Reykjavík
Usage
The capital and largest city of Iceland; the international airport at Keflavík is about 50 km away
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Reykjavík" = in/at (dative); "til Reykjavíkur" = to (genitive)
Akureyri
Usage
The largest town in the north, often called the capital of the north; it has an airport and the Hlíðarfjall ski area nearby
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Akureyri" = in/at (dative); "til Akureyrar" = to (genitive)
Keflavík
Usage
A town on the Reykjanes peninsula next to the international airport; it is now part of the municipality of Reykjanesbær
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Keflavík" = in/at (dative); "til Keflavíkur" = to (genitive)
Hafnarfjörður
Usage
A harbour town just south of Reykjavík, part of the capital area
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Hafnarfirði" = in/at (dative); "til Hafnarfjarðar" = to (genitive)
Kópavogur
Usage
A town directly south of Reykjavík, part of the capital area
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Kópavogi" = in/at (dative); "til Kópavogs" = to (genitive)
Selfoss
Usage
The largest town in the south, on the river Ölfusá, on the Ring Road
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Selfossi" = in/at (dative); "til Selfoss" = to (genitive)
Ísafjörður
Usage
The main town of the Westfjords, with an airport and a harbour
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Ísafirði" = in/at (dative); "til Ísafjarðar" = to (genitive)
Egilsstaðir
Usage
The largest town in the east, near the lake Lagarfljót; its airport serves the east of the country
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Egilsstöðum" = in/at (dative); "til Egilsstaða" = to (genitive)
Húsavík
Usage
A town on the bay Skjálfandi in the north, known for whale watching
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Húsavík" = in/at (dative); "til Húsavíkur" = to (genitive)
Höfn í Hornafirði
Usage
A fishing town in the southeast near the glacier Vatnajökull; usually just called Höfn
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "Á Höfn" = in Höfn (dative); "í Hornafirði" is part of the full name (in Hornafjörður)
Vík í Mýrdal
Usage
The southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland, close to the black sand beach Reynisfjara; usually just called Vík
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "Í Vík" = in Vík; "Mýrdalur" is the surrounding area
Seyðisfjörður
Usage
A town at the head of an eastern fjord; the ferry Norræna calls here
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Seyðisfirði" = in/at (dative); "til Seyðisfjarðar" = to (genitive)
Borgarnes
Usage
A town in the west on the Ring Road, by the fjord Borgarfjörður
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Borgarnesi" = in/at (dative); "til Borgarness" = to (genitive)
Stykkishólmur
Usage
A harbour town on the Snæfellsnes peninsula; the ferry Baldur leaves from here for the Westfjords
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Stykkishólmi" = in/at (dative); "til Stykkishólms" = to (genitive)
Grindavík
Usage
A fishing town on the Reykjanes peninsula near the Blue Lagoon. It has been affected by eruptions, so check the current situation with the authorities before going
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Grindavík" = in/at (dative); "til Grindavíkur" = to (genitive)
Hveragerði
Usage
A geothermal town east of Reykjavík, known for its greenhouses
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Hveragerði" = in/at (dative); "til Hveragerðis" = to (genitive)
Akranes
Usage
A town across the bay Faxaflói from Reykjavík, reached through the Hvalfjörður tunnel
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "á Akranesi" = in/at (dative); "til Akraness" = to (genitive)
Vestmannaeyjar
Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)
Usage
A group of islands off the south coast; the main island Heimaey is reached by ferry from Landeyjahöfn
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Vestmannaeyjum" = in/at (dative); "til Vestmannaeyja" = to (genitive)
Grímsey
Usage
An island off the north coast that the Arctic Circle crosses
