Around Iceland by car - 9 places you must see

Have you thought about travelling around Iceland by car? We've been seeing a lot about Iceland on social media lately, so it feels like there's a lot of interest in this little fairytale island. Have I mentioned that I (Helena) lived there for a whole year? That I've travelled back about five times? That I travelled around Iceland by car?

Have I remembered to tell you that I speak Icelandic, that I have taught Icelandic at Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan, that I studied Icelandic at Uppsala University and that I have been active in the Icelandic Association? Time to write a bit about Iceland perhaps ...

Table of contents

Around Iceland by car

Why write a post about travelling around Iceland by car? Well, because it's a fantastic way to experience this island! One option is to fly to Reykjavik and rent a car there. Another option is to bring your car (or motorhome!) from home and take it on the ferry to Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland to drive the Ring Road.

I've travelled this road once, so I thought I'd take you along! There are a lot of nice places to see along the road and I don't even remember all the ones I visited, but I'll take you to some of the ones I remember the most. Stay tuned!

READ MORE: Travelling by motorhome in Iceland
READ MORE: Facts about Iceland - 30 things you (maybe) didn't know

1. seyðisfjörður

The cool thing about Seyðisfjörður is probably not the town itself. The cool thing is that you come here by ferry! When it happened, we travelled with the Faroese company Smyril Line from Bergen in Norway to Seyðisfjörður in Iceland.

When I now check the Smyril Lines website, it looks like you can travel from Hirtshals in Denmark. The journey takes 50 hours ... and I love it! Because the journey is so special? Well, maybe, or mostly because you realise you're travelling. When you fly, everything becomes so surreal. This is real!

2nd Mývatn and Hverir

Mývatn is a lake located in an active volcanic area near the Krafla volcano. The lake was formed by a major volcanic eruption 2300 years ago and now the site is rich in both birds and fish... and mosquitoes. Hverir is a large geothermal area nearby that is full of boiling mud and hot springs. In some places it is 80 - 100 degrees on the ground.

3. goðafoss

Located just east of the town of Akureyri, Goðafoss is a 30 metre wide waterfall, with a 12 metre high drop. Mighty! Don't be fooled by my slightly greyish scanned photos from another decade - this is worth seeing!

4. Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir National Parkor Tingvalla, is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is historic as the Althingi met here, but also known for its geological beauty. Watch some Icelandic films first and you'll be fully charged for the visit!

5th Reykjavik

When you're in Iceland, of course, you shouldn't miss a visit to the stunning capital city of Reykjavik. This may be one of Europe's smallest capitals, but it is full of life and innovation. Here you can shop for home-grown design, visit the city's unusual architectural sights, visit creative restaurants or - why not? - take a tour of perhaps the world's only puppet museum.

READ MORE: 14 things to see and do in Reykjavik
READ MORE: Reykjavik sights - self-guided city tour

6. Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoonor Bláa Lónið in Icelandic, is the country's largest and most famous geothermal bath. You can soak in the naturally warm water, and even if there's a slight breeze (as there was the last time we were there) the bath is pleasant.

7. Hveragerði (and Eldhestar)

Located in the south of Iceland, Hveragerði is a geothermally active area, which means that there are fizzes and bubbles everywhere. It is also home to the horse riding tour operator Elhestar, which organises horse riding tours in the Icelandic countryside. When we were here in 2012 the air was freezing cold and the horses struggled valiantly against the wind and uphill. Imagine how nice it was when we reached the warm streams!

8. Westman Islands

Just south of Iceland is a small group of islands called the Westman Islands, or Vestmannaeyjar in Icelandic. One of these islands (Hemön/Heimaey) is inhabited by just under 5000 people. In the academic year 1992/1993 I was one of them, as I was in my second year of high school at Framhaldsskólinn. Here I studied Danish and typing (!), read English to the American teacher Mr Sands and feasted on Icelandic vodka and dried seaweed as snacks. Those were the days!

