Iceland

Iceland is a country of staggering natural extremes. This volcanic island in the North Atlantic, just below the Arctic Circle, is Europe's most sparsely populated country — roughly 390,000 people spread across 103,000 square kilometres of glaciers, lava fields, geysers, waterfalls, and hot springs. It is, quite literally, the land of fire and ice.

Sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. Over 30 active volcanic systems have shaped a landscape unlike anywhere else: Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, covers an area the size of Corsica; the geothermal fields at Geysir gave the English language the word "geyser"; and eruptions like Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 reminded the world of Iceland's raw geological power.

Yet for all its dramatic nature, Iceland is also one of the world's most progressive and peaceful societies. It consistently ranks among the happiest, safest, and most gender-equal nations on Earth. The capital Reykjavík — the world's most northerly capital — pulses with a creative energy that belies its small size, offering world-class dining, a legendary music scene, and a cultural life that punches spectacularly above its weight.

For travelers, Iceland offers experiences found nowhere else: bathing in geothermal hot springs surrounded by snow, watching the Northern Lights dance across winter skies, driving the Ring Road through landscapes that range from lunar lava deserts to verdant valleys, hiking on glaciers, whale-watching in fjords, and standing between tectonic plates. It is nature at its most elemental, and it is unforgettable.

Iceland's name — Ísland in Icelandic, literally "Ice Land" — was bestowed by the Norwegian Viking Flóki Vilgerðarson in the 9th century. After a harsh winter, he spotted drift ice in a fjord and named the island accordingly. Ironically, neighbouring Greenland (which is far icier) was named by Erik the Red to attract settlers — one of history's great real estate marketing schemes.

The Icelandic flag — a red Nordic cross outlined in white on a blue field — represents the country's landscape: blue for the mountains, white for the ice and snow, and red for the volcanic fires beneath. Adopted in 1915 and officially used since independence in 1944, the flag echoes the Danish and Norwegian crosses of Iceland's historical rulers.

Icelanders maintain an extraordinarily deep connection to their language. Modern Icelandic has changed so little from Old Norse that schoolchildren can read the medieval sagas in something close to their original form — a linguistic continuity spanning over a thousand years that is unique in Europe. The Icelandic Naming Committee even regulates given names, ensuring they conform to Icelandic grammar and tradition.

Iceland covers 103,000 km² — roughly the size of South Korea or the US state of Kentucky. It sits in the North Atlantic just south of the Arctic Circle, with the Arctic island of Grímsey marking the country's northernmost point. Despite its name, Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream, making its climate considerably milder than its latitude suggests.

The landscape is dominated by volcanic geology. Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap, covers 8,100 km² and conceals several active volcanoes beneath its ice. Rivers of glacial meltwater carve through black sand deserts; geothermal areas steam and bubble across the highlands; and lava fields from historical eruptions stretch to every horizon. Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur (2,110m), rises from the edge of Vatnajökull.

The coastline, deeply indented with fjords in the north and west, stretches over 4,900 km. The interior highlands — a vast, uninhabited wilderness of lava deserts, glacial rivers, and colourful rhyolite mountains — remain accessible only by 4×4 vehicle during summer months, making Iceland home to some of Europe's last truly untouched landscapes.

Iceland's recorded history begins with the Viking Age settlement around 870 AD, when Norse chieftains — many fleeing the centralising power of King Harald Fairhair of Norway — sailed across the North Atlantic with their families, livestock, and Irish and Scottish slaves. By 930 AD, these settlers established the Alþingi (Althing) at Þingvellir — the world's oldest surviving parliament, a remarkable experiment in democratic governance that predates Magna Carta by nearly three centuries.

The medieval Commonwealth period (930–1262) produced Iceland's greatest cultural achievement: the Sagas. These extraordinary literary works — prose narratives of feuds, voyages, and settlement — are among the finest literature produced in medieval Europe. Iceland's conversion to Christianity in the year 1000 was characteristically pragmatic: the Lawspeaker Þorgeirr, a pagan, was asked to arbitrate, and decided the nation should adopt Christianity while allowing private pagan worship.

