Iceland Transportation
Public transportation
There is an efficient bus system in Reykjavík that operates from 07:00-24:00 on weekdays (10:00-24:00 on weekends). Bus stops are marked "Strætó". Tickets may be purchased from the driver or from the main terminal at Hlemmur. One ride ticket costs 350 ISK, remember to ask the driver for a ticket if you are planning on changing buses. There is no train system.
Bus travel
There is an extensive bus service to most parts of the country and to the highlands, as well as a large number of organized bus tours. Reservations are not necessary and tickets can be bought either at the bus station or from the driver. Children under 4 travel free of charge, and half price is charged for children from 4-11.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available in Reykjavik and in the larger towns. There is a surcharge in the evenings and at weekends.
Car rental
Local and international car rental companies operate throughout Iceland. Cars can be booked through a travel agent or an airline, at airports or directly after arrival in Iceland. Many types of cars are available, from small family cars to powerful 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
Domestic flights
The major domestic air carrier in Iceland is Air Iceland, www.airiceland.is/. Other airlines services are also available, such as Eagle Air.
Ferry service
There are several domestic ferry services in Iceland, including the Westman Islands, Flatey, Viðey and Grímsey.
Driving in Iceland
The general speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel roads in rural areas, and 90 km/h on asphalt roads. The total length of the Ring Road around Iceland (national highway) is 1,351 km.
Motorists are obliged by law to use headlights at all times day and night. In Iceland all driving off roads or marked tracks is prohibited by law. Passengers in the front and back seats of an automobile are required by law to use safety-belts. Icelandic law forbids any driving under the influence of alcohol. Many country roads are unpaved. Some are often very narrow and are not made for fast driving. The same goes for many bridges, which are only wide enough for one car at a time. Road maps are available at local tourist offices, bookstores or gas stations. See also the Icelandic Traffic Council, www.travelnet.is/umferdarad/index.html.
Mountain roads
All mountain roads and roads in the interior of Iceland have a surface of loose gravel. Care must be taken when driving on gravel roads, espcially when approaching an oncoming car. Most mountain roads are closed except in summer. When these roads are opened for traffic, it may be necessary to use a four-wheel-drive vehicle on some of them. For some mountain tracks it is strongly advised that two or more cars travel together. Also, before embarking on any journey into the interior collect as much information as possible regarding road conditions from a travel bureau, tourist information office or the Public Roads Administration, www.vegagerdin.is/vefur2.nsf/pages/english.html. A booklet called "Mountain Roads" can be obtained at tourist information centres and the offices of the Icelandic Tourist Board, www.icetourist.is/.
Car insurance
A "Green Card" or other proof of third-party insurance is mandatory for motorists driving their own cars in Iceland, except from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Channel Islands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Vatican. Drivers without a"Green Card" (or equivalent) must buy a separate third-party insurance policy on arrival.
Petrol
Many gasoline pumps in Iceland accept credit cards or cash 24 hours a day. In the greater Reykjavík area filling stations are open Mon-Sat 07:30-19:30, Sun 09:00-19:30 (Oct-May 10:00-19:30). Some have extended hours.
There is an efficient bus system in Reykjavík that operates from 07:00-24:00 on weekdays (10:00-24:00 on weekends). Bus stops are marked "Strætó". Tickets may be purchased from the driver or from the main terminal at Hlemmur. One ride ticket costs 350 ISK, remember to ask the driver for a ticket if you are planning on changing buses. There is no train system.
Bus travel
There is an extensive bus service to most parts of the country and to the highlands, as well as a large number of organized bus tours. Reservations are not necessary and tickets can be bought either at the bus station or from the driver. Children under 4 travel free of charge, and half price is charged for children from 4-11.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available in Reykjavik and in the larger towns. There is a surcharge in the evenings and at weekends.
Car rental
Local and international car rental companies operate throughout Iceland. Cars can be booked through a travel agent or an airline, at airports or directly after arrival in Iceland. Many types of cars are available, from small family cars to powerful 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
Domestic flights
The major domestic air carrier in Iceland is Air Iceland, www.airiceland.is/. Other airlines services are also available, such as Eagle Air.
Ferry service
There are several domestic ferry services in Iceland, including the Westman Islands, Flatey, Viðey and Grímsey.
Driving in Iceland
The general speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel roads in rural areas, and 90 km/h on asphalt roads. The total length of the Ring Road around Iceland (national highway) is 1,351 km.
Motorists are obliged by law to use headlights at all times day and night. In Iceland all driving off roads or marked tracks is prohibited by law. Passengers in the front and back seats of an automobile are required by law to use safety-belts. Icelandic law forbids any driving under the influence of alcohol. Many country roads are unpaved. Some are often very narrow and are not made for fast driving. The same goes for many bridges, which are only wide enough for one car at a time. Road maps are available at local tourist offices, bookstores or gas stations. See also the Icelandic Traffic Council, www.travelnet.is/umferdarad/index.html.
