Islandija - Iceland

Islandija (Islandski: Otočje) je otoška država v severnem Atlantiku. Islandija je ena izmed Nordijske države, in zato kulturno del Evropi. Ime Islandija je napačno poimenovanje: medtem ko ledeniki pokrivajo 10% kopnega, je podnebje blago in vulkanska dejavnost ohranja državo toplo. Doseljeno med Vikinška doba, Islandija ima najstarejši preživeli parlament na svetu, Alþingi. Znana je kot dežela ognja in ledu.

Regije

Mesta in mesta

• 64.15-21.881 Reykjavík (REYG-ya-veeg) - glavno mesto Islandije in največje mesto
• 65.68-18.12 Akureyri (Ahk-oo-rey-rih) - Severno glavno mesto in največje mesto zunaj jugozahoda
• 65.27-14.43 Egilsstaðir (AY-yill-stath-ihr) - Glavno mesto na vzhodu ima nekaj najboljšega vremena, ki ga Islandija lahko ponudi
• 64.07-21.954 Hafnarfjörður (HAP-nar-FYERTH-er) - Prijetno mesto na obrobju prestolnice
• 64.25-15.225 Höfn (HEP'n) - Glavno mesto na jugovzhodni obali
• 66.04-17.346 Húsavík (HOOS-ah-veek) - eno najbolj zanesljivih svetovnih mest za opazovanje kitov poleti
• 66.07-23.147 Ísafjörður (EES-ah-FYERTH-er) - Največje mesto Westfjordov na Islandiji
• 63.93-218 Selfoss (SEL-fos) - največje mesto na Južni Islandiji, središče glavne kmetijske regije
• 65.075-22.7259 Stykkishólmur (STICK-is-hole-mur) - Glavno mesto na polotoku Snæfellsnes, prehod na otoke Breiðafjörður

Druge destinacije

Škoda, da se večina obiskovalcev ne oddalji daleč od prestolnice, saj so nekatere najbolj nepozabne znamenitosti na Islandiji daleč stran. Obstajajo številni izleti, ki jih ponujajo turistična podjetja, ki so na voljo v katerem koli glavnem središču, kot je Reykjavík in Akureyri. Poleteli vas bodo naokoli in vas za primerno ceno odpeljali do ledenikov in velikih vulkanov. Vendar pa je najcenejša možnost voziti se z najetim avtomobilom, saj nobena od teh strani nima vstopnin.

Nacionalni parki

• 64.26-21.131 Narodni park Þingvellir (izgovarja se "THING-vet-lihr") - Narodni park in a Unescova svetovna dediščina. 30 do 50 km (19 do 31 milj) vzhodno od Reykjavíka. Zanimivo iz več razlogov: gre za prvotno spletno mesto najdlje delujočega parlamenta na svetu (ime dobesedno pomeni "parlamentarna polja") in tam se razdirajo severnoameriška in evropska celinska polica.
• 64.5-172 Narodni park Vatnajökull (VAT-nah-yer-CUDDLE) - Najnovejši islandski narodni park je bil ustanovljen leta 2008 in vključuje nekdanja narodna parka Skaftafell in Jokulsargljufur. Narodni park Vatnajökull je največji evropski narodni park s 12.000 km² (4.600 kvadratnih kilometrov), ki pokriva približno 12% površine Islandije. V parku se nahaja najvišja islandska gora Hvannadalshnúkur, največji ledenik Vatnajökull in največji evropski slap po količini izpusta Dettifoss.
• 64.81-23.773 Narodni park Snæfellsjökull (SNY-fetls-yer-CUDDLE) - Nahaja se na vrhu polotoka Snæfellsnes na zahodni Islandiji. V njem je ledeni vulkanski krater, ki je bil postavitev knjige Julesa Verna. Potovanje v središče Zemlje.

Druge zanimivosti

• 63.88-22.4481 Modra laguna - (Islandski: Bláa Lónið) (BLAU-ah LONE-eeth) Znani zunanji bazen in zdravstveni dom. Zdravilišče je v Grindavíku na polotoku Reykjanes na jugozahodu Islandije. Nahaja se približno 13 km (8 mi) od mednarodnega letališča Keflavík in 39 km (24 milj) od Reykjavíka. To geotermalno zdravilišče sredi polja lave z mlečno modro vodo je precej nadrealno.
• 65.6-172 Mývatn (MEE-fatn) - Območje jezera v bližini Akureyri na severu Islandije ima Mývatn nezemeljski videz zaradi posebnih vrst vulkanskih kraterjev po jezeru. Na tem območju je veliko dejavnosti: Smajfall (puščava, kjer iz tal prihaja žveplova para) in Dimmuborgir (alias Črno mesto in vrata pekla).
• 64.326111111111-20.1211111111113 Gullfoss - Zlati slapovi. Na robu negostoljubne notranjosti Islandije, približno 100 km vzhodno od Reykjavíka, se reka Hvítá zniža po dvojni kaskadi in ustvari tisto, za kar mnogi verjamejo, da je najlepši slap na Islandiji
• 64.31271-20.300824 Geysir - Geotermalna vroča točka, ki se nahaja 10 km zahodno od Gullfossa. Geysir sam (iz katerega izhaja angleška beseda "gejzir") ni več zanesljivo aktiven, a na srečo Strokkur v sosedi ugasne vsakih pet do deset minut.
• 64.070277777778-16.2116666666675 Jökulsárlón (laguna Jökulsár) - veličastna ledeniška laguna na jugovzhodu Islandije, ki se nahaja v bližini Höfna na cesti 1. Ledenik Breiðamerkurjökull se je od leta 1920 do 1965 hitro umaknil in zapustil to osupljivo laguno, globoko do 190 m. Z ledenika se odtrga led, ki laguno oskrbuje z ledenimi gorami vse leto. Film Jamesa Bonda Umri še en dan je bil tukaj posnet leta 2002.
• 63.98861111-19.063888896 Landmannalaugar - Regija izjemnih naravnih lepot, do katere lahko pridete z avtobusom (ali 4x4) iz Reykjavíka. Nahaja se v notranjosti in daje okus nenaseljenim visokogorju v jedru Islandije.
• 63.680719444444-19.4826222222227 Þórsmörk (Thor's Mark) - Þórsmörk, skrit med tremi ledeniki, je neverjetno lepo in razmeroma osamljeno območje. Islandci poleti uživajo v kampiranju tam. Po vsem območju je veliko pohodniških poti, ki nudijo osupljiv pogled na okoliške ledenike in formacije lave. Dostopna je samo s tovornjaki ali avtobusi: dobro je, če se v turističnem informacijskem centru pozanimate o potovanjih v Þórsmörk.

Razumeti

Islandija je osupljivo čudovit kraj, če uživate v čudnih in opustošenih pokrajinah. Ker je tako blizu Arktika Krog, količina dnevne svetlobe se močno spreminja glede na sezono. Sonce vsako noč v juniju za kratek čas zaide, vendar ne postane popolnoma temno, preden se spet vzpne. V marčevskem in septembrskem enakonočju so dnevi in ​​noči približno enako dolgi kot drugod po svetu. Če greš decembra, je skoraj 20 ur teme. Poletje je vsekakor najboljši čas za odhod, tudi takrat je turistični promet še vedno blag. Polnočno sonce je čudovit pogled, ki ga zagotovo ne gre zamuditi. Ko je sonce ob 23:00 še vedno visoko na nebu, je enostavno izgubiti občutek za čas. Zgodaj ali pozno pozimi pa so lahko presenetljivo dobri časi za obisk. Konec januarja je dnevna svetloba od približno 10:00 do 16:00, cene so nižje kot v visoki sezoni, zasnežena pokrajina pa je srhljivo lepa. (Nekatera spletna mesta pa so pozimi nedostopna.)