9. Jökulsárlón

The most beautiful place I have seen in Iceland is Jökulsárlón - a lake filled with icebergs south of the Vatnajökull glacier! The picture below is a scanned half-assed paper photo from the 90s. Try shooting with a modern camera. Or sit down for a while and just look. Wow!

Some questions you may have

Do you need four-wheel drive? - A: The ring road is fine to drive with a normal car (I went with a Hyundai Atos) but if you're going inland you'll need four-wheel drive.

How does the language work? - Answer: Icelanders are generally good at English. Older people or people who have lived in Scandinavia may also speak Danish or Scandinavian.

How expensive is it? - Answer: Iceland used to be crazy expensive, and then the currency fell and it became cheap. Now it's fairly expensive again, maybe like Sweden.

Do you have more questions? Want us to tell you more about Iceland?

09 November 2017 6:00

Iceland

car holiday, nature

Helena

Administrator

43 Comments

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Lena - good for the soul says:

You can really see Iceland everywhere now. And I get more and more eager to go there! Cool that you know the language too, so well that you can teach it as well!

Hug Lena

09 November 2017 - 6:56

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It's probably 15 years since I taught. I'm not as good today, but I can have some everyday conversations anyway 😉.
  
  09 November 2017 - 18:00
  
  Reply
4000mil says:

Love Iceland! Made a top list myself after our trip. Some places we both have on our lists. 🙂

09 November 2017 - 7:17

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Now I'll have to check out your top 10 list!
  
  09 November 2017 - 18:01
  
  Reply
World by Tina says:

Looks absolutely fantastic! Have thought about going there with the Pink Buses, then you stop in the Faroe Islands as well. Have you been there too?

09 November 2017 - 8:48

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I have spent two months in the Faroe Islands, when I did my internship at the hospital during my education. Very nice!!!
  
  09 November 2017 - 18:02
  
  Reply
Dessi says:

Oh! I love Iceland without even having been there... The dream is (of course) to go there on a really wonderful riding trip. ??

09 November 2017 - 9:03

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Of course you should go to Iceland and ride Dessi! 🙂
  
  09 November 2017 - 18:02
  
  Reply
Role o Carina says:

Would be nice to bathe in the hot springs!

Take care.......

09 November 2017 - 9:44

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It's lovely ... especially when it's cold outside! 🙂
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:20
  
  Reply
Henny says:

What a fabulous feature. So much so that I will check it out more. Sounds interesting with a tour like you did. Imagine going over with the campervan and taking a tour at a slow pace.
What about crime on the island? Does a lonely old lady dare to go on her own adventures?

09 November 2017 - 10:00

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you liked our post! I haven't heard of criminality and I find it very hard to imagine it being a problem, but I'll check more and get back to you!
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:21
  
  Reply
Ditte says:

What fun and interesting to read more about Iceland. Great tips! Have not yet been there, but it is on the list.

It is an experience in many ways to live there and to learn Icelandic. But language is important to learn if you live in another country. At least try to. Provides many openings.

09 November 2017 - 10:03

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  When you learn languages, you also learn about culture! I think you should definitely visit Iceland if you get the chance!
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:22
  
  Reply
Ama de casa says:

On our cruise this summer, the ship made two stops in wonderful Iceland. One in Akureyri and one in Reykjavik. Despite the rather short time, we had time to see a lot, including Godafoss and the Golden Circle. But I would very much like to return and ride an Icelandic horse in the fantastic environments that exist there 🙂.

09 November 2017 - 10:11

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Haha, love that you say "ride an Icelandic horse"! 😉 Glad you came here with the cruise!
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:24
  
  Reply
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Iceland is an incredibly beautiful country, and perhaps my favourite among the countries I have visited in Europe. I would especially recommend Jökulsárlón, Seljalandsfoss, Svartifoss, Reynisfjara, Dimmuborgir and other natural attractions at Myvatn, Kalfshámarsvik - and the country's largest forest, Hallormsstadsskógur. Also recommend bathing in a natural hot spring. I have not visited Vestmannaeyjar, which I hope to do another time.

