Driving in Iceland in Winter – Your Complete Guide
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.
Driving in Iceland in winter can be unpredictable. From crazy wind gusts to insane, spur-of-the-moment snow storms, driving in Iceland during the winter months can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared to tackle the ever-changing elements. But if you’re like me and prefer exploring without a tour group, you’re probably thinking of hiring a car for your winter trip to Iceland.
Doing research to ensure you know what to expect is vital, as is hiring the correct vehicle and erring on the side of caution. That being said, while driving in Iceland in the winter can be problematic at times, it’s not impossible and definitely not totally unsafe.
Overall, I’m really glad I hired a car as it gave us the freedom to explore and meant we weren’t stuck in Reykjavik. So, if you’re prepared and act in a safe and responsible manner, you’ll get along just fine and will enjoy the best of what Iceland has to offer.
Having spent some time driving in Iceland in January myself, I experienced all possible weather scenarios in a short space of time. In this guide to winter driving in Iceland, I’ll run through top tips for staying safe, the best hire cars, your best budget-friendly insurance options and which areas to visit and avoid!
Should I Drive in Iceland During the Winter?
Many people choose to drive in Iceland in the winter. There are many pros to choosing a self-drive trip over guided tours. You’ll have more flexibility, save money on expensive tours and be able to enjoy the sights at your own pace, without crowds of people on a tour bus.
But whether you choose to drive in Iceland is totally up to you and really depends on how confident a driver you are.
While you don’t need to be an experienced winter driver (I’m not! I’m from the UK where it rains all winter long!), you do need to be a confident driver. Weather conditions can change quickly. One day, we went from sunny skies and clear dry roads to a blizzard with strong winds within a couple of hours. We made it back safely but it was nerve-wracking!
To help you decide whether driving in Iceland in winter is the best choice for you, here are some quick-fire tips.
Tips for Driving in Iceland in Winter – Know Before You Go!
1. Hire a 4WD
Even if the weather forecast is good for your trip, I’d still recommend hiring a 4-wheel drive. Hiring a bigger, sturdier car made me feel more confident when driving and also meant we didn’t get stuck when a snow blizzard came in thick and fast!
2. Stick to the South of Iceland
During our trip to Iceland in January, we only explored the Golden Circle, the South Coast roads, Reykjanes Peninsula and Reykjavik. Many roads in the north and interior of Iceland are closed during winter because they are impassable, so stick to the South of Iceland where driving conditions tend to be a little safer.
3. Prepare for the Worst
There’s a popular saying in Iceland: ‘If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.’ Even if the forecast is fantastic and you set out with clear sunny skies, you should always be prepared for an abrupt change to the weather. Your Iceland winter packing list should include plenty of warm clothes, waterproof layers, and sturdy waterproof walking boots. Be sure to take plenty of food and water each day and ensure your vehicle has a full tank of fuel!
4. Check the Iceland Road Safety Website
The Iceland Road Safety website is a super useful tool for checking road conditions along your route. The website shows any road closures and tells you the reason why a road is closed or impassable. Check this website before you embark on any journey in the winter to ensure you stay safe.
5. Book Excess Waiver Insurance for your Hire Car
I’m a firm believer in being fully insured on your travels. You never know what might happen and it’s always good to have peace of mind and be confident that any unexpected costs will be covered. This is even more important when you’re in a potentially risky situation, such as driving in Iceland in the winter.
Most hire car companies will offer you expensive Excess Waiver Insurance with the car hire. However, rather than pay inordinate sums directly to the hire company, you can book Excess Waiver Insurance via an independent third party such as Reduce My Excess.
I have used Reduce My Excess for years. On one occasion, I needed to claim for a lost key, they paid out without any problems. Having this insurance will give you peace of mind that if the worst does happen, you will be covered for any repair costs for damage to the hire car.
6. Don’t Forget the Limited Hours of Daylight
Don’t forget that in Iceland, there are limited hours of daylight in wintertime. When we visited in January, the sun didn’t rise until 11 am and the sun set at 4 pm meaning we only had 5 hours of daylight. It’s worth bearing in mind that you may be doing a lot of driving in the dark, which may add another element of risk to your trip, especially if you’re not a confident driver.
