What is considered polite in Iceland?
Amongt the pieces of advice he received were: Sniffing instead of blowing his nose and remembering to take of his shoes before entering a home. Those two things were considered manners in Iceland whereas elsewhere this is considered most impolite. Icelander Albert Eiríksson is an enthusiast on good etiquette.
Icelanders customarily shake hands when greeting and taking leave of each other. Common greetings include gódan daginn (good day), gott kvöld (good evening), and bless (goodbye).
- Don't do things just because everyone else is doing it. ...
- Don't assume that everything you'll do in Iceland will be expensive. ...
- Don't tip. ...
- Don't buy bottled water. ...
- Don't expect that you can see everything during your stay. ...
- Don't get speeding tickets!
- Layer. If you're leaving your parka at your hotel, think layers. ...
- Leather and fur is in, unless you're vegan. ...
- Hats are a good idea. ...
- Leave the umbrella behind. ...
- Always carry a scarf. ...
- Smart footwear.
Yes, you can wear jeans in Iceland. The summer and shoulder seasons are especially good times to travel in your most comfortable pair. If you plan to go on an adventurous excursion, we recommend wearing the appropriate, activewear clothing.
Vaðlaheiðarvegavinnuverkfærageymsluskúrslyklakippuhringurinn! This is the longest word in the Icelandic language and has 64 letters. It translates to “the key ring to the tool work shed in the road works of Mount Vaðlaheiði”.
Is Icelandic Hard? No, Icelandic isn't hard. But, it's relatively harder than some languages for native English speakers. The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) compared all languages in terms of similarity to English.
- "Brrr, Iceland! ...
- (The clever ones that have realized the mistake that people have made that say the previous sentence.): "I heard Greenland's ice and Iceland's green." For some reason people always exclaim this like they are the most clever person on earth.
Natural hazards such as periodic volcanic eruptions are an issue of concern for Iceland. The impact these eruptions have on landscape, vegetation, and PM pollution can be very high. Tourism is another issue causing growing environmental concern.
Tipping is not customary in Iceland and you don't need to worry about it. Don't feel bad for not tipping because the server's wages are sufficient and they don't expect it. That being said, of course, if you want to give someone a tip, by all means do.
Is there a lot of crime in Iceland?
Iceland is considered by many as one of the safest countries in the world to live in, with very low crime and murder rates.
Pornography prostitution and stripping are all illegal and taboo in Iceland. Those are some of the taboos in Iceland that I know of.

Although Iceland is famous for its unspoiled natural beauty, there are areas where care must be exercised. One of the most serious environmental problems in Iceland is the loss of vegetation by wind erosion. The Icelandic Soil Conservation Service has been fighting soil erosion since 1907 with considerable success.
The amount is entirely a personal preference, however USD 2–4 per person, per day, is a commonly used guideline. Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip.
How does Icelandic naming work? Traditionally in Iceland, a new-born child takes the first name of their father alongside 'son of' or 'dóttir (daughter) of', depending on the child's gender. In the past, this tradition was not unique to Iceland.
A typical Icelandic breakfast can include thick oatmeal (hafragrautur), Skyr with jam, bread with butter, and cod liver oil.
Leggings are ideal for Iceland, being both easy to layer and good for moving around in when you're doing some of the adventure activities. And unlike jeans, they dry easily. I chose to bring three different types: thermal, fleece-lined and normal cotton ones. The most important ones were the thermal leggings.
If you are coming to Iceland outside of winter, and are not planning to take long hikes, glacier walks or trips into a lava or ice cave, you should be happy in trainers, sneakers, or other flat-levelled, closed-toe shoes for most tours.
Fast Drying Towel
Iceland can be very humid in the summer so a travel towel is a useful addition to your packing list, especially if you're visiting the pools. They're easy to pack away and store and are great if you're camping or backpacking.
The Icelandic language does not have an equivalent to “please”. The phrase Gerðu svo vel is employed to invite a person into a house, to the table or to begin eating. It also translates to “here you are” when giving something to somebody. On a public notice “please” is vinsamlegast.
Can you name your child anything in Iceland?
A child may only be named by those who have custody of the child. If a child is to be given a name that is not listed on the National Register of Persons, an application must be submitted to the Personal Names Committee for approval of the name. A fee must be paid for a ruling concerning a new name that is not listed.
Icelandic is an Indo-European language, belonging to the group of North Germanic languages, to be specific. This group also includes Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Faroese. Of those languages, Norwegian and Faroese (spoken in the Faroe Islands) are the most closely related to Icelandic.
Genetics do play a part, and more specifically, natural selection. Iceland suffers harsh winters, and so the bigger, stronger men would be not only more able to thrive in those environments, but they'd also be more desirable.
If your name contains a 'c,' you're in trouble.
That's because, in Iceland, children don't carry their father's surname— they take on completely new last name based on their father's (or occasionally mother's) first name, plus the word “son” or “dóttir,” depending on their gender.
Tip: When addressing a local, always refer to their first name. Why: Eir Arnardottir also shared that Icelanders do not have a family name system, like most of the world. Actually, most of the people from Iceland have fairly similar last names.