09 November 2017 - 10:39

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Wow, so many great tips! I have visited many of these, but not all. Vestmannaeyjar is worth a visit if you come back!
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:25
  
  Reply
Ruth in Virginia says:

Interesting to hear about your "affair" with Iceland. Not bad to learn
see the language. Can't even read the alphabet. Like the colourful roofs. 🙂

The first time I landed in Iceland was in 1960, when I flew from
Los Angeles to Copenhagen with my then 4 and 6 year olds.
There were no jets in those days, so we had to make an intermediate landing.
a couple of times to refuel (the journey took more than 20 hours). We
had to get off the plane. The flight attendants put on trench coats.
and the hump (it was April); understand why, for HU, it was windy.
Thought the girls would blow off the 'gangway'. The airport
was a small building.
The second time was in 1978. On the way from Sweden to the USA we stopped (the husband,
me and two teenagers) in Reykjavik. There was only ONE hotel -
belonged to Lofleidir. Very expensive! We stayed in a hostel instead,
which was located in a school. There were at least 20 people in the room. The beds
were metal tourist beds, left behind by the US military after the war.
WWII. And the food - EXPENSIVE. It was boiled fish and potatoes.

I have stopped there several times since. The new airport is
very attractive, I thought. Some sightseeing around the island was
it never did, unfortunately. Nice photos with you, and Ama had great photos from her sightseeing on the island.

09 November 2017 - 12:50

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  But oh so interesting to hear about your trips to Iceland in the past!!!! A little difference then and now, so to speak...! The Icelandic alphabet is basically the same as the Swedish one. There are two tonal th sounds that correspond to the sounds in the English this and thing. Then each vowel is accented and unaccented, which has nothing to do with emphasis but means different pronunciations/diphthongs.
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:50
  
  Reply
Jenn - forever abroad says:

I am so eager to road trip in Iceland. Thanks for the inspiration!

09 November 2017 - 15:13

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you liked the post! Road trips in Iceland are a thing! 🙂
  
  09 November 2017 - 21:50
  
  Reply
Marina says:

I'm going there! It is high on the list of places to be visited in the near future (probably have to stop working even though I just started, the time is not enough...). And the answer is yes, I am happy to read more about Iceland 🙂.

09 November 2017 - 16:34

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  That thing about not having enough time ... I recognise that! 😉
  
  10 November 2017 - 4:57
  
  Reply
Solan says:

My goodness Helena, what a talent for languages you are! And I'm sure you have a future as an ambassador for Iceland ☺!

09 November 2017 - 17:14

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I was 17 years old at the time and I think it's easier to learn languages at that age. Today, my vocabulary is quite poor because I almost never use the language.
  
  10 November 2017 - 4:58
  
  Reply
Christine - 29°. says:

Now I found out a lot. Have never been to Iceland but it is on the "to-do list". 🙂

09 November 2017 - 17:26

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  A country worth one - or more - visits! 🙂
  
  10 November 2017 - 4:59
  
  Reply
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

We studied brochures about renting a motorhome in Iceland or bringing our own. It was not exactly a budget trip but incredibly attractive. Iceland's nature is really special so who knows?!?
Very well written post.

09 November 2017 - 18:52

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you like the post! I can imagine that it will not be so cheap either to ship over the motorhome or to rent one. But a cool route if you have the opportunity!
  
  10 November 2017 - 5:00
  
  Reply
Annette says:

Iceland is a dream destination! For me, but not for the rest of the family, unfortunately. I have ridden an Icelandic horse for many years, so it would be fun to ride the Icelanders' own horses and see the country from horseback. But most of all I want to see and photograph puffins, which I know are present on at least one island off Iceland. Exciting that you have lived there and know the language 🙂.