Zgodovina

Poglej tudi: Vikingi in staronorveški

Prvi ljudje, ki so se naselili na Islandiji, so bili Vikingi in mornarji iz Norveška in Danska. Prvo znano naselje je bilo Reykjavík z ostanki iz 871. leta AD. Leta 930 so naseljenci ustanovili Alþing, najstarejši preživeli parlament na svetu. Islandija je bila mostišče za vikinške odprave Grenlandija in Nova Fundlandija. Vendar so ta naselja izumrla.

Leta 1264 je islandski parlament sklenil dogovor z norveškim kraljem, da postanejo njegovi podložniki v zameno za redno plovbo na otok. Norveška in Danska sta bili konec 14. stoletja združeni v tako imenovani Kalmarski uniji. Islandija je ostala v Kalmarski uniji, dokler ni bila razpuščena leta 1814 in je Danska prevzela nadzor. Leta 1918 je Islandija postala suverena država na področju Danske. Med Druga svetovna vojna, en mesec po tem, ko je Nemčija zasedla Dansko, so britanske sile mirno zasedle Islandijo. ZDA so okupacijo prevzele leta 1941, medtem ko so bile v vojni še vedno nevtralne. Leta 1944 je Islandija razglasila neodvisnost od Danske, Alþing pa je spet postal suvereni zakonodajalec.

Islandija se je od vikinške dobe le malo priseljevala. Največji posamezni pritok tujcev je bila zavezniška okupacija med druga svetovna vojna, ko so britanski in ameriški vojaki premagali islandske odrasle moške. Mnogi od njih so imeli družine na Islandiji.

Islandsko gospodarstvo temelji predvsem na ribištvu in topilnicah aluminija. Električna energija in ogrevanje na Islandiji prihajata iz hidroelektrarn in geotermalnih elektrarn.

Islandija je imela v začetku 2000-ih cvetoč bančni sektor, ki ga je finančna kriza leta 2008 močno prizadela. Z varčevanjem, razvrednotenjem in zamenjavo vlade se je Islandija opomogla od recesije in je ponovno eno najmočnejših evropskih gospodarstev, turizem pa je zdaj glavni steber islandskega gospodarstva.

Ljudje

Nordijci so bili prvi naselili Islandijo v 9. stoletju našega štetja. Tradicija pravi, da je bil prvi stalni naseljenec Ingólfur Arnarson, norveški Viking, ki si je ustvaril dom, kjer Reykjavík zdaj stoji. Menijo, da so irski menihi nekaj let pred tem začasno naselili otok. Islandski jezik je ob prvem naseljevanju ohranil številne značilnosti starega nordijskega obdobja in mnogi Islandci lahko svojo linijo preusmerijo na enega od zgodnjih naseljencev na vsaj eni strani.

Priseljenci na Islandiji zdaj predstavljajo več kot 10% prebivalstva, kar pomeni, da ima Islandija večji delež priseljencev kot Norveška in Švedska. V zadnjih petih letih se je število priseljencev podvojilo. Večina priseljencev je iz vzhodne Evrope in jugovzhodne Azije in prihajajo zaradi zaposlitve.

Islandci za imena uporabljajo stari norveški patronimični sistem. (To so uporabljali na Norveškem, Danskem, Švedskem in Ferskih otokih že v 19. stoletju, dokler njihove vlade niso odločile, da morajo njihovi državljani sprejeti priimek.)

Podnebje

Vulkanska statistika Obstajajo 1900 aktivnih vulkanov na Zemlji, od tega jih je več kot 30 na Islandiji 1250 ° C je najvišja temperatura, ki jo doseže lava 75% vseh vulkanov na Zemlji je na Tihem ognjevskem obroču v Tihem oceanu 99% površine Islandije sestavljajo vulkanske kamnine. Najstarejše kamnine tukaj so stare približno 15 ali 16 milijonov let 6 mesecev je čas, ki ga ima Islandija Bárðarbunga vulkan neprekinjeno izbruhnil v letih 2015–2016 in proizvedel 85 km2 lave

Kljub svojemu imenu ima Islandija za državo na svoji zemljepisni širini blage zime - zaradi učinka segrevanja Atlantskega zaliva - še posebej v primerjavi z ruskim podnebjem ali celo Novo Anglijo ali srednjim zahodom ZDA. Islandija uživa pomorsko zmerno podnebje; njene zime se pogosto primerjajo s pacifiškimi severozahodniki, čeprav so zimski vetrovi lahko grenki. Vendar pa se je zaradi hitro spreminjajočega se vremena na Islandiji pojavil rek: "Če vam vreme ni všeč, počakajte pet minut!" To je kraj, kjer ni nič nenavadnega, če nas hkrati dežuje in opeče sonce. Nekateri Islandci verjamejo, da če bo zima težka in dolga, bo poletje dobro in toplo. Poletja so običajno hladnejša in bolj zmerna kot drugje na isti zemljepisni širini (učinek oceana spet); 20-25 ° C velja za precej toplo.

Prazniki in festivali

• Božič: Sledi datumom zahodne cerkve. Trgovine so tradicionalno zaprte na božični večer (24. decembra), božični dan (25. decembra), novoletni predvečer (31. decembra) in novoletni dan (1. januarja). Celotna država, vključno z vsem javnim prevozom, se v teh dneh precej zaustavi.

Islandci imajo 13 julij. V preteklosti so bili fantje jule navihanci, ki so se odkupili z obdarovanjem otrok. Vsak julijski fant ima svoj dan, prvi pa pride v mesto 12. decembra.

Epifanija (islandsko: Þrettándinn) praznujejo s kresovi in ​​ognjemeti. Na današnji dan Islandci igrajo vloge vilinov in skritih ljudi.

• Velika noč: Sledi datumom zahodne cerkve. Trgovine so tradicionalno zaprte na veliki petek (petek pred veliko nočjo), veliko noč in binkošti (49 dni po veliki noči). Naslednji dnevi imajo islandsko tradicijo:

• Bolludagur - Odprto v ponedeljek, 7 tednov pred veliko nočjo. Festival, na katerem Islandci jedo napihnjene žemlje, napolnjene z marmelado in stepeno smetano. Običajno otroci smejo šeščikati starše, preden zapustijo posteljo, in namesto tega dobijo napihnjeno žemljico.
• Sprengidagur - Odprto v torek, 7 tednov pred veliko nočjo. Festival, na katerem naj bi Islandci jedli soljeno meso in rumeni grah.
• Öskudagur / pepelnična sreda - Odprto v sredo, sedem tednov pred veliko nočjo. Na ta dan se otroci oblečejo v kostume in pojejo za sladkarije. To je islandski ekvivalent ameriške noči čarovnic.

• Sjómannadagurinn (Pomorski dan): Odprto prvo nedeljo v juniju. Državni praznik, ko se Islandci odpravijo v najbližje pristanišče na praznovanje z mornarji.
• Þjóðhátíðardagurinn (Islandski državni dan): 17. junija. Trgovine so na ta dan tradicionalno zaprte. Praznovanja se običajno začnejo s parado in govori, čemur sledijo manj formalna praznovanja.
• Verslunarmannahelgi (Delovni vikend): Odprto prvi vikend v avgustu. To so običajno največje počitnice na Islandiji. Trgovine so tradicionalno zaprte. Islandci se zgrnejo na festivale na prostem, ki potekajo po vsej državi.

