IS Iceland: how to get around

Driving in Iceland is on the right side of the road. Headlights and seat belts for all passengers must be on at all times, even on buses. If you are in an accident and not wearing a seat belt, you are considered to be uninsured. There is a single main highway, Route 1-Ring Road, which encircles the country. Because of Iceland's ever-changing weather, one should keep extra food and know where guesthouses and hotels are located in case of a road closure.

Most mountain roads are closed until the end of June, or even longer because of wet and muddy conditions which make them totally impassable. When these roads are opened for traffic, many of them can be passed only by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The roads requiring four-wheel-drive (and possibly snow tires) are route numbers with an "F" prefix, e.g. F128. Some roads that were previously signed with an F have since been upgraded and assigned a number without an F. In general you can trust those designations in both cases.

The general speed limit on Icelandic rural roads is 90 km/h (56 mph) on paved surface and 70 km/h (43 mph) on gravel, in urban areas the general speed limit is 50 km/h (31 mph). Driving on gravel can be a challenge, and loss of control on cliff-side roads can easily be fatal. Speed cameras are posted around the country, and fines are 5,000–70,000 kr. The blood alcohol limit is 0.05%, with a minimum fine of 100,000 kr – don't drink and drive.

Drivers in Iceland should familiarise themselves with road signs and be prepared for Iceland's unique driving conditions. The roads in Iceland are of a medium to low quality, typically made from slightly rough black basalt. There are two signs in particular that foreigners should pay attention to. First, "malbik endar" means that the road changes from a paved road to a gravel road. Slow down before these changes, for one can lose control easily. Also "einbreið brú" means that a one-lane bridge is approaching. Arrive at the bridge slowly and assess the situation. If another car has arrived at the bridge first allow them the right of way.

If you are travelling by road a great site to check is the Iceland Meteorological Office who have an excellent set of pages including the Icelandic Road Administration on all of the main roads.

The Route 1 road that encircles the island nation is a staple for tourists who wishes to see the diverse geological features of Iceland, from waterfalls, icebergs, fjords, to volcanoes.

Scheduled trips between Icelandic towns are operated by Strætó bs. Tours to attractions are provided by scheduled buses from various companies, including Reykjavík Excursions (who also operate the FlyBus), Trex, Sterna Travel, NetBus and SBA-NORÐURLEIÐ. Long distance bus travel can cost several thousand kronur and is sometimes more expensive than flying. For example, a one way trip from Reykjavík to Akureyri costs 10,340 kr, while flying costs 8,925 kr (as of May 2019). It is possible to go from the eastern part of the country to the western one by bus in one day, but there are only a few services per day. All public transport services are listed on PublicTransport.is.

Some tours to the interior, in special 4x4 buses, can be a cheaper and more relaxing alternative to driving and serve most major locations (e.g. Landmannalaugar, Thorsmork, Askja). Tours to the interior are scheduled only for the summer months.

Golden Circle day tours are available from Reykjavík from many tour operators which will take you round the Gulfoss waterfall, geysers, the crater and the Mid-Atlantic rift/place of Iceland's first Parliament. Although you don't get much time at each stop, the guide will tell you about Iceland's history and some general information. Cheaper tours (~€55) will be a full-coach whereas more expensive tours (~€80) will be small minibuses or vans. The currency for booking tours can vary from euros, to dollar to krona, so double-check before booking.

The capital area bus system, run by Strætó bs., is an inefficient and expensive mess that can not be relied on. A single fare costs 490 kr (as of March 2022). Bus drivers do not give back change, so if all you have on you is a 500-kr bill, do not expect to get the difference back. The bus system takes either payments through the phone, using their own app or by paying in cash. Sets of tickets are only available through the app. (as of March 2022) If you pay with cash, you will only get a ticket if you ask for one. Tickets from the bus driver and tickets in the app are both valid for 75 minutes.

Buses to the countryside stop running at midnight, but in the capital they run for longer, see Southwest-Iceland for info on that. Some buses even stop earlier, some as early as 18:00. Buses start running at 09:30 to 10:00 on Sundays. Fares to zones 2 and upwards (extending all the way to Höfn and Egilsstaðir) are higher, although all of Reykjavík, Garðabær, Hafnarfjörður, Mosfellsbær, Álftanes and Seltjarnarnes fall within zone one, where the regular fare of 490 kr applies.

Cycling is a good way to experience Iceland, and provides a very different experience to other means of transport. You should bring your own touring bike, as buying a bike locally can be expensive. Traffic in and out of Reykjavík is heavy, otherwise, it's OK. You can cycle safely on the Ring Road, or take the bike on the buses serving the Ring Road (they are equipped with bicycle racks) and do side trips. However, if going self-supported, considering the weather and conditions, it is strongly advisable to have a previous touring experience.

When cycling in the winter, use studded tyres and dress yourself up in lightweight but warm layers. Bicycle maintenance is typically not a concern, brake pads for example tend to last for 12 months or more, depending on the quality of the brakes.

For trips outside of a town or a city, bring food with you. Icelandic towns can be 100–200 km apart. Food that cooks within 10–15 minutes is preferred. Foraging blueberries and herbs is possible, but do not rely solely on that as a food source.

More information and routes can be found on Cycling Iceland.

Hitchhiking is a cheap way of getting around in Iceland. The country is among the safest in the world, people are quite friendly and the percentage of drivers who do give rides is high, especially in the off-season. Nearly everybody speaks English and most drivers are interested in conversations. However, low traffic in areas outside Reykjavík makes hitchhiking in Iceland an endurance challenge. Even on the main ring-road the frequency of cars is often less than one car per hour in the east.

Avoid hitching after nightfall, especially on Friday and Saturday night. Alcohol consumption is high and alcohol-related accidents are not uncommon.

Hitchhiking into the interior is tough, but everything works if you have enough time – calculating in days, not in hours. For longer distances or less tourist areas be prepared with some food, water and a tent or similar. The weather can be awful and sometimes spoils the fun of this way of travelling.

The HitchWiki website has some advice for hitchhikers.

Check Samferda.is for carpooling options.