Did you know that you cannot wear your shoes indoors in Iceland and that Reykjavík is a cat city?
These and many other super interesting facts about Iceland in this video!

⏱️⏱️⏱️ TIME CODES:
00:00 Welcome to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland ????????
00:44 Iceland has One of the First Parliaments in the World
01:14 Iceland has The Most Northerly Capital - Reykjavik
01:51 Icelandics are always outnumbered
02:27 Dogs were forbidden in the capital of Iceland - Reykjavik
03:22 Beer in Iceland was banned until 1989
04:31 Imitation beer was also banned in Iceland
05:53 Takk fyrir síðast or Thank You for the last time!
06:15 Icelandic Elves: do they exist?
06:59 Single lane bridges in Iceland
07:35 Icelandic Arctic Fox
08:14 Shoes off in Iceland, please!
08:50 Icelandic Horses are Forbidden to Return
09:20 Film intermission in Iceland
09:43 Iceland is a Nation of Peace
10:15 There’s no McDonald’s is Iceland
10:56 The Yule Lads

???????? One of the First Parliaments in the World

Iceland is said to be one of the world’s oldest democracies as its ancient parliament, the Althing, dates back to 930 AD and is considered one of the first parliaments.

???????? The Most Northerly Capital

Of all the 195 recognised countries in the world, Iceland has the most northerly capital city.

Reykjavik may sit beneath the Arctic Circle, but it still boasts the title of most northerly capital in the world.

???????? Icelandics are always outnumbered

Iceland has a population of around 375,00 people. If you count all Icelanders that have ever lived since the settlement of Iceland in the late 9th century, the population does not reach one million.

If we count all the tourists as well, we've long since surpassed one million; last year alone, Iceland received almost two million travellers.

???????? Dogs were forbidden in the capital

In 1924, a complete ban on dogs was enforced in Reykjavík. Those out in the countryside could own working dogs for farming, but in the city, it was illegal to keep a dog as a pet due to increased cases of fatal tapeworms passed on from dogs.

???????? Beer was banned until 1989

In 1915, a complete prohibition was in place across Iceland.

In 1922 the government decided to allow Spanish wine because the Spanish were an important trading partner and they drove a hard bargain: Either Iceland would keep on buying wine from them or they would stop buying salted cod (Iceland’s most profitable export at the time).

???????? Imitation beer was also banned

The first ever tavern to open in Iceland was Gaukur á Stöng in downtown Reykjavík, where the bartenders started blending Pilsners with vodka or whisky to make a so-called imitation beer which had an alcohol percentage of roughly 5%.

???????? Takk fyrir síðast

When Icelanders meet again after a party or a gathering, we say "takk fyrir síðast" or thank you for that last time. It might sound odd but it's a way to acknowledge that we did really enjoy the last time we spent time together.

???????? The Icelandic Elves

Many Icelanders still believe in elves, or the huldufolk (the hidden people).

???????? Single lane bridges

Driving across the Icelandic countryside, you might come across single-lane bridges, passing over crystal-clear, glacial rivers. They are relics from decades ago when cars were so few and far between that making two-way bridges seemed extravagant.

???????? The Arctic Fox

The arctic fox is thought to have arrived on Iceland after the last Ice Age when the sea between Greenland and Scandinavia was frozen over.

???????? Shoes off, please!

This isn't strictly a law, but Icelanders do not take well to people barging into their houses in shoes. In Iceland, exactly the same as in Norway, we leave our shoes by the front door. All flats and houses have a designated area by the front door where you take off your coat, hats, scarves, gloves and shoes.

???????? Icelandic Horses are Forbidden to Return

Icelandic horses are a pure breed (having been isolated for over 1000 years) and are prized across the world for their hardiness.

???????? Film intermission

If you go to the cinema in Iceland, there's always an intermission roughly in the middle of the film. It’s a chance to go to the toilet and fill up on your drink/popcorn.

???????? A Nation of Peace

Iceland is not just peaceful in terms of population and quiet wilderness, it also doesn’t have an army, air force or navy. It relies solely on NATO for its defence.

???????? You Won’t Find a Big Mac

There are only two countries in Europe that don’t have McDonald’s (ok, three if you include the Vatican) and Iceland is one of them.

A lone outpost of the US burger chain operated in central Reykjavik for a few years, but the financial crisis saw its demise in 2008.

???????? The Yule Lads

Instead of one omnipotent Santa Claus, Icelandic kids have to contend with thirteen ‘Yule Lads’ who visit one by one on the thirteen days leading up to Christmas.

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