Visit Iceland - Advice for Driving in Iceland
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Iceland is a spectacular country to visit, but to get the full Iceland experience you are going to need to have your own transportation. This video covers what travelers and especially tourist drivers need to know about driving around Iceland. From the one lane bridges to the narrow roads to the courteous drivers and all those manual transmission cars.
Filmed in Iceland
Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
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I have gone to Iceland twice, including one in winter and in summer. Although the winter had worse weather (I had a 4x4 though) and ice, the thing that caught me off guard was the free roaming of sheep in the summer. Almost collided with one and was able to maneuver around it by going slower, they are fast dashers and usually come in groups of 3 and 4. No insurance or coverage exists for animal collisions btw.
I'm glad Jocelyn is starting to get more involved with videos. I know Mark that you said once in one of your videos that it terrifies her to be on camera.
It takes her a bit to warm up but I think she is doing great. Go Jocelyn!!! :)
Everyone likes Mark but everyone loves Jocelyn!
One of our family's favorite roadtrips, ever...minus the bit in the East Fjords (not filmed as I was too freaked out to handle that). You just had to leave the bug attack in, didn't you Mark. And apologies to everyone for the fading sound, our mic was finicky.
Are the Fjords super steep? LOVE your channel, guys! 💕
I know I am kind of off topic but do anybody know of a good place to watch newly released movies online ?
@Lennox Travis i watch on FlixZone. Just search on google for it =)
@Landry Benjamin yea, I have been using flixzone for months myself =)
@Landry Benjamin Thanks, I went there and it seems like a nice service =) I appreciate it!!
Our windshield was cracked by uphill windblown pea gravel in the east fjords one october night... verrry windy. But great hotdogs and calorieburgers!
Jocelyn is the best, Mark! She is such a good sport.
You guys be safe & take care!
You guys publish some of the very best & most useful videos for traveling to be found anywhere on the Internet --- So once again, THANK YOU & SAFE TRAVELS!!!
Thank you!
Jocelyn is a pro, I hope she is in more videos!
I'm happy so see Jocelyn doing a video!
Thanks for your tips in Rome. Going for my 30th Birthday this November (first trip to Italy). :D
Awesome. Glad we could help. AMD have a happy birthday trip!
@Josh from Bakersfield LOL Kool! 🤣 My favourite band of all time. Cheers from Dublin, Ireland. 🇮🇪 😎🤟🏻
@Josh from Bakersfield Yeah I met him here in Dublin back in 2012 when I was a VIP. I'm 6ft tall and he is a bit taller than me lol
@Josh from Bakersfield Nice, thanks for the info, and yeah give me a shout if you do.
Yay videos with driving tips :D this is very helpful!
Did you know that the airport was on base when the base was open?
I was stationed there from 1981-83. Lots of new roads!
And there are actually TREES there now!!
cool
Also, if you want to go onto the F roads (where a lot of the wild beauty is) you need a 4WD. ours also had an altimeter and an inclinometer (measuring height above sea level and the angle of the car right/left/forward, etc.). VERY useful on the highlands.
Thanks for the tips! Heading there in a few days. Great advise. Especially about the pumps.
I love all of your Iceland episodes, I keep rewatching them
Thanks Art of Warring!
Iceland is the voyage of my dreams. I can't wait to be there someday and see the northern lights.
it really is an amazing place! you will love it!
I know I will :)
I hope to be able to go there soon enough!
Your family is so wonderful.
Beautiful and great quality, love the audio. Greetings from London 🇬🇧
I went a couple of weeks ago for 10 days it was AMAZING it is truly a nation of fire and ice with geysers that shoutout boiling hot water and there’s huge lakes with icebergs also if your a history buff your in some luck with you being alone to see the statue of Levi Erikson,there’s museums al over the capital and tons of statues all over tons to do!!!
Went for 2 weeks last month and did 4000km in a Toyota Rav4 all around iceland, including the west fjords. Didn't ask for an automatic, but got one anyway. Feels a bit weird at first if you're not used to that.
I think most of the roads were very safe to drive on with plenty of warning signs, even on the unpaved roads normal cars are allowed on. With the lack of tall roadside vegetation in most places, you often have a clear view through corners.
When there is traffic, always keep in mind that most of the traffic you encounter are tourists, so they can behave unpredictable when they spot something interesting or notice that they are going in the wrong direction.
