Best Luxury Stays in Akureyri, Iceland
First, an honest note about the label: luxury in Akureyri means three self-catering apartments whose names include the word, not a five-star hotel with a concierge. What they offer is space, kitchens, terraces with sea and mountain views, and in one case a private hot tub. The three are Old Town Luxury Apartment, Luxury Loft Apartment and LL Properties - Luxury Penthouse, all within about 2 km of the centre and the Hof Cultural Center. If you want a hotel spa, look at the coastal page; if you want private, spacious apartments in town, these are worth comparing.
Akureyri is the largest town in North Iceland, set at the head of the Eyjafjörður fjord with mountains rising on both sides. The compact centre has the Hof Cultural Center, cafes and a harbour within easy walking distance. It works as the region's base for trips to Goðafoss and the north, with a calmer pace than Reykjavík.
Where to stay
Spacious apartments with fjord and mountain views
Akureyri's luxury stays are three spacious apartments near the centre, with sea and mountain views, full kitchens and, in one case, a private hot tub, rather than a full-service hotel.
Old Town Luxury Apartment is 1 km from Akureyri and offers a spacious three-bedroom apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a comfortable living space. Guests can use a garden and a terrace with sea and mountain views, and the apartment has free WiFi, a washing machine and a dishwasher. It is pet-friendly, which is unusual for a stay with this label. Rated 9.2 from 90 reviews, it suits a family or a group of friends who want a home for several nights rather than a hotel room, and who are comfortable cooking for themselves. The garden is a rare extra in a city apartment, and the terrace gives you the view without leaving the building.
Luxury Loft Apartment is less than 1 km from the Hof Cultural Center, with a spacious terrace overlooking the sea and mountains. It has a fully equipped kitchenette, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a hot tub, free WiFi, a washing machine and free private parking, and it is rated 9.2 from 83 reviews. The hot tub is the feature that justifies the name for me: you can sit in warm water with a view of the fjord after a day outside. It is a smaller space than the other two, so it suits a couple better than a group.
LL Properties - Luxury Penthouse is 2 km from Akureyri Airport and a short walk from the Hof Cultural Center. It is a spacious three-bedroom apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, free WiFi, and a terrace and balcony with sea and mountain views. It has the highest rating on this page, 9.8, but from only 43 reviews, so I would read the latest comments before booking. For a family or two couples who want separate bedrooms and bathrooms, it is the strongest fit of the three. Its position close to the Hof Cultural Center puts cafes and the harbour within a short walk of the door.
None of these is a hotel, and the differences are worth knowing before you book. You get no reception desk or restaurant in the listing, you cook in your own kitchen, and you should arrange check-in details with the host. In exchange you get privacy, space and views over the Eyjafjörður fjord from your own terrace, within walking distance of cafes and the harbour. If you value hotel services, choose a hotel; if you value space and independence, these apartments make sense. Weigh the trade-off honestly: you give up a breakfast service and a front desk, and you gain privacy, a full kitchen and the freedom to eat whenever you like.
A traveler's takeIf I were choosing for a couple, I would book Luxury Loft Apartment for its private hot tub and sea and mountain views. For a group, I would choose LL Properties - Luxury Penthouse, accepting that its 9.8 rating rests on 43 reviews, or Old Town Luxury Apartment with its garden. I would not expect hotel services, so I would arrange check-in with the host and plan some meals in the kitchen.
LuxuryLL Properties - Luxury Penthouse
Spacious penthouse with sea and mountain views near Akureyri Airport
Why guests love itLL Properties Luxury Penthouse is a spacious three-bedroom apartment 2 km from Akureyri Airport and a short walk from the Hof Cultural Centre. It has a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms and free WiFi, with a terrace and balcony facing the sea and the mountains. Guests rate it 9.8 across 43 reviews, a top score for a central apartment. The sea and mountain views come with the stay.
LuxuryLuxury Loft Apartment Akureyri
Loft apartment with hot tub, sea views, and a fully equipped kitchenette
Why guests love itI would pick this apartment for a few nights in Akureyri with a private hot tub. It is less than 1 km from the Hof Cultural Center, with a spacious terrace looking over the sea and mountains. There is a fully equipped kitchenette, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, free Wi-Fi, a washing machine and free private parking. Guests rate it 9.2 across 83 reviews. It works as a private residence rather than a hotel, so I would choose it for couples and small families.
LuxuryOld Town Luxury Apartment Akureyri
Spacious apartment with sea and mountain views, pet-friendly
Why guests love itThis is a spacious three-bedroom apartment 1 km from Akureyri, with a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a comfortable living space. A garden and a terrace look over the sea and mountains, and free WiFi, a washing machine and a dishwasher are included. Pets are welcome. A 9.2 rating across 90 reviews is strong. I would choose it for a family or a group of friends who want room and a kitchen in Akureyri.
Local tips
- 1Treat the word luxury as the property's name, not a star rating, and judge each apartment by its listed features: kitchen, terrace, bathrooms and hot tub.
- 2Choose Luxury Loft Apartment if a private hot tub matters, since it is the only one of the three that lists one.
- 3Book LL Properties - Luxury Penthouse for a group, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and read recent reviews first, since it has only 43.
- 4Pick Old Town Luxury Apartment if you travel with a pet, as it is listed as pet-friendly, and confirm any conditions with the host.
- 5Plan to cook some meals, because each apartment has a kitchen or kitchenette and none lists a restaurant or reception.
- 6Arrange check-in details with the host in advance, since these are private apartments and not hotels with a front desk.