Key Facts about Iceland

Iceland is an island located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean, positioned between mainland Europe and Greenland. The population is about 300,000, with the largest city being the capital, Reykjavik, which has around 123,000 inhabitants. Essentially, the entire country has a population similar to that of Varna, and Reykjavik has as many people as Stara Zagora.

The time difference between Bulgaria and Iceland is 3 hours. So, if it’s 10 AM in Bulgaria, it’s 7 AM in Iceland. When traveling there, your day gets extended, and when returning, it feels like time flies. When we flew back at night, not only did it never get dark in Reykjavik, but we watched the sunrise the entire time. Practically, there was no night, and the two days merged into one.

Interesting Fact: Icelandic surnames are derived from the father’s first name. If the child is a girl, the suffix ‘dóttir’ (daughter) is added, and if it’s a boy, the suffix ‘son’ is used. Names like Guðnadóttir or Stevenson are common. Since the population is small, young Icelanders check an app to ensure they’re not accidentally related before getting married.

In the winter, there’s almost eternal night, and locals often suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a form of seasonal depression. When I asked how they deal with the seasonal depression, they mentioned they go to the gym a lot or hop on a plane to Tenerife. They also take a lot of antidepressants and drink a fair amount of alcohol—this is what they told me, not my observation.

I read in “The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner that Icelanders are one of the happiest nations and that nearly everyone there is involved in music. When I asked locals about it, they were quite surprised and said it probably applies more to the Danes.

Speaking of music, let’s not forget that Björk, one of the most unique conceptual singers and actresses, is from Iceland. Hildur Guðnadóttir, the Oscar-winning composer of the ‘Joker’ soundtrack, is also from there.

Nature of Iceland

Iceland’s nature is both beautiful and harsh. The population constantly tries to anticipate its moods, but they are regularly surprised by earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, glacial bursts, floods, and fierce winds. However, the land rewards them with stunning landscapes—waterfalls, green hills, vast meadows, powerful waves, striking black sand beaches, blue and black glaciers, and interesting flora and fauna.

Agriculture is limited due to the thin layer of soil. Farming focuses on livestock and growing vegetables in greenhouses heated with geothermal water. During winter, lamps simulate sunlight to help with the growth. Iceland’s economy relies on banking, tourism, fishing, machinery, and aluminum production.

Traveling to Iceland 

From Bulgaria, the only way to reach Iceland is by plane, with a stop. There’s also a ferry from Denmark. Tickets are not cheap, so if you’re planning a trip, it’s best to book early for better prices. The international airport is in Keflavik, which is a 50-minute drive from the capital. All domestic flights depart from a smaller airport in Reykjavik.

Icelandic Language 

Icelandic, or ‘íslenska’, belongs to the North Germanic language group. While it sounds similar, it’s not closely related to Scandinavian languages. All Icelanders speak perfect English, but if you want to impress them with some phrases in their native language, here are a few basics:

– Thank you: ‘Takk fyrir’ (pronounced: “Tak firir”)

– Good morning and good afternoon: ‘Góðan dag’ or ‘Góðan daggin’ (pronounced: “Godan daggin”)

– Good evening: ‘Gott kvöld’ (pronounced: “Got kviold”)

Tip & Trick: To read labels in supermarkets, I recommend using Google Translate’s scan feature.

Accommodation in Iceland 

Accommodation is expensive. In Reykjavik, a double room costs at least 500 BGN, often with a shared bathroom. For this reason, many people choose to camp or rent campers. It’s common to see a Toyota pickup transformed into a camper.

Advice: If you’re doing a road trip and not staying only in Reykjavik, make reservations based on your route and planned attractions each day.

If you’re in a camper, just check where campsites are located along your route. Stay tuned for future blog posts where I’ll recommend specific places to stay.

Stay tuned for the consecutive parts of this blog posts where I recommend specific places to stay.

How to book your stay?

I recommend that you check the packages that the hotel offers on their website because they are very affordable. But for your convenience, I have also put a box on booking.com. Compare the prices and choose an option.

Booking.com

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