Political independence was lost to Norway in 1262 and passed to Denmark in 1380, beginning centuries of colonial rule that brought devastating hardship. The eruption of Laki in 1783–84 killed roughly a quarter of the population and triggered famine across Europe. Danish trade monopolies impoverished the island further. The independence movement gained momentum in the 19th century under Jón Sigurðsson's leadership, achieving home rule in 1904 and sovereignty in 1918.

Full independence came on June 17, 1944 — declared at Þingvellir while Denmark was still under Nazi occupation. Post-war Iceland transformed rapidly from one of Europe's poorest countries to one of its wealthiest, driven by fishing, geothermal energy, and tourism. The 2008 financial crisis hit hard when Iceland's banking system spectacularly collapsed, but the country's recovery has been remarkably swift, aided by a tourism boom that has made Iceland one of the world's most visited countries per capita.

Iceland's population of approximately 390,000 is remarkably homogeneous, descended primarily from Norwegian settlers and their Celtic companions. Icelanders are famously connected — the Íslendingabók genealogy database lets any two Icelanders trace their relationship, and the small population means most people are distant cousins.

Icelandic culture is defined by a paradox: deep attachment to tradition alongside radical progressiveness. The medieval sagas remain central to national identity, yet Iceland elected the world's first openly female president (Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, 1980), legalised same-sex marriage in 2010 with zero votes against, and consistently leads global gender equality rankings. Icelanders still use the patronymic naming system — surnames are formed from the father's (or increasingly, mother's) first name plus -son or -dóttir.

Creativity runs deep in Iceland's DNA. Reykjavík is a UNESCO City of Literature, and the country publishes more books per capita than any other nation — with a tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve and reading through the night (Jólabókaflóð, the "Christmas Book Flood"). Music — from Björk and Sigur Rós to the Reykjavík jazz and Sónar festival scenes — enjoys an outsized global reputation.

Reykjavík — "Smoky Bay," named for the geothermal steam the first settlers saw — is the world's most northerly capital city. Home to roughly two-thirds of Iceland's population (about 230,000 in the greater area), it's a compact, walkable city where brightly painted corrugated-iron houses line streets that lead from the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church to the cutting-edge Harpa concert hall on the waterfront.

The city punches far above its weight culturally. Laugavegur, the main shopping street, is lined with design boutiques, bookshops, and cafés. The National Museum traces Iceland's history from settlement to present; the Saga Museum brings Viking history to life; and the Perlan museum, housed under a gleaming glass dome atop hot water storage tanks, offers exhibits on glaciers, northern lights, and the unique Icelandic nature.

Reykjavík's nightlife is legendary — weekend rúntur (pub crawls) don't really start until midnight, and the city's bars and clubs pulse until dawn. The dining scene has exploded, with New Nordic restaurants turning Icelandic ingredients — lamb, Arctic char, seabird eggs, foraged herbs — into world-class cuisine. And always, the mountains and sea are visible from almost everywhere, reminding you that raw nature is never more than minutes away.

The Golden Circle is Iceland's most popular day trip from Reykjavík, a 300-kilometre loop through three of the country's most iconic natural wonders. It's a perfect introduction to Iceland's geological drama — achievable in a single day, yet powerful enough to leave you speechless.

Þingvellir National Park (UNESCO): This is where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge breaks the surface, creating a dramatic rift valley between the tectonic plates. It's also where the Alþingi parliament was established in 930 AD. Walking through the Almannagjá gorge — literally between continents — is one of Iceland's most moving experiences. The crystal-clear Silfra fissure offers some of the world's most extraordinary snorkelling and diving, with visibility exceeding 100 metres in glacial meltwater.