7. Download the Safe Travel App
If you’re travelling with a smartphone, you can download the “112 Iceland” app from SafeTravel. The app provides up-to-date information on road and weather conditions, and also provides a way to send your GPS location to first responders should you find yourself in a dangerous situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Hire a Car or Book Bus Tours in Iceland?
Many tourists use guided bus tours to explore Iceland and this type of travel works for a lot of people, especially those that are very nervous about driving in Iceland in winter. But for me, I’m really glad I booked a hire car and didn’t rely on tours. Having the freedom to go where I liked, be spontaneous and go with the flow, as well as not being surrounded by a huge tour group of people, was much more appealing to me.
That being said, I was nervous about driving in Iceland in winter, so we did consider booking a few tours and using Reykjavik as our base. With this being our first time in Iceland, and having heard so many mixed reviews concerning weather conditions, I was hesitant to embark on a self-guided tour of Iceland, particularly in the North where weather conditions are much harsher.
But after adding up the sums and speaking to some friends about their own experiences of driving in Iceland in winter, we decided that hiring a car would not only give us the freedom we wanted but also save us money.
Depending on the activity and experience you choose, you can expect to pay anything from £45-£100 for a standard Iceland day tour. Of course, the smaller the group, the more you’ll pay. So, if you don’t want to be stuck on a coach with 50 other people all day, expect to pay a higher premium. For this reason alone, we knew it would be much more cost-effective to hire our own vehicle.
If you do decide to book some guided tours, I’d recommend these:
Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik – hunting for the Northern Lights is a skill in its own right, so join a bus tour for better chances of seeing the Aurora and to avoid having to drive at night.
Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater – Enjoy a full-day tour of the famous Golden Circle, including Kerid Crater, Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir and Thingvellir National Park.
South of Iceland Full Day Tour – Visit all the main south coast sights – Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull, Vik, Reynisfjara Beach and Seljalandsfoss
What Car Should I Hire for Driving in Iceland in Winter?
If you’re travelling to Iceland in wintertime, your choice of hire car is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It can be tempting to go for the cheapest option – perhaps a Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo or similar – if you’re travelling Iceland on a budget, but hiring a car that can cope with icy roads and heavy snowfall is a must. For me, I knew that meant we’d need to rent a four-wheel drive with good winter tyres, even though this was far from the cheapest option.
As a budget traveller, it pains me to have to pay more than I need to. But you can’t put a price on safety. So, we opted for a Suzuki Jimny 4×4, from Nordic Car Rental at Reykjavik Airport.
Although the Suzuki Jimny is one of the smallest 4x4s, we found it coped extremely well with the varying weather conditions. The winter tyres meant we could plough through snow-covered, icy roads with no real problems and we felt pretty safe for the most part. The only real issue we had with the Suzuki Jimny was that being a lighter vehicle, we felt a little vulnerable when hit with strong gusts of wind.
For cheap car hire in Iceland, I’d recommend using Rental Cars as they compare several car rental companies and provide you with the cheapest deals.
Is the Icelandic Weather Really that Changeable?
During our visit to Iceland in January, we experienced four seasons in one week. We walked out of the airport into pouring rain, enjoyed a day of glorious blue skies and sunshine, battled sleet and rain on day two, fought against heavy rain on day three which turned into heavy snow blizzards and strong wings by day four and five, followed by two more days of sunshine on days six and seven.
To say the weather is temperamental is an understatement.
In fact, the weather was so changeable that, on day five, we left Reykjavik to stunning sunshine and clear roads only to hit a blizzard 30 minutes down the road. Within 5 minutes, the clear roads were not only covered in snow but were almost completely unrecognisable and undrivable.
Day four saw us venturing out despite the crazy blizzard conditions, in an effort not to miss out on exploring Iceland, but after driving for an hour, we decided to turn back. The snow was coming in thick and fast, covering roads and making it difficult to tell where the road ended and the field began. Not only that, but the strong wind gusts were almost sweeping the car off the road. Definitely a hair-raising experience!
