19 Interesting Facts About Iceland That Are Totally Worth Knowing Before You Go

The last one in Iceland closed in 2009, and a new one hasn’t opened since.

Bonus fun fact: one Icelander decided to buy one last meal at the Golden Arches before it closed to see if the food would ever decompose. Ten years later, it still looked fresh.

There are a few legal requirements under the the Icelandic Names Act, including the rule that names must “conform to the Icelandic Language.” And until 2019, all approved names were gendered. People with unapproved names are often legally known as “stúlka” (girl) or “drengur” (boy).

Iceland follows a patronymic or matronymic naming system, meaning that a person’s last name refers back to their immediate father or mother. For example, Björk’s last name is Guðmundsdóttir, which literally means “daughter of Guðmundur.” As of 2019, Icelanders who identify as non-binary are allowed to use the surname “-bur” instead, which means “child of.”

According to a study from the University of Iceland in 2007, over 62% of Icelanders believe elves might be real. You’ll find little “elf homes” built into the landscape throughout the country.

In 2010, comedian Jón Gnarr ran for mayor as a joke and to his surprise actually won. He ended up serving four years, although he did have to go back on some of his campaign promises, like adding a polar bear to the local zoo.

And that’s not Iceland’s only literary fact: It also publishes more books per capita than any other country in the entire world!

On the 13 nights before Christmas, kids put a shoe on their windowsill. If they’re good, a Yule Lad will leave a present inside. If they’re naughty, they’ll get rotten potatoes!

According to the BBC, this is pretty common in Nordic countries, where parents believe the abundant fresh air helps the baby sleep better and wards away illness.

It’s probably not what you expected, but Reykjavík is known for its hot dog stand, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which has been open since 1937. The most popular dogs are made of lamb (abundant in Iceland!) and are best served with the works: Icelandic mustard, remolaði (remoulade) sauce, fried onions, raw onions, and Icelandic-style ketchup.

On such a small, homogenous island, it’s not unheard of to unintentionally end up on a date with your second cousin. Designed by a group of Icelandic college students, the ÍslendingaApp let people vet their Tinder dates before they accidentally run into them at the next family BBQ. It doesn’t seem to be available anymore, but there’s always the trusty Íslendingabók, or “Book of Icelanders,” that provides info on Icelandic genealogy.

Technically, Spain grows more bananas on its plantations in the Canary Islands, but when it comes to growing them in the European region, Iceland wins. Using geothermal energy, the Icelandic Agricultural University is able to grow 1,100–4,410 pounds (500–2,000 kilograms) of bananas annually.

Ísbíltúr basically describes jumping into the car, driving around, and ending with a delicious ice cream — aka our favorite summer activity. But despite the often cold temperatures in Iceland, locals love their ice cream trips year-round!

It’s called the Iceland Phallological Museum and it boasts over 200 “penises and penile parts” from different types of animals.

The suggestion was made by Matthías Þórðarson, a national conservationist.

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir — a divorced single mother — ran for president of Iceland and won, earning her the title of the “first female elected head of state anywhere in the world,” according to The Guardian.

Fagradalsfjall, a long-dormant volcano located just outside of Reykjavík, recently erupted!

The Ring Road is an 828-mile (1,332-kilometer) road that roughly circles Iceland’s coast. Depending on the weather conditions, you could drive it in one day, but with so many gorgeous sights to see, we’re guessing you’d want to stop every once in a while.

Akureyri, a town in the north of Iceland, implemented hearts into the design of their stoplights shortly after the economic crash of 2008. According to the mayor, the lights are meant to remind Icelanders to stay positive.

This rift is called Silfra and is located within Thingvellir National Park. You can dive or even snorkel, since the water is so clear you can see far down below.