Facts About Iceland

Christmas in Iceland

There are a lot of traditions in Iceland around Christmas and Christmas is generally a very festive occation.

The 23rd of December is called Þorláksmessa. Many do their last Christmas shopping until midnight and eat the fish "skate" either at lunch or at dinner.

Many people who never enter a church during the year, are known to go to mass at 6.00 pm or at midnight on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, which is the main day at Christmas for Icelanders and a big day for the children who get to open their presents in the evening by the Christmas tree.

In Iceland there are 13 "Santas", Yule Lads or Yulemen according to the traditions in Iceland. They are the proud sons of two trolls, Grýla and Leppalúði. The Santas tend to be rather naughty when they come to town in December, one by one, starting 13 days before Christmas.

Photo: An Icelandic Christmas tree.

To Iceland by sea

The ferry Norröna sails between Iceland (Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland), Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, Denmark (Hanstholm) and Norway (Bergen). You can bring your own car, motorbike, bicycle etc.

• Read all about the ferry: www.smyril-line.com

The ferry arrives in Seyðisfjörður, one of the most beautiful fjords in the eastern part of the country. From there you can choose whether to drive the south coast or the north coast of Iceland, always supposing you want to reach Reykjavík during your trip.

Photo: Norröna - Smyril Line by Erik. Wikipedia commons, GNU Free Documentation Licence.

Some Icelandic specialities

Lifrarpylsa is a mixed internals from sheep. It is boiled, served either cold or warm.

Slátur means "slaughter" and is similar to Haggis in Scotland. Also served either cold or warm.

Harðfiskur (dried fish) is indispensable when you travel in the countryside as a snack. Don't let the rather strong smell disturb you, it really is delicious.

Hákarl (Rotten shark) - is cured by burying and preferably washed down with a shot of Black Death Schnapps. It is mostly served in a Þorrablót - an ancient midwinter feast where pickled, sour meats and rotten shark are among the things to be tried once a year!

Photo: Slatur - strange but very good :-).

Latest news from Iceland

Iceland news

Reykjavik - where to sleep?

What are you really looking for? Good hotels? Comfortable but simple hotels? Cosy B&B’s? Agritourism? Or just camping places?

It’s all there. You only have to decide what is the best solution for you.

Apartments

• Castle House & Embassy Luxury Apartments,
  Center of Reykjavík, peaceful neighborhood
• Luna Hotel Apartments (see photo on the left),
  Center of Reykjavík, peaceful neighborhood

Hotels - 4 stars

• Hotel Borg
  Downtown Reykjavík
• Grand Hotel Reykjavík
  Located very near the center of Reykjavík
• Icelandair Hotel Loftleiðir
  Outside the main center of Reykjavík, still only a few min. away by car, on foot or by bus. Excellent walking and jogging possibilities
• Icelandair Nordica Hotel
  Outside the main center of Reykjavík, still only a few min. away by car, on foot or by bus
• Hotel Reykjavík Centrum
  Downtown Reykjavík
• Hótel Óðinsvé
  Right in the center of Reykjavík but in a quiet residential area
• Centerhotel Skjaldbreið
  Right in the center of Reykjavík

Budget Options In Reykjavík

Here are some of the cheaper hotels and guesthouses. Some are only open during the summertime, others the whole year around.

Reykavík Guesthouse
A quiet neighborhood, only a few minutes walk to down town Reykjavík

Travel Inn Guesthouse and Guesthouse Pavi
Both are located in the center of Reykjavík

Floki Inn Guesthouse (see photo on the left)
Near the center, in a quiet residential area

Guesthouse Sigríður
Outside the center, quiet area

Bb44 Guesthouse
Located in the nearby village of Kopavogur. Direct bus to downtown Reykjavík

Fosshotel Suðurgata
Located in the University Area, near the center of Reykjavík

Icelandic Skyr

Skyr is a milk product, please don't leave without tasting it! It is a white, milky substance, thicker than yougurt and we usually eat it with a bit of extra milk. Extremely good and healthy. Restaurants offer it as a desert, often with berries, but you can also grab it in every grocery store.

Hotels near the international airport - Keflavik

Hotel Keflavik (4 stars)

Icelandair Flughotel (4 stars) - see photo on the left

Motel Alex (budget option)

Hotels and accommodation in South Iceland

Hella

Fosshotel Mosfell (3 stars) - see photo on the left
Located in Hella. Good for exploring the South Central Iceland

Nesjavellir

Fosshotel Nesbud
At Nesjavellir and Mount Hengill about 25 km from Reykjavík

Vik

Hotel Dyrholaey
In Vík. Ideal for sightseeing in the south

Vatnajokull

Fosshotel Vatnajokull
Near Europe’s largest glacier and Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur. Only about 10 km from Höfn.

Hotels and accommodation in West Iceland

Reykholt

Fosshotel Reykholt (budget option)
In Reykholt, the home of Snorri Sturluson, Iceland’s most famous saga writer, poet and historian.