At a glance
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, it has a rich history and folklore tradition. However, Iceland's 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.
Fast Facts
- Full name:
- Republic of Iceland
- Capital city:
- Reykjavik
- Area:
- 103,000 sq km / 39,769 sq miles
- Population:
- 281,000
- Time Zone:
- GMT/UTC 0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
- Language:
- Icelandic (official)
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.
English (other)
- Religion:
- 95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant denominations, 1% Roman Catholic & some followers of Ásatrú, an ancient Norse religion
- Currency:
- Icelandic Krónur
- Electricity:
- 220V 50Hz
- Electric plug details:
- European plug with two circular metal pins


