Isgerdin

If there is one universal truth about Iceland, it is this: Icelanders eat ice cream constantly, obsessively, and regardless of weather conditions that would make any sensible person reach for a hot drink instead. In Akureyri -- a town where winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing and darkness dominates for months -- Isgerdin serves as the monument to this national passion, dishing out homemade scoops from morning until late every single day of the year.

The Ice Cream

Isgerdin makes its ice cream in-house, and the quality is immediately apparent. The texture is dense and creamy in the way that proper ice cream should be, and the flavours are clean and well-defined. The vanilla tastes of real vanilla. The chocolate is deep and satisfying. The Icelandic specialties -- liquorice, skyr-based flavours, berry combinations made with local crowberries or blueberries -- are where things get interesting for visitors.

The range is broad enough that you could visit several times without repeating yourself, and the flavours rotate seasonally, with summer bringing fruit-forward options and winter offering richer, more comforting choices.

The Icelandic Ice Cream Tradition

Understanding Isgerdin requires understanding the peculiar place that ice cream occupies in Icelandic culture. This is not a warm-weather treat. It is a daily ritual, a family activity, and a social institution. Icelanders make regular pilgrimages to their favourite ice cream shop, often in the evening, and the queue at Isgerdin on a summer night -- with the midnight sun still hanging above the mountains -- is one of the signature sights of Akureyri.

The tradition extends to winter. Eating ice cream while it is snowing outside is not considered eccentric in Iceland. It is considered normal, and Isgerdin's year-round operation reflects this.

The Experience

The shop itself is functional rather than fancy. You queue, you choose, you receive your cone or cup, and you eat it -- ideally while walking, which is another part of the Icelandic ice cream tradition. There is seating available, but the walk-and-eat approach is more authentic.

For visitors, the experience of queuing alongside Akureyri families on a summer evening, watching children deliberate solemnly over flavour choices while their parents make equally serious decisions, is a charming window into everyday Icelandic life.

Practical Notes

Isgerdin is on Glerárgata, a short walk from central Akureyri. Summer hours run 11:00-23:00 daily, winter 11:00-22:00 daily. No reservations needed, obviously. Prices are reasonable. The shop also offers catering for events and deliveries for groups. Cards accepted.