On our way up to Grímsey island recently, we had a four hour layover, so we jumped in a hire car and had a drive around in Akureyri, Iceland’s “second city,” population 18,191.

It a beautiful place to visit, even for just a few hours. Set in Eyjafjörður, the city is surrounded by mountains that were still snowy at the end of April. There are a surprising number of galleries, mostly located on a hill nicknamed “art alley” that runs beside the iconic church up to the town swimming pool, which must rate alongside the best in the country.

The full report on our journey to Grímsey island (the only populated spot in Iceland that crosses over into the Arctic Circle) will follow later in the month. You can hover over the pictures or click through to read the captions.

The picturesque town.

Akureyri also has a working harbour.

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Akureyri Backpackers is a great place to stay.

The Hof concert hall.

Akureyri Gotubarinn, a great place to spend an evening drinking.

Akureyri’s main street, lined with shops and bars by Art Bicnick

The trolls of Laugavegur have migrated!

“Art Alley,” home to Akureyri’s thriving gallery scene.

The Hof concert hall.

Akureyri’s forbidding church.

Rumour has it that Akureyri’s heart-shaped traffic lights were a project by children to cheer up parents during the crash of 2008.

As winter thaws, there’s still snow in the mountains, and the roads are clear.

Also read: 12 hours in Akureyri.

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