Iceland

Best Iceland day trip tours
Grand Circle
You visit Gullfoss waterfall (see photo above), the Geysir Geothermal Field, and the Thingvellir National Park - all three are medal Hillman Wonder winners.

South Coast and Jokulsarlon Lagoon
The highlight of this 14-hour bus tour is beautiful Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. Once there, an amphibian boat glides you between icebergs.

Blue Lagooon
Immerse yourself in the geothermal-heated waters. The Blue Lagoon is popular, partially because it's just 50 minutes from Reykjavik.

Greator Reykjavik
It gives you a big-picture perspective before you explore Reykjavik and environs on your own.

Best day trip tour runners-up
• Biking and hiking excursions • Diving and snorkeling • Glacier snowmobiling, trekking, or walking • Ice cave exploring • Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) watching • River and lake fishing • Westman Islands excursions • Whale watching • And more

Iceland is underrated
Iceland is one of the most underrated travel destinations in the world. Few travelers realize how many unique experiences and beautiful natural vistas it offers.

The island is ideal for a several-day to week-long getaway from western Europe or America, especially if you enjoy pristine natural environments.

Reykjavik's famous late-night party scene
Bar and club action
It usually doesn't begin in earnest until midnight - and the youthful revelers don't quit until around 5 am. Sometimes they loudly spill out into the streets, moving from drinking establishment to another. It's fun, but not for those in nearby hotels trying to sleep.

Venues
Some spots are purely for drinking, others have entertainment, which sometimes can be quite good. At peak time, the most popular bars and clubs are crush-full.

Prime locations
The action happens in Center City. The two hot epicenters are the old city Main Square and the western end of Laugavegur Street.

Peak night
It's Friday. Saturday nights are a tad tamer. Sunday through Thursday is typically a relatively quiet period.

Iceland hotdog
It's not your back-home hot dog
It's better. This one is made with a lamb-and- pork mixture and some food critics have called it Europe's best hot dog.

Iceland has countless hot dog stands, but Bejarins Beztu in the City Center has become a must stop for visiting presidents and celebrities. That's the one you should visit. Ask a local for directions.

Famous alcoholic brands
Top 3

• Brennivin - High-potent schnapps
• Reyka Vodka - Has fans around globe
• Egils Gull lager - Go for the draft

Iceland conversation pieces
Hakari - "Rotten shark"
This famous Iceland food is an acquired taste and smell. To most visitors, it has an off-putting flavor and a repugnant ammonia scent. To many locals and some visitors, Hakari is a treat.

"Rotten shark", as it is sometimes unfondly called, is made by burying a freshly caught shark in the ground for one to six months. During this fermentation process, poisons in the shark flesh are denatured and the meat becomes edible and safe to eat.

Typically, the aged meat is cut into small cubes for serving.

Other popular local food specialties on most visitors' "no eat" list
They include sheep testicles and sheep heads.

Water
Iceland's water is glacial and is one of the purest and safest in the world. You don't need to buy bottled water because the tap water is commendable.

Hidden People
Some Icelanders believe these tiny, seldom seen elves exist.

Viewing the Northern Lights (see photo)
To view the Aurora Borealis in its glory, go to the northern part of Iceland - and be there in the winter when nights are long and the sky is free of lingering sun rays

Experiencing the Midnight Sun
Fly from Reykjavik to Iceland's Grimsey Island, which straddles the Arctic Circle. On the summer solstice (June 21), the sun doesn't set below the horizon.

Why Iceland and Greenland could switch their names
Early ancient Nordic explorers gave Iceland its name because it was icier than their southern Scandinavian homeland. Some historians say Greenland was given its name to encourage immigration to Greenland.

For accuracy's sake, the two countries should swap names because "Greenland" is virtually covered with ice and snow year round - and most of Iceland is green in the summer.

Icelanders
They score high in friendliness, education, and culture They are justifiably proud of their new Harpa concert hall, which is internationally acclaimed for its striking architectural design.

Languages
The vast majority of citizens speak English and Danish in addition to Icelandic. Learning those two foreign languages is mandatory in school.

Heat
90% of the homes are heated by geothermal-generated water.

First human inhabitants
Some scientists believe that they were 9th century Irish monks, not the Vikings, who arrived a half century or so later.

How Iceland was formed
Eons ago, the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates began moving apart. This lessened the distance between the earth's surface and the hot spot magna chambers deep below. This in turn made it easier for the magna's lava to push upward to the surface. Over time, the lava created the Iceland land mass.

Is Iceland on the European or North American continent?
Geologically, it's on both. Conventionally and culturally, Iceland is thought of being European.

Military
Iceland doesn't have an army, navy, or air force. The coast guard protects the nation.

Quick facts

• Glaciers cover 11% of the country
  
• Main religion: Lutheran (80%)
• Tourism and fishing are the main industries
• Reykjavik - Translates "smoke bay"
• Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital

Helpful pointers for your Iceland trip
Climate and weather

• Fickle weather
  It's unpredictable and can change in hours.  Main reason: The warm Gulf Stream meets the cold Arctic waters and winds near Iceland, creating unsettled weather. So if you ask a local about tomorrow's weather, he might give you a friendly smirk.
  
• Seasonal temperatures
  Temperatures average 15°C (59°F) in mid summer, and -1°C (29°F) in mid winter.
• Climate contrasts
  Coastal areas are noticeably warmer than inland ones. And the island's southwest (where Reykjavik resides) has higher temperatures than the other regions.

Sleeping issues

• Sleeping mask
  Bring and use one in the summer if your hotel room doesn't have thick, completely closable curtains. In Reykjavik in June, for example, daylight spans more than 20 hours.
  
• Ear plugs
  Be sure your hotel room doesn't face one of the many streets where Reykjavik's late-night pub crawlers cavort. If it does, you may need ear plugs.

Last names (family names)
Be aware that most Icelanders have none. This convention goes back to ancient Nordic times.

Those without last names have a "second name", the equivalent of a family name. It's composed by appending "son" (son) or "dottir" (daughter) to the father's first name. And a possessive "s" is added.

For example, if Einar Gudsson had a son Jon and daughter Anna, their names would be: Jon Einarsson Anna Einarsdottir

Name etiquette
When addressing an Icelander who has a family name, use just his/her first name. For instance, you should address the two people mentioned above as Jon and Anna, not "Mr. Einarsson" and "Ms. Einarsson". Do this even if they are completestrangers to you.

Likewise, if a person has a last name but no family name, use only his first name.