Introduction
From the Midnight Sun to the Northern Lights with some hot mud in between. The country with the chilly name is rapidly becoming one of Europe's hottest destinations. Much of Iceland's popularity is due to its natural features,
which include glaciers, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes, portentous peaks and vast lava deserts.
In addition to its expansive landscape, Iceland has a rich history and folklore tradition. However, this appeal is tempered by the most expensive prices in Europe. That doesn't mean it can't be visited on a shoestring, but it does mean that budget travellers will have to work a little harder.
Geography:
Iceland, the second largest island in Europe, boils and splutters in the Atlantic Ocean northwest of Scotland, west of Norway and southeast of Greenland. The main island, which stretches 500km (310mi) east to west and 300km (186mi) north to south, is characterised by desert plateaus, sandy deltas, volcanoes, lava fields, and glacial icecaps. Over half the country is above 400m (1300ft), with the highest point, Hvannadalshn ú kur, rising 2119m (6952ft). Only 21% of the land, all near the coast, is considered arable and habitable. The bulk of Iceland's population and agriculture is concentrated in the southwest between Reykjav í k and V í k. Iceland is a relatively young land mass, subject to the periodic rumbling of volcanic activity. Earthquakes are as exciting as breakfast here, with people only bothering to tip their woolly hats to proper, land-sculpting explosions.
Destination Facts
Capital: Reykjavik
President: Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Prime Minister: Jóhanna Sigurdard óttir
Government: constitutional republic
Time zone: GMT 0
Area: 103000
Population: 299000
People: 94% Icelanders
Languages: Belongs to the Germanic language family that includes German, Dutch and all the Nordic languages except Finnish. Its closest 'living relative' is Faroese - both are derived from Old Norse. Lutheran Church of Iceland 86%, Roman Catholic 2%, other Christian 6%
Currency: Iceland Krona (Ikr)
Major industries: Fishing, aquaculture, aluminium smelting & geothermal power
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. Germany, Norway, UK, Denmark, Sweden), USA
Country Dialing Code: 354
Getting there and away
Icelandair, the national carrier, has regular and direct flights to Europe and the USA. British Airways has up to five flights a week from Gatwick. For cheaper airfares, try Iceland Express, a low cost airline with daily flights from Reykjavik to London (Stansted) and Copenhagen. Another novel way to travel between Europe and Iceland is by ferry, although it takes a lot more time and costs almost as much as a flight. A ferry service operates year-round out of Hanstholm in northern Denmark (passengers are required to spend two nights in the Faroe Islands en route).
Getting around
Air Iceland (Flugf é lag Í slands), Iceland's main domestic airline, provides the only reliable transport in winter, when snow and ice inhibits most overland travel. In summer, the airline has daily flights between Reykjav í k and most major destinations; they aren't badly priced if you book in advance over the internet. Iceland has no railways and its highway system is Europe's least developed. However, Bifrei ð ast ö d Í slands, a collective organisation of long-distance bus lines, does a tidy job of covering the country with a feasible, though inconvenient, network. There are also a number of ferry services linking the mainland with Iceland's larger islands. Car-rental agencies are found in most major towns, and rates are almost bearable until you add excess kilometres, compulsory insurance and some of the world's most expensive petrol to the price. With its unsurfaced roads, steep hills and inclement weather, Iceland is hardly a cyclist's dream. Nevertheless, an increasing number of visitors are trying it, and bikes can be rented in Reykjav í k, and at some hostels and hotels outside the capital. Local transport includes taxis and municipal buses, not to mention some excellent private tour companies which can take you to Iceland's best-loved natural attractions.
Weather
Despite its name and latitude, warm Gulf Streams keep southern Iceland snugger than many a central European country. Summers are pleasant but don't make particularly enviable postcards, with average July temperatures around 12 ° C (53 ° F). Winters, however, are significantly blunted and while fresh enough to put some rose in your cheeks, it will not be freezing them solid. The higher altitudes and northern coast face early-year Arctic winds so are naturally colder. Snow turns to rain around spring but is never too heavy.
