Largest Cities in Iceland

by | January 20, 2021

Facts about Iceland

Official languages: Icelandic, English, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian
Capital: Reykjavík
Area: 103,000 km²
Population: 308,910 residents
Population density: 3.00 residents per km²
Currency: ISK
Internet TLD: .is
ISO codes: IS, ISL, 352
The telephone code for Iceland is +354

Flag of Iceland

The flag of Iceland, modeled after the Scandinavian countries, consists of a blue background bearing a red cross embedded in the traditional white Scandinavian cross. The blue color is supposed to represent the ever-present Atlantic Ocean, the red lava of Icelandic volcanoes, and the white represents other Icelandic natural landmarks – the local glaciers and geysers. The Red Cross also points to the historical connection with Denmark, which has ruled Iceland since the 14th century. Iceland adopted its flag in 1918, when it won the status of an autonomous territory of Denmark. However, this flag officially became the national flag only in 1944, when Iceland became fully independent.

 

Flag of Iceland

Iceland is located in the North Atlantic, just south of the Arctic Circle. Iceland is the second largest island nation in Europe after the United Kingdom and the largest volcanic island in the world. See Iceland Location on World Map.

Biggest Cities of Iceland by Population

Iceland is a Nordic island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean, with a population of just over 360,000 people. Its capital city is Reykjavik which is the largest city in Iceland and home to more than two-thirds of the country’s population. The city has a vibrant cultural scene with many galleries, museums, and festivals such as the annual Reykjavik Arts Festival.

Other major cities in Iceland include Akureyri which is known as the ‘Capital of Northern Iceland’; Hafnarfjörður which is located near Reykjavík and known for its picturesque harbour; or Keflavík which was founded by Norse settlers in the 9th century and today serves as an international airport.

Iceland also contains some smaller towns such as Húsavík known for its whale watching tours; Ísafjörður located on an fjord surrounded by mountains; or Vestmannaeyjar which consists of 15 islands off the south coast.

Throughout Iceland there are plenty of attractions to explore including natural hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers and lava fields. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as horseback riding along trails through forests or take part in water sports on Lake Mývatn.

# City Population Latitude Longitude
1 Reykjavik, Iceland 119,029 64.1355 -21.8954
2 Kopavogur, Iceland 31,830 64.1123 -21.913
3 Hafnarfjoerdur, Iceland 26,919 64.0671 -21.9377
4 Akureyri, Iceland 17,804 65.6835 -18.0878
5 Gardabaer, Iceland 11,532 64.0887 -21.923
6 Mosfellsbaer, Iceland 8,762 64.1667 -21.7
7 Akranes, Iceland 6,723 64.3218 -22.0749
8 Selfoss, Iceland 6,621 63.9331 -20.9971
9 Isafjoerdur, Iceland 2,735 66.0748 -23.135
10 Saudarkrokur, Iceland 2,686 65.7461 -19.6394
11 Egilsstadir, Iceland 2,414 65.2669 -14.3948
12 Borgarnes, Iceland 1,870 64.5383 -21.9206

Iceland: Reykjavik

According to Abbreviation Finder, Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. It is the northernmost capital in the world. The name translates as smoke bay, which the city probably owes to the steam from the hot springs around it. With around 120,000 inhabitants, more than a third of all Icelanders live in Reykjavik. If you take the surrounding places with you, 200,000 people live in this part of Iceland. Reykjavik is located in the southwest of Iceland on Faxaflói Bay and below Mount Esja.

There is a lake in the middle of Reykjavik. This is Tjörnin. Translated it means pond. Many water birds swim on the Tjörnin and can be easily observed here. Reykjavik City Hall is right on Tjörnin.

One of the city’s sights is the Hallgrimmskirka. This is a church and at the same time it is the second tallest building in the country. Construction began in 1945 and was not finished until 1986. Its columns are reminiscent of basalt columns, as they are formed during volcanic eruptions and as they can also be found in Iceland. The church tower is almost 75 meters high. It offers great views of the city!

The harpa (harp) is also popular with tourists. It is a concert hall opened in 2011 and is characterized by its unusual architecture. This is because it is clad with glass, which always glows differently depending on how the light shines. This outer skin was designed by the artist Olafur Eliasson.