Iceland, located in northwestern Europe, is comprised of a large island as well as several smaller islands. Known as the “land of fire and ice,” Iceland has many glaciers and thermal springs as well as active volcanoes. Iceland is very unique in that its rugged, craggy landscape is dotted with geysers, green land, waterfalls, fjords, and rivers as well as lava. The largest city in Iceland is Reykjavik, which is also the capital. With almost half of the the countries population living in the capital, one would think that Reykjavik would be a huge metropolitan area. However, the entire city and its environs has a mere 120,000 people in its population. Reykjavik has many tourist attractions including Perlan which is an exhibition building that houses shops, eateries, museums, and concerts. Perlan also has a winter deck with a Christmas store that is open year round. The Blue Lagoon Spa is also a popular location as it is a large geothermal spa. Other places of interest in Reykjavik include the Hallgrimskirkja Church, the National Museum of Iceland, and the Einar Jónsson Museum. The Smáratorg 3 is also a place of interest as it is a tower filled with gyms, stores, restaurants, and more. One of the most unique beaches in not only Iceland, but the world is Nautholsvik. This beach is artificially heated and thus offers a beach for Icelanders to swim at in an environment which would otherwise be too cold for this. Other attractions in Iceland include the Gullfoss waterfall and the Dettifoss waterfall both of which are stunning sights. Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. If one is lucky, a rainbow can be found at either location. Whale watching is a popular activity for tourists as well as hiking, fishing, and rafting. Iceland also houses Europe’s largest glacier. Iceland has something of a temperate climate with cool summers and mild winters. For those interested in viking lore there is the Viking festival in Hafnarfjordur. This festival is the largest viking festival in the world and celebrates the culture and achievements of the Norseman of yore.
The population of Iceland is a mere 320,000 people. Icelandic is the primary language of the Icelandic people, but speak English and German as well as a few Nordic languages. When meeting an Icelandic person for the first time, a handshake is usually exchanged. When visiting an Icelandic person in their home, a small gift is considered polite. Icelanders usually dress casually, but they will dress up for more formal affairs. Tipping is not customary as service is usually figured into the bill.
To reach Iceland by air, Icelandair is the preferred airline as it is the national airline. Other major airlines also offer service to and from Iceland. Duty free items include 200 cigarettes or 250g of other tobacco products and one liter of spirits and one liter of wine, or one liter of spirits and six liters of beer; or one liter of wine and six liter of beer; or 2.25 liters of wine as well as food items up to 3 kilograms and up to 13,000 kronas. For those taking home new cordless phones, remotes, or radio transmitters a permit from Iceland’s Post & Telecom Authorities is mandatory by law. Narcotics, meat or dairy products, firearms, ammunition, and fireworks are not allowed to be taken across borders as well as a few other various items. It is important to check the list of restricted items before making a purchase.
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