e v i r d n a e c O Road trip along the Arctic Coast Way.
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TEXT: Michelle Spinei PHOTOS: Courtesy of Visit North Iceland and the proprietors
As I drove, I looked at the snowcapped mountains on one side of the road and the ocean on the other. Up ahead, houses painted in bright primary colours signified that I was coming up to the next fishing village.
Winter weekend getaway I was on a winter road trip along the Arctic Coast Way (Nordurstrandarleid), a brandnew tourist route that stretches
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along the entire northern coastline of Iceland, from Hvammstangi to Bakkaf jordu r. Winding through fjords and along several peninsulas, the route features natural wonders like lava fields and geothermal pools, as well as wildlife watching and adventure activities. While summer months are typically associated with road trips around Iceland, the colder months bring a dramatic turn to the Icelandic landscape, dotting the mountains with red and gold in the autumn and a coat of white in the winter. The northern lights are at their peak visibility from late September to March.
I started my trip in Akureyri, the unofficial capital of North Iceland, before driving up to Siglufjordur for a long weekend. The section of the Arctic Coast Way I chose is known for its charming fishing villages and maritime heritage. Non-stop, the drive takes about one hour, but there are plenty of reasons to stop along the way. Akureyri is home to an active cultural scene and a bustling main street of shops and restaurants, so I gave myself an evening to relax and explore. I headed to the Akureyri swimming pool, which was filled with people coming back from a day at the nearby ski slopes. I sat in the hot pots and