Geysir Geothermal Area: The great Geysir itself rarely erupts nowadays, but its neighbour Strokkur reliably launches a column of boiling water 20–30 metres skyward every 6–10 minutes. The surrounding area steams and bubbles with fumaroles and hot springs, painting the earth in vivid yellows, oranges, and blues.

Gullfoss ("Golden Falls"): A massive two-tiered waterfall where the Hvítá river thunders 32 metres into a rugged canyon. The spray creates perpetual rainbows on sunny days, and in winter the partially frozen cascade is equally spectacular. The falls were saved from hydroelectric development in the early 20th century by Sigríður Tómasdóttir, whose passionate campaign made her Iceland's first environmentalist.

Iceland's South Coast is a stunningly cinematic stretch of Route 1 from Reykjavík to the glacial lagoons of the southeast. Seljalandsfoss — the waterfall you can walk behind — sets the tone. Skógafoss, 60 metres of thundering white water with a staircase to the top, is equally unforgettable. Both are within easy reach of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano whose 2010 eruption grounded European aviation.

The village of Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland's southernmost settlement, overlooks the dramatic Reynisfjara black sand beach — columns of basalt, roaring Atlantic surf, and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising from the waves. Further east, the landscape becomes increasingly otherworldly as you pass between the massive ice caps of Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull.

The crown jewel is Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon where icebergs calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier float serenely toward the sea. Nearby Diamond Beach, where translucent ice chunks wash ashore on black sand, is one of Iceland's most photographed locations. Boat tours among the icebergs and zodiac excursions bring you face-to-face with ice formations that glow an impossible blue.

North Iceland is where the country reveals a quieter, more intimate character. Akureyri, the "Capital of the North" with just 19,000 residents, sits at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord. It's a charming base for exploring the region, with surprisingly mild summers, a botanical garden pushing the limits of Arctic horticulture, and excellent skiing in winter.

Mývatn, a shallow lake surrounded by otherworldly volcanic formations, is the region's natural crown jewel. Pseudocraters, lava pillars, bubbling mud pots at Hverir, and the dramatic Dimmuborgir lava formations create a landscape that inspired Tolkien-esque fantasies. In summer, the lake teems with birdlife — one of Europe's great breeding grounds for ducks.

Húsavík has become Iceland's whale-watching capital, with humpback whales regularly breaching in Skjálfandi Bay. Nearby Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume, pounds through a barren canyon with apocalyptic force — it served as the opening landscape in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus." The Arctic town of Siglufjörður, once the herring capital of the North Atlantic, now charms visitors with its outstanding Herring Era Museum and colourful harbour.

Iceland's interior highlands are Europe's last great wilderness — a vast, uninhabited expanse of lava deserts, glacial rivers, colourful rhyolite mountains, and hot springs that covers roughly 40% of the country. Accessible only by 4×4 vehicle during summer months (typically late June to early September), the highlands offer adventure at its most raw.

Landmannalaugar is the highlands' most famous destination — a geothermal wonderland where natural hot springs flow through a landscape of rainbow-coloured rhyolite mountains in shades of pink, orange, green, and purple. It's the starting point for the Laugavegur Trek, widely considered one of the world's greatest multi-day hikes, a 55-kilometre route through volcanic deserts, ice-capped mountains, and green valleys to Þórsmörk.

Askja, a vast caldera in the eastern highlands, contains the milky-blue Víti crater lake — warm enough for swimming in the middle of a volcanic desert. The Kjölur and Sprengisandur highland routes cross the interior between north and south Iceland through landscapes of stark, lunar beauty that feel genuinely like another planet.

The Westfjords — a remote, jagged peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus — are Iceland's least visited region and arguably its most spectacular. Deep fjords cut into ancient basalt cliffs, the roads are narrow and unpaved, and the landscape has a raw, end-of-the-world grandeur that rewards those willing to venture off the beaten Ring Road.

