New Accommodation Options Set to Transform Akureyri’s Hospitality Scene
Tour operators and travellers have a lot to look forward to around Akureyri over the next couple of years. Two new hotels have been announced for the city this spring, and a third is nearly finished in Grenivík, about a thirty-minute drive away. Direct flights to North Iceland now run year-round, visitor numbers are up, and hotel demand is following.
Forest Lagoon Hotel
A 120-room hotel is going up just outside Akureyri, right next to the Forest Lagoon. The property will have a restaurant and a conference hall, and guests will have direct access to the lagoon — a spot that locals and tourists have taken to in a big way. The hotel is expected to open by the end of 2027, at the same time as an expansion of the lagoon itself.
Höfði Lodge – Viking Heliskiing
Out in Grenivík, the people behind Viking Heliskiing are building the Höfði Lodge, due to open in 2026. At 5,500 square meters, it will have 40 rooms including four suites, plus a restaurant, spa, wellness facilities, and a mix of lounge and meeting spaces.
The lodge is built around outdoor pursuits — heliskiing, ski touring, mountaineering, biking, snowmobiling, hiking, whale watching, horseback riding, hunting, and fly-fishing. It sits on a 50-meter-high cliff with open views of the ocean, the mountains of Látraströnd, and the Troll Peninsula stretching out behind.
Hotel Akureyri Expansion
Hotel Akureyri has already made its move, completing an expansion that brings the total room count to 140. The new wing adds a redesigned reception area and a café bar.
Hotel Skáld – Curio Collection by Hilton
Also coming to Akureyri is Hotel Skáld, joining the Curio Collection by Hilton. The name comes from the Icelandic word for poet, and Icelandic poetry will run through the hotel’s identity. Situated in the centre of Akureyri, it will offer 70 rooms and will be the first Hilton property to open outside of Reykjavík. The Curio Collection is known for properties built around a strong local story — architecture, design, food, and curated activities all feeding into it. Hotel Skáld is set to open in the summer of 2026.
Taken together, these projects point to a city that is serious about its place on the Iceland travel map — and one that will have considerably more beds to offer when visitors arrive.