And the most interesting roads we did were 4x4 only, so we were very happy that we put in the extra money to rent one. And a 4x4 can handle potholes on warn out unpaved roads a lot better. Just go fast enough so that the tires don't have time to fall into them ;)
Great info about the gas. I wish I would have known this before we went because we struggled a little the first time we filled up lol
We did too :) that was kind of how it all started with the driving in iceland video :)
I love driving stick shift. My dad thought me how to drive when I was 18 and it was a stick shift. I hated it while I was learning especially in steep up hills (whoever knows how to drive it know what I mean) but I’m SO glad I learned
Great video, Jocelyn! Thanks, for the cool tips! Diana Batista 😊
I was looking at a painting I bought in CT a few years back, the artist's signature is D. Batista. I keep thinking, I know a Diana Batista...I've just realized that is You! 🤗
I would really recommend visiting Pidgeon Forge & Gatlinburg in Tennessee (if you haven't already), their not to far from each other, & have so much to offer in each place! My grandparents live in Pidgeon Forge & we love going up there to vist them any time we get. A big yes for here are all the local places to eat, & all the backroads the locals take to beat the traffic & get to see the awesome landscape on the way.(I recommend the Local Goat, its my favorite). You will also see the community feel to the places, especially when the tragic fires happened right behind Gatlinburg, everyone helped/still helping to rebuild. Also the dinner & shows are just lovely to go & see to just have a great time with your family. If you know the backroads here, your sure to love it!
Going there for the first time tommorow! Thanks for the video about petrol stations. Hopefully it's not too hard to fill up at 4:00am when returning the car to the airport.
Have you guys considered the Faroe Islands, between Iceland and Scotland? They're my current obsession as far as future travels are concerned. Looks absolutely amazing and the infrastructure is surprisingly great considering their relative remoteness. Most of the islands are accessible to each other by road with bridges, causeways and sub-sea and mountain tunnels.
I love the tip about driving a stick shift. I'm always amazed at how many people can't drive a stick. I've even had valets who were unable to move my car because it was a stick.
I just found your vid & this was so great! I am a solo traveler & going to Iceland for the first time next week in short visit & having a second thought about renting a car, doing Golden Circle so I’d able to stay & see diff waterfalls. However, The narrow one lane bridge & stop lights kinda make me nervous, lol. Thanks for your travel tips.
Those bridges aren't so bad. The roads through the eastern fjords were far worse! People are courteous especially on the bridges. Rent a car, you will be able to experience so much more!
Thanks very much for you response. One more question forgot to mention in my first post.
Do I need to get an International Driver’s permit (IDP)? I’m from the US, and my DL is valid until December of this year. I went to my local AAA insurance comp, & asked about driving in Iceland. I was told to get an IDP w/2photos.
Thanks again.
@@heidialvarez7346 I didn't have to show one. However, I would recommend getting one, just on case. A 20$ license can save you loads of problems and money (having to take other transport, not getting refunded rental fees etc) in the long run. Have fun and travel safe!
You guys are great
I'm going in October by myself. I am scared but excited. I don't know if i should rent a car. I'm scared of something happening in the road and not having help.
Great tips. Thanks!
Jocelyn is great!
It's getting even harder and harder for Americans to have stick-shift driving experience that you say they will need to be able to drive in Iceland because there are very few new cars they sell here that are manual (even the Ford Focus ST is to stop production here). Also, the reason why the traffic lights show red and yellow right before turning green is to tell drivers to get their cars into gear because of driving a stickshift. That being said even in Europe (and Iceland) automatics are starting to get more commonplace.
As a local, i can vouch for everything that she said
Thank you. It is always nice to have locals voice their opinions!
As a local, I have to say, even though we don't show road rage we are always in a hurry to drive from point A to point B, so when we get stuck behind a person driving at 70 or 80 on a 90km/h road we get really pissed off. Some people even try to pass without looking if there is a car coming the other way.
So don't slow down if there is a car behind you unless there is no coming the other way.
And to some tourists keep your eyes on the road not on the mountains.
Photo bomb! 😂 so cute and funny.
the only time 4x4 drive is really needed in iceland is sometimes during winter, and on the highland roads. And as of last month (july 2019) the ring road is paved the entire way exept for the ocational road construction.
