In October, the sun sets in Akureyri before 5pm. Temperatures drop below zero. And after dark, on a clear night, the sky turns green. EasyJet is flying non-stop from London to the capital of North Iceland for £57 return.
✈️ The deal
- From: London
- To: Akureyri, Iceland
- Airline: EasyJet
- Stops: Non-stop
- Price: £57–£77 return
- When: October 2026
Example dates:
03/10/2026 – 17/10/2026
06/10/2026 – 17/10/2026
💰 How far does your money go?
Iceland is expensive, and there is no point pretending otherwise. A main course at a sit-down restaurant in Akureyri runs £15–£24. A beer costs £6–£10. A flat white is around £4. The strategy that works: stock up at Bonus supermarket in the morning, eat lunch at a local spot, and save the proper dinner for one or two nights. The flight is £57. That is the barrier removed.
☀️ The weather
October in Akureyri averages 0°C to 5°C, dropping below -4°C toward the end of the month. Expect around 12 days of rain and some early snow. The sun rises at 8am and sets before 5:45pm. Short days mean long, dark nights, and long, dark nights are exactly what you need for the northern lights. October is one of the best months in Iceland to see the aurora. That is the trade-off that tips firmly in your favour.
🏨 Where to stay
All three options are within walking distance of the town centre and the fjord.
Acco Guesthouse - From £67/night Simple, central rooms at the most affordable end of Akureyri's accommodation market. The right base if you plan to spend most of your time outside.
Hotel Akureyri - 8.8/10 · From £80/night Right on Hafnarstraeti, the pedestrian high street, with fjord views and free parking. One of the most consistently well-reviewed mid-range stays in the city.
Hotel Kea by Keahotels - 9.3/10 · From £87/night The only four-star hotel in Akureyri, on the pedestrian street by the fjord. Restaurant, bar, suite rooms and the highest Booking.com score in the city.
🎯 What to do
Akureyri is a small town. The landscape around it is vast.
Northern lights hunt - Head out after 10pm on a clear night. The road toward Godafoss or the slopes below Mount Sulur give you dark skies within 20 minutes of town. October is one of the best aurora months of the year.
Forest Lagoon - A geothermal pool on the edge of town with unobstructed views over Eyjafjordur fjord. Go at dusk when the steam rises and the light drops. One of the most atmospheric baths in Iceland.
Akureyri Botanical Garden - The northernmost botanical garden in the world. Free entry. Small, quiet and oddly moving given how far north it sits.
Godafoss - 30 minutes east on the Ring Road. The "Waterfall of the Gods" is right off the road, horseshoe-shaped and loud. One of the easiest impressive stops in all of Iceland.
🗺️ Where to go from here
Akureyri is the gateway to North Iceland, not the final stop.
Husavik - One hour east. Iceland's whale watching capital. Minke whales, humpbacks and white-beaked dolphins in Skjalfandi Bay, on most boat trips throughout October.
Lake Myvatn - One hour by road. Volcanic lake, lava fields, pseudo craters and steaming mud pots. The Myvatn Nature Baths are the uncrowded answer to the Blue Lagoon.
Dettifoss - Two hours from Akureyri. The most powerful waterfall in Europe. The landscape around it looks nothing like anywhere else on the continent.
Asbyrgi - Two hours northeast. A horseshoe-shaped canyon that Norse mythology says is the hoofprint of Odin's horse. Rarely busy. Completely unlike anywhere else.
Northern lights, volcanic landscapes and a direct EasyJet flight from £57. October is the right month. Check the dates before they go.
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