Iceland FAQ

 

 

WHERE IS ICELAND?

Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic, about 620 miles (1,000 km) west of Norway. It is the westernmost country in Europe.

 

 
HOW BIG IS ICELAND?
Iceland is a little smaller in size than the state of Kentucky. It comprises an area of 39,768 square miles (103,000 sq. km).

 

 
IS IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO ICELAND?
No. There are daily flights to Iceland from many North American and European cities. Iceland’s major airport is Keflavík International, located 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Reykjavík.

 

 
HOW COLD DOES IT GET?
Not as cold as the name of the country sounds. Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, temperatures are moderate year-round. The average temperature in October is 40 F (4.4 C).

 

 
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT?
At the peak of summer, the sun barely sets in Reykjavík. In winter, there are only about four to five hours of daylight. In October, there are about 11 hours of daylight.

 

 
DO ICELANDERS SPEAK ENGLISH?
Icelanders are taught English from age 11 on, so most of them are quite fluent in the English language.

 

 
HOW SHOULD I DRESS?
No matter what time of year you plan to visit Iceland, always pack some warm and water-resistant clothes. The Icelanders often say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes.”  They’re not kidding! And always bring a bathing suit. Yes, a bathing suit! Icelanders’ favorite pastime is year-round outdoor swimming in the countless geothermally-heated pools and lagoons,which are as warm as bathwater.

 

 
WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE LIKE?
Quite Scandinavian, their mainly Norwegian Viking ancestors brought along some Irish slaves who quickly blended into the population over 1100 years ago and many Icelanders actually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Contrary to rumors, there are no Eskimos in Iceland.

 

 
WHAT IS ICELAND'S MONEY?
Iceland money is the króna (krónur in the plural). You can exchange your money at the airport. Major credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard, are widely accepted and there are also plenty of ATMs all over the country. The krona, plural kronur (ISK), had a 2006 exchange rate of whopping 70 ISK to the US dollar but due to the ongoing financial crisis the ISK has crashed and stands at 126 ISK to the US dollar (May, 2009).


 
HOW ARE THE ACCOMODATIONS AND FOOD?
World-class! Iceland’s hotels and guesthouses are almost invariably clean and comfortable. Food choices are generally wide. “Homegrown” seafood and lamb dishes are popular and available anywhere. In the more populated areas, international cuisine — including American fast food — has become all the rage. And vegetarians will find plenty of excellent choices.


 
WHAT'S THERE TO SEE BESIDES NATURE?
You’re obviously reading this part of the website first. But make no mistake — you don’t have to be an outdoors type to fall in love with Iceland! For example, Reykjavik is one of the liveliest, safest, most sophisticated, and modern cities on earth. Its nightlife and cultural offerings are quickly becoming legendary worldwide. Half of Iceland’s population lives in the greater Reykjavik area.

 

 
WHAT ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND INTERNET?

If you come from North America or Great Britain and want to bring an electrical device from home, you will need to bring an adapter. The electrical standards in Iceland are 50 Hz and 240 volts.

 

Iceland is a very tech-savvy country with one of the highest rates of Internet usage in the world. If you didn’t bring a computer, you’ll find internet cafés in the bigger towns and hotels. Many restaurants and cafés, especially in Reykjavik, have free wifi access, so if you have a laptop you can get Internet access almost everywhere. You’ll also notice that most hotels, guesthouses, museums, restaurants and cafés have their own websites. The Fanfest venue has a free wifi hotspot.

 

 
WILL MY CELL PHONE WORK IN ICELAND?

Most North American cell phones won’t work because Iceland is on the European system, but you can rent phones in Iceland. Then, how do I call home? All it takes is your AT&T calling card or credit card.

 

1.    Dial the AT&T access number in Iceland; 00 800-22255288.
2.    Then dial the phone number you’re calling including area code.
3.    Wait for a prompt then enter your AT&T Calling Card number and 4-digit pin.

 

Iceland’s country code is +354. If you are calling Iceland from the United States or Canada, dial 011 to get an international line, then 354 and the 7-digit phone number. When you are in Iceland, you just need to dial the 7-digit phone number. There are no area codes in Iceland.

 

 





 

 

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