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Living and Teaching English in Iceland - Habits, Customs & Curiosities

Due to its remote location just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland has not been a traditional destination for tourists over the years.

However, that has changed dramatically in recent times and it is now one of the fastest growing destinations in Europe.

If Iceland’s unspoiled natural environment, unique culture and friendly welcome intrigue you, take a look at the following guides for more information.

You will find an array of basic travel tips, a guide to the capital city and a handy cheat sheet for the Icelandic language.

We also have a guide to the local cuisine to get your appetite going.

Lying just to the south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is one of the least populated countries in Europe. During the summer months the long hours of daylight allow you to fully explore all parts of the island, just don’t forget to take a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon. Due to its remote location, the traditional cuisine of Iceland is unique and includes specialties such as fermented shark and boiled sheep’s head.

Despite its small population, Iceland has seen a huge increase in foreign visitors in recent years due to its unique atmosphere and largely untouched natural beauty. Although the winter months are cold and dark, it is still popular as it is the best time to experience the spectacular northern lights.

Reykjavik is home to around two thirds of Icelanders and is famous as the northernmost capital city in the world. However, the winter months can still bring plenty of heavy snow and days where the sun barely breaks the horizon. And just to highlight the small size of the Icelandic population; if you want to contact a local during your stay you will find the entire country fits into one phone book.

Despite its far-north location, Iceland enjoys a much more pleasant climate than you might think thanks to the Gulf Stream which brings warmer waters right across the Atlantic Ocean from Mexico. The long dark winter might explain why Iceland has the highest per capita cinema attendance in the world.

Due to its remote location, Iceland has developed its own unique cuisine over hundreds of years. Whale meat, fermented shark and boiled sheep’s head are all on the menu but are unlikely to be to everyone’s taste. If the thought of these unusual dishes doesn’t appeal then you could always warm your appetite with a few glasses of the local schnapps that literally translates as Black Death.

Some of the country’s traditional dishes may be familiar such as smoked lamb, hotdogs and salted fish; however, there are many others that you are unlikely to have come across before. If you are just looking for a snack, you could also try some fish jerky or a pickled ram’s testicle.

Developed from the Old Norse that was spoken by the Vikings over a thousand years ago, Icelandic is a unique language that is typically quite difficult for most foreigners to understand. Simply having a go at communicating in the local language is always a great way to feel more at home and to make friends among the people you meet.

However, if you plan on staying for more than just a few days you might want to practice some of these words and phrases. Luckily, English is widely spoken in Iceland, but don’t let that stop you from trying some of these simple greetings and pleasantries.