Iceland Info | Frequent Traveler Questions

Iceland and Iceland-related questions are a very trendy topic in search engines and online forums. Compared to other countries, Iceland has only recently entered the world stage after a series of events that thrust the small nation into the spotlight - such as the Eyjafjallajökull Eruption, the Icelandic Football team's performance in the European Cup, Hafthor "The Mountain" Bjornsson's appearance on Game of Thrones and his victory at the World's Strongest Man competition, and many more.

Below, I will address the most popular questions internet users search about Iceland. If you've got a question that wasn't answered in the post, then leave a comment below and I'll try to give you an answer! 

 

What time is it in Iceland?

Well, as I write this, the time is 17:03 in Iceland. But, as you read this, the time is:

 

What to do in Iceland?

The most popular activities in Iceland include a dip in the Blue Lagoon, a hike on a glacier, going whale watching, hunting for northern lights or just hopping on a sightseeing tour. If you need some ideas, then check out our list of Things to Do in Iceland. 

Where is Iceland? Iceland is located between the continents of North America and Europe. It lies right below the Arctic Circle at 64-66° North, East of Greenland.

 

What language is spoken in Iceland?

In Iceland, they speak Icelandic - a very old dialect closely resembling that of old Norse. In fact, Icelanders are able to effortlessly read old Norse literature such as the Poetica Edda and Sagas.

 

How big is Iceland?

The entire terrain of Iceland is 39,769 square miles or about 103,000 square kilometers. It's larger than Ireland and almost as large as New York State. 

 

What continent is Iceland in?

Iceland is located right on the continental rift between North America and Europa, which means that it's technically located in both continents. However, in most contexts, Iceland is considered to be part of Europe.

 

Why is Iceland called Iceland?

The most popular theory behind the naming of Iceland comes from the Viking Hrafnaflóki who originally arrived in Iceland with his three ravens, touching shore on the Westfjords in Vatnsfjordur. Before leaving the country again to return to Norway, Hrafnaflóki hiked a nearby mountain and saw how the valley was covered in Ice. As such, he called the country Iceland and the name stuck.

What is the capital of Iceland? The capital city of Iceland is Reykjavík, located in the south-east corner of the country. Greater Reykjavik is a cultural hub with a population of about 216,000 people and is the northernmost capital in the world.

 

What is the population of Iceland?

As of 2019, the population of Iceland is about 360,000 people, with the overwhelming majority of the country residing in or around the capital city Reykjavik.

 

What side of the road do they drive on in Iceland?

People drive on the right side in Iceland and overtaking is done on the left side. The steering wheel is located on the left side.

 

What currency does Iceland use?

Iceland uses the ISK or Icelandic Króna. But, Euros and US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the country.

 

Who discovered Iceland?

As it is written in the Landnámabók, a piece of old Norse literature, Iceland was first discovered by the explorer Naddodd who, on his way to the Faroe Islands, got lost and wound up in Iceland. At the time, he called the island Snæland meaning "Snowland". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

If budget is not an issue, then summer is the best time to visit. Months like June, July and August is when prices soar, but it's also when you get the best weather, and in a place like Iceland, where the majority of tourist activities are done outdoors in the wild, the weather is a key factor to your enjoyment.

Winter is ideal if you're working on a budget, with months like October and November being the cheapest months to travel to Iceland. It may be cold but, the main upside about coming in winter is obviously the Northern Lights, a phenomenon that you're not going to see during summer.

Car rental prices can vary a lot between the months, so we recommend doing your research on that if you're planning to rent a car in Iceland. 

 

What to wear in Iceland?

If there's one thing you should know about Iceland it's the fact that the weather is as random as a pair of dice. Even during summer, I would recommend you bring enough warm clothes to keep close by in case the weather takes a downward turn. It's better to have and not need than to need and not have.

During winter, it's important to have enough warm clothing, especially if you're staying in a campervan or a tent. A wind jacket will also be a good call in case we get some of our bi-weekly Icelandic storms.

Read our Weather Guide for more information.