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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You got some really beautiful pictures while you were there! Great post!
Thank you!
What a beautiful place to visit! I love checking out gardens.
It was! Me too, such a nice break from the cars and city
Your photos are stunning! When we visited Iceland last summer, we didn’t make it to Akureyri, but now feel we need to go back and visit this garden!
Thank you! It is a really neat little town. Worth a visit for sure.
Beautiful photos! Looks like a great place to relax!
Thank you! It was a lovely walk for sure 🙂
This Garden has me dreaming of Iceland! It is on my list!
Hope you make it!
I’m amazed at the variety and abundance of plants here. This garden is wonderful. I love Botanical Gardens so I will definitely visit when we visit Iceland.
It was so surprising to us too! Glad you hear you will be checking it out too.
Such a beautiful botanical garden…adding this one to my list of things to do in Iceland. And love that it’s free.
It is! Glad to hear it. Yes, as pricy as Iceland is finding these little freebies is always a win!
i love botanical gardens and this one has fantastic foliage. Even better it’s free to access!
When I hear Iceland, I certainly wouldn’t have thought of beautiful gardens like this. But this place is gorgeous!!
We found this to be true about much of the island. Our friends back home kept asking where the ice was lol.
Iceland is definitely on my travel list!
As it should be! Hope you get to cross it off soon.
I am continually amazed how beautiful this country is. gorgeous and unique article
Iceland is on the list. It looks fantastic and not a long plane ride from Boston. This looks like a great place to add to the list.
I wish we were that close! Go check it out for sure!
I’m planning a trip to Iceland and have added this to the list! Thank you.
Glad to hear it!
When you hear Iceland you think…botanical gardens??? I love that purple flower.
I know right? I wasn’t expecting it either. I had never seen a flower like that before, I spent like 10 min minutes looking at it lol
Iceland is on my bucket list and I didn’t even think that they had botanical gardens. Added to my list!
Glad to hear it! It is worth a stop for sure. Hope you get to check it off soon.
What a beautiful place you found! I love botanical gardens!
[…] Get up a little early and explore Akureyri. Akureyri is located on Eyjafjörður, in the north of Iceland right along Iceland’s ring road. It is considered the “Capital of the North.” It’s not a huge town but there is plenty to see. Charming nordic buildings, parks, and even some life-size trolls. Take a stroll through the Botanical garden, there are some very unique flowers and fauna. Check out more about the Akureyri Botanical Garden here. […]
[…] Get up a little early and explore Akureyri. Akureyri is located on Eyjafjörður, in the north of Iceland right along Iceland’s ring road. It is considered the “Capital of the North.” It’s not a huge town but there is plenty to see. Charming nordic buildings, parks, and even some life-size trolls. Take a stroll through the Botanical garden, there are some very unique flowers and fauna. Check out more about the Akureyri Botanical Garden here. […]
[…] botanical garden was one of the most unique botanical gardens I have been to, really neat. You can read more about it and see more photos […]