Food & Drink

Icelandic cuisine developed out of the necessity of isolation: For centuries, Icelanders had to make do with what the island provided — fish, lamb, dairy products, and little vegetables. This resulted in a cuisine that today swings between traditional survival dishes (some of them notorious) and a modern Nordic gourmet scene that attracts international attention.

Lamb — Iceland's Best Meat

Icelandic lamb is one of the best in the world. The sheep (over 800,000 — twice as many as the inhabitants!) roam freely on the mountains all summer, feeding on wild herbs, moss, blueberries, and grass. The result is a tender, slightly wild meat without the typical "sheep meat taste".

In September, the Réttir takes place — the traditional sheep roundup, where entire village communities ride into the mountains on horseback to gather the sheep and assign them to their owners. It is one of Iceland's most authentic cultural experiences — tourists can sometimes participate.

Lamb dishes you should try:

• Kjötsúpa: Lamb soup with vegetables — THE Icelandic comfort food. Available in almost every restaurant and café (from 2,500 ISK/17€)
• Hangikjöt: Smoked lamb, smoked over birch wood or sheep dung (!). Thinly sliced on bread or as a main course
• Lamb chops: Simply grilled with herbs — the quality of the meat makes spices almost unnecessary
• Svið: Whole braised sheep's head, served halved. Looks intimidating but is a traditional festive dish. The cheek meat and eyes are considered delicacies

Fish & Seafood

Iceland lives from the sea: Cod (Þorskur), haddock, monkfish, salmon, and especially langoustine (Nephrops, a type of Norway lobster) are ubiquitous.

• Langoustine soup: A MUST in every fish restaurant. Creamy, rich, with large pieces of Norway lobster. Best at Sægreifinn in Reykjavík (2,800 ISK/19€)
• Plokkfiskur: "Mashed fish" — a traditional comfort dish made from cooked fish, potatoes, onions, and béchamel sauce. Sounds simple, tastes wonderful
• Harðfiskur: Dried fish (usually haddock or cod) — Iceland's traditional snack. Paper-thin, eaten with salted butter. High in protein, perfect as a hiking snack. Available in every supermarket (from 600 ISK/4€)
• Lundi (puffin): Yes, it is eaten. The dark meat resembles game and is often smoked or served as carpaccio. Ethically controversial, but traditional

Hákarl — The Notorious Fermented Shark

Hákarl is Iceland's most notorious dish and an ultimate culinary courage test. It is Greenland shark that is fermented in the ground for 6–18 months. Why? The flesh of the Greenland shark is highly toxic when fresh (it contains trimethylamine oxide and urea), but the fermentation breaks down the toxins.

The result: A pungent ammonia smell reminiscent of a mix of old cheese and cleaning agent, and a "special" taste that requires courage. Traditionally, it is washed down with a shot of Brennivín (Black Death — potato schnapps with caraway).

Where to try? Most affordably and uncommittedly at the Kolaportið flea market (weekends) or at Café Loki next to Hallgrímskirkja (Hákarl tasting set for about 1,500 ISK). Brave? A small piece is enough — most tourists don't need more.

Skyr — Iceland's Super Dairy Product

Skyr is Iceland's national pride — a creamy, protein-rich dairy product that lies between yogurt and quark (technically: a fresh cheese, made with rennet and bacterial cultures). The Vikings brought the recipe over 1,100 years ago, and it is still made today according to the traditional recipe.

Variants: Naturskyr (plain, tart), Bláberjaskyr (with blueberries — the classic), Skyrcocktail (liquid, as a drink), Skyrkaka (Skyr cake, similar to cheesecake). Best with fresh Icelandic blueberries and a spoonful of sugar.

Pylsur — The Icelandic Hot Dog

The unofficial national dish: The Icelandic hot dog consists of a mix of lamb, pork, and beef (the lamb gives it the special taste) and is served with five toppings: crispy onions (cronions), raw onions, sweet mustard (pylsusinnep — an Icelandic creation, sweeter than German mustard), ketchup, and remoulade.

Order „Eina með öllu" (one with everything) — that's the standard order. The most famous stand: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur at the harbor in Reykjavík (since 1937). Bill Clinton ordered one there in 2004 — without mustard. The Icelanders never forgave him. Price: 590 ISK (4€).

Icelandic Coffee

Icelanders drink an extremely large amount of coffee — the island is among the top 3 countries worldwide in per capita consumption (about 9 kg per person/year). The coffee culture is excellent, with many small roasteries. In many accommodations, gas stations, and even bank branches, there is free refill coffee — Icelandic hospitality.

Water — The Best in the World

Iceland's tap water is fantastic — crystal-clear glacier water naturally filtered through lava rock and among the purest drinking waters in the world. Do NOT buy bottled water — it's a waste of money and resources. Just refill your bottle from the tap.

The cold water is perfect. The hot water sometimes smells slightly of sulfur (geothermal) — harmless but takes getting used to. A trick: Let the hot water run for 30 seconds, then the smell usually disappears.

