One of Iceland’s premier ski areas, Hlíðarfjall / Akureyri ski resort lies between 500 and 1000m above the town of Akureyri, Iceland’s second city, and offers pisted slopes for skiers with a classification from beginner to advanced. The longest run is 2.5kms and there is also night skiing and cross-country skiing available.

Facilities, refreshments and accommodation for 100 people are provided by Strýta ski lodge on the mountain. Akureyri has far more options, with a handful of hotels and several guesthouses. Shoppers are well catered for and prices are reasonable.

Hlíðarfjall ski resort has 12kms of pisted runs, with a longest run of 2.5kms. Runs are classified from green-easy/beginner to blue-intermediate/advanced. Four ski lifts can lift over 2,000 skiers per hour with access to all pisted slopes. In addition, there are five kilometres of lighted cross-country trails that are groomed daily; longer tracks are made on weekends and holidays.

Other winter activities and facilities include: snowboarding, with a terrain park featuring jumps, slides and tables; an excellent skating rink; and numerous sports and leisure activities, including several fitness suites. Akureyri swimming pools are fabulous and heated via geothermal activity. In the evening there is a choice of the theatre, cafés and restaurants, and nightlife is provided by several bars and discos.

Hlíðarfjall’s best snow can be had from February to March, with cheaper rates offered at the beginning and towards the end of the season, and in January.

The most practical way to get to Hlíðarfjall ski resort is to fly to Reykjavík and take a scheduled bus to Akureyri, or, alternatively, you could take a domestic flight to Akureyri and transfer by ski bus or taxi.