Essential information about Iceland (2024)

Driving and public transport

I will be straight to the point and say that the best way to visit Iceland is by car. Roads system in Iceland is straightforward. The main road, Road 1 or Ring Road, circles the country. There are also secondary roads that will take you to towns, landmarks or peninsulas.

The most important roads are paved, but many of them are gravel roads that require a 4×4 car to be able to drive on them.

In Iceland, we are driving on the right side of the road, and all road marks on the ground are white. The roads have only two lanes, one for each way. Be careful with the one-lane bridges and respect the signs before crossing them.

The speed limit is 90km/h or about 55 miles/h outside towns and 50km/h or approximately 30 miles/h inside towns and inhabited areas or bridges.

It is illegal to stop on the side of the road, so if you want to stop, find yourself a parking lot or a designated area for stops.

There are other options for transportation in Iceland, and those are buses, private drivers, taxis or flights.

If you want to travel by bus, check the official website Strætó.is for schedule and locations.

It is essential to check the safety conditions for driving before starting your trip; for this, you have to check the weather on vedur.is , the road conditions on road.is and safetravel.is. Do not underestimate the weather in Iceland and respect the signs that show the roads are closed.

On our website, you will find some practical guides.