Gásir

This location, which is around 11 kilometers from Akureyri, was formerly a prominent trade mart in medieval times. The best time to visit is in July when local craftsmen are re-creating the medieval market. Following the reconstruction, they resume selling handcrafted things in the manner in which they were sold during medieval times. According to archeologists, the site was a bustling commerce hub until the 16th century.

During the Middle Ages, Gásir was the primary commercial post in northern Iceland, and it is referenced numerous times in Old Icelandic Sagas from the 13th and 14th centuries. Archaeological studies in the area have revealed that it was a trading post until the 16th century, when Akureyri may have supplanted it as trade expanded further south.

Gásir is one of Iceland's most important archaeological sites. It is located 11 kilometers north of Akureyri and served as the primary commercial station in northern Iceland from 1100 to 1550, predating Akureyri. From 2001 to 2006, a large archaeological excavation took place there. It connects Gásir to trading locations in Scandinavia, Northern Europe, and Greenland. During the summer, people would congregate for a few weeks to deal with foreign merchants, purchasing exotic products and necessities. There was also onsite processing of the highly expensive Nordic gold, sulphur, walrus ivory, and falcons, as well as an exceptional amount of ceramics.

Location: Dagverðareyrarvegur, Iceland