Things To Do in Iceland

By plane Iceland is readily accessible by air, with Keflavk (IATA: KEF) in the southwest of the country, approximately 40 kilometers from Reykjavk, serving as the major international airport. The airport itself is sparse, so pack books or other kinds of entertainment if you have a long stopover. Iceland is not...

By plane Airplanes, like buses or trains in other countries, are Iceland's primary mode of internal transportation. If you're entering one of the fjords, such as Akureyri, be aware that the trip may be a little rough. Air Iceland, Atlantic Airways, and Eagle Air provide scheduled service to neighboring locations such...

Iceland is a signatory to the Schengen Treaty. Between nations that have signed and implemented the pact, there are usually no border restrictions. This covers the majority of the European Union as well as a few additional nations. Before boarding foreign planes or vessels, identification checks are typically performed. At land...

Regions in Iceland Southwest IcelandThe capital, Reykjavk, and the bulk of the island's inhabitants are located here. West FjordsRugged terrain with hundreds of fjords surrounded by high hills, sparsely inhabited. West IcelandSnfellsjökull glacier, Breiafjörur islands, and more.00 North IcelandStunning lava fields and raging waterfalls. East IcelandMore fjords and the sole international passenger ferry port...

You won't regret taking an eye mask with you if you come during the heat. There is no real night throughout the summer, and the sun may only drop for a few minutes below the horizon in the north. Reserving a month or more in advance for travel during the...

The Gullfoss waterfall is awe-inspiring.Geysir, the most famous of all geysers, and Strokkur, which erupts every five minutes or so.Þingvellir National Park, is a magnificent environment of water-cut lava fields that is historically significant as the location of Iceland's parliament, which dates back to 930 AD.Vatnajökull glacier, Europe's biggest,...

Food in Iceland As the popularity of various kinds of food has grown, Icelandic cuisine has shifted significantly in recent decades, from mostly featuring lamb or fish in some form or another. Vegetarian diets are more difficult to follow, although there are many vegetarian restaurants in Reykjavik, and vegetarian meals...

Currency The Icelandic króna (kr or ISK) is the native currency, and its value plummeted during the 2008 financial crisis. It is currently trading at about €1 = 140 kr as of May 2016. This has also made local pricing more accessible to visitors, despite the fact that import prices...

Christmas: Follows the Western church's calendar. On Christmas Eve (December 24), Christmas Day (December 25), New Year's Eve (December 31), and New Year's Day (January 1), stores are typically closed (1 January).Iceland has a total of 13 jule lads. Historically, the jule lads were pranksters who made amends by...

Some Icelanders claim to believe in huldufólk, or concealed people, and some even claim to have seen them. They are similar to elves, although they are generally seen as distinct entities. There is even a museum dedicated to the hidden people in Reykjavik. This is an old Icelandic belief...

Telephone Call 112 from any phone in an emergency. These calls are free, and an emergency services operator will ask you which services you need (police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, rescue teams, civil protection, and child abuse protection), as well as your location. The phone numbers for non-urgent calls vary depending on where...

Icelandic (slenska) is the official language of Iceland, which is extremely close to, but not identical to, 13th-century Norse. Icelandic lettering utilizes the Latin alphabet, but includes two letters that have long since been lost in English: eth (,), which sounds like the voiced th of "they," and thorn(,),...

The origins of Icelandic culture may be found in North Germanic traditions. Icelandic literature, particularly the sagas and eddas produced throughout the High and Late Middle Ages, is well-known. Centuries of isolation have helped to protect Iceland's Nordic culture from other influences; one notable example is the preservation of...

Settlement and Commonwealth 874–1262 Celtic monks known as the Papar, presumably members of a Hiberno-Scottish mission, existed in Iceland before Scandinavian immigrants arrived, according to both Landnámabókand slendingabók. Recent archaeological investigations in Hafniron, on the Reykjanes peninsula, have uncovered the remains of a cabin. It was abandoned between 770 and...

Stay Safe in Iceland 112 is the number to call in an emergency. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world, so you're unlikely to be robbed or harassed. This does not apply to Reykjavik, which has seen an increase in petty theft and nighttime violence. When enjoying the...