Christmas Eve in Akureyri: Ráðhústorg After Dark
The Christmas market takes over Ráðhústorg, the town hall square, in downtown Akureyri. Stalls are set up on the square, the lights are on, live music plays, and the market is a family-friendly affair. The Visit Akureyri events listing describes it as a Christmas market with culture and live music, and it is the centre of the city's Christmas activity. Walk the square, listen to the music, and browse the stalls.
The market is an annual fixture on the city's events calendar. The source does not give exact opening dates or daily hours for the market, so check the "What's on" calendar on Visit Akureyri before you travel.
Akureyri Church: A Landmark for a Christmas Walk
Akureyri Church, the Lutheran church on the hill above the town centre, is the city's most recognisable building and the natural anchor for a Christmas Day walk. From the churchyard you look down over the town and across Eyjafjörður, the fjord the city sits on. The church also hosts summer concerts in July; the source does not list Christmas services or concerts there, so treat a visit as a walk and a view rather than a scheduled event.
Between Christmas and New Year: The Jaðar Bonfire
The biggest public celebration of the season comes on New Year's Eve, not Christmas Day. The city's New Year's Eve bonfire is held at an empty area just south of the golf course at Jaðar, and the bonfire is lit at 8:30 p.m. on 31 December. If you are staying through the week, plan for it: it is a fixed, annual event with a set time.
The source does not list a Christmas Day parade, street party or fireworks display in Akureyri. The Christmas market on Ráðhústorg is the confirmed public celebration for the season.
Winter in Akureyri: Skiing and the Geothermal Pool
Akureyri is a winter-sports town. The source notes that the city is popular during the February school winter break for skiing, the geothermal pool and winter scenery. Mt. Hlíðarfjall, the ski area above town, hosts the Donald Duck children's ski competition in the last week of April, which shows the mountain is in use through the winter season. The geothermal pool is a year-round fixture and a good way to spend a cold afternoon. Christmas Day falls in the darkest part of the year, so plan outdoor time around the short daylight hours and keep the pool and the market as your indoor and evening anchors.
Beyond the City: Gásir, Hrísey and the Fjord
If you have a car or use the local buses, the wider Eyjafjörður area has a set of annual events that show the region's character. The Medieval Trading Weekend at Gásir, the Hrísey Festival on the island of Hrísey in the fjord, and the Folk Music Festival in nearby Siglufjörður are all listed on the city's events calendar. The source does not give dates for these in the Christmas period, so use them as context for what the region does rather than as Christmas Day plans.
For a day trip, the fishing village of Hrísey, reachable by ferry across Eyjafjörður, is a quiet contrast to the town. Check ferry times locally, as the source does not list winter schedules.
Start Planning
Book your accommodation in downtown Akureyri so you can walk to Ráðhústorg and the church, and check the Visit Akureyri "What's on" calendar as your dates approach: the site updates its holiday programmes by year, and the Christmas market's exact days and hours will appear there. Plan your Christmas Day around the market, a walk up to the church, and a soak in the geothermal pool, and stay through 31 December for the Jaðar bonfire at 8:30 p.m.