Can I Drive Iceland’s Ring Road in Winter?
At times, the ring road will be entirely accessible during the winter months. However, due to the changeable nature of the weather, sections of the ring road will likely be closed for extended periods, particularly in the North of Iceland.
For the most part, the ring road in the south is flat, wide and easy to drive. However, in the north, it can be a bit more perilous, with much harsher weather conditions than in the south.
For our trip to Iceland, we used Reykjavik as our base to explore the ring road in the south of Iceland, rather than book accommodation in different locations each night. We were able to spend a day on the Golden Circle and explore the southern part of the ring road which takes you to Skogafoss, Vik and Seljalandsfoss. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Borgarnes areas are also easily accessible from Reykjavik.
Having a base in Reykjavik meant that we could vary the day trips we took around the weather conditions. If a snowstorm were to hit, we could stay in Reykjavik and explore the city. It also meant that we weren’t under any pressure to travel to our next accommodation for the night.
My recommendation would be to stick to travelling the entire ring road during summer months, when you’ll have a lot more daylight to enjoy the scenery anyway and won’t have to worry about stressful, dangerous weather conditions.
As a side note, you should be wary of driving on gravel roads, particularly during the winter as this can invalidate your car insurance. F roads (gravelly mountain tracks into the highlands) are closed during the winter months and can be extremely dangerous (and illegal), even if you have a 4WD.
Practical Tips for Driving in Iceland in the Winter
- It is a legal requirement to have the lights of your vehicle on at all times, even during the day.
- Emergency services can be contacted on 112.
- You can check up-to-date weather forecasts here.
- You can check up-to-date information on road conditions here.
- Speed limits are heavily enforced, with speed cameras aplenty! Fines can be fairly hefty, so stick to the speed limit to stay safe and avoid paying out. It’s worth noting that speed limits are posted in km/h rather than mph.
- It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol. Even one drink will put you over the limit, so avoid alcohol completely if you’re the designated driver.
- It is illegal to use your phone while driving.
- Be wary of strong winds. This can often catch unsuspecting tourists off guard, so take care when opening car doors and driving over bridges. It’s not uncommon for the doors of a vehicle to be torn off by strong winds!
So, that’s my guide for driving in Iceland in winter. Iceland is a wonderful place and you’ll have an amazing time exploring the great outdoors, whether you choose to drive or take guided tours. Just make sure you’re happy to be flexible, prepared to go with the flow and enjoy Iceland in all its rugged, unpredictable glory!
Where to Stay in Iceland in Winter
If you’re planning a trip to Iceland in winter, you’ll likely want to stay in Reykjavik as it makes a good base for exploring the South of Iceland.
Budget Accommodation
Nordic Hostel – beds in shared dormitory rooms for budget travellers. The hostel is located in the centre of Reykjavík and provides a shared lounge, free WiFi and a bar.
Grettir Guesthouse – private rooms in a guesthouse in a great location in central Reykjavik. Only a 5-minute walk from Hallgrimskirkja Church.
Mid-Range Accommodation
Downtown Reykjavík Apartments – these self-catered apartments are best for those who want to save money on eating out!
22 Hill Hotel – This hotel is in Reykjavík city centre, only 100 metres from the popular Laugavegur shopping street. It offers a rich breakfast buffet and free high-speed WiFi.
Luxury Accommodation
Hotel Kriunes – 4-star hotel located 13km outside the city with beautiful scenic views over Lake Ellidavatn.
Hotel Ísland – Spa & Wellness Hotel – Featuring a wellness centre with a spa, beauty salon and yoga facilities, this hotel is 600 m from Reykjavik’s main street, Laugavegur.
Are you planning an epic Iceland winter road trip? I’d love to hear your plans and questions in the comments!
One thing that was pointed out to us was not to try parking on verges in the winter. This catches out a lot of tourist who want to stop momentarily for a quick photo opportunity and find their car lodged in a ditch. The side verges look flat with the snow, but when you drive onto them you will find the car will sink, hit an unseen rock or drop into deep ditch.
Thanks for this tip, that’s very true and something to be aware of!
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.