Látrabjarg, Europe's westernmost point and largest bird cliff (14 kilometres long, up to 440 metres high), hosts millions of nesting seabirds including remarkably approachable puffins. Rauðisandur, a vast beach that glows red-gold in sunlight, is one of Iceland's hidden treasures. Dynjandi, a magnificent 100-metre bridal-veil waterfall cascading in a widening fan, is often cited as Iceland's most beautiful waterfall.

Ísafjörður, the Westfjords' capital (population 2,600), is a delightful town of well-preserved timber houses, excellent restaurants, and the base for sea kayaking, skiing, and hiking in some of Iceland's most dramatic scenery. The Hornstrandir nature reserve, accessible only by boat, offers pristine Arctic wilderness where Arctic foxes — Iceland's only native land mammal — are remarkably unafraid of humans.

Icelandic cuisine has undergone a revolution. Traditional food — born of necessity in a harsh land with limited agriculture — emphasised preservation through smoking, drying, fermenting, and pickling. Today, a New Nordic movement has transformed these ancient techniques into world-class gastronomy, while traditional dishes remain deeply embedded in cultural identity.

Plokkfiskur

Traditional Icelandic Fish Stew — Comfort Food Classic

Plokkfiskur ("mashed fish") is Iceland's ultimate comfort food — a warming, simple stew of fish and potatoes that has sustained Icelanders for centuries. Every family has their own version.

Ingredients: 500g cod or haddock, 500g potatoes, 1 large onion, 2 tbsp butter, 300ml milk, salt, white pepper, fresh chives.

Preparation: Boil fish and potatoes separately until tender. Drain, reserving liquid. Sauté diced onion in butter until golden. Mash potatoes roughly, flake fish, combine with onion. Add milk and enough cooking liquid for a thick, chunky consistency. Season generously with white pepper. Serve hot with buttered rúgbrauð (dark rye bread) and a pat of Icelandic butter.

💡 The key is texture — not too smooth, not too chunky. Every Icelander insists their grandmother's version is definitive.

Hangikjöt

Smoked Lamb — Iceland's Festive Centrepiece

Hangikjöt ("hung meat") is lamb smoked over birch wood or dried sheep dung — a preservation technique dating to the Viking Age. It's the centrepiece of Icelandic Christmas dinner, sliced thin and served cold or warm.

Ingredients: 2kg leg of lamb (bone-in), 100g salt, 50g sugar, 1 tsp saltpetre (optional), birch wood chips for smoking.

Preparation: Rub lamb with salt, sugar, and saltpetre mixture. Cure in fridge for 5–7 days, turning daily. Rinse well. Cold-smoke over birch wood for 12–24 hours until deeply golden. To serve: boil smoked lamb in water for 2–3 hours until tender. Slice thin, serve warm with béchamel sauce, boiled potatoes, and green peas. Or slice cold on buttered rúgbrauð.

💡 Icelandic lamb is exceptionally flavourful — sheep roam freely in the highlands all summer, feeding on wild herbs and grasses.

Rúgbrauð

Hot Spring Rye Bread — Baked by the Earth

Rúgbrauð is dense, dark, naturally sweet rye bread traditionally baked underground using geothermal heat — buried in pots near hot springs for up to 24 hours. The slow baking caramelises the natural sugars, creating a distinctive sweetness without added sugar.

Ingredients: 500g rye flour, 250g plain flour, 500ml buttermilk, 200ml golden syrup, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt.

Preparation: Mix dry ingredients. Add buttermilk and syrup to form a thick batter. Pour into a greased, lidded pot. Traditional method: bury in geothermally heated ground for 24 hours. Oven method: bake at 100°C for 12 hours (or 150°C for 4 hours). The bread should be very dark, dense, and slightly sticky-sweet. Slice thin, serve with butter, smoked fish, or hangikjöt.

💡 In the Mývatn area, some bakeries still bury their rúgbrauð in geothermally heated ground — you can buy bread literally baked by the earth.

