When the world feels a little smaller, it’s time to find fun in unexpected places and embrace the unusual. This is where Iceland comes in. Iceland is Mother Nature’s most surprising work of art.

This little island nation dangling from the Arctic Circle, with its geothermal landscape, seems ready and able to amaze us. Fascinating, beautiful, otherworldly, and often eccentric, life in Iceland can also be quite different and our list will show you what you can expect.

No Last Names in Iceland

There are some exceptions to this, but in general, Icelanders don’t have surnames or family names. Most Icelanders have a patronymic last name, which means it’s their father’s first name with the suffix for daughter or son attached.

Women also don’t change their names when they get married. But all this doesn’t matter too much as everyone is always called by their first name, from teachers to doctors and even politicians!

Technicolor Beaches

On the beaches of Reynisfjara, you’ll spot the striking black sand that blankets the shoreline and lays side by side with unusually geometric basalt cliffs.

This unearthly-looking beach is located in Vík, the country’s southernmost village.

Baby Names

Iceland takes baby names very seriously and as such, they have very strict rules that dictate all names must conform to the Icelandic language and come from the official register of approved names.

If parents want to choose a different name for their newborn, they first have to request permission from the official “Naming Committee.”

Polar Stratospheric Clouds

The Polar Stratospheric Clouds are a mesmerizing attraction in Iceland. These rare clouds mainly occur at high latitudes when temperatures are low enough during winter, and their appearance casts an iridescent pastel hue across the sky.

These clouds are so rare that witnessing them can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Gender Equality

Here’s another pleasantly surprising fact from the uncanny valley of Iceland. This one is a real plus for Iceland’s tourism — a lot of Icelandic women are business owners.

When it comes to gender equality, Iceland fares way better than most, with an overflow of inspiring success stories. Women are supported by a progressive-right movement that underpinned Iceland’s standing as the best country for gender equality nine years in a row.

No McDonald’s?

Iceland is truly a special place on the planet with a steady population of 360,000, and not one single McDonald’s. That’s right, the last McDonald’s closed in 2009 and a new one hasn’t opened since. It’s not that Icelanders don’t like fast food, as they dine out quite often.

But despite that, McDonald’s just couldn’t figure out how to survive among the volcanoes, hot springs, and fjords of Iceland.

Iceland Has Europe’s Largest Banana Plantation

Not to get too technical, but Spain’s plantations in the Canary Islands grow more bananas but they aren’t located in Europe, which means that Iceland comes in first.

With their use of geothermal energy, the Icelandic Agricultural University can grow up to 4,500 pounds of bananas every year.

There’s an App to Check Your Relatives

On this little island nation that’s sparsely populated with under half a million inhabitants, it’s understandable that it can be difficult to date a person that you’re not related to.

That’s why an app was created by a group of college students, that lets people screen out potential dates before they find out if they’re second cousins. The app is called ÍslendingaApp, or “Book of Icelanders,” which provides info on Icelandic genealogy.

There’s an Elf School

In the thoroughly modern city of Reykjavík, there’s a quirky Elf school that offers lectures and guided tours on Icelandic mythology and folklore.

According to tradition, there are 13 different kinds of elves and over 60% of Icelanders believe they’re real!

Buying Books Is a Christmas Tradition

In Iceland, there’s a tradition called Jólabókaflóð, which means “Christmas book flood” in which everyone receives a book for Christmas.

And that’s not Iceland’s only literary fact! Being a country full of bookworms, Iceland boasts one of the highest rates of books per capita.

Babies Sleep Outside

In most Scandinavian countries, babies are wheeled outside to take a nap outdoors and Iceland is no exception.

Parents believe that the fresh air helps to ward away illness, with some sleep experts maintaining that the cold air can induce a deeper slumber.

Comedian Mayor

Back in 2010, an Icelandic comedian by the name of Jón Gnarr founded the ‘Best Party’ with a number of other people who had absolutely zero background in politics.

Obviously, his campaign to run for mayor was a joke. But to his surprise, he actually won! He ended up serving for four years from 2010 to 2014.

Closing Time

“Closing time” can vary a lot depending on where you are in the world, but in Iceland, stores close very early and open rather late as well.

Most stores close their doors around 5 pm, and only open the next day around 9 am! Anything open beyond those hours will charge you a pretty penny.

Marriage in Iceland

It should go without saying that Iceland is not nearly as traditional when it comes to customs and conventions. Getting hitched is not as popular in Iceland as it is in other countries.

With more than half of babies in Iceland being born to unwed parents, it’s just not a big deal in this Arctic state. In the US, 32% of babies are born to unwed parents.