Časovni pas

Islandija je v istem časovnem pasu kot ZDA Združeno kraljestvo, Irska in Portugalska (GMT). Vendar Islandija v nasprotju s temi državami ne upošteva poletnega časa, zato je edina država v Zahodni Evropi, ki tega ni storila.

Govori

Poglej tudi: Islandski zvezek

Uradni jezik Islandije je Islandski (íslenska), ki ostaja zelo podoben, čeprav ne čisto enako kot v 13. stoletju Nordijski (glej Vikingi in staronorveški).

Abeceda Islandsko pisanje uporablja latinsko abecedo, vendar z dvema znakoma, ki sta bila že davno izgubljena iz angleščine: et (Ð, ð), izgovorjena kot glasovna th "njih" in trn (Þ, þ), izgovarja se kot neoglasen th "debele". Gradiva v angleščini pogosto nadomeščajo "dh" oziroma "th", zato npr. Fjörður je napisano Fjordhur in þingvellir je napisano Thingvellir.

Posojilnice se izogibajo in redno se ustvarjajo nove besede za koncepte, kot so računalniki, znani kot tölva ("številka-prerokinja"). Islandski jezik je tesno povezan z drugimi skandinavskimi jeziki (Danski, Švedsko in Norveški), čeprav ni vzajemno razumljivo. Ferski in islandski so do neke mere razumljivi. Ker je islandski jezik germanski jezik kot drugi skandinavski jeziki, bi govorci nemškega in nizozemskega jezika prepoznali veliko sorodnikov, celo angleški govorci bodo z nekaj truda lahko prepoznali nenavadno besedo.

Vsi Islandci se učijo Danski in angleščine v šoli, čeprav z izjemo starejših generacij, ki so odraščale pod dansko vladavino, znanje danskega jezika nekoliko manjka. Po drugi strani se angleščina pogosto govori, večina mlajših ljudi pa ima skoraj domače znanje. Dijaki islandske gimnazije (srednje šole) izberejo četrti jezik in pogosto peti za učenje, običajno španščino, nemščino, francoščino ali italijanščino, vendar znanje najpogosteje ni. Čeprav je večina Islandcev kompetentna v angleščini, so poskusi govora na islandskem vedno cenjeni, če se naučite nekaterih osnovnih pozdravov in besednih zvez v islandskem jeziku, pa bo vaše potovanje postalo bolj gladko.

Islandci vejico namesto pike uporabljajo kot decimalno znamenje za števila, tj. 12.000 pomeni 12, ne dvanajst tisoč, medtem ko 12.000 ali 12.000 pomeni dvanajst tisoč. Islandci uporabljajo tako 24- kot 12-urni sistem, govorijo 12-urni sistem in uporabljajo 24-urni sistem za pisanje. Islandci ne uporabljajo PM / AM za označevanje dopoldneva in popoldneva. V islandskem jeziku "pol deset" ("hálf tíu") pomeni pol desetih (9:30). Ko govorite z osebo, ki ne obvlada angleško, je najbolje, da tega obrazca ne uporabljate, da se izognete nesporazumom. Datume lahko na različne načine vidimo skrajšano, vendar je vrstni red vedno dan-mesec-leto; 12. 7. 19, 12. 7. 19 ali 120719. Islandski koledarji navajajo tudi število tednov od 1 do 52.

Islandija uporablja samo metrični sistem. O carskih ali ameriških meritvah je malo znanja.

Na Islandiji ni koncepta pritličja kot v Veliki Britaniji. Namesto tega se vhodni nivo stavbe imenuje prvo nadstropje ("jarðhæð"), kot v ZDA. Nato se štejejo ravni 1, 2, 3 itd.

Tuji televizijski programi in filmi se skoraj vedno predvajajo v izvirnem jeziku s podnapisi. Samo islandski programi so sinhronizirani v islandsko.

Vstopi

Vizumi in priseljevanje

Islandija je članica združenja Schengenski sporazum.

• Običajno ni mejnih kontrol med državami, ki so podpisale in izvajale pogodbo. Sem spada večina Evropske unije in nekaj drugih držav.
• Običajno se preverijo identiteta pred vkrcanjem na mednarodne lete ali čolne. Včasih obstajajo začasne mejne kontrole na kopenskih mejah.
• Prav tako a vizum podeljena za katero koli schengensko članico, velja v vseh drugih podpisanih državah in izvajala pogodbo.
• Prosim poglej Potovanje po schengenskem območju za več informacij o tem, kako shema deluje, katere države so članice in kakšne so zahteve za vaše državljanstvo.

Kakor pa je Islandija ne del Evropska unija, vsi potniki, ki vstopajo na Islandijo, vključno s potniki iz držav EU, morajo ob vstopu opraviti carinske preglede.

Z letalom

Do Islandije je enostavno priti po zraku, glavno mednarodno letališče pa je Letališče Keflavík (KEF ^IATA), na jugozahodu države približno 40 km (25 milj) od Reykjavík in v visoki sezoni dnevno postreže s približno 30.000 potniki. Samo letališče je špartansko; če imate daljši počitek, si vzemite s seboj knjige ali druge oblike zabave. Še bolje, poskrbite, da boste lahko zapustili sterilno območje in nekoliko raziskali državo.

Potniki, ki prispejo izven Islandije (vključno z državami EU), katerih končni cilj je Islandija ali morajo znova preveriti prtljago, bodo morali opraviti carinski nadzor v vstopnem pristanišču (običajno v Keflavíku), ne glede na kraj izvora. Na območju prevzema prtljage je trgovina brez carin, kjer lahko med tranzitom do evropske celine kupite izdelke brez carine. Tisti, ki prihajajo iz držav v ZDA Schengenski sporazum ne potrebujejo ločenega vizuma in ni priseljenskih čekov, če prihajajo iz drugih takih držav. Letalski prevozniki bodo še vedno zahtevali neko obliko osebne izkaznice tudi na letih v / iz drugih schengenskih držav.

Upravičeni so do potnikov, ki potujejo z letalom Icelandair med Ameriko in Evropo postanek vsaj ene noči na Islandiji, brez dodatnih letalskih stroškov. Icelandair omogoča do 7 noči na vsaki etapi potovanja.

Letališki avtobusni prevoz (imenovan FlyBus) vozi med letališčem in avtobusnim terminalom Reykjavík BSÍ (3000 kr enosmerno, 45 minut; 5500 kr povratno, od maja 2019). Za 4000 kr v enosmerno smer (vrnitev 7000 kr; od maja 2019) lahko na izbranem seznamu hotelov na območju Velikega Reykjavíka kupite potovanje z letalom Flybus, ki vključuje odstop (in prevoz na zahtevo dan prej). Tudi če ne bivate v enem od teh hotelov, so ti morda v bližini, kamor želite iti, zato se lahko z izbiro Flybusa izognete vožnji s taksijem.

Druga odlična možnost je, da se peljete z avtobusom, ki ustavlja pri ulici Modra laguna na letališče ali z njega, nato pa nadaljuje vsake pol ure do Reykjavíka. (Netbus je najcenejša možnost.)

Taksi z letališčem do Reykjavíka stane približno 16.000 kr (od maja 2019).

