Summer (June–August) is the classic time to visit, with long days and midnight sun in June and July. The midnight sun makes for strange and beautiful evenings — Akureyri barely gets dark. This is also the season for the Arctic Open golf tournament and most outdoor activities.
Winter (November–February) offers a different appeal: the northern lights are frequently visible around Akureyri, the ski area at Hlíðarfjall is in full swing, and the Christmas House is open. The Christmas spirit in Akureyri runs deep — the town is known in Iceland as the "Christmas capital," and the heart-shaped traffic lights are changed to red hearts for December.
Spring and autumn shoulder seasons are quiet and cheap. Mývatn is accessible year-round, though the road conditions to Dettifoss require checking in autumn and winter.