Port town and municipality on the west coast, around 20 km (12 mi) north of Reykjavík.
The area where Akranes is located was settled in the 9th century, but did not receive a municipal charter until 1942.
The fishing industry remains the town’s most important source of employment, but commerce is also a significant employer as Akranes acts as a service center for a large rural region surrounding it.
The town is expected to grow further in the coming years because of growing industry and improvements of transportation to the Reykjavík area, following the construction of the 5.57 km-long (3.46 mi) Hvalfjörður Tunnel which was opened in 1998, one of the world’s longest underwater road tunnels.
Akranes Folk Museum offers a unique insight into past times in Akranes and surrounding area. The museum’s exhibition is in several houses, some of which were moved from…
Garðaholt 3, Akranes