And a tip for anyone who's coming here and renting a car,,, Try to stick to the speed limit or as close to it as you can, Many tourists slow traffic unnecessarily while looking at the landscape, animals or looking at the GPS trying to figure out where to go. Please do not stop on intersections in towns trying to look at maps or GPS/phone cause you will most likely cause traffic jams with parking lots all around (daily occurrence in my small town) but most of all DO NOT EVER stop on or after blind turns or blind hills. As a truck driver that is one of the most aggravating thing to happen on the road and quite happy and amazed to not having smashed in to the back of cars yet.
This was so informative, now I want to go asap!
Do it! You won't regret it!
For what it's worth, according to the traffic rules here (Iceland) the inside lane in a roundabout has the right of way. This is apparently different to how they do it elsewhere.
Good tips to know! 👍😀
Thanks Lewis!
Come to Maryland, there’s tons of roundabouts here
And stay right accept/expect (I am confused) when you taking over and you must use your blinkers.
I'm really enjoying the more frequent Jocelyn screen time lately. She just brings so much comic relief to your otherwise very informative travel vids. I also loved Caleb's "PHOTOBOMB!" towards the end.
I went to Iceland twice and both times I rented automatic cars (sorry... I grew up in North America). I would say that it's not impossible but just be aware that you would probably want to book it in advance (as soon as you've booked your tickets and your hotel) and be prepared to pay extra.
Beware of the speed limit there. I have a friend who recently (like last week!) was pulled over by the police in the Golden Circle area for speeding.
True about the gas station. Make sure that your credit card works! I carry 2 credit cards at all time. One of them never worked at those middle-of-no-where gas stations in Iceland despite having called my Canadian bank a few times while I was on vacations. A way to go around it is to get a prepaid credit card as soon as you get to Iceland and use the card to buy gas at those gas stations. I've seen a few tourists doing so. The distance between towns can be very far and you don't always get to the next big town or the next big gas station to fill up your tank.
I might also add that you better stop at every single big gas station that you've seen! No only - like I said earlier - sometimes the distance between big gas stations are far away. It's also because they are where you can use clean bathrooms and buy food if you are hungry. :)
Yes on so many of these. Yes yes yes.
@Photo Nerd True! It is better to pump gas at a big gas station like N1.
I have a question...
What do I do if I feel urgency to pee while I am on a ring road?
Also is it fine to pull over the car to side of the road if there is some issue?
When did you travel..? The flowers are beautiful behind you, then I see snow?
We are trying to side what time frame we want to go to Iceland.
Can you Tell us which
rental car Company you have Chosen and Would you recommend it ?
Mark are you in Iceland now? When you toured around did you sleep in jeep???
We aren't there now. And no, we didn't sleep in our vehicle. We stayed in BnBs and the like. They have little vans (think Ford Transit) that have beds in back that you can rent.
Great info. I'm renting a car in Iceland when I go in October. One question I have is do all diesel cars there use biodiesel?
"lights on all the time" lord how I wish that was the law in the US
Remember a few years ago when day time running lights were popular? What ever happened with that?
@@woltersworld cars still have them.
12799MaDeuce it is in some states
it's that way pretty much everywhere in europe
We have daytime running lights (headlights only, not tail lights) in the US on many new cars, as well as auto lights, but too many auto lights won't turn on in the rain or if it's overcast or early dawn. In my state, you're required to have lights on if visibility is less than 1000' or if it's raining, and many many many people don't bother.
Dude I like you guys :)
What is your opinion on driving the ring road in mid January? I am a solo female traveler.
Have always wanted to go to Iceland. The roads on the video remind me of the mountain/country roads in Ireland. Best kind of roads to drive.
Is it true that gas prices in Iceland are REALLY high?
wait, them two from Ireland , right ? they should not be surprised about the "narrow roads"... like at all....
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Iceland?
What is the speed limit on highways?
Mohamad Farouq Arifin 90 km/h!
Any plans for Philadelphia?
For the gas pumps using credit cards, do you need to have a one that has a PIN or is it OK to use credit cards with the chip but no PINs?
Yes, chip no pin will work. Or it did where we got gas anyway.
I've heard its really expensive to vacation in Iceland. Could you please make a video of the costs of vacationing there? Thanks
Food is pricey, but sooo worth it! You'll eat local everywhere, like from the farm down the road local. Accommodations are close to American hotel prices but are generally not hotels, more BnBs and the like.