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "í Grímsey" = in/at (dative); "til Grímseyjar" = to (genitive)
Borgarfjörður eystri
Usage
A small fjord village in the east, known for hiking; "eystri" means "eastern" and tells it apart from the Borgarfjörður in the west
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "Á Borgarfirði eystri" = in/at (dative form)
Snæfellsnes
Usage
A peninsula in the west with the glacier Snæfellsjökull and the mountain Kirkjufell
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative. "Á Snæfellsnesi" = on Snæfellsnes; "nes" means headland or peninsula
Keflavíkurflugvöllur
Keflavík Airport (KEF)
Usage
Iceland's international airport (KEF), about 50 km southwest of Reykjavík, where most international flights arrive
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Keflavíkur" (of Keflavík) + "flugvöllur" (airport). Signs also show the code KEF
Flugstöð Leifs Eiríkssonar
Leifur Eiríksson Terminal
Usage
The official name of the terminal building at Keflavík Airport
Grammar Note
"Flugstöð" means air terminal; the name Leifur Eiríksson is in the genitive: "Leifs Eiríkssonar"
Reykjavíkurflugvöllur
Reykjavík Airport (RKV)
Usage
The domestic airport inside the city, with flights to places in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Reykjavíkur" (of Reykjavík) + "flugvöllur" (airport)
Akureyrarflugvöllur
Akureyri Airport (AEY)
Usage
The airport in the north, with domestic flights from Reykjavík
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Akureyrar" (of Akureyri) + "flugvöllur" (airport)
Egilsstaðaflugvöllur
Egilsstaðir Airport (EGS)
Usage
The airport in the east, with domestic flights from Reykjavík
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Egilsstaða" (of Egilsstaðir) + "flugvöllur" (airport)
Ísafjarðarflugvöllur
Ísafjörður Airport (IFJ)
Usage
The airport of the Westfjords, with domestic flights from Reykjavík
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Ísafjarðar" (of Ísafjörður) + "flugvöllur" (airport)
BSÍ
BSÍ bus terminal
Usage
The long-distance bus terminal in Reykjavík, also the base of the airport bus Flybus
Grammar Note
"BSÍ" is short for "Bifreiðastöð Íslands" (the Icelandic bus station) and is read letter by letter
Hlemmur
Usage
A main hub for city buses in central Reykjavík, on Laugavegur
Grammar Note
The sign form is the nominative; "á Hlemmi" = at Hlemmur
Landeyjahöfn
Usage
A harbour on the south coast where the ferry Herjólfur leaves for the Westman Islands
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Landeyja" (of Landeyjar) + "höfn" (harbour)
Herjólfur
Herjólfur (ferry)
Usage
The name of the passenger and car ferry between the Westman Islands and the mainland, which normally sails from Landeyjahöfn
Grammar Note
A ship name, so it is capitalised. Check the current timetable on the operator's website
Baldur
Baldur (ferry)
Usage
The name of the ferry that crosses the bay Breiðafjörður between Stykkishólmur and the Westfjords
Grammar Note
A ship name, so it is capitalised
Hringvegurinn
the Ring Road (Route 1)
Usage
Route 1, which runs around almost the whole island and is about 1,300 km long
Grammar Note
"Hringur" (ring) + "vegur" (road) with the suffixed article "-inn". In winter it can close in bad weather, so check road conditions
Reykjanesbraut
Reykjanesbraut (Route 41)
Usage
The main road between the capital area and Keflavík Airport
Grammar Note
A single compound: "Reykjanes" (the peninsula) + "braut" (road)
Hvalfjarðargöng
the Hvalfjörður tunnel
Usage
A road tunnel under the fjord Hvalfjörður on the Ring Road, opened in 1998
Grammar Note
"Hvalfjarðar" (of Hvalfjörður) + "göng" (tunnel, a plural noun)
Vaðlaheiðargöng
the Vaðlaheiði tunnel
Usage
A toll road tunnel through the mountain Vaðlaheiði near Akureyri
Grammar Note
"Vaðlaheiðar" (of Vaðlaheiði) + "göng" (tunnel). Check how to pay the toll before you drive through
Gullni hringurinn
the Golden Circle
Usage
The name of the popular day-trip route to Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
Grammar Note
"Gullni" (golden, weak form) + "hringurinn" (the circle). Only the first word is capitalised
Þingvellir
Þingvellir (Thingvellir)
Usage
A national park and UNESCO World Heritage site where the Alþingi began in 930, with the rift between the tectonic plates