Alcohol — Expensive, Regulated, but Celebrated

Alcohol in Iceland is extremely expensive and strictly regulated:

• Vínbúðin: The state alcohol store — the ONLY legal source for beer, wine, and spirits (except restaurants/bars). There are about 50 branches across the country, often with limited opening hours (Monday–Saturday, no Sunday opening)
• Supermarkets: Sell only "beer" (pilsner/lager) with a maximum of 2.25% alcohol — practically water with beer flavor. Don't confuse!
• Duty Free at the airport: The best place to buy alcohol! Upon arrival in Keflavík, go straight through the Duty-Free hall and stock up. The Icelanders themselves line up there

Beer Ban Until 1989!

One of Iceland's quirkiest stories: Beer was banned from 1915 to 1989. Prohibition (1915) was introduced by referendum, but while wine (1921) and spirits (1935) were legalized again, beer remained banned — allegedly because beer was too "Danish" and threatened national identity. Icelanders circumvented the ban for decades by mixing "beer" from legal 2.25% light beer and schnapps.

Only on March 1, 1989 was real beer legalized — Bjórdagurinn (Beer Day) is still celebrated today, and on this day Iceland's bars are in a state of emergency.

Craft Beer Scene

Despite (or because of) the curious history, Iceland's craft beer scene is booming:

• Borg Brugghús: Reykjavik's most famous craft brewery. "Snorri" (Ale), "Garún" (Stout), "Surtur" (Doppelbock), and seasonal specials
• Einstök Beer: From Akureyri — "Arctic Pale Ale" and "Icelandic White Ale" are brewed with glacier water and are also available internationally
• Kaldi: From Árskógssandur in North Iceland. Iceland's most popular craft lager
• Ölvisholt: On a farm in the southwest — creative beers with local ingredients (lava, birch, etc.)

Brennivín — The "Black Death"

Iceland's traditional potato schnapps with caraway flavor (40% Vol.) is colloquially called "Svarti Dauði" (Black Death) — supposedly because prohibition supporters deliberately gave the label the most deterrent name possible. It didn't help: Brennivín is Iceland's national spirit and is traditionally served with Hákarl.

The taste is reminiscent of Scandinavian aquavit or German caraway schnapps. A glass (about 1,800–2,500 ISK/12–17€ in bars, significantly cheaper in Duty Free) is one of the most authentic culinary experiences in Iceland. Skál!

Music — Iceland's Greatest Cultural Export

For a country with only 390,000 inhabitants, Iceland produces a disproportionately large number of world-class musicians. The music scene is closely knit, experimental, and internationally extremely successful:

• Björk: Iceland's most famous artist — avant-garde electronics, operatic singing, legendary costumes (the swan dress at the Oscars 2001!). Grew up in Breiðholt, a suburb of Reykjavík. Her album "Homogenic" (1997) is considered one of the best of the 1990s
• Sigur Rós: Post-rock band from Reykjavík, known for ethereal soundscapes, falsetto singing, and the fantasy language "Vonlenska". Their album "( )" has no song titles and no lyrics in any real language. Perfect music for the Icelandic landscape
• Of Monsters and Men: Indie-folk band, whose hit "Little Talks" made waves worldwide in 2012. They won the Icelandic music competition Músíktilraunir and became internationally famous almost overnight
• Kaleo: Blues-rock from Reykjavík — their song "Way Down We Go" was heard in over 20 TV series
• GusGus: Electronic music with Icelandic flair — a club institution since the 1990s
• Ásgeir: Singer-songwriter, whose debut album "Dýrð í dauðaþögn" (2012) was bought by one in ten Icelanders

The Iceland Airwaves Festival (annually in November in Reykjavík) is the country's most important music festival — international acts and Icelandic newcomers play in clubs, churches, record stores, and even swimming pools throughout the city. Tickets from about 25,000 ISK (167€).

Film & TV

Iceland's dramatic landscapes are a popular filming location for international productions:

• Game of Thrones: North Iceland and the Westfjords served as "beyond the wall". Grjótagjá (Mývatn) was Jon Snow's cave, Kirkjufell on Snæfellsnes was the Arrowhead Mountain, and Þingvellir served as the path to the Eyrie (Bloody Gate)
• Interstellar (2014): The Svínafellsjökull glacier was "Dr. Mann's Planet" — the icy world where Matt Damon was stranded
• Prometheus (2012): The opening scene at the Dettifoss waterfall — the alien Engineer sacrifices himself at Europe's most powerful waterfall
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013): Large parts of the film were shot on Snæfellsnes and in Stykkishólmur. The skateboard scene on the road to Grundarfjörður is iconic
• Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020): Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as an Icelandic Eurovision duo. Húsavík became the filming location, and the song "Húsavík" was actually nominated for an Oscar
• Star Wars: Rogue One (2016): The black sand beaches near Vík served as an alien landscape
• Fast & Furious 8 (2017): The opening scene on the frozen Mývatn lake

Jólabókaflóð — Iceland's Book Tradition

Every autumn, the Bókatíðindi — a catalog of all new releases, is distributed to every Icelandic household. On Christmas Eve, Icelanders traditionally give books as gifts and spend the evening reading with chocolate — this ritual is called Jólabókaflóð (Christmas book flood). Iceland has the highest book publication rate per capita in the world, and it is said that one in ten Icelanders will publish a book at some point in their life.