# Getting Around Iceland: Transport for Independent Travelers - URL: https://www.visiticeland.com/article/iceland-getting-around/ - Published: 2023-09-29 - Last updated: 2026-10-02 > Planes, no trains, cycling, ferries, and automobiles—your guide to exploring Iceland’s reaches. Discover Iceland’s stunning wilderness through various travel options, including buses, cycling, ferries, and domestic flights. From guided tours to public transportation, there are plenty of ways to explore Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes. Iceland is a road trip destination. Most visitors go to all four corners, to some degree, in a rental car. Before any road trip, the first question should be the most basic Icelandic question: What will the weather be like? Winter roads are challenging for the inexperienced, but bad weather is much less likely to impact driving from May to October. *Image: Mjóifjörður, Eastfjords; Iceland offers spectacular drives but winding gravel roads and weather conditions requires some planning ahead* ### The Right Rental Car Price alone should not dictate car selection. Small 2WD vehicles are fine over summer for most major routes, while a four-wheel drive (4WD) allows for more freedom: you can take gravel roads through populated areas like Arctic Coast Way and the Strandir Coast. To venture into the (unpopulated) Highland region, however, you need a proper SUV with an insurance policy for _f-roads_ (although no insurance covers water damage caused by fording rivers). Expect to pay at least €100 per day for a modest automobile at the peak of summer—when the weather is at its best and, therefore, driving conditions—and book ahead. Spring and Fall prices are more competitive, but on the other hand, you may want to rent a 4WD for uncertain road conditions. Campervans have become a popular choice over recent years. By one estimate, roughly 10 percent of all accommodation is inside vans, and some are suitable off-summer, with a 4WD and an advanced heating system. Download the [EasyPark](https://www.easypark.com/en-is) or the **[Parka](https://parka.app/?gclid=CjwKCAjw69moBhBgEiwAUFCx2E-Bwgu6YAXw1YRZhxRSIvInduPI9IwiQLpF7O6DmpsR9sJjx9NyxRoC7ZMQAvD_BwE)** App for smooth parking in Reykjavík. *Image: Strætó buses in Reykjavík have connecting services to all corners of Iceland* ### Taking Public Transport First-time visitors to Reykjavík are quick to note the bus network serving the entire metropolitan area. The buses are yellow, with an 'S' label for [Strætó](https://www.straeto.is)—more [ **on getting around Reykjavík.** ](https://www.visiticeland.com/article/reykjavik-local-transport/) Fewer people will notice that Strætó transportation reaches almost the entire country, connecting Reykjavík with nearly every town and village along the Ring Road and the Westfjords. Rides that are longer than two hours should typically be booked in advance on the street.is, since departures may get canceled if there are no reservations. Towns within an hour's reach from Reykjavík - such as Keflavík, Borgarnes, and Selfoss - have frequent service. The seven-hour bus ride from Reykjavík to Akureyri departs twice on summer weekdays—more on [getting around Akureyri](https://www.visiticeland.com/article/akureyri-local-transport). [Public transport options in Iceland](https://www.visiticeland.com/article/public-transport) *Image: Akureyri Airport has several daily flights to Reykjavík, the flight time around 45 minutes. The airport is currently under expansion.* ### Domestic Flights From Reykjavík, it is easy to reach another corner of Iceland via the Domestic Airport (Reykjavíkurflugvöllur). Icelandair travels daily to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, and Ísafjörður; Eagle Air several times per week to Höfn and Vestmannaeyjar (Heimaey). Norlandair has twice-weekly flights to Bíldudalur, Strandir (Gjögur), and Grímsey Island. Domestic flights are without security gates and operate smoothly. The Domestic Airport is an hour drive from Keflavík International Airport. [Find domestic flights](https://www.ferdalag.is/en/travel/domestic-flights) *Image: Arnarfjörður, Westfjords. Adventure awaits on quiet roads through wild scenery but be prepared for uphill battles.* ### Cycling Tours A small but steady number of cyclists tour Iceland every summer, most during the warmest months of July and August. Keflavík Airport has a designated Bike Pit—a container house outside the main arrival gate—with air compressors, bike repair stands, and tools to pack and assemble bikes. It is possible to rent storage lockers for the cardboard boxes used for the cargo. Cyclists can travel everywhere (except through the Hvalfjarðargöng Tunnel) but stay off the Ring Road whenever possible for a less stressful ride. **Route 35** - the highland crossing known as Kjölur - and the **Westfjords Way** are among the routes favored by cyclists. Bikes are widely available for rent, but only for day tours, such as at **[Mývatn](http://myvatnactivity.bokun.website/)** and [Þingeyri](https://www.westfjords.is/en/destinations/towns/thingeyri) (Westfjords). Strætó buses take bicycles whenever space allows; when storage is tight, cyclists must wait for the next bus. [Find more information on cycling in Iceland](https://www.visiticeland.com/article/cycling/) *Image: Baldur Car Ferry is a shortcut between Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords* ### By Boat Iceland has three offshore communities on Heimaey, Hrísey, and Grímsey islands. The three passenger ferries connecting the islands depart year-round, with tickets reasonably priced. Heimaey, the inhabited part of the Westman Islands archipelago, is by far the largest offshore settlement. Sidenote: M/S Norröna sails weekly from Denmark to Iceland via the Faroe Islands. [**More on arriving to Iceland from sea.**](https://www.visiticeland.com/article/ferry-to-iceland/) The car ferry Baldur is the only alternative to driving; it sails between **Snæfellsnes Peninsula** and the **Westfjords** via the vacation island Flatey. The journey is a little shorter than driving the same distance and a nice experience on its own. The final nautical option is scheduled tours for nature excursions, exclusive to summer. **Hornstrandir Peninsula**, the northernmost nature reserve without road access, has trips planned from Ísafjörður. Puffin colonies [**Drangey Island**](https://www.drangey.net/drangey-island) **in Skagafjörður** and **[Grímsey in Steingrímsfjörður ](https://www.westtours.is/is/moya/extras/tours-and-activities/grimsey-island-puffin-tour)**have departures from Sauðárkrókur and Drangsnes, respectively. [Find a list of ferries in Iceland](https://www.visiticeland.com/things-to-do/?category=5ec7d096a90548233654d4b8&page=0&subcategory=5ec7d096a90548233654d468) ### **Final Note** However, you move around, and wherever the journey takes you, check out [Safetravel.is.](https://safetravel.is) That is the name of the app to stay updated on road and weather conditions. Safe travels!