Akureyri: the north's practical hub
Book a hotel in central Akureyri rather than out at the airport — the town has the north's densest cluster of restaurants and cafés, and you will want to walk to them after a driving day. Prices for a mid-range double in July typically sit clearly above the Reykjavík shoulder-season rate, so book early. Skip the impulse to base here for the Westfjords: the drive via Route 61 to Ísafjörður is a long, often gravel-shouldered haul, and the seasonal flights are the better link. Two nights covers Akureyri and Mývatn without rushing; three is comfortable.
Egilsstaðir and the east
This is the quietest of the domestic bases, and that is the point. A hotel in Egilsstaðir town gives you a walkable centre and easy access to the supermarket, which matters in a region with sparse services. I would book two nights here to cover Seyðisfjörður and Borgarfjörður Eystri, then drive south towards Höfn rather than backtracking. Skip the detour to Vopnafjörður unless you have a specific reason — it adds hours on winding road for limited return. Note that Egilsstaðir is also the gateway to the highland road to Askja, open only in summer and only for well-prepared drivers.
Ísafjörður and the Westfjords
Base yourself in Ísafjörður town, not at the airport, and plan around weather — flights cancel in wind and fog, so build a buffer day. June to August is the season for Hornstrandir and for the longest daylight. I would book two nights and use the town as a walking base; the Westfjords reward slow travel, and trying to see Ísafjörður, Látrabjarg and the Strandir coast in one trip is too much. Skip Látrabjarg unless you have a full day and a confident driver: it is a long, exposed drive from Ísafjörður.
Vestmannaeyjar and the south coast
Book a hotel in Vestmannaeyjar town, close to the harbour, and give it one or two nights. The island is quiet outside July and August, when the Þjóðhátíð festival fills accommodation — book months ahead if you want that week. I would choose the ferry over the flight for the scenery, but keep the flight as a backup. Skip the island entirely if you have only three days in Iceland: the transfer time eats into a short trip, and the south coast waterfalls are easier from a mainland base.
Which base to book first
Weather is the real constraint on all of these bases. Domestic flights are short but cancellations happen, so keep the final night before an international departure in Reykjavík rather than at a regional airport. Car rental at Akureyri and Egilsstaðir is limited in peak season, so reserve with your hotel booking. For a first trip, Akureyri is the safest base: it has the most services, the shortest transfers to major sights and the widest choice of hotels.
Good to know
Questions, answered
How do I get from Keflavík to Akureyri without driving?
Take a domestic flight from Keflavík to Akureyri, or transfer to Reykjavík and fly from the city airport. The drive is roughly four to five hours via Route 1. Flying saves a day you can spend around Mývatn or the north coast.
How many days should I give the Mývatn area from Akureyri?
Two nights in Akureyri covers the town and Mývatn without rushing, and a third is comfortable. Mývatn itself is about an hour's drive east, so a single day trip works but leaves little time for the geothermal sites around the lake.
When do Egilsstaðir flights and the Askja road operate?
Domestic flights to Egilsstaðir run year-round, but the highland road towards Askja is open only in summer and only for well-prepared drivers. Check conditions locally before setting out, and do not attempt it in a standard small car outside the season.
Which airport should I use for the Westfjords?
Ísafjörður, reached by seasonal domestic flight. The overland drive from Akureyri via Route 61 is long and often gravel-shouldered, so the flight is the better link. Flights cancel in wind and fog, so build a buffer day into your plans.
How do I reach Vestmannaeyjar, and should I fly or take the ferry?
The ferry from Landeyjahöfn is the usual route and gives better scenery, with the flight as a backup. The crossing is short but weather-dependent. The island is quiet outside July and August, when the Þjóðhátíð festival fills accommodation, so book months ahead for that week.
Is car rental available at Akureyri and Egilsstaðir airports?
Yes, but availability is limited in peak season, so reserve at the same time as your hotel booking. Picking up in one domestic airport and dropping at another can suit a one-way loop, but confirm the drop-off arrangement when you book.
Where should I spend my last night before flying home from Keflavík?
Stay in Reykjavík rather than at a regional airport. Domestic flights are short but cancellations happen in wind and fog, and a same-day connection to an international departure is risky. A night in the city gives you a comfortable margin.
Which domestic base suits a first trip to Iceland?
Akureyri. It has the most services, the widest choice of hotels, and the shortest transfers to major northern sights such as Mývatn. Egilsstaðir, Ísafjörður and Vestmannaeyjar reward travellers with more time and a willingness to plan around weather.
Doing good is the business: every booking through Stay Iceland funds one verified tonne of carbon removal — same room, same price, no markup.
Search stays