Iceland's relationship with alcohol is characteristically dramatic. Full beer prohibition lasted from 1915 until March 1, 1989 — now celebrated annually as Bjórdagurinn (Beer Day). The national spirit is Brennivín ("Black Death"), a caraway-flavoured schnapps traditionally paired with the notorious þorramatur feast foods like hákarl (fermented shark) and sviðasulta (sheep head jelly).

Reykjavík's craft beer scene has exploded since prohibition ended, with breweries like Borg, Einstök, and Ölvisholt producing excellent beers. Wine bars and cocktail lounges have proliferated in the capital. Icelandic tap water — glacial meltwater filtered through ancient lava — is some of the purest on Earth and is served proudly at every restaurant.

The Reykjavík weekend rúntur is a rite of passage. Locals pre-drink at home (alcohol is sold only at state-run Vínbúðin shops and is expensive), then hit the bars from midnight to 4–5am. The compact city centre means you can walk between dozens of venues in minutes, and the atmosphere is electric — Icelanders party hard in the brief summer nights.

Iceland's climate is subarctic maritime, moderated by the Gulf Stream. Reykjavík's average temperature ranges from -1°C in January to 12°C in July — milder than many continental cities at similar latitudes. Weather is infamously changeable — "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" is the national joke — with wind being the defining factor rather than temperature.

Best for Northern Lights: September–March, clear dark nights. Best for hiking: June–August. Best for ice caves: November–March. Best for puffins: May–August.

By air: Keflavík International Airport (KEF), 50 km from Reykjavík, is the main gateway. Icelandair and PLAY offer direct flights from numerous European and North American cities. Reykjavík's domestic airport (RKV) connects to Akureyri, Ísafjörður, the Westman Islands, and Greenland.

By sea: The Smyril Line ferry MS Norröna connects Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland with Denmark and the Faroe Islands (summer schedule). Cruise ships call at Reykjavík, Akureyri, and Ísafjörður.

Getting around: Route 1 (Ring Road) circuits the island in ~1,340 km. Car rental is the most popular way to explore. Highland F-roads require 4×4 vehicles. Domestic flights connect major towns. Regular buses serve the Ring Road; limited highland bus services run in summer.

Visa: Iceland is part of the Schengen Area. EU/EEA citizens need only an ID; most Western nationals get 90-day visa-free access.

Safety: Iceland is one of the world's safest countries — no military, extremely low crime. Natural hazards (weather, rivers, volcanic activity) are the main risks. Always check road.is and safetravel.is before driving.

Health: Excellent healthcare. No vaccinations required. Tap water is pristine. Hot spring water may contain sulphur (distinctive egg smell). The cold/wind is the main health consideration — dress in layers.

Electricity: 230V, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs (Type C/F).

Tipping: Not expected. Service charges are included in prices.

Iceland is expensive. There's no getting around it. A beer in a bar costs ISK 1,500–2,000 (~€10–13), a restaurant meal ISK 3,000–5,000 (~€20–33), and petrol is among Europe's priciest. Budget travelers can manage ~€100–120/day (camping, cooking, sharing fuel); mid-range visitors should budget €200–300/day (hotels, restaurants, tours).

Money-saving tips: buy alcohol at duty-free on arrival, cook at campsites, fill reusable bottles from any tap, explore free natural hot springs instead of commercial ones, and consider a campervan which combines transport and accommodation. Credit cards are accepted virtually everywhere — you can travel entirely cashless.

Options range from campgrounds (ISK 1,500–2,500/person) and mountain huts (ISK 7,000–10,000/person, sleeping bag required) to hostels (ISK 5,000–9,000/dorm), guesthouses (ISK 15,000–25,000/double), and hotels (ISK 25,000–60,000+). Reykjavík has internationally branded hotels; rural areas offer charming farm stays and country hotels.

