Akureyri Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn) is an extraordinary public park and high-latitude botanical treasure situated in the northern city of Akureyri, Iceland. Perched gracefully at 50 meters above sea level on the scenic shores of the Eyjafjörður Fjord, this 3.6-hectare sanctuary is one of the northernmost botanical gardens on the planet, positioned just 50 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle. Established originally as a public park in 1912 by local women and later expanded to include a scientific botanical division in 1957, the garden acts as a living laboratory that proves how a micro-climate shaped by shelter belts can support a breathtaking variety of global plant life.
Highlights:
📊 Key Statistics: Walk through a world-renowned 3.6-hectare public botanical oasis protecting an expansive collection of roughly 7,000 plant species, completely open to the public with free general admission year-round.
🌸 The Vibrant Arctic & Alpine Trails: Explore beautifully curated rock gardens and winding pathways that showcase over 400 species of native Icelandic plants alongside an extensive collection of rare, high-latitude foreign flora from Spain to Siberia.
🌿 The Sunlit Café Lyst: Relax at Café Lyst, a striking, modern architectural glasshouse bistro nestled inside the garden grounds, serving fresh seasonal bakes, local craft beers, and organic soups enveloped by pristine forest views.
⛲ Historic Fountains & Memorial Gates: Stroll past the park’s central decorative fountain—one of the oldest in the country—and pay respects at the historic busts of Margrethe Schiöth and other pioneering women who founded the green reserve.
Information:
🌼Type: Sub-Arctic Botanical Garden
📍Place: Akureyri, Iceland
📅 Date: check visiting hours
☀️ Best Time to Visit: July to August to witness the dense perennial beds hit their absolute peak, high-intensity full bloom under the midnight sun.
🌐Website: https://www.lystigardur.akureyri.is/en