Leading causes of death 2011–2020 | ||
---|---|---|
Total | Females | |
Circulatory system | 32.0% | 31.1% |
Neoplasms | 28.4% | 27.3% |
Nervous system | 10.5% | 12.5% |
The most typical food in Iceland involves fish, lamb, or Icelandic skyr (a type of yogurt). These have been the main elements in the Icelandic diet for over a thousand years. Icelandic meals are commonly meat-based due to the lack of farmable lands in the past.
Just like wealth, happiness is evenly distributed throughout the majority of the population. There is no great divide between the wellbeing of those with the most and with the least. This equality makes Icelanders some of the most satisfied people in the world.
Tipping isn't mandatory or customary in Iceland, but it is always appreciated.
Item | ISK (average) | Price in GBP (approx) |
---|---|---|
Coke/Pepsi | 342 | £1.96 |
Bottle of water | 263 | £1.51 |
Meal, inexpensive restaurant | 2,500 | £14.32 |
Three course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding wine) | 15,000 | £85 |
How much do you tip in Reykjavik?
But if you think your server went above and beyond to make sure you had a great time, of course, you can leave them a little thank you. 10% of the food bill would be more than enough, especially if you have already paid a service fee. Tips are usually left in small notes or change rather than added on to a credit card.
Sexual maturity and sex
It is a criminal violation under the penal code to have sexual intercourse or other sexual relations with a child below the age of 15.
The restaurant then closed down in 2009 due to the financial crash that happened in 2008. On the last day that McDonald's was open, Icelanders crowded the restaurant for one last time. More than 10,000 burgers were sold that day. They tried to revive the restaurant under a new name in late 2009, Metro.
The legal drinking age in Iceland is 20. Grocery stores only have low-alcohol beer; all other alcohol is sold in state-controlled stores called Vínbúð, with limited opening hours. If you're arriving by plane and want to have some stronger alcohol on you, we advise to get some at the airport.
The use of commonly abused illicit drugs in Iceland (amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), cocaine, and cannabis) was estimated.
1. Iceland. According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the safest country in the world for the 14th year in a row.
In 2020, number of homicides for Iceland was 5. Though Iceland number of homicides fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to increase through 2001 - 2020 period ending at 5 in 2020.
As well as being open-hearted and kind, Icelandic people are consistently rated as the happiest in the world! That happiness translates into how locals treat each other and how they welcome the many seasonal visitors. Most Icelanders are non-judgemental, laid back, and down to earth.
How ever in Germany they openly blow their noses, even at the dinner table, and that is considered rude in Iceland. He points out that the best way is to leave the table and blow your nose in private.
Generally speaking, poverty is low in Iceland. There is a high level of education, and access to healthcare is subsidized by taxpayers. Unemployment and homelessness rates are low, even if they are growing.
What are Icelanders known for?
Icelanders are very much in favor of equal opportunities for all sexualities and genders. Icelandic women are known for being very strong-willed and ambitious, and they are largely respected by men. Gender equality in Iceland is the highest in the world (although there are always some things to improve on).
The City of Reykjavík, however, released a report in 2021 that found 301 people were experiencing homelessness in the city. This is a decrease of 14% since 2017. According to data from the report, 71% of the individuals were men, and 29% were women, and most were between 21 and 49 years of age.
The dress code in Iceland is quite relaxed so you should be fine with a pair of jeans, t-shirt and a sweatshirt / hoodie. Don't forget to take a spare pair of shoes as well as you won't want to be wearing your big (and probably dirty) boots inside on an evening either.
Be proud. Be bold. Be Iceland. We always want to know how to make things better.
When it comes to Icelandic jokes, nothing is too dark; there are no taboos in Iceland.
Pack waterproof pants to keep your legs warm and dry. I always have a lightweight pair of outdoor pants that is water resistant and another pair of snow pants for the Winter season. Avoid jeans for outdoors and remember that packing for Iceland is all about comfort and readiness.
As well as being open-hearted and kind, Icelandic people are consistently rated as the happiest in the world! That happiness translates into how locals treat each other and how they welcome the many seasonal visitors. Most Icelanders are non-judgemental, laid back, and down to earth.
English Word/Phrase | Icelandic Word/Phrase |
---|---|
You're welcome | þú ert velkominn/Gerðu svo vel |
Please | Vinsamlegast/Takk |
Excuse me | Fyrirgefðu |
Hello | Halló/Góðan daginn |
Just like wealth, happiness is evenly distributed throughout the majority of the population. There is no great divide between the wellbeing of those with the most and with the least. This equality makes Icelanders some of the most satisfied people in the world.
Iceland is known throughout the world for its beautiful and unspoilt nature, although recently, the country has gained further fame through its musical talents, its football team, its financial crisis and its erupting volcanoes.
What is a person from Iceland called?
Icelanders (Icelandic: Íslendingar) are a North Germanic ethnic group and nation who are native to the island country of Iceland and speak Icelandic. Icelanders.