Campervan rental is hugely popular — combining flexibility with accommodation savings. Book well ahead for summer; Iceland's tourism boom means popular areas fill up months in advance. Wild camping in a tent (not campervans) is legally permitted on uncultivated land for one night with landowner consent.

Þorrablót (Jan/Feb): The midwinter feast where Icelanders eat traditional "strong" foods — hákarl (fermented shark), sviðasulta (sheep head jelly), hrútspungar (pickled ram testicles) — washed down with Brennivín.

Reykjavík Arts Festival (May/Jun): The country's premier cultural festival bringing international and Icelandic art, music, and theatre to venues across the capital.

National Day (June 17): Celebrating independence from Denmark (1944), with parades, performances, and festivities centred on downtown Reykjavík.

Secret Solstice (June): Music festival held under the midnight sun — one of the world's most unique festival settings.

Iceland Airwaves (November): Reykjavík's legendary music festival showcasing Icelandic and international acts in venues across the city — an essential pilgrimage for music lovers.

Réttir (September): The annual sheep roundup, when Icelanders on horseback gather the free-roaming sheep from the highlands into communal corrals — a uniquely Icelandic tradition.

Iceland has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, together covering over 14% of the country's territory — a remarkable concentration of globally significant natural and cultural heritage.

Þingvellir National Park (2004, Cultural): Site of the Alþingi, the world's oldest parliamentary assembly, established in 930 AD in a spectacular rift valley where the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia visibly diverge. The park encompasses Lake Þingvallavatn, historical assembly ruins, and a fossilised cultural landscape spanning over 1,000 years.

Surtsey (2008, Natural): A volcanic island formed by eruptions in 1963–67, Surtsey is one of the world's youngest landmasses and serves as a pristine natural laboratory for studying how ecosystems colonise new land. Access is restricted to scientists — visitors can view it from the Westman Islands.

Vatnajökull National Park (2019, Natural): Covering nearly 15,000 km² (about 14% of Iceland), this park encompasses Europe's largest ice cap, eight active volcanic systems beneath the glacier, and landscapes shaped by the interaction of fire and ice. Highlights include Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Skaftafell nature reserve, and the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon.

Westman Islands: The Heimaey island — with its 1973 eruption site, puffin colonies, and dramatic cliffs — is severely undervisited despite being just 30 minutes by ferry from the mainland.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula: Called "Iceland in Miniature," this peninsula packs glaciers, lava fields, black beaches, seal colonies, and the iconic Kirkjufell mountain into a single day trip from Reykjavík.

Kerlingarfjöll: A highland geothermal area with steaming fumaroles set among colourful rhyolite mountains — far less visited than Landmannalaugar but equally stunning.

Stúðlagil Canyon: A spectacular basalt column canyon in East Iceland, only recently revealed after a dam reduced the river's flow — one of Iceland's newest natural attractions.

Free hot springs: Skip the Blue Lagoon crowds and seek out natural hot pools: Seljavallalaug (hidden valley pool), Reykjadalur (hot river hike), Hrunalaug (tiny roadside gem), or the Laugavegur trail hot springs.

Layer everything. A waterproof, windproof outer shell is non-negotiable regardless of season. Pack: merino wool base layers, fleece mid-layers, waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy hiking boots (broken in), swimsuit (for hot springs), sunglasses (glacier glare), reusable water bottle, and a power bank. Summer: eye mask for midnight sun. Winter: thermal everything, hand warmers, headlamp.

Official tourism: visiticeland.com, inspiredbyiceland.com

Road conditions: road.is, vedur.is (weather)

Safety: safetravel.is — essential before any outdoor activity

Emergency: 112 (single emergency number for police, fire, ambulance)

"Independent People" by Halldór Laxness — Nobel Prize-winning novel about a stubborn Icelandic farmer battling nature and society. Essential reading.

"The Sagas of Icelanders" — The medieval masterworks that define Icelandic literature. Start with Njál's Saga or Egil's Saga.