V Keflavík letijo naslednje letalske družbe:

• Neposredni leti nacionalnega letalskega prevoznika Icelandair so na voljo po najboljši ceni iz ZDA in Kanade, s prehodi v New York City (JFK), Seattlu, Boston, Halifax, Minneapolis/Sveti Pavel, Toronto, Denver in Orlando (Sanford). Destinacije zunaj Islandije vključujejo večino evropskih mest (tj. Amsterdam, Bergen, Berlin, København, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Helsinki, London, Oslo, Madrid, Manchester, Milano, München, Pariz, Stockholm, Düsseldorf in Stavanger), s sedežem Icelandair- omrežje, ki se povezuje prek Keflavík na Islandiji. (Nekateri cilji so sezonski.)
• Delta Air Lines deluje med New York City (JFK) in Keflavík.
• EasyJet, ponuja poceni lete iz Velike Britanije: London, Letališče Manchester, Edinburgh in Bristolin v Švico: Ženeva.
• evrokrila, ima sezonske lete iz Köln.
• WizzAir ima poceni lete iz Baltika
• SAS ponuja neposredne lete iz Oslo, s povezavami do Stockholma in preostale Skandinavije.
• Norveški ponuja neposredne lete iz Oslo.
• British Airways leti od Letališče Heathrow v London.

Predviden prevoz do Grenlandija in Ferski otoki zagotavlja Air Islandija in Atlantic Airways.

Moj čoln

Smyril Line plujte enkrat ali dvakrat na teden od Hirtshals na Danskem prek Toršavn v Ferski otoki (kjer se lahko ustavi), do Seyðisfjörður na vzhodni obali Islandije s trajektom Norröna. To stane več kot letenje, vendar za najboljše ponudbe preverite različne jezikovne različice spletnega mesta Smyril (.fo, .dk, .co.uk, .de in .is). Smyril ne pluje več do Shetlanda ali škotske celine.

Toda pri Seyðisfjörðurju je pot le na pol opravljena: tam ni najema avtomobila, zato morate občasno ujeti avtobus do Egilsstaðir, nato še do Akureyri, nato še do Reykjavík. To traja vsaj dva dni, dražje je od notranjega leta in ni združljivo z veliko ogledov poti. Ker pa je Norröna avtomobilski trajekt, je s celinskega dela Evrope do Islandije mogoče potovati z osebnim avtomobilom in ga uporabiti za potovanje po državi ter ogled poti na poti. Glej Seyðisfjörður za več o praktičnosti.

Obiti

Z letalom

Letala na Islandiji so kot avtobusi ali vlaki drugje - so glavna oblika notranjega potovanja, razen cest. Vendar bodite opozorjeni, da je vožnja lahko nekoliko nerodna, če vstopite v katerega od fjordov, kot je Akureyri.

Domači leti iz Reykjavika letijo iz Letališče Reykjavik, drugo letališče, ki se nahaja bližje istoimenskemu mestu. Načrtovane storitve do bližnjih destinacij, vključno z Grenlandijo in Ferskimi otoki, zagotavlja Air Islandija, Atlantic Airways in Eagle Air.

Z avtom

Poglej tudi: Vožnja na Islandiji

Avto ponuja največ prilagodljivosti za potovanje po Islandiji. Številne agencije najemajo vozila, trajekti pa posameznikom omogočajo, da s seboj pripeljejo svoj avto. Cene najema so visoke - pričakujte, da boste za dvokolesno vozilo plačali najmanj 4000 kr na dan, za štirikolesno gnanje pa 12.000 kr na dan; te cene vključujejo osnovno avtomobilsko zavarovanje, lahko pa se kupi dodatno zavarovanje za zaščito pred škodo zaradi gramoza ali drugih pogostih nesreč.

Avto s štirikolesnim pogonom je potreben samo v notranjosti, ki je odprta le poleti. Najem avtomobilov je vnaprej pogosto cenejši kot na kraju samem. Terenska vožnja je na Islandiji strogo prepovedana in se kaznuje z globami od 300.000 do 500.000 kr. Islandska narava je občutljiva in si ne more zlahka opomoči od sledi gum.

Vožnja na Islandiji je na desni strani ceste. Žarometi in varnostni pasovi za vse potnike morajo biti ves čas prižgani. Obstaja ena glavna avtocesta, Pot 1 - Obvoznica, ki obkroža državo. Zaradi vedno spreminjajočega se vremena Islandije je treba hraniti odvečno hrano in vedeti, kje so penzioni / hoteli v primeru zapore ceste.

Večina gorskih cest je zaprtih do konca junija ali celo dlje zaradi mokrih in blatnih razmer, zaradi katerih so popolnoma neprehodne. Ko so te ceste odprte za promet, lahko mnoge od njih prevozijo le vozila s štirikolesnim pogonom. Ceste, ki zahtevajo štirikolesni pogon (in morda snežne pnevmatike), so številke poti s predpono "F", npr. F128. Nekatere ceste, ki so bile pred tem podpisane s črko F, ​​so bile nadgrajene in jim je bila dodeljena številka brez črke F. Na splošno lahko v obeh primerih zaupate tem oznakam.

Splošna omejitev hitrosti na islandskih podeželskih cestah je 90 km / h (56 mph) na tlakovani površini in 70 km / h (43 mph) na gramozu, v urbanih območjih je splošna omejitev hitrosti 50 km / h (31 mph). Vožnja po gramozu je lahko izziv, izguba nadzora na pečinah pa je lahko usodna. Kamere za hitrost so postavljene po vsej državi, globe pa znašajo 5000–70.000 kr. Omejitev alkohola v krvi je 0,05%, z globo najmanj 100.000 kr - ne pijte in ne vozite.

Vozniki na Islandiji se morajo seznaniti s cestnimi znaki in biti pripravljeni na edinstvene pogoje vožnje v Islandiji. Ceste na Islandiji so srednje do nizke kakovosti, običajno iz rahlo hrapavega črnega bazalta. Zlasti sta dva znaka, na katera bi morali biti pozorni tujci. Prvič, "malbik endar" pomeni, da se cesta spremeni iz asfaltirane ceste v makadamsko. Pred temi spremembami upočasnite, saj lahko človek zlahka izgubi nadzor. Tudi "einbreið brú" pomeni, da se bliža enopasovni most. Počasi se pripeljite do mostu in ocenite situacijo. Če je na most prispel drug avto, jim najprej omogočite prednost.

Če potujete po cesti, je odlično mesto za preverjanje Islandski meteorološki urad ki imajo odličen nabor strani, vključno z Islandska uprava za ceste na vseh glavnih cestah.

The Pot 1 Cesta, ki obkroža otoško državo, je glavna stvar za turiste, ki si želijo ogledati raznolike geološke značilnosti Islandije, od slapov, ledenih gora, fjordov do vulkanov.

Z avtobusom

Načrtovane izlete med islandskimi mesti opravlja Strætó bs. Oglede znamenitosti zagotavljajo redni avtobusi različnih podjetij, vključno z Reykjavík izleti (ki tudi upravljajo FlyBus), Trex, Sterna potovanja, NetBus in SBA-NORÐURLEIÐ. Potovanje z avtobusom na dolge razdalje lahko stane nekaj tisoč kron in je včasih dražje od letenja. Na primer, enosmerno potovanje od Reykjavíka do Akureyrija stane 10.340 kr, medtem ko let stane 8.925 kr (od maja 2019). V vzhodnem delu države je mogoče z avtobusom v enem dnevu iti do zahodnega, a vsak dan postrežejo z le nekaj potovanji. Vse storitve javnega prevoza so navedene na PublicTransport.is.

