Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [280]
Main bus companies:
Reykjavík Excursions (Map; 580 5400; www.re.is; BSÍ bus terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, Reykjavík) South and southwest Iceland.
SBA-Norðurleið ( 550 0700, 550 0770; www.sba.is) Northeast Iceland.
Stjörnubílar ( 456 5518; www.stjornubilar.is) Westfjords.
TREX (Bílar og Fólk; 551 1166; www.bogf.is) South, west and north Iceland.
Bus Passes
Iceland’s bus operators are coming out with new and improved bus passes every year to make public transport around the island as easy as possible. Nevertheless, it’s still significantly more convenient to hire your own vehicle. Consider teaming up with other travellers to reduce your rental costs.
Visit www.bsi.is and www.bogf.is for a longer list of passports. Some options:
Beautiful South Passport (from €104) Valid from mid-June to August for 11 consecutive days (extra days available). Unlimited travel along the south coast and to Þórsmörk and Lakagígar.
Full-Circle Passport (from €183) Valid from June to August for one circuit of the Ring Road in one direction, stopping wherever you like.
Highland Circle Passport (from €192) Valid from July to August for one circular route to the north of Iceland via the Sprengisandur and Kjölur routes.
Snæfellsnes Passport (from €84) Valid from mid-June to August for one circuit of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, starting and ending in Reykjavík.
West Iceland & Westfjords (from €128) Valid from June to August for one circuit of the Westfjords, to/from Reykjavík via Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Staðarskáli.
Return to beginning of chapter
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Driving in Iceland gives you unparalleled freedom to discover the country and, thanks to good roads and light traffic, it’s all fairly straightforward. The Ring Road (Rte 1) circles the country and is mostly paved. Beyond this major route fingers of pavement or gravel stretch out to most communities. Outside the Ring Road you are likely to pass no more than a handful of cars each day, even in high season.
In coastal areas driving can be spectacularly scenic, and incredibly slow as you weave up and down over unpaved mountain passes and in and out of long fjords. Even so, a 2WD vehicle will get you almost everywhere in summer.
In winter heavy snow can cause many roads to close and mountain roads generally remain closed until the end of June. Some mountain roads start closing as early as September after the warm summer months. For up-to-date information on road and weather conditions, visit www.vegagerdin.is.
Bring Your Own Vehicle
Car hire in Iceland is shockingly expensive, so taking your own vehicle to the country may not be as daft as it sounds. For temporary duty-free importation, drivers must carry the vehicle’s registration documents, proof of valid insurance (a ‘green card’) and a driving licence. Import duty is initially waived for one month, so you must either re-export the vehicle within this period or apply for an extension, which is valid for an additional two months. Permission for duty-free importation is granted at the point of arrival and is contingent upon agreeing to not lend or sell your vehicle. For more information, contact the Directorate of Customs ( 560 0300; www.tollur.is; Tryggvagata 19, IS-150 Reykjavík) or the Internal Revenue Office ( 563 1100; rsk@rsk.is; Laugavegur 166, IS-150 Reykjavík).
Driving Licence
You can drive in Iceland with a driving licence from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European countries. If you have a licence from anywhere else you may need to get an international driving licence, which is normally issued by the local automobile association in your home country.
* * *
DRIVE SAFELY
Road Rules
Drive on the right
Front and rear seat belts are compulsory
Dipped headlights must be on at all times
Blood alcohol limit is 0.05%
Mobile-phone use is prohibited except with a hands-free kit
Children under six must use a car seat
Speed Limits
Built-up areas 50km/h
Unsealed roads 80km/h
Sealed roads 90km/h
* * *
Fuel & Spare Parts
There are regularly spaced petrol