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Arctic Botanical Gardens (Lystigardurinn), Akureyri

4.4
#3 of 39 in Things to do in Akureyri
Garden Nature / Park
Wander the paths of Arctic Botanical Gardens (Lystigardurinn), where you can admire the flowers and plants of Iceland. At 3.7 hectares (9 acres), there is enough for you to explore without feeling overwhelmed. Note the fountains scattered throughout the gardens and duck into the well-maintained greenhouses. The garden's cafe comes highly recommended and offers gluten-free menu options, among other things. For Arctic Botanical Gardens (Lystigardurinn) and beyond, use our Akureyri travel route builder app to get the most from your Akureyri vacation.
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Arctic Botanical Gardens (Lystigardurinn) Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
585 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • August 15, 2017
    The gardens are quite small, but nicely laid out, and the number of flowers blooming was astonishing, as were the huge numbers of bees. Free entry, too, which is wonderful, considering how everything ...  more »
  • August 15, 2017
    We were surprised at how beautiful this garden was. The flowers were blooming and there were paths to wander around on. There were even lovely views of the fjord. If you have some time while you are i...  more »
  • August 15, 2017
    This is a fairly small botanical garden that is organized by plants growing at a certain altitude in Iceland. Certain areas are a riot of colors but having cycled along the shores of a number of fjord...  more »
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Google
  • May 26, 2017
    Lovely botanical garden to visit (in the season). Great place to walk around in with lots of different flowers to admire. We were there in the evening and there were some other people there, but it isn't crowded at all.
  • March 21, 2017
    We visited in March and there a was absolutely nothing growing and cafe was not open. They have a lot of the plots labeled where the plants will grow but if you're going here before April do not expect to see much except brown earth or a blanket of snow. I'm sure it would be stunning once the growth has started.
  • June 30, 2017
    Free to get in. It is a large botanical garden with a cafe. Definitely worth the price and close to city center.
  • May 11, 2017
    It's a peaceful and lovely place here in Akureyri. It varies how many flowers and plants there are but in the summer it's usually very flowery and nice :) The small café there is also modern and cozy but I'm not entirely sure about the opening hours
  • April 9, 2017
    I live nearby and truly love it. You should know that official opening hours are from 1. June until 30. September. The garden is open in the winter but you will not see much except snow. The Café is also closed during winter.
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For easy access to Akureyri's most popular attractions, restaurants, and stores, consider staying in the lively waterfront area. This area features a number of hotels and hostels within walking distance of the city's museums, galleries, and sites. Cost-conscious visitors should explore one of the more inland guesthouses. Some double as student housing but are generally not raucous. Vacation apartments provide a good base for those planning a longer stay in the northerly metropolis and many are centrally located. To make the most of the scenic countryside surrounding the city, opt for a campsite or cottage in the outskirts.
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