Nekateri ogledi v notranjost, v posebnih avtobusih 4x4, so lahko cenejša in bolj sproščujoča alternativa vožnji in služijo večini glavnih lokacij (npr. Landmannalaugar, Thorsmork, Askja). Ogledi v notranjost so predvideni le v poletnih mesecih.

Dnevni izleti Golden Circle so na voljo v Reykjavíku pri številnih organizatorjih potovanj, ki vas bodo popeljali do slapa Gulfoss, gejzirjev, kraterja in srednjeatlantske razpoke / kraja prvega parlamenta Islandije. Čeprav na vsakem postanku ne dobite veliko časa, vam bo vodnik povedal o zgodovini Islandije in nekaj splošnih informacij. Cenejše ture (~ 55 EUR) bodo popolni avtobusi, dražje ture (~ 80 EUR) pa bodo majhni minibusi ali kombiji. Valuta za rezervacijo izletov se lahko razlikuje od evra do dolarja do krone, zato pred rezervacijo še enkrat preverite.

Avtobusni sistem glavnega mesta, vodi Strætó bs., je neučinkovit in drag nered, na katerega se ni mogoče zanesti. Ena vozovnica stane 470 kr (od maja 2019). Vozniki avtobusov ne vrnejo drobiža, zato, če imate na sebi le račun v višini 500 kr, ne pričakujte, da boste razliko dobili nazaj. Nabor dvajsetih vozovnic za 9.100 kr lahko kupite tudi na večjih avtobusnih postajališčih, tudi od voznika (od septembra 2016). Ko plačate vozniku, vozovnice ne boste dobili, če je ne boste zahtevali. Če dobite vozovnico, velja za vse druge avtobuse, s katerimi se odpeljete v 75 minutah.

Vsi avtobusi prenehajo voziti ob polnoči, nekateri se ustavijo že prej, nekateri že ob 18:00. Avtobusi začnejo voziti ob nedeljah od 9.30 do 10.00. Cene vozovnic na coni 2 in več (segajo vse do Höfna in Egilsstaðirja) so višje, čeprav vsi Reykjavík, Garðabær, Hafnarfjörður, Mosfellsbær, Álftanes in Seltjarnarnes spadajo v cono ena, kjer velja redna cena 420 kr.

S kolesom

Kolesarjenje je dober način za doživetje Islandije in ponuja povsem drugačno izkušnjo kot druga prevozna sredstva. S seboj morate prinesti svoje potovalno kolo, saj je nakup lokalnega kolesa lahko drag. Promet v Reykjavíku in iz njega je gost, sicer je v redu. Na obvoznici lahko varno kolesarite ali pa se s kolesi odpeljete v avtobuse (ki so opremljeni s stojali za kolesa), ki vozijo po obvoznici, in opravite stranske izlete. Če pa se glede na vreme in razmere odpravite na samooskrbo, je zelo priporočljivo imeti predhodno turnejo.

Ko kolesarite pozimi, uporabite pnevmatike z žrebci in se oblecite v lahke, a tople plasti. Vzdrževanje koles običajno ni zaskrbljujoče, na primer zavorne ploščice ponavadi zdržijo 12 mesecev ali več, odvisno od kakovosti zavor.

Za potovanja izven mesta ali mesta s seboj imejte hrano. Islandska mesta so lahko oddaljena 100-200 km. Prednost ima hrana, ki se kuha v 10-15 minutah. Možna je prehrana borovnic in zelišč, vendar se ne zanašajte samo na to kot vir hrane.

Več informacij in poti najdete na Kolesarska Islandija.

S palcem

Avtostop je poceni način prevoza na Islandiji. Država je med najvarnejšimi na svetu, ljudje so precej prijazni in odstotek voznikov, ki se vozijo, je velik, zlasti v izven sezone. Zaradi majhnega prometa na območjih zunaj Reykjavíka je avtostopiranje na Islandiji vzdržljiv izziv. Tudi na glavni obvoznici je pogostost avtomobilov na vzhodu pogosto manjša od enega avtomobila na uro. Skoraj vsi govorijo angleško in večino voznikov zanimajo pogovori.

Izogibajte se vlečenju po noči, zlasti v petek in soboto zvečer. Uživanje alkohola je veliko in nesreče, povezane z alkoholom, niso redke.

Avtostopi v notranjost so težki, vendar vse deluje, če imate dovolj časa - računate v dneh, ne v urah. Za daljše razdalje ali manj turistična območja se pripravite z nekaj hrane, vode in šotora ali podobno. Vreme je lahko grozno in včasih pokvari zabavo tega načina potovanja.

The Spletno mesto HitchWiki ima nekaj nasvetov za avtoštoparje.

Carpooling

Preveri Samferda.is za možnosti carpoolinga.

ATV-ji

V zadnjih nekaj letih je potovanje z ATV postalo priljubljeno med ljubitelji avanturističnih potovanj. Več podjetja ponujajo ATV ture po različnih delih Islandije.

Glej

• The Gullfoss slap je precej spektakularen.
• Geysir, soimenjak vseh gejzirjev, in njegov sosed Strokkur, ki izbruhne vsakih pet minut.
• Narodni park Þingvellir, a beautiful landscape of water-cut lava fields, which is historically important as the site of Iceland's parliament from 930 AD.
• Vatnajökull glacier is in Southeast Iceland and is Europe's largest glacier.
• Jökulsárlón, the largest glacier lake in Iceland, is located off Route 1 and part of Vatnajökull glacier.
• In the darker months (September to April), there are frequently stunning views of the Severni sij, a.k.a. Northern Lights anywhere away from city lights.

Ali

• The geothermal spa Modra laguna although being an artificial hot spring, it is a very popular sight and activity. Located between the capital and the main airport. Mývatn Nature Baths is another choice but is smaller and in the Eastern part of the country. There also are a lot of local hotpots around the country, but not all of them are safe.
• Iceland offers many hiking opportunities. Should you choose to walk outside of walking paths, strong walking boots which support your ankles are recommended as the terrain is usually craggy lava rock or springy moss with hidden holes!
• Iceland is not well known for skiing or big ski areas but the town of Akureyri in the north has a great little ski area and the mountains of the Troll Peninsula offer world class terrain for ski touring, ski mountaineering and heli-skiing.
• Ice climbing is great with world class frozen waterfalls and plenty of glaciers.
• Glacier hiking is one of Iceland´s most popular tourist things to do with the area of Skaftafell in the southeast being the center of activity.
• Opazovanje kitov available all year from Reykjavík and during the summer from Husavik.
• There are some good opportunities to go snowmobiling and this can provide access to otherwise inaccessible areas.

Nakup

Denar

Exchange rates for Icelandic króna As of March 2021: US$1 ≈ kr 125 €1 ≈ kr 150 UK£1 ≈ kr 175 Canadian $1 ≈ kr 100 Tečaji nihajo. Trenutne cene za te in druge valute so na voljo pri XE.com

The local currency is the Icelandic króna, denoted by the abbreviation "kr"(Koda ISO: ISK).

You will get a better rate of exchange if you buy and sell your króna in Iceland. Just about every establishment in Iceland will accept a credit card, including taxis, gas stations, souvenir stands, and even the most remote guest house, so it is not necessary to carry large amounts of Icelandic currency.

Stroški

Getting to Iceland can be done fairly cheaply: Icelandair has excellent offers, and Keflavík International Airport will soon welcome the European low-cost airline EasyJet.

