Car Hire in Akureyri

About Akureyri

Akureyri is one of the largest cities in Iceland. It is often known as the capital of the north. It is located in a fjord named Eyjafjörður that is in the northern part of Iceland. In the heart of the city, you'll see the church of Akureyri which has stained-glass windows portraying scenes from Icelandic Christian history. It is known for its stairway that counts in a total of 112 stairs to reach the church. Akureyri is rich with a culture where you can explore the Akureyri Art Museum, Akureyri Botanical Garden, or simply enjoy the amazing views of the mountains surrounding the fjord. Akureyri is also surrounded by some of the most amazing landscapes such as waterfalls, geothermal pools, and beautiful little villages which can be explored. 

Exploring Akureyri is best done by foot, but if you want to explore all of what the northern part of Iceland has to offer recommend renting a car. Hiring a car in Akureyri is easy and allows the freedom to drive to other beautiful places nearby.

Basic info and car hire in Akureyri

• Location: Eyjafjörður Fjord in northern Iceland
• Population:  18,191  (2019) 
• Official language:  Icelandic  (English is widely spoken in Iceland) 
• Currency:  Icelandic Krona  (ISK)
• Weather:   In Akureyri, they will have a warm summer with temperatures around 19 ° C / 66 ° F. The winter can be harsher with more snow than near the capital Reykjavík. 
• Holidays in Akureyri:   In June each year Akureyri hosts a weekend called Biladagar. It is a car show where you can go to a car exhibition, see races, drifts etc. You can also find a great festival called "Ein með öllu" at the first weekend of August. Many locals will travel north to Akureyri to enjoy the festival that hosts music, plays, Tivoli and many other great things. 
• Internet coverage:  Hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:   The road condition in Akureyri is mainly good. The roads in Iceland are in general narrow. In roundabouts, the cars in the inner circle always have the right when going out of the roundabout. During the winter period, we strongly recommend a 4x4 vehicle. 
• Car hire in Keflavik:  You will only find the big worldwide car rental companies offering pickup and dropoff in Akureyri. Companies such as Europcar, Hertz, Avis and Budget. They have offices at Akureyri Airport, Akureyri downtown and Akureyri Port. So if you are visiting Akureyri by plane or with a cruise ship you can easily rent a car in Akureyri

Driving in Akureyri

There is one toll road in Iceland. It is located 14km / 8.6m north of Akureyri. The toll road is a tunnel that goes through the mountain, it is called Vaðlaheiðagöng. It is important to keep in mind that when driving through the tunnel, you will need to pay online and you only have 3 hours before or after going through to pay. If the tunnel is not paid, the rental company will receive the fine and charge at the end of the rental. Most car rentals will add a service fee to the charge. You can also drive over the mountain and skip the tunnel, this is the old road and it is only 15 km / 9m longer. The best part about the old road is that it is free of charge. Driving in Keflavik is quite straightforward, you are not allowed to turn right on a red light in Iceland. The maximum speed in the city is 50km / h and outside the city, it is 90km / h. You will find all the major gas stations as well as budget gas stations in Keflavik. You can always pay in the self-service machine with your credit card. However, if your credit card does not have a PIN you will not be able to use it in the self-service machines. If your credit card does not have a PIN, we recommend purchasing a prepaid fuel card at the N1 gas station. 

The best time to visit Akureyri is during the summer months (June-August) while the temperature is at its highest and roads are easy to drive. During the wintertime it can be very snowy in Akureyri, so make sure to rent a 4x4 for your Akureyri drive. 

• Age limits:  20   (Minimum age may vary according to car hire companies. A Young Driver fee will apply to drivers under 25 years of age. To hire a car, it is required that a driver has held a license for more than one year).
• International Driving Permit:   Yes, if your driver's license is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). 
• Additional papers:    Identification  (passport),   a valid driving license and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Iceland). 
• Additional requirements:   Warning triangles, spare wheels are required as well as hands-free equipment with hearing aids are required when talking on the phone while driving.
• Children in the car:   All car occupants must wear a seat belt. Children under the age of twelve, or taller than 4ft 11in / 1.50 meters, may travel in the front passenger seat. 
• Driving side of the road:   Right. 
• Lights:   Headlights are turned on at all times (day and night). 
• General speed limits:   55 mph / 90 kph outside cities and 30 mph / 50 kph in residential areas.
• Parking suggestions:   You need to pay for parking downtown Akureyri on weekdays between 08: 00-18: 00.

What to see in Akureyri 

There is much to see and do in Akureyri! It is considered by many locals to be one of their favourite towns in Iceland. In the heart of the city, you'll see the church of Akureyri which has stained-glass windows portraying scenes from Icelandic Christian history. It is known for its stairway that counts in a total of 112 stairs to reach the church. Akureyri is rich with a culture where you can explore the Akureyri Art Museum, Akureyri Botanical Garden, or simply enjoy the amazing views of the mountains surrounding the fjord. Akureyri is also surrounded by some of the most amazing landscapes such as waterfalls, geothermal pools, and beautiful little villages which can be explored. We recommend visiting the ice cream store called "Brynja" when you are in Akureyri, it is considered to be the best ice cream store in Iceland. Make sure to visit the Christmas house while you are in Akureyri, it will make you feel like it's Christmas in the middle of the summer!