Akureyri (385klm from Reykjavik) and north Iceland

Akureyri is the pleasant capital of northern Iceland. Not really much to see. The old harbour features beautiful colorful houses (some transformed into museums) and horrible, horrible huge cruise ships that stop mainly for whale watching. The other old part of the city is mainly on Hafnarstraeti east. Head there to avoid the cruise ship’ crowds, that you probably will not avoid when whale watching.
There is an interesting Aviation museum (Flugsafn Islands) and a cute and at the same slightly weird Motorbike museum (Motorhjolasafn). Circle Air has some nice excursions to suggest. This is my best (in my bucket list...)

Further north west from Akureyri you have Husavik. A main whale watching destination. From there you can visit the Grimsey island, if you cannot go back without stepping on the real Arctic circle. The excursion is though complicated by boat (rough seas and must sleep on the island) and same by plane (expensive and short).

An hour’s drive from Akureyri you can visit the much more interesting Myvatn lake. You are now officially in North eastern Iceland. The lake itself is beautiful and has Carribean colors on a clear day. The geothermal baths are a pleasant alternative of the Blue Lagoon. Cheaper and less, much less crowded!

This is where I started heading back to Reykjavik.