However, as soon as one steps off the plane the situation changes quite drastically – Iceland is generally a very expensive place to visit, due in part to the high import duties and the 25.5 % VAT rate. Retail goods can be 3-4 times more expensive than in North America while grocery prices are at least on par with the most expensive cities. Visitors to Iceland should budget at least as much money as they would for a trip to Norway or Switzerland.

Useful discount card schemes exist for tourists, the most significant being Reykjavík City Card, operated by the City of Reykjavík.

When shopping for food or other basic necessities, look for the Bónus, Netto or Krónan shops, as they offer considerably lower prices than the others. Downtown Reykjavík is also home to several second-hand stores like Red Cross and Salvation Army, which can come in handy for buying cheap warm layers.

Expect to spend kr 700–1200 on a pint of beer or glass of wine, kr 1700–2200 on a pizza for one person, kr 350 on a city bus ride and kr 350–600 for a coffee or espresso drink.

Cigarettes cost around kr 950 for a packet of 20. Be aware that the law in Iceland states that cigarettes must not be visible in shops, however most gas stations, supermarkets and newsagents sell them.

Prekuhavanje

In Iceland prevrnitev is not practiced. In rare cases an attempt to leave a tip may be seen as insulting, so instead consider offering verbal praise for a job well done. Some Icelandic companies have started having a tipping jar next to the cash register but these are generally ignored.

Nakupovanje

Typical Icelandic products that make good souvenirs include:

• Icelandic wool products. Icelandic sheep are a unique breed that produce a soft and durable wool, and Icelandic woollen goods (hats, gloves, etc.) are soft and warm; don't just buy them for other people if you plan to visit the interior.
• Arts and crafts. Iceland has a huge number of great little craft shops that sell everything from musical baskets and wonderful weird porcelain sculptures to paintings, glasswork and jewellery. The National Galleries tend to carry the same artist's work in the gift shops rather than the usual mass-marketed products found in so many other museums.
• Local music. There is a plethora of interesting local music CDs (beyond just Björk and Sigur Rós) worth hunting for. Obscurities worth picking up include Eberg, Hera, Retro Stefson, FM Belfast, Worm is Green, Múm, Singapore Sling, and Bellatrix. Note that many of these CDs may be available back home as imports for much lower prices. CDs tend to cost kr 1500-2000.

With the exception of alcohol, accommodations and consumables, you can claim your tax refund at the Arion Bank in the arrivals hall opposite to the car rentals at the Keflavik Airport. Only purchases with at least 6000 kronas on a single receipt will be eligible for tax refund. Be sure to have your original receipts and the tax free form filled out by the store with you.

Jej

Poglej tudi: Nordic cuisine

Icelandic cuisine has changed a lot in the last few decades. It used to be based on staples that use lamb or fish in some form or other, but the popularity of other types of food has increased. A vegetarian diet is tricky to maintain in Iceland, but there are several vegetarian restaurants in Reykjavík, and vegetarian dishes are widely available at other restaurants.

Distinctively Icelandic foods include:

• harðfiskur, dried fish pieces eaten as a snack with butter (also good with coleslaw)
• skyr, a yoghurt-like cheese available in flavoured and unflavoured varieties all over the country. Low in fat and high in protein.
• hangikjöt, smoked lamb
• smoked lamb sausage
• svið, singed sheep's head
• Slátur, consists of lifrarpylsa, a sausage made from the offal of sheep, and blóðmör which is similar to lifrapylsa but also has sheep's blood mixed into it.
• Rúgbrauð, translated into English as "thunder bread", this is a type of rye bread that is baked underground making use of geothermal heat. Sweeter than regular rye breads.

Iceland is famous for its whale meat, and is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to eat minke whale. Whaling has long been a tradition in Iceland, though it has become a controversial issue. However, most restaurants that cater to tourists sell whale meat, and if you are feeling a little more adventurous some places will serve grated puffin with it if you ask.

Med Þorri season (late January-Early February), many Icelanders enjoy Þorramatur, a selection of traditional Icelandic cuisine which usually contains the following: hákarl (putrefied shark cubes), Sviðasulta (brawn [head cheese] made from svið), lundabaggi (sheep's fat) and hrútspungar (pickled ram's testicles). Þorramatur is usually served at gatherings known as Þorrablót. If you are invited to a Þorrablót, do not be afraid to (politely) refuse some of the more unpalatable delicacies, as many Icelanders choose to do so as well. Don't worry about going hungry, though, as many of the more "normal" foods mentioned above are almost always available too. If you're uncertain which is which, do not be afraid to ask the caterers for assistance.

A similar event to Þorrablót je Þorláksmessa, celebrated on 23 December each year. During this day you might find yourself invited to skötuveislur, where cured skate is served. Kot z Þorrablót, you can politely refuse to partake in the skate (another type of fish is usually served alongside it for the less adventurous). A word of warning, though: the pungent smell that accompanies the cooking of cured skate is very strong and sticks to hair and clothing very easily. Do not wear formal (expensive) clothing at these gatherings, especially not clothing you intend to wear during Christmas.

Any Icelander's first choice of fast food is usually the pylsa or hot dog. It is usually served with a choice of fried onions, fresh onions, ketchup, mustard and remoulade. It is cheap compared with other fast food staples at around kr 350, and is sold in every one of the small convenience stores/eateries/video rentals/sweet shops that litter Icelandic towns. At least in Reykjavik, you can also encounter food trucks and carts selling piping hot lamb meat soup (kjötsúpa). They also have a vegetarian alternative – the same soup minus the meat.

Food prices are particularly high in Iceland – the following sample prices were accurate as of summer 2016:

• kr 1000 – 2000 for a hamburger.
• kr 350 – 500 for a hotdog
• kr 3000 – 6000 for a three-course meal in a restaurant.

Pijte

Tap water is safe to drink in Iceland and it is one of the countries with the cleanest water in the world. Coffee is easy to find and is comparable to what is found throughout Europe. Juices are generally imported and made from concentrate.

Alcoholic drinks are very expensive compared to the UK and US; an example, half a litre of Viking beer in a bar will cost approximately kr 900. Liquor can be purchased at licensed bars, restaurants, or Vínbúðin, the state monopoly (locally known as Ríkið: "the state") liquor bought there is much cheaper than at bars, there you pay kr 350 for the same beer you paid kr 900 for at the bar. The local Icelandic drinks such as Brennivín ("burning wine") contain a fairly high alcohol content, so pace yourself while at the bars.

The local beer brands are:

• Egils: Lite, Gull, Pilsner, Premium, El Grillo
• Vífillfell: Thule, Gull, Lite, Víking
• Bruggsmiðjan: Kaldi
• Ölvisholt Brewery: Skjálfti
• Ölgerð Reykjavíkur: Gullfoss

For visitors arriving by air, there is a duty free store for arriving passengers where they can buy cheap alcohol (at least cheap compared to Iceland). To find the duty free store just follow the Icelanders. No Icelander in their right mind will pass the duty free store upon arrival!

Be sure to not exceed the allowance which is 1 litre strong alcohol and 1 litre light wine (less than 22%) or 1 litre strong and 6 litre of beer. The strong alcohol can be exchanged for either 1 litre light wine or 6 litre beer.

The drinking age in Iceland is 18 for all alcoholic beverages, but the buying age is 20.

Spi

If you're visiting in summertime you won't regret bringing an eye mask with you. During the height of summer there is no actual darkness and in the north, the sun might just dip for a few minutes below the horizon.

