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    Travel Guide Iceland – Uncover a Nordic Island

    If you’re looking for miles of unspoilt natural beauty with very few inhabitants – then Iceland is your ideal holiday. This small Nordic island nation is located in the northern half of the north Atlantic and contains one of the most beautiful landscapes you’ll ever witness. From volcanoes to lava fields, hot springs and fjords, Iceland won’t disappoint. As you drive through this nation, you’ll come across quaint villages, picturesque towns and bustling cities. Museums, lagoons and plenty of Nordic hospitality await you as you learn all about how fishing and whaling has kept these communities alive.

    Containing Iceland’s Museum of Rock n’ Roll, the town of Keflavik is a traditional Icelandic town waiting to be explored. It also happens to have Iceland’s main entry into the country – Keflavik International Airport. Home to the Saga and National Museum, Reykjavik is also Iceland’s capital city. As the islands largest city, you’ll encounter plenty of things to do, from restaurants to coffee houses and shopping quarters. If you’re looking for a more compact view of Iceland’s local fauna and flora, then pay a visit to Akureyri. This large town is located in northern Iceland, and hosts the country’s Botanical Gardens. It is also home to the very interesting Akureyri Art Museum. Consult our travel guide to Iceland for up-to-date information and travel tips.

    Auto Europe has been in the global car hire industry for over 60 years. Having built up long-lasting working partnerships with many local, national and international car hire suppliers, we are able to provide great deals at global locations convenient to you. With a large vehicle fleet to choose from, you’re sure to find the right vehicle for your Icelandic holiday. Along with our trusted car hire service, you may also be interested in our luxury car hire, motorhome hire or transfer service. Contact one of our reservation agents today to find out more and book.

    Look over the Iceland travel guide topics listed below and take a look at each page for information on a specific aspect of travelling in Iceland.

    Road Trips Attractions Travel FAQs
     

    Road trips with my car hire in Iceland

    Iceland is like many islands – perfect for a road trip. A road trip in Iceland is made even easier with the existence of a Road Ring that encircles the whole country. Also known as Road 1, it covers an estimated 825 miles and will take you up to 16 hours to drive. Many attractions can be found off the Ring Road, therefore make sure you experience everything else the country has to offer by exploring more remote regions. It is important to note that driving during the winter months can be dangerous due to extreme weather – so always take the recommended precautions before commencing on your road trip.

    Iceland - Road Trip

    • Road 1 – The Ring Road: As mentioned, the Ring Road encircles the whole island – making it ideal for a road trip. Consisting of paved and unpaved roads, the Ring Road isn’t overly complicated to drive on. You will find however, that in some places there are no road guards so you should take some care. With all this in consideration, the Ring Road will take you through some wonderful varying landscapes; lava fields, lagoons, snow-capped mountains, hot springs, beautiful volcanic beaches and quaint villages – so well worth the journey.

    • Snaefellnes Peninsula: This beautiful peninsula stretches around 55 miles west of Iceland and is mostly famous for its volcano and glacier. Taking only two hours from Reykjavik by car, the peninsula can easily be reached by heading north on Road 54 from the Ring Road. Once you arrive, we recommend a hike to reveal the amazing panoramic views, the colourful lava fields, the estimated 5000 year old Eldborg Volcanic Caldera and the Gerðuberg Basalt Columns.

    • Golden Circle: Head along Road 36, off the Ring Road towards Þingvellir National Park and enjoy one of Iceland’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At this location in 930 AD, Icelandic clans came together to settle their differences and create a National Assembly. It wasn’t until the 19th Century that the National Assembly was moved to Reykjavik – which is now regarded as the world’s longest running parliament. The Golden Circle itself offers up plenty of geological wonders. The mid-Atlantic rift runs right through Iceland, and can be clearly seen here with cliffs rising up at each end of the park – a symbolic reminder that you’re on the very edge of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

    • Westfjords: Taking around 3 hours by car; drive Road 60 north after travelling along Road 59, you’ll then reach Road 607 and start to head south towards the quaint Westfjords town of Reykhólar. An idyllic location for anyone interested in bird watching, the unique mixture of fresh and seawater attracts numerous species of birds to its lakes. A museum dedicated to the importance of fish, birds and seals can be found here, along with a kelp factory. The landscape is spectacular with vast mountains and mighty waterfalls to enjoy, offshore you’ll also catch glimpses of seals and humpback whales.

    What to do in Iceland

    A country full of natural beauty, lava fields, fjords, lakes, lagoons, geological wonders and huge ancient snow-capped mountains – few countries come close to the splendour experienced here. From its charming traditional towns, to world-renowned museums and the spectacular northern lights, you’ll always find something to see, do and experience during your holiday.

    Magical landscapes - Iceland

    • Perlan Museum: All of Iceland’s natural wonders are realised within the Perlan Museum and Exploratorium Centre through fun and interactive exhibitions. Experience a volcano, the glaciers and the wonderful northern lights. Learn all about the local sea life, birds and animals. You’ll also be able to enjoy the Planetarium, and an exploratory journey within a real ice cave. In addition, from the viewing platform you’ll be blessed with great views over Reykjavik.

    • Northern Lights: Often eluded by many visitors, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. This famous natural light show is best seen during the winter months in the dark sky. Its vivid colours will astound you and keep you utterly mesmerised as it dances upon the night sky. We recommend joining a guided tour to not only up your chances of seeing the lights, but also to get a scientific explanation of this natural phenomenon, with some great photographs to match.

