Akureyri Botanical Garden

The point of this garden is its latitude. It sits 85 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, at an elevation of about 45 metres, and by the end of 2007 it held some 7,000 plant species — arctic plants alongside species from temperate zones and high mountain areas. It was built partly to show that shrubs and trees can grow at the edge of the Arctic, and it works as a research collection as much as a park. The southeastern corner is given over to around 400 Icelandic species.

The ground is compact for what it carries: 3.6 hectares crossed by walking paths, with busts of Jón Rögnvaldsson and Margarethe Schiöth, who built the collection up, and of Matthías Jochumsson, the poet who wrote the Icelandic national anthem. Eyrarlandsstofa, one of the oldest houses in Akureyri, stands on the grounds.

• The café and the toilets are summer-only. Coffee and light meals are served then; outside the season the garden itself stays open.
• The toilets charge. Bring the means to pay — cards are taken on site.
• Everything is outdoors. A wet day means a wet visit, and there is no indoor route through the collection.
• Dogs are allowed, and the garden works for children.
• Signs along the paths cover the history of the garden.

The garden lies in the southern part of Akureyri, on the west side of the head of Eyjafjörður. From the town centre and from the cruise pier it is a walk of about 30 minutes, uphill the whole way. Driving up removes the climb: there is a car park at the garden. From the entrance, walking paths lead through the collection.

Better: summer, and early in the day, when the paths are quietest.

Avoid: the rest of the year if you want the café or the toilets — both run in summer only.

Rain is not a reason to cancel. A September visit in continuous rain still works, because the planting carries the visit and none of it depends on the weather. What does change with the season is the service side: for coffee, light meals and toilets, come in summer.