For travel during the high season (July and August), and even in September, reserving a month or more in advance can help ensure that you find suitable and affordable accommodation. Reserving later can put you at risk of having to take more costly accommodation.

The hoteli are usually fairly basic around the island but you can usually get a room even in August just by phoning them up and reserving it before you get there. They are clean and well maintained, light and airy with nothing at all that could even remotely be considered 'dingy'. They are expensive though.Fosshotels is a chain of 12 hotels located throughout Iceland, close to the island's most treasured nature spots and major cities of Iceland. The most popular hotel is Fosshotel Nupar, located in by the National Park Skaftafell. The accommodation in Fosshotel hotels is diverse and Scandinavian breakfast buffet is always included. Fosshotels are part of Hotels of Iceland.Icelandair Hotels vključujejo Edda summer hotels and the Icelandair hotels. Icelandair Hotels are upscale, Scandinavian-style hotels located in most major cities of Iceland. Most notable is the Nordica on the outskirts of central Reykjavík.

Guesthouses are between hotels and hostels in prices and services. At some times if travelling in groups the guesthouses can be cheaper than the hostels. Guesthouses will usually have more space than a hostel with a shared bathroom that is cleaner and less crowded. Icelandic Farm Holidays: the members are farmers who offer accommodation to travellers in their homes, guesthouses, country-hotels and cottages. The association was founded in 1980 and from 1990 Icelandic Farm Holidays has been a fully licensed tour operator and a travel agent. The accommodation is diverse; made up beds in four different categories, with or without private bathroom, sleeping bag accommodation, cottages and camping. Some of the farms offer also various recreation; horse riding, fishing, hunting, sailing, swimming, glacier tours, golf, etc. You can get their brochure from tourist information centers or find it on their website. It is very informative and lists all farms, the services they provide, at what time of the year and contact information. It is best to call in advance to book, especially in the summer.

Iceland has many hostli throughout the entire country. Thirty-seven of them belong to Hostelling International Iceland and it is best it to buy the international membership card (if you do not have it already), if you are staying for four or more nights at HI hostels in Iceland or abroad within the next 12 months. Bring your bedlinen or sleeping bag to avoid extra costs.

If you're travelling on a budget, kampiranje is your best bet. There are sites located throughout the country, especially at places you'd want to visit. They range from fully-equipped (hot showers, washing machines, cooking facilities) to farmers' fields with a cold-water tap. Expect to pay kr 500-1000 per person per night. If you intend to camp in Iceland you must be prepared for the cold, 3-season sleeping bags are essential and an inner. Thick pajamas and a warm hat are also recommended! A bedding roll is also useful as you may end up sleeping on very rough ground. Don't wait until last minute to find a place to camp. Campers and mobile homes have become immensely popular among Icelanders and they take up a lot of space. You could arrive at a large camping ground that's so filled up with campers and mobile homes that you'll have no place to pitch your tent. It is however, not allowed to camp or park a mobile home anywhere other than these campgrounds!

Trekkers will need to use some of the mountain huts, either government or privately-run. These range from dormitory accommodation to fully-staffed facilities. Booking ahead is likely to be necessary at popular times of year (and they may be accessible only in summertime).

Don't bother attempting to sleep in the Keflavík Airport overnight. It's far better to find a hotel in Keflavík or Reykjavík before arrival. If there are no flights to be serviced in the middle of the night (which is most often the case) the airport is closed for a few hours at night and you might have to stand outside in the rain and wind.

Nauči se

Iceland has eight universities, the oldest and most important of which is the Univerza na Islandiji. Public universities in Iceland are heavily subsidised by the government, and hence charge very little in tuition fees. The University of Iceland, for instance, charges only kr 75,000 annually in tuition fees for international students. However, be sure to factor in Iceland's high cost of living when planning your finances. Courses are generally taught in Icelandic, though some courses for exchange students are taught in English. The universities also conduct classes for foreigners to learn Icelandic.

Delo

Work permits are required for citizens of most countries. The exceptions are citizens of the Nordic Countries (Greenland, Faroe Islands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Åland Islands, Finland) and EU/EEA countries. There are no restrictions on the latest entrants into the EU.

Work permits can be difficult to get if you do not come from any of the aforementioned countries, as Iceland has a relatively strict immigration policy and employers are obligated to consider Icelandic or EU citizens above all other applicants. As a small nation, a great deal of emphasis is placed on family ties and personal relationships; therefore it can be difficult to find a job in Iceland without personally knowing someone in a company. The unemployment rate is however low, about 3% in 2019.

Beware of offers for contracted work in Iceland. Your wage levels may be lower than average and your rights may be affected. Iceland is a highly unionised society with over 90% of the workforce in labour unions.

A great resource is the Directorate of Labour Spletna stran.

Ostani varen

Iceland is one of the places in the world with the least criminality, so there is almost no chance of getting robbed or harassed. Isolated incidents have, however, been reported, especially in Reykjavík, so it pays to take the usual precautions. Use common sense when sampling the night life and be alert.

Emergency phone number: 112

Narava

The greatest dangers to tourists in Iceland are found in the nature. Always do what the signs tell you to do. If there are no signs, use common knowledge. Every year, quite a few tourists get hurt, even killed, in the mountains or on the seas. For example, do not approach a glacier front, big waves on the coast, or a big waterfall unless you know what you're doing, and do not walk on glaciers without proper training and equipment.

Iceland is a volcanically active country and you can get caught in an eruption, but chances of that are extremely low. Pay attention to radio, TV or government website for any volcanic eruption warnings. Aside from the lava, volcanos in Iceland are often capped by glaciers and will result in explosive eruption (the most violent type of eruption). Volcanic gas can be toxic to humans and animals. Large and heavy airborne fragments (called volcanic bombs) are launched into the air and can fall far away from the eruption site. Glacial outburst flood (jökulhlaup) often follow shortly after the eruption as the lava melts the glacier that was capping the volcano.

When hiking or skiing, be prepared for a sudden shift in the weather, as these can happen very quickly in Iceland. If unsure about conditions, ask locals or go on a guided tour. Icelanders are taught to respect nature's power and take care of themselves outdoors in the wilderness from childhood, so you usually won't find fences or warning signs even at the most dangerous places.

Vožnja

Driving around Iceland can be difficult or even dangerous. Inform yourself of local conditions and make sure your vehicle and driving skills are up to the task. Many roads (even parts of the main country road) are unpaved and can turn into slippery mud during the summer. There have been a number of instances where foreigners, unprepared for Icelandic roads, have had accidents, some of them fatal. Since the roads are quiet and the distances between settlements great, some Icelanders abuse this by speeding considerably. Sheep sometimes roam near the roads or even on them, so always have your eyes open and be on the lookout for sheep, as they tend to wait for cars before crossing the roads.

Because of its numerous mountains and relatively high humidity, visibility can quickly change from very good to foggy and road conditions from dry to wet rather quickly when ascending in elevation. Check out Vegagerdin for up-to-date road-condition information.

Road numbers starting with an F are for 4x4 vehicles only, and are usually simple dirt paths made by a road scraper and it's not uncommon that river crossings are required. Many F-roads are closed due to extremely bad road conditions from October to mid-June. Non-4x4 vehicles are prohibited on these roads.

Speed limits on highways are 90 km/h on paved roads and 80 km/h on unpaved roads.

