Akureyri's best travel agency for tour bookings is Nonni Travel, Brekkugata 5 (tel. 461-1841; www.nonnitravel.is; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). The tourist information center can also book many tours.

Aerial Tours -- Seeing Iceland from an airplane window may seem decadent or extravagant, but few regret this memorable and exhilarating experience. Aerial tour companies that fly from Akureyri are Eagle Air (tel. 562-4200; www.eagleair.is), Fjarðaflug (tel. 562-6500; www.fjardaflug.is) and Mýflug Air (tel. 464-4400; www.myflug.is). Logical destinations include Mývatn, Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Herðubreið, Askja, and Kverkfjöll; for all these places, however, it's cheaper to take off from Mývatn. Eagle Air and Mýflug flights can be booked through the tourist information office.

Sea Angling -- Haffari Seatours (tel. 860-3890; www.haffari.is; tickets 2,600kr/$42/£21 adults, 1,300kr/$21/£10 children 8-18, free for children 7 and under, minimum charge 10,000kr/$160/£80; June 28-Aug 31 daily departures at 9am, 1:30pm, and 8:30pm) offers 2-hour fishing and sightseeing tours in 10-passenger boats leaving from Akureyri harbor. More intense anglers could head 44km (27 miles) north to Dalvík, where Sjóferðir (tel. 863-2555; www.hvalaskodun.is) has 3-hour fishing trips in six-person boats for 3,900kr ($62/£31).

Golf -- Golfklúbbur Akureyrar (tel. 462-2974; gagolf@gagolf.is) runs the world-class course Jaðarsvöllur (course fee 4,000kr/$64/£32; club rental 2,000kr/$32/£16; cart rental 3,500kr/$56/£28; June-Aug 8am-10pm), which hosts the 36-hole Arctic Open (www.arcticopen.is; entry fee 28,125kr/$450/£225) in late June; contestants tee off into the morning hours under the midnight sun. Tournament slots fill up by February or March. The course is up the hill southwest of the city center, off Eikarlundur.

Hiking -- The best local hiking is southwest of Akureyri in and around Glerárdalur Valley, which is surrounded by small glaciers and some of north Iceland's tallest mountains. Most routes are strenuous, and hikers should be aware that harsh weather, even snowstorms, can set in without warning. The place to start is Ferðafélag Akureyrar, which maintains the Lambi mountain hut in Glerárdalur, and publishes the Glerárdalur hiking map, also available at the tourist information office.

Horseback Riding -- Pólar Hestar (tel. 463-3144; www.polarhestar.is), one of Iceland's most established horse tour companies, is recommended for everything from 1-hour rides (3,000kr/$48/£24) to multi-day pack trips through the interior. Pickup from Akureyri can be arranged.

Skiing -- Hlíðarfjall (tel. 462-2280; www.hlidarfjall.is; day pass Mon-Fri 1,300kr/$21/£10, Sat-Sun 1,900kr; early Nov-Apr Mon and Wed-Thurs 1-7pm, Tues and Fri 1-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm) is the premier ski center in Iceland, with the best conditions usually in February and March. The longest run is 2.5km (1 1/2 miles) with a 500m (1,640 ft.) vertical drop. Hlíðarfjall also offers cross-country trails, a snowboarding course, a ski school, and a restaurant. Courses are floodlit during short winter days. Hlíðarfjall is 7km (4 1/4 miles) west of town; take Hlíðarbraut or Þingvallastræti to Hlíðarfjallsvegur. No bus serves the mountain, and a taxi costs about 2,000kr ($32/£16) each way.

Swimming -- The Akureyri Swimming pool, Þingvallastræti 21 (tel. 461-4455; admission 350kr ($5.60/£2.80) adults; 100kr ($1.60/80p) children 6-15; free for children under 6; Mon-Fri 7am-9pm; Sat-Sun 8am-6:30pm), is a water wonderland, with indoor and outdoor pools, a kiddie pool, two waterslides, hot tubs, massaging water jets, a steam bath, fitness equipment, an ice-cream stand, and, for an extra charge, a sauna. Bring a towel to avoid the 300kr ($4.80/£2.40) rental fee.

Whale Watching -- Whale-watching in Eyjafjörður is based at Hauganes and Dalvík, north of Akureyri. SBA Norðurleid (tel. 550-0700; www.sba.is) offers day tours that include bus transport to Húsavik and a whale-watching trip from there for 6,200kr ($99/£50) in spring or 7,200kr ($115/£58) in summer.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.