it's not uncommon for
gargantuan cruise liners to be moored here, too, at the eastern end of Strandgata.
Akureyrarkirkja
Eyrarlandsvegur • Mon-Fri 10am-4pm • Free •
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akirkja.is
Although Akureyri is far from ostentatious, you can't miss the dramatic
Akureyrarkirkja
,
whose twin towers loom over the town from its hilltop perch. Comparisons with
Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík are unavoidable, as both churches were designed by the same
architect, Guðjón Samúelsson, and both are modelled on basalt columns. Inside, there are
some dazzling
stained-glass windows
, the central panes of which are originally from the
old Coventry cathedral in Britain - removed, with remarkable foresight, at the start of
World War II before it was demolished during bombing raids, and sold to an Icelandic
dealer who came across them in an antiques shop in London. The church's other
stained-glass windows (also made in England, during the 1970s) depict famous Icelanders,
while the
model
ship
hanging from the ceiling commemorates a former bishop.
