Don'ts in Iceland

These are a few things we feel that are done differently in Iceland from many other countries.

Don‘t use a surname. Whether you know the person or not: don‘t use their surnames. Even in the phonebook, people are listed by their first names.

Don‘t use titles. When addressing others: we don‘t use titles.  If we don‘t know the name of the person we‘re talking to: we just say „afsakið“ (excuse me). So: never greet an Icelander with Mr or Ms: just use their first names.  Only for the president do we use the Icelandic Herra (Sir) – or Frú (Madame)

Don’t go swimming in a public swimming pool without washing your body carefully first.