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Iceland Travel Guide

The Iceland Travel Guide is a comprehensive directory of facts and figures that we hope you will find interesting.

At VeryLastMinute we aim to provide you with the info you need to make an informed choice when booking your holiday accommodation in Iceland. Please browse through our directory of 259 hotels, resorts and guest houses in Iceland where you will find details on how to book direct to get the best possible deal - rates starting from as low as {LOW_RATE}/night.

Full Name

Republic of Iceland

Former Name

None

Capital City

Reykjavik

Government Type

constitutional republic

Climate

temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Geography

strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Languages

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

History

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Currency

Iceland Krona (ISK)

Reykjavik

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