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Location
Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland.

Dialling code
354.

Population
118,000 (city); 198,000 (metropolitan area)

Time zone
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
-1°C (27°F).

Average July temperatures
11°C (51°F).

Annual rainfall
780mm (31 inches).

Language
Introduction
Icelandic is a Teutonic language of the Nordic group distantly related to Norwegian. It is believed to have changed little from the original tongue spoken by the Norse settlers.

As the country only gained full independence from Denmark in 1944, Danish is still spoken among the older generation. ‘Video English’ has slipped into the slang language of the city’s younger inhabitants, although generally they have a good command of English, as it is an integral part of the schooling system.

Despite this trend for foreign words, Reykjavikians are fiercely proud of their language and will always look to use an Icelandic expression or word rather than use an outside replacement: ‘computer’, for example, is tölva, a combination of the words tala (‘number’) and völva (‘sage’).

Some of the Reykjavikians’ expressions seem archaic when translated, as they stem from their rural heritage – if something is ‘not much good’, it is ekki epp á marga fiska (‘not worth many fish’); and sauddrukkinn is to be ‘as drunk as a sheep’ – both colloquial expressions still used today.

Phrases

Yes - Já
No - Nei
Hello - Halló
Goodbye - Bless
Please - Viltu gjöra svo vel
Thank you - Takk (takk fyrir)
My name is … Ég heiti …
How are you? - Hvernig hefurdu thad?
I’m very well - Ég hef thad ágætt
I feel ill - Ég er lasin
How much does it cost? - Hvad kostar thetta?
Do you speak English? - Talardu ensku?
I don’t understand - Ég skil ekki
Where is …? - Hvar er …?
Entrance - Inngangur
Exit - Útgangur
Danger - Hætta
Open - Opid
Closed - Lokad
Toilets - Salerni
Doctor - Læknir
Hotel - Hótel
Restaurant - Veitingastadur
Beer - Bjór
Wine - Vín
Menu - Matsedill
Today - Í dag
Tomorrow - Á morgun
Monday- Mánudagur
Tuesday - Thridjudagur
Wednesday - Midvikudagur
Thursday - Fimmtudagur
Friday - Föstudagur
Saturday - Laugardagur
Sunday - Sunnudagur
One - Einn
Two - Tveir
Three - Thrír
Four - Fjórir Five Fimm
Six - Sex
Seven - Sjö
Eight - Átta
Nine - Níu
Ten - Tíu
Twenty - Tuttugu
Thirty - Thrjátíu
Forty - Fjörtíu
Fifty - Fimmtíu
Sixty - Sextíu
Seventy - Sjötíu
Eighty - Áttatíu
Ninety - Nítíu
One Hundred - Eitt hundrad
One Thousand - Eitt thúsund


Cost of Living:

100 Iceland Krona (Kr100) = £0.54; US$0.81; C$0.97; A$1.15; €0.59
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Thorrinn
January
Icelanders celebrate the old feast of Thorrablot, with singing, dancing, and the consumption of traditional Viking food, topped off with brennivin (Icelandic spirit).

Food and Fun
February
Beer and food festival, restaurants and bars throughout the city.
Website: www.foodandfun.is

Winter Lights Festival
February
City center

Reykjavik Arts Festival
Mid May-early June
Throughout the city
Website: www.artfest.is

National Day of Iceland
June
Independence celebrations.
Throughout the city

Iceland Open
June
Midnight golf.
Website: http://icelandopen.com

Reykjavik Cultural Night
August
Dance, theater, music and art festival.
Various indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city

Reykjavik International Film Festival
September/early October
Various venues
Website: www.riff.is

Iceland Airwaves Festival
October
Popular international music festival, various venues
Website: www.icelandairwaves.com

Related Reykjavik Content

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Iceland Airport Guides: Keflavik International	Iceland City Guides: Reykjavik City Guide
Iceland Attraction Guides:
Geyser (Geysir) Golden Waterfall (Gullfoss)	The Pearl (Perlan)
Available Tours to Iceland: iExplore Iceland Experience -  $3250, 7 days