Pravila in predpisi

Rules and regulations in the traffic are generally the same as in the rest of Europe. Foreign visitors should be aware that police controls are common and that fines are very high, and should take special note of the following rules:

The give way rule is universal. On roads without the "Yellow Diamond" sign, all traffic from your right hand side has the right of way; you must yield to traffic from any road to your right, except from private areas such as parking lots. Headlights are mandatory even during daylight.

The general speed limit is 90 km/h in the country side and on motorways, and 50 km/h in urban areas.

There are no specific rules for change of speed limit (as in some other countries) when driving conditions change. The driver is expected to adjust speed downward to a safe level in for instance fog, heavy rain or snow.

Don't drink and drive. Your blood alcohol concentration must not exceed 0.05%. One small beer can be enough. This rule is strictly enforced and violators risk a minimum fine of kr 100,000, a long (or even indefinite) suspension of the driver's licence and prison time.

On typical Icelandic two-lane road with a narrow shoulder, overtaking is allowed only on long straightaways with plenty visibility. Overtake only if really necessary, consider alternatives like taking a short break.

Using one's vehicle horn is considered impolite and should be used only in an emergency.

Right turn on red is illegal.

Do not stop on a highway: find a pull-out (sometimes marked with a blue sign with a white 'M'), a designated parking area (blue sign with a white 'P'), a picnic area, or a farmer's road. Stopping on a road with a 90-km speed limit is dangerous and illegal, yet you are bound to see stupid tourists doing this.

Drugs

The Icelandic Narcotics Police has a very strict policy on drugs; minimum fine for possession of under 1 gram (3/100 of an ounce) of any illegal substance can result in a fine of over kr 70,000.

Ostani zdrav

The medical facilities in Iceland are good and subsidized for European Union citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and passport. Scandinavian citizens must show a valid passport to get subsidised medical costs.

Should EU citizens not have the necessary documents then they will be charged for the full cost of the medical treatment. Citizens outside of EU should check if their travel insurance covers medical treatment.

Infectious diseases aren't a problem in Iceland. Inoculations aren't required except if you are arriving from countries that suffer from infectious diseases like cholera.

The biggest threat to your health is likely to be accidental injury or bad weather. Always make sure you have more than adequately warm and waterproof oblačila. Selection of appropriate clothing is especially important in Iceland and can even be a matter of life and death. Exercise extra caution in geothermal areas: What may appear to be solid ground can sometimes not be so solid, breaking from underneath your feet with you falling into potentially deadly boiling water.

The vode kakovost in Iceland is excellent and tap water is always drinkable. The hot water coming from tap smells a bit like sulphur, because it is heated by geothermal energy, but it is also safe to drink.

The hygiene in public kitchens is very good, and food poisoning rarely happens to tourists.

Spoštovanje

Ms Pétursdóttir or Ms Guðrún? Iceland maintains another Norse tradition: the custom of using patronyms rather than surnames. An Icelander's given name is followed by his or her parent's first name (usually the father's), in the genitive case, and the suffix -son or -dóttir, e.g. Guðrún Pétursdóttir (Guðrún, Pétur's daughter). Members of the same family can therefore have many different "surnames", which can sometimes create confusion for visitors. Because of the patronymic last names, Icelanders use first names in most situations, e.g. phone books are alphabetized by first name rather than last name and also listing their professions. This also applies when addressing an individual. Icelanders would never expect to be addressed as Mr or Ms Jónsson/-dóttir no matter how important they might be.

• Some Icelanders claim to believe in the hidden people — called huldufólk — and a few even claim to have seen them. They are analogous to elves, but are often considered separate. There is even a museum in Reykjavík devoted to the hidden people. This is an ancient Icelandic belief and most Icelanders respect the tradition. Skepticism thus can appear rude.
• It is customary for one to take one's shoes off after entering private homes. In case your hosts do not mind, they will say so.
• Punctuality is not as important in Iceland as it is in many other northern European countries. People may often not appear until 15 minutes later than the stated time, and even much later than that for parties or other social gatherings.
• When speaking English, Icelanders may use the word hudiča more often than expected by Anglophones. This is because brusque opinions are commonly expressed and should not be taken badly and also, the Icelandic equivalent of this word is not as strong a swear word as in English.
• If you feel an urge to discuss the global economic crisis, keep in mind that it is an emotive issue - Iceland has suffered more than many in the banking crisis and ordinary people have lost a great deal of purchasing power.
• It is not uncommon for an Icelander to ask a foreigner for his or her opinion of Iceland as a first question. The standard question is: "How do you like Iceland?" This is in large due to Iceland being a very small country, but it is also a country-wide inside joke of sorts. It is often best to be positive, as many Icelanders are likely to be offended by negative views of their country and thus get defensive.
• Iceland is one of only a few countries with an active whaling industry, and if you choose to assert an anti-whaling position expect some Icelanders to have strong pro-whaling opinions and be well prepared to argue the issue and do not expect to win the argument.
• Although Iceland is officially a Luteranski country, only a minority of Icelanders practise the faith, and contemporary Iceland is for the most part rather secular. Nevertheless, even non-religious Icelanders tend to be proud of their churches, so you should always dress and behave in a respectful manner whenever you are visiting them.

Povežite se

Telefon

In case of emergency call 112 from any phone.

Such calls are free and will be answered by an emergency services operator who will ask you which services you need (police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, rescue teams, civil protection and protection against child abuse) and for your location.

Phone numbers for non-urgent calls differ to where you are situated in the country. Calls for non-urgent medical services in the capital region should be made on 1770.

Directory enquiries (number lookup) of Icelandic phone numbers are provided by the Icelandic telecom, in the telephone number 1818.

The Icelandic country code is 354. When calling Iceland from overseas, dial your international access code (00 from most of Europe, 011 from the US and Canada or " " from any mobile phone) followed by subscriber number. Iceland does not use area codes.

Payphones are not common, due to widespread use of mobile phones.

Costs for calls from a landline phone are based on a dial-up fee along with a fee for each minute. The dial up fee for all domestic phones is typically kr 3, each minute to landlines costs kr 10 and each minute to GSM costs around kr 21 (as of December 2014).

Mobilni

Mobile phones are heavily used. The main networks are Icelandic telecom, Vodafone and Nova. The former two (Icelandic telecom and Vodafone) have use of 2G services, and all of them have use of 3G and 4G services. 2G, 3G and 4G all have equal coverage, covering most of the country. 5G has not been rolled out yet as of October 2020.

Given that the call is from domestic numbers, there is no charge for calls that you receive on your handset.

Pay as you go (prepaid) plans are available. Credit the phone up with a top-up card, at an ATM or at the website of your telecommunications company; there is no contract and no bills. Some operators also offer packages which mix texts, phone calls and/or data at affordable rates. These packages can come with your initial top-up or deducted from your balance.

If you have an unlocked GSM-compatible handset (dual- and tri-band phones with the frequencies 800, 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz are compatible) you can purchase a SIM card from phone outlets.

Costs for calls from an mobile are based on a dial-up fee along with an fee for each minute. The dial-up fee for all domestic numbers is typically kr 15, each minute to all domestic phones costs kr 25 and kr 15 for each text message. The cost for Internet access is kr 12 per megabyte (as of May 2019).

Internet

Internet hot spots can be found at restaurants, cafés and airports. For the customers of those places, the Internet is free of charge.

A large portion of Iceland has 3G coverage. 3G and 4G data services should roam seamlessly onto Icelandic networks. USB data cards that offer connectivity to 3G or 4G are available from the Icelandic telecommunications companies.