    • Whale Watching: Iceland’s waters are the ideal place to catch a glimpse of a variety of whales in their natural habitat. The most common ports for setting off on this adventure are Hofn, Hauganes and Húsavík. Other ports such as Reykjavik and Ólafsvík also provide whale watching tours but you’re less likely to see them. Humpback, Blue, Orca and Minke whales are all present in these waters, but you’ll also come across plenty of seals and dolphins.

    • Viking World Museum: Learn about Viking heritage and Iceland’s history with a visit to the popular Viking World Museum. With numerous exhibitions and even a Viking ship, the museum’s collection will keep you entertained for hours. The building itself is the perfect architectural blend between old and new – a metaphor of today’s Iceland.

    • Blue Lagoon: Undoubtedly one of Iceland’s most popular attractions, the Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 and provides nourishing seawater rich in minerals that work wonders on your skin. The water itself is renewed naturally every 48 hours, and is a striking milky-blue colour. The water temperature is ideal for all-year round bathing – around 39°C.

    Frequently asked questions about travelling in Iceland

    Contact the Auto Europe Rental SpecialistsFollowing is a list of the most common asked question by our customers for Iceland - things such as; time zone, currency, electricity supply and voltage. We also go into a little detail about how to choose the right vehicle for Iceland and much more. If you have an additional question that is not answered here, please contact our reservation team who can help.

    Our agents have experience in dealing with road rules and regulations in Iceland, and have the ample knowledge to guide you through most holiday decisions, providing tips and suggestions. The travel tips section on our site will offer useful information on car categories, car hire coverage, driving age requirements and more.


    What type of car hire is best for your trip in Iceland?

    Choosing what vehicle is right for your holiday can sometimes be a tricky task. Choosing a vehicle for Iceland can be even trickier, with the countries ever changing extreme weather and rural roads. To ensure you end up choosing the right vehicle, you should keep a few things in mind. If you are going to stay in the capital city, or a major town like Isafjordur, then a Mini or Compact car is sufficient. However, if you’re going to head into rural areas – which much of Iceland is – then you’ll need a sturdier vehicle. For Iceland in particular we recommend an SUV 4x4 or a Large vehicle. Many of Iceland’s roads are unpaved, and even its main Ring Road has sections of paved and unpaved roads. Other roads only allow 4x4 vehicles to access.

    When choosing your vehicle you should also take note of how many people will be in your group, how many suitcases and how much internal legroom might be needed. If you’re visiting with a large group, then we would advise on renting a van for your trip. The added internal space and seating will be a blessing when driving around. Have a quick view of our car hire category section for further information on each category, their advantages and disadvantages.

     

    What is the currency in Iceland?

    Iceland has its own currency which is known as the Króna (ISK). Cash machines are available throughout Iceland, although in rural areas they may be harder to come by. Larger towns, petrol stations and shopping centres will have a greater array of ATMs. Credit and debit cards are readily accepted throughout the country and are a popular choice by locals. Major international bank cards are accepted, including Mastercard, Visa, Maestro and Cirrus.

     

    What time zone is Iceland?

    Located in the Western European Time Zone, Iceland and the UK have no difference in time, with the exception being during daylight saving. Iceland does not observe daylight saving, so during this period it will be one hour ahead of the UK between late March and late October.

     

    Electricity – Do I need a power adapter in Iceland?

    The electricity in Iceland operates on 220 volts, so a continental two-round-pin plug is standard. Be sure to travel with the appropriate adapters. Adapters can be found for purchase at the airport and within travel shops. Some petrol stations may also stock them.

     

    Do I need a visa to travel to Iceland?

    As a member in the Schengen Treaty, there are no border controls between participating countries, except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom who opted not to sign the treaty. If you possess a UK passport you will not need a visa for stays of up to three months. Other types of British residents will need a valid Schengen visa to enter Iceland. Requirements may change due to Brexit, so make sure you check with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office for the latest advice and recommendations before travelling. Following is the contact details for the British Embassy based in Iceland.

    British Embassy Reykjavik
    Laufásvegur 31
    101 Reykjavík
    Iceland
    Email: info@britishembassy.is
    Telephone: +354 550 5100

     

    Which are the most common phrases in Iceland?

    Icelandic is the official language of Iceland, but English and German are commonly spoken as well. Below are a few pronunciation tips as well as some phrases that may be helpful during your travels.

    • a is pronounced like the a in father
    • e is pronounced like the e in test
    • i, y are pronounced like the i in little
    • u is pronounced like the German ü in für or the French u in tu
    • ö is pronounced like the German ö in höher or the French eu in neuf
    • æ sounds like eye
    • ð is pronounced like the th in weather (voiced th)
    • þ is pronounced like the th in thorn (unvoiced th)

    Yes - Já
    No - Nei
    Thank you - Takk
    Thank you very much - Takk fyrir
    You're welcome - þú ert velkominn/Gerðu svo vel
    Please - Vinsamlegast/Takk
    Excuse me - Fyrirgefðu
    Hello - Halló/Góðan daginn
    Goodbye - Bless
    What is your name? - Hvað heitir þú?
    Nice to meet you - Gaman að kynnast þér
    How are you? - Hvernig hefur þú það?
    Good - Góður/Góð (male/fem.)
    Bad - Vondur/Vond (male/fem.)
    Where is ...? - Hvar er ...?
    One ticket to ..., please. - Einn miða til ..., (takk fyrir).
    Where are you going? - Hvert ertu að fara?
    Bus - Strætisvagn
    Airport - Flugvöllur
    Bus station - Umferðarmiðstöð
    Departure - Brottför
    Arrival - Koma
    Car rental agency - Bílaleiga
    Hotel - Hótel
    Room - Herbergi
    Reservation - Bókun

     

    Useful Links

    Airport Information Iceland

    Official Tourism Website of Iceland

    Gov.uk Iceland Travel Advice