Related posts: Greenland, England, Finland
From the Midnight Sun to the Northern Lights with some hot mud in between. The country with the chilly name is rapidly becoming one of Europe's hottest destinations. Much of Iceland's popularity is due to its natural features,
which include glaciers, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes, portentous peaks and vast lava deserts.
Iceland, the second largest island in Europe, boils and splutters in the Atlantic Ocean northwest of Scotland, west of Norway and southeast of Greenland. The main island, which stretches 500km (310mi) east to west and 300km (186mi) north to south, is characterised by desert plateaus, sandy deltas, volcanoes, lava fields, and glacial icecaps. Over half the country is above 400m (1300ft), with the highest point, Hvannadalshn ú kur, rising 2119m (6952ft). Only 21% of the land, all near the coast, is considered arable and habitable. The bulk of Iceland's population and agriculture is concentrated in the southwest between Reykjav í k and V í k. Iceland is a relatively young land mass, subject to the periodic rumbling of volcanic activity. Earthquakes are as exciting as breakfast here, with people only bothering to tip their woolly hats to proper, land-sculpting explosions.
Capital: Reykjavik
President: Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Prime Minister: Jóhanna Sigurdard óttir
Government: constitutional republic
Time zone: GMT 0
Area: 103000
Population: 299000
People: 94% Icelanders
Languages: Belongs to the Germanic language family that includes German, Dutch and all the Nordic languages except Finnish. Its closest 'living relative' is Faroese - both are derived from Old Norse. Lutheran Church of Iceland 86%, Roman Catholic 2%, other Christian 6%
Currency: Iceland Krona (Ikr)
Major industries: Fishing, aquaculture, aluminium smelting & geothermal power
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. Germany, Norway, UK, Denmark, Sweden), USA
Country Dialing Code: 354
Icelandair, the national carrier, has regular and direct flights to Europe and the USA. British Airways has up to five flights a week from Gatwick. For cheaper airfares, try Iceland Express, a low cost airline with daily flights from Reykjavik to London (Stansted) and Copenhagen. Another novel way to travel between Europe and Iceland is by ferry, although it takes a lot more time and costs almost as much as a flight. A ferry service operates year-round out of Hanstholm in northern Denmark (passengers are required to spend two nights in the Faroe Islands en route).
Air Iceland (Flugf é lag Í slands), Iceland's main domestic airline, provides the only reliable transport in winter, when snow and ice inhibits most overland travel. In summer, the airline has daily flights between Reykjav í k and most major destinations; they aren't badly priced if you book in advance over the internet. Iceland has no railways and its highway system is Europe's least developed. However, Bifrei ð ast ö d Í slands, a collective organisation of long-distance bus lines, does a tidy job of covering the country with a feasible, though inconvenient, network. There are also a number of ferry services linking the mainland with Iceland's larger islands. Car-rental agencies are found in most major towns, and rates are almost bearable until you add excess kilometres, compulsory insurance and some of the world's most expensive petrol to the price. With its unsurfaced roads, steep hills and inclement weather, Iceland is hardly a cyclist's dream. Nevertheless, an increasing number of visitors are trying it, and bikes can be rented in Reykjav í k, and at some hostels and hotels outside the capital. Local transport includes taxis and municipal buses, not to mention some excellent private tour companies which can take you to Iceland's best-loved natural attractions.
Despite its name and latitude, warm Gulf Streams keep southern Iceland snugger than many a central European country. Summers are pleasant but don't make particularly enviable postcards, with average July temperatures around 12 ° C (53 ° F). Winters, however, are significantly blunted and while fresh enough to put some rose in your cheeks, it will not be freezing them solid. The higher altitudes and northern coast face early-year Arctic winds so are naturally colder. Snow turns to rain around spring but is never too heavy.
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