Reykjavik Travel Guide

City Facts

Location

Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland.

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).

Average Annual Rainfall

780mm (31 inches).

Language

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 - JáNo - NeiHello - HallóGoodbye - BlessPlease - Viltu gjöra svo velThank you - Takk (takk fyrir)My name is … Ég heiti …How are you? - Hvernig hefurdu thad?I’m very well - Ég hef thad ágættI feel ill - Ég er lasinHow 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

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