Mountain roads
All mountain roads and roads in the interior of Iceland have a surface of loose gravel. Care must be taken when driving on gravel roads, espcially when approaching an oncoming car. Most mountain roads are closed except in summer. When these roads are opened for traffic, it may be necessary to use a four-wheel-drive vehicle on some of them. For some mountain tracks it is strongly advised that two or more cars travel together. Also, before embarking on any journey into the interior collect as much information as possible regarding road conditions from a travel bureau, tourist information office or the Public Roads Administration, www.vegagerdin.is/vefur2.nsf/pages/english.html. A booklet called "Mountain Roads" can be obtained at tourist information centres and the offices of the Icelandic Tourist Board, www.icetourist.is/.
Car insurance
A "Green Card" or other proof of third-party insurance is mandatory for motorists driving their own cars in Iceland, except from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Channel Islands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Vatican. Drivers without a"Green Card" (or equivalent) must buy a separate third-party insurance policy on arrival.
Petrol
Many gasoline pumps in Iceland accept credit cards or cash 24 hours a day. In the greater Reykjavík area filling stations are open Mon-Sat 07:30-19:30, Sun 09:00-19:30 (Oct-May 10:00-19:30). Some have extended hours.
Last edited Jan 30, 11 6:11 PM. Contributors: Contributors: Aron H.
Air:
There are 4 international airports in Iceland, located in Keflavík, Reykjavík, Akureyri and Egilsstaðir. Most of the international flight go through Keflavík, which is about 40 min drive from Reykjavík.
There are about 13 Airlines that fly to Iceland, from most of the major cities in Europe and North America, most of them are from Copenhagen and London.
Three of the airlines are Icelandic, Icelandair, Iceland Express and Air Iceland. Others include Air Berlin, Finnair, Lufthansa, Air Greenland, Germanwings, Malmö Aviation, Niki, Atlantic Airways, SAS, Austrian Airlines, Transavia France, Delta Air Lines and KLM.
More information about flight to Iceland can be found on www.dohop.is or www.kefairport.is.
Sea:
Another option is taking the Smyril-line ferry that departs from Hirtshals in northern Denmark. The ferry stops on the way in Faroe Islands and arrives on the east coast of Iceland in a town called Seyðisfjörður. You can take your car or your RV on the ferry.
More information about the Smyril-Line ferry can be found on www.smyrilline.com
There are 4 international airports in Iceland, located in Keflavík, Reykjavík, Akureyri and Egilsstaðir. Most of the international flight go through Keflavík, which is about 40 min drive from Reykjavík.
There are about 13 Airlines that fly to Iceland, from most of the major cities in Europe and North America, most of them are from Copenhagen and London.
Three of the airlines are Icelandic, Icelandair, Iceland Express and Air Iceland. Others include Air Berlin, Finnair, Lufthansa, Air Greenland, Germanwings, Malmö Aviation, Niki, Atlantic Airways, SAS, Austrian Airlines, Transavia France, Delta Air Lines and KLM.
More information about flight to Iceland can be found on www.dohop.is or www.kefairport.is.
Sea:
Another option is taking the Smyril-line ferry that departs from Hirtshals in northern Denmark. The ferry stops on the way in Faroe Islands and arrives on the east coast of Iceland in a town called Seyðisfjörður. You can take your car or your RV on the ferry.
More information about the Smyril-Line ferry can be found on www.smyrilline.com
Last edited Jan 30, 11 4:11 PM. Contributors: Contributors: Aron H.
Travel Tips for Transportation in Iceland
Flatey, Iceland
Flatey (Breiðafjörður) is a very nice little island in the west of Iceland (although there's also another island called Flatey (Skjálfandi) in the north of Iceland). Take the ferry from Stykkisholmur to Brjanslaekur. Flatey itself's very small and good for a stop-over. There are a lot of puffins there, enjoy their take-offs and missed approaches :-) The cemetary's very interesting and there's a small hotel and restaurant, too. Don't miss it !!
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Keflavik, Iceland
Keflavik is a small fishing village on the coast of Iceland. You arent going to see alot here but you can get some fresh fish here! The Navy Base used to be located here, thats how I know so much about Iceland I was stationed here in 1977. You dont want to be around when "Ma Kef" the fish factory starts to burn the rotten fish that they've saved up all week long either! Buy your fish and get out of town. The airport in Keflavik is on the plateau.. if you see a white fog coming.. the smell in it is going to kill you.
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Bakkagerdhi, Iceland
Bakkagerði is a small village in Borgarfjörður Eystri in Iceland. The landscape there is unique the village is surrounded by beutiful mountains and deserted fjords. It is about 1hour drive form Egilsstaðir airport and the road is not to bad. (except for Njarðvíkurskriður).
The accomodation is a guesthouse and there is also a campsite.
Bakkagerði and Borgarfjörður Eystri are an adventure to visit.
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Akurey, Iceland
I went here for the yearly camping weekend. It is a cute small town in Iceland about 4 hours from the Reykjavik city. It is on the ring road of Iceland which goes all around the country and is probably the most adventurous road trip you can take! Make sure to bring a tent though because accommodation is very expensive.
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Bessastadhir, Iceland
This is a small small island just off Hafnafjordur where the president of Iceland and his wife live. You can drive to the house and there is a little church there as well. There is no security so you are free to go to it with your car!
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