Akureyri can boast of excellent sport facilities. In addition to the Akureyri ski resort, which generally opens in late November, the town is vibrant with sport activities. You can find several sport clubs, a large indoor football arena, two handball clubs, a football club and several other types of sports. Most students should be able to find something to their liking.
Two things are particularly noteworthy about sport recreation in Akureyri. Those are swimming and skiing. Swimming is more or less a way of life in Iceland. Due to abundant access to
geothermal water, Icelanders have build out-door swimming pools in nearly every town in the country. Swimming is an important aspect of the national curriculum and therefore the people in Iceland
frequently go to the swimming pools.
Skiing in Akureyri
Due to it's northern location and mountainous surroundings, the town is well known for its ski-resort named after the mountain it is located in, Hlíðarfjall. The ski slopes of Hlíðarfjall are a paradise for skiers; and if you are staying in Akureyri they are right on your doorstep. The environment is of the best and the ski lifts can carry 2930 persons per hour to the slopes above. The difference in altitude from lowest point to highest is about 500 meters.
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The Ski Centre was built up during the years 1955-1964 but formal operations began in 1962. The ski lodge stands at a height of 506 meters above sea level and the ski hut Strýta lies at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level.
The Hlíðarfjall Ski Resort
Tel: +354 462 2280
Email: hlidarfjall@hlidarfjall.is
Website: http://www.hlidarfjall.is/
Click here for an overivew map of the slopes
Opening hours
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 13:00 - 19:00
Tuesdays & Fridays: 13:00 - 21:00
Weekends: 10:00 - 17:00
Swiming in Akureyri
Great improvements have been made to the Akureyri Swimming Pool recently and it has become a veritable water paradise on a world scale for all the family. There are two pools and two water chutes, a splash pool, an indoor pool, four hotpots, a steam bath, a sauna, a solarium, and a family play area with popular games and equipment which is open during the summer months. The pool is highly popular both with the locals and with those who are just visiting the town. The pool guests during 2001 were 357,000 and this year the total number of visitors is anticipated at half a million!
Akureyri Swiming Pool
21 Þingvallastræti
Tel: 461 4455
Email: sund@akureyri.is
Opening hours
Weekdays: 07:00-21:00
Weekends: 08:00-18:30