Grammar Note
A plural place name: "á Þingvöllum" = at Þingvellir, "til Þingvalla" = to Þingvellir. In English it is often written Thingvellir
Geysir
Usage
The geothermal area in Haukadalur. The original geyser rarely erupts now, but the neighbouring Strokkur erupts every few minutes
Grammar Note
The English word "geyser" comes from this name. Icelandic uses "goshver" for a geyser in general
Strokkur
Usage
The geyser at Geysir that erupts high every few minutes
Grammar Note
The name is a common noun, a churn. Eruptions come suddenly, so do not stand downwind
Gullfoss
Usage
A big two-step waterfall on the river Hvítá, one of the stops on the Golden Circle
Grammar Note
"Gull" (gold) + "foss" (waterfall), meaning "golden falls"
Kerið
Usage
A volcanic crater lake in the Grímsnes area
Grammar Note
"Ker" (vessel, kettle) with the suffixed article "-ið". The letter "ð" sounds like the "th" in "this"
Bláa lónið
the Blue Lagoon
Usage
A geothermal spa in a lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula; booking in advance is usually needed
Grammar Note
"Bláa" (blue, weak form) + "lónið" (the lagoon). Only the first word is capitalised
Hallgrímskirkja
Usage
The church on a hill in Reykjavík; you can go up the tower for a view of the city
Grammar Note
"Hallgríms" (of Hallgrímur) + "kirkja" (church); named after the 17th-century poet Hallgrímur Pétursson
Harpa
Usage
The concert hall and conference centre on the harbour in Reykjavík, opened in 2011
Grammar Note
"Harpa" is also the ordinary word for the musical instrument, a harp
Perlan
Usage
A building with a glass dome on a hill in Reykjavík, with exhibitions and a viewing deck
Grammar Note
"Perla" (pearl) with the article, meaning "the pearl"
Skógafoss
Usage
A tall waterfall on the south coast, often with a rainbow in the spray
Grammar Note
"Skóga" (of the forest, genitive) + "foss" (waterfall)
Seljalandsfoss
Usage
A waterfall on the south coast with a path behind it; the ground is wet and slippery
Grammar Note
"Seljalands" (of Seljaland) + "foss" (waterfall)
Dyrhólaey
Usage
A headland with a rock arch near Vík; access can be restricted in the bird nesting season
Grammar Note
The ending "ey" means "island" and appears in many place names
Reynisfjara
Usage
A black sand beach near Vík. Unexpectedly high waves make it dangerous, so obey the warning signs and never turn your back to the sea
Grammar Note
"Fjara" means beach or shore
Jökulsárlón
Usage
A glacier lagoon at the edge of Vatnajökull with floating icebergs
Grammar Note
"Jökuls" (of a glacier) + "ár" (of a river) + "lón" (lagoon): the glacier-river lagoon
Skaftafell
Usage
The southern area of Vatnajökull National Park and a base for hiking, with the trail to the waterfall Svartifoss
Grammar Note
"Fell" means hill or mountain
Vatnajökull
Usage
Iceland's largest glacier (ice cap); the area around it is a national park
Grammar Note
"Vatna" (of waters, genitive plural) + "jökull" (glacier)
Mývatn
Usage
A lake in a volcanic area in the north, with steam vents and hot springs around it
Grammar Note
"Mý" (midge) + "vatn" (water, lake): the midge lake
Goðafoss
Usage
A waterfall on the river Skjálfandafljót, whose name means the waterfall of the gods
Grammar Note
"Goða" (of the gods, genitive plural) + "foss" (waterfall)
Dettifoss
Usage
A very powerful waterfall on the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the northeast
Grammar Note
"Foss" means waterfall
Ásbyrgi
Usage
A horseshoe-shaped canyon in the northeast, with woodland on its floor
Grammar Note
"Byrgi" relates to an enclosure or shelter
Kirkjufell
Usage
A pointed mountain on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, often photographed
Grammar Note
"Kirkju" (of a church) + "fell" (mountain): church mountain
Landmannalaugar
Usage
A highland area known for its colourful mountains and hot springs, and the start of the Laugavegurinn hiking trail
Grammar Note
"Landmanna" (of the people of the land) + "laugar" (pools, plural). The highland roads (F-roads) are for 4x4 vehicles and open only in summer
Þórsmörk
Usage
A highland valley between glaciers and a hiking destination; the road is for 4x4 vehicles and crosses rivers
Grammar Note