09 November 2017 - 19:21

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Too bad the rest of the family doesn't share your desire to see Iceland! Icelandic horse is a great way to see and experience nature. There are plenty of puffins on the Westman Islands where I lived 🙂.
  
  10 November 2017 - 5:02
  
  Reply
BP says:

Now it's my turn to be really impressed! WOW, and I mean your knowledge/training in Icelandic!
I've seen many pictures, watched TV series/documentaries and read detective stories set in Iceland, but I don't want to go there. The reason is the ungrateful climate.
But I don't mind at all looking at more pictures from Iceland. I mean you have lived there and it is more "worth" than "just" travelling. So go for it!

09 November 2017 - 20:21

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The climate is not the best if you like heat, so I can understand that point of view. And yes, I've been involved in a lot of traditions and celebrations and stuff, so that's one of the things I'm thinking about writing about!
  
  10 November 2017 - 5:04
  
  Reply
Ann-Louise says:

Very interesting reading! I had no idea it was possible to take a ferry to Iceland. I've never been there but am very keen to go there relatively soon.

09 November 2017 - 20:40

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, it is possible to go by ferry, although it may not be the most common way 😉 But a ferry is needed for the transport of vehicles and other things. Definitely recommend a visit to Iceland! 🙂
  
  10 November 2017 - 5:26
  
  Reply
Travelsis says:

Oh beautiful Iceland? I think we "did" Iceland many years ago when we were there.... but see that there are more wonderful things to discover?

09 November 2017 - 23:41

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Iceland is a big country 🙂 Even though I have travelled around the Ring Road, I know there are still things to see and experience!
  
  10 November 2017 - 5:27
  
  Reply
Annalena says:

Ég átti kærasta frá eyjunni þegar ég var 15 ára 🙂 Not that I remember anything now, don't even know if google translate did the right thing 😀 But my surname, Ronaldsdotter, I took after the Icelandic tradition. (My dad is named after Reagan who was a "film star" in the 30s). I still haven't made it to Iceland but it's still on my list....

10 November 2017 - 11:02

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  But is it true? What fun! The translation looks mostly good, although in Icelandic it's more common to say that you're "with a girlfriend" instead of "have a girlfriend". And of course you are going to Iceland! 🙂
  
  10 November 2017 - 16:04
  
  Reply
Karin says:

What great tips 🙂
To get to all these places, is it possible with a regular car, or do you need a four-wheel drive car? Going at the end of May 🙂

25 February 2018 - 9:20

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you liked the tips Karin! It is possible to travel all around Iceland on the Ring Road by regular car and all of these places are on the Ring Road (possibly a walking distance from the road). However, to the Westman Islands you need a ferry or a flight 😉 A four-wheel drive car is needed when travelling inland.
  
  27 February 2018 - 6:35
  
  Reply
  - Karin says:
    
    Ok, thanks for the answer?
    Which restaurants to visit?
    
    28 March 2018 - 20:53
    
    Reply

Around Iceland by car - 9 places you must see

Around Iceland by car

1. seyðisfjörður

2nd Mývatn and Hverir

3. goðafoss

4. Þingvellir National Park

5th Reykjavik

6. Blue Lagoon

7. Hveragerði (and Eldhestar)

8. Westman Islands

9. Jökulsárlón

Some questions you may have

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43 Comments

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

4000mil says:

Helena says:

World by Tina says:

Helena says:

Dessi says:

Helena says:

Role o Carina says:

Helena says:

Henny says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Helena says:

Ruth in Virginia says:

Helena says:

Jenn - forever abroad says:

Helena says:

Marina says:

Helena says:

Solan says:

Helena says:

Christine - 29°. says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Annette says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise says:

Helena says:

Travelsis says:

Helena says:

Annalena says:

Helena says:

Karin says:

Helena says:

Karin says:

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