This video was uploaded the first day I met my crush
I am from Iceland
I like her voice. I bet she sings good
Like an off tune cow! 😂
It might be helpful to consider where the wind comes from in order to prevent your car door being ripped off when opening it. There's plenty of wind in Iceland. The vid is nice and well but it doesn't cover any information about driving in the highlands.
So true! I should have thought to mention it.
We have been spending regular holidays in Iceland and we got to know the country pretty well. I quite appreciate your vid, it's really very helpful for greenhorns. We've got quite an advantage because we share our stays with a very close Icelandic friend who has been a tourist guide for decades. If you need any support for supplying more information about travelling in the highlands please let me know. Have a good time!!!
@@franzkohler8337 isn't staying with locals enriching?! Thanks for the offer. I don't know when we will be there next but I'll reply here if we do the highlands again!
I feel like we're spoiled with roads here in the US. Every time i drive abroad i feel like I'm in a madmax situation. Iceland doesn't look too bad though.
it was a great experience, though going up the fjords and the mountain roads are a bit... heart attack inducing sometimes :)
What if you break down?
There isn't much traffic but people would probably help. I know AAA is US/Canada but you could call and ask if/how they may cover you abroad.
IS THAT A VOLCANO BEHIND YOU?. LOOKS SCARY.
I want to move there just because most cars are stick shift.
PHOTOBOOOMB! :D
You guys need mics. Lots of audio issues in some of your vids. Otherwise I do enjoy them!
Yeah, on these windy day ones the boom mic just doesn't cover it. We are working on it. The camera just doesnt have a simple mic jack, but about to get a new camera so hopefully that will help with the mic issues
@@woltersworld Oh cool! Looking forward to that!
Thanks for this video! I am going to Iceland in a few weeks. Where do you learn to drive with stickshift?
Great tips! I'm planning my first Ring Road trip Ina campervan and am super nervous about driving in the mountains. I'm hoping there is an alternative route to go around them even if it takes longer? I'll have to do more digging on Google maps. I'm going solo so will have no one to bail me out of things go wrong 😩
do not speeding ,even at 2 am ...lol... my boyfriend was speed after 2am,he got a big fine around 700USD...lol
Sorry to say but all cars are stick shift and some are manual. And stick drive is 95 % of Europe.
So few Americans know this and far less know how to drive them! Mark and I both grew up learning stick so we are fine but it is a challenge for many.
If my Seiyuu tells me he ate all my really tall ice cream and got in da Himmel Wimmel I will stop by and give him flowers and tell his wife cause she needs to know her hubby in da Himmel Wimmel. (And I play in the hot springs cause hot springs.)
I thought that said "high prices" at 1:06 , haha. Would still be accurate!
Right!
Do you have any experience in driving in icy or winter conditions while in Iceland?
No, we went in July.
awesome video! Any upcoming trips to the philippines?
sadly not for a little while
0:45 no speed limit? Sounded like a jet engine.
Damp pavement. There are speed limits and they are relatively low in comparison to equivalent roads/speeds in the US.
When are you going to Malta.
Mark has been. I want to go very much so, someday!!
Cheap to get to...expensive to stay...Lol...looks real pretty though...Mark, on another note...I would absolutely love to visit Split & Dubrovnik...I would have to be in the off or shoulder season...am I right in saying it is either expensive/complicated to do so? Seems like summer is the only time budget flights are affordable. 😫
So true with non cheap budget flights outside the main seasons. Split is amazing.
Both are on my list...hate to go when it's crowded, expensive & SUPER HOT...thanks, Mark, for your input...lots of love to you guys!!!
3:47 best part of this video.....Your welcome
I'm sure there're some offroad trails for offroaders and honesty Iceland is a Lovely country with lovely people 😊
So lovely
Red Yellow Green might be better 2 second yellows are a joke in the US. They make the yellow go as fast as possible so cameras can take a picture of your licence plate and send you an unfaur ticket in the mail.
Red, yellow, green is to give warning that the light is about to change to green so that while driving a stick you are prepared to go. It is a nice thing. And I agree, yellows seem to be getting shorter here! Ha!
It's important. Driving in Iceland.
It is because you need your own transport to really see the wonders of Iceland. Such a great country
One lane bridges.............no thanks
Why not? As you can see there's basically no traffic
There have been quite a few accidents of tourists not paying attention and waiting for someone to go through first and just whamo each other
It's not so bad. The first few were disconcerting but once I drove a few it was fine.
No different that the small mountain roads with passing places on the narrowest parts. I drive those regularly.