"Þórs" (of Thor) + "mörk" (woodland): Thor's woodland
Hekla
Usage
An active volcano in the south
Grammar Note
A mountain name, so it is capitalised
Eyjafjallajökull
Usage
A glacier in the south with a volcano beneath it; its 2010 eruption was widely reported
Grammar Note
"Eyja" (of the islands) + "fjalla" (of the mountains) + "jökull" (glacier)
Langjökull
Usage
A large glacier in the western highlands, with tours into an ice tunnel
Grammar Note
"Lang" (long) + "jökull" (glacier): the long glacier
Surtsey
Usage
An island formed by an undersea eruption in the 1960s; only researchers may land
Grammar Note
"Surts" (of Surtur, a fire giant) + "ey" (island)
Látrabjarg
Usage
Sea-bird cliffs in the Westfjords at the westernmost point of Iceland
Grammar Note
"Bjarg" means cliff or rock face
Dynjandi
Usage
A fan-shaped, stepped waterfall in the Westfjords
Grammar Note
"Dynjandi" is the present participle of "dynja" (to thunder), used as the waterfall's name
Stuðlagil
Usage
A river canyon in the east lined with basalt columns
Grammar Note
"Stuðla" (of basalt columns) + "gil" (ravine)
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Usage
A canyon near Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Grammar Note
"Gljúfur" means canyon
Fagradalsfjall
Usage
A mountain on the Reykjanes peninsula known for recent eruptions; check the current access situation with the authorities before going
Grammar Note
"Fagra" (beautiful) + "dals" (of the valley) + "fjall" (mountain)
Hlíðarfjall
Usage
The mountain above Akureyri with the main ski area in the north
Grammar Note
"Hlíðar" (of the slope) + "fjall" (mountain)
Bláfjöll
Usage
The mountains near Reykjavík with the city's ski area
Grammar Note
"Blá" (blue) + "fjöll" (mountains, plural): the blue mountains
Silfra
Usage
A fissure at Þingvellir with very clear water, famous for snorkelling and diving; the water is very cold and it is usually done on a guided tour
Grammar Note
A place name, so it is capitalised
Laugavegur
Usage
The main shopping street in central Reykjavík
Grammar Note
"Lauga" (of the pool/hot spring) + "vegur" (road). "Á Laugavegi" = on Laugavegur (dative)
Skólavörðustígur
Usage
The street that runs down from Hallgrímskirkja to Laugavegur, lined with shops and galleries
Grammar Note
"Stígur" means path
Kolaportið
Usage
An indoor flea market near the harbour in Reykjavík, usually open at weekends
Grammar Note
A proper name with the suffixed article "-ið"
Bæjarins beztu pylsur
Usage
A famous hot dog stand near the harbour in Reykjavík; the name keeps the old spelling with z
Grammar Note
"Bæjarins" (of the town) + "beztu" (best) + "pylsur" (sausages). "Beztu" is the old spelling of today's "bestu"
Þjóðleikhúsið
the National Theatre
Usage
The National Theatre building in Reykjavík
Grammar Note
"Þjóð" (nation) + "leikhús" (theatre) with the suffixed article "-ið"
Alþingi
Alþingi (the parliament)
Usage
The Icelandic parliament; the parliament building stands on the square Austurvöllur in central Reykjavík
Grammar Note
"Al" (all) + "þing" (assembly): the assembly of all
Bessastaðir
Usage
The presidential residence on the Álftanes peninsula
Grammar Note
A plural place name: "á Bessastöðum" = at Bessastaðir
Viðey
Usage
A small island off Reykjavík, reached by a short ferry ride
Grammar Note
"Við" (wood, timber) + "ey" (island)
Esja
Usage
The mountain north of Reykjavík, a popular hike
Grammar Note
A mountain name, so it is capitalised
Laugardalslaug
Usage
A big outdoor heated pool in Reykjavík with hot tubs and slides
Grammar Note
"Laugardals" (of Laugardalur) + "laug" (pool). Wash with soap before you get in
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
Usage
The old indoor swimming pool in central Reykjavík
Grammar Note
"Sund" (swimming) + "höll" (hall); "Reykjavíkur" is the genitive of Reykjavík
Þjóðminjasafn Íslands
the National Museum of Iceland
Usage
The history museum in Reykjavík, with exhibits from the settlement age onward
Grammar Note
"Þjóð" (nation) + "minja" (of relics) + "safn" (museum); "Íslands" is the genitive of Ísland
Árbæjarsafn
Usage
An open-air museum in Reykjavík with old buildings moved to the site
Grammar Note
"Árbæjar" (of Árbær) + "safn" (museum)
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