Exploring the Beautiful Akureyri Botanical Garden in Iceland

One of the stops we made along our trip around the ring road while in Akureyri was the Akureyri Botanical Garden. We really enjoyed a stroll through it.

It was becoming fall while we were there so there were a lot of lovely colors throughout the gardens.

I have been to several botanical gardens, I find that they are great for a leg stretch and some fresh air. Of all of the ones I have been to this is one of the most notable. It had to most unique flowers and fauna.

Some of the flowers I had never seen before like this purple flower above. I love the colors and the spikiness.

The weather the day we went was absolutely perfect. Cool and brisk but bright blue skies and puffy white clouds. We went mid-day.

Something I noticed as a photographer was that the light quality here was so different than I was used to. The sun sits lower in the sky and it is not nearly as intense as it is when you get closer to the equator. This made the photos taken here at “high noon” did not have the hard shadows and dull colors photos at this time are known to have.

About the Akureyri Botanical Gardens

The Akureyri Botanical garden, or Lystigardur Akureyrar in Icelandic, is the northernmost botanical garden in the world. While the park opened in1912 the botanic part did not come until 1957.

The park features over 6000 plants from all over the world and is home to over 400 native plant species. The garden is open to the public and is enjoyed by both the locals and visitors. I will say, it’s one of the most beautiful botanical gardens I have seen. 

It is located about a 15-minute walk from the center of town, or catch a bus if you would like. 

Entrance to the Gardens is Free. The Akureyri Botanical Gardens is open from June 1st to September the 30th until 10 pm. In the winter you are still free to roam the park, the facilities are closed, however. 

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