"Names for the Sea" by Sarah Moss — A British writer's year in Iceland, capturing the country's quirks and beauty with warmth and wit.

"The Little Book of the Icelanders" by Alda Sigmundsdóttir — Charming, funny insights into Icelandic character and customs.

Search YouTube for Ring Road travel guides, Landmannalaugar hiking videos, Northern Lights timelapses, and Icelandic horse documentaries. Iceland's tourism board (Inspired by Iceland) produces excellent promotional films showcasing the country's landscapes.

No mosquitoes: Iceland is one of the very few inhabited places on Earth with zero mosquito species — the climate is too unpredictable for their breeding cycle.

No army: Iceland has no military and hasn't had one since 1869. The coast guard handles defence, and the country is a founding NATO member.

Most published: Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country. The Christmas Book Flood (Jólabókaflóð) sees most books published in the gift-giving season.

Geothermal everything: Nearly 90% of Icelandic homes are heated by geothermal energy. Hot water piped from the ground heats homes, swimming pools, and even melts snow on Reykjavík's pavements.

Elf belief: Surveys consistently show a significant minority of Icelanders believe in (or won't deny the existence of) huldufólk — hidden people. Road construction has been diverted to avoid disturbing suspected elf dwellings.

Naming Committee: A government committee must approve all Icelandic given names, ensuring they conform to the Icelandic language's grammatical rules.

Beer Day: Full-strength beer was illegal from 1915 to 1989. March 1 — Bjórdagurinn — is still celebrated annually.

Björk (b. 1965): Singer, songwriter, and artist whose avant-garde music and visuals have made her one of the most influential musicians of her generation.

Halldór Laxness (1902–1998): Nobel Prize in Literature (1955) for "vivid epic power" — his novels, especially "Independent People," define Icelandic literary identity.

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (b. 1930): The world's first democratically elected female head of state (1980–1996), serving four terms as President of Iceland.

Leif Erikson (c. 970–1020): Norse explorer, born in Iceland, who reached North America nearly 500 years before Columbus.

Sigur Rós: Post-rock band whose ethereal soundscapes have defined Iceland's musical identity for international audiences.

Iceland's greatest sporting moment came at Euro 2016, when the men's football team — representing the smallest nation ever to qualify for a major tournament — beat England and reached the quarter-finals, accompanied by the iconic "Viking thunderclap" of their fans. The women's team has been equally competitive, consistently reaching European Championships.

Handball is arguably Iceland's national sport — the men's team won Olympic silver in 2008. Strongman competitions have a proud tradition, with Icelandic competitors like Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (Game of Thrones' "The Mountain") and Magnús Ver Magnússon dominating the World's Strongest Man competition. Glíma, the traditional Icelandic form of wrestling dating to Viking times, remains practised. Swimming — in geothermal outdoor pools — is a national obsession and social ritual.

Iceland consistently ranks at the top of global press freedom indexes. Major media include RÚV (public broadcaster), Morgunblaðið (leading newspaper), and Vísir (online news). The Iceland Monitor and Iceland Review provide English-language coverage. Iceland's film industry has grown significantly, with the country serving as a filming location for Game of Thrones, Interstellar, and numerous other productions.

Iceland gets under your skin. I've visited in midwinter darkness and midsummer light, and each time the landscape has stopped me in my tracks — sometimes literally, when a waterfall appears around a bend or the Northern Lights ignite the sky without warning. This is a country where geology is not ancient history but a living, breathing process happening beneath your feet.

The people match the landscape — resilient, creative, warm beneath a sometimes reserved exterior, and possessed of a dry humour that takes getting used to. Iceland is expensive, yes, and the tourist numbers have tested its infrastructure, but get beyond the Golden Circle, drive the empty roads of the Westfjords or the East, hike into the highlands, and you'll find yourself in some of the most profound solitude left in Europe. Iceland doesn't just show you nature — it shows you the forces that made it.

— Radim Kaufmann, 2026