Hrísey
The “Pearl Island” of Eyjafjörður, reachable by a 15-minute ferry. This car-free island is home to many birds, including ptarmigan and Arctic terns in its bird reserve.
Hrísey is Iceland's second-largest offshore island, about 7 km long, with only around 150 residents and almost no cars. Visitors explore on foot or by tractor-drawn tour wagon. The northern part is a bird reserve where ptarmigan and Arctic terns nest in dense colonies. The terns dive at intruders to protect their nests, so a hat is advised. Ferries leave from Árskógssandur, about 35 km north of Akureyri, roughly every 1–2 hours and take about 15 minutes. A round trip costs about 2,000 ISK. The island has small cafés and a swimming pool.
Opening hours
Ferries approx. 07:00–23:00, every 1–2 hours
Nearby sights
- Laufás Turf Farm
- Hlíðarfjall Ski Area
- Hafnarstræti (Akureyri)
- Akureyrarkirkja
- Akureyri Botanical Garden
- Forest Lagoon
- Christmas Garden (Jólagarðurinn)
- Siglufjörður