Parking in Iceland

With a population density of less than four people per square kilometer, you might expect it to be pretty easy to find a parking space in Iceland!

However, with more than two million people visiting Iceland every year, the most popular locations can often get quite packed with tourist coaches and rental vehicles.

That means there’s an increasing need for better facilities, such as paved parking lots, marked pedestrian paths, restrooms, and places to grab a bite to eat.

As a result of these ongoing infrastructure improvements, there are now more than forty sightseeing locations around Iceland with parking charges, which help subsidize the upgrades.

So, you should always be prepared to pay for parking, rather than assuming it will be free.

Don’t worry: the Ring Road and other routes around Iceland feature countless roadside picnic areas and laybys, all with spectacular viewpoints.

And these are always free to enjoy for as long as you like!

However, overnight parking or “wild camping” anywhere in the Icelandic countryside is illegal.

You must always park for the night in designated areas, such as campsites and parking lots.

Some of the sightseeing locations use cameras for automatic number plate recognition, so even a short photo stop might warrant a charge.

To avoid unwanted penalties and fines, always make sure you’ve checked the parking regulations wherever you stop.

Penalties for not paying for parking can be several times the cost of the initial charge.

Usually, these are charged directly to your vehicle rental company, which may mean further administration charges to settle, even after you have left the country.

So it makes sense to pay attention to parking charges wherever you’re exploring.

Whenever you visit somewhere with parking charges, you can either pay with cards at payment machines or through easy-to-use mobile apps like Parka and EasyPark.

It’s a good idea to visit the App Store to download these apps before you start exploring Iceland, and add your rental vehicle’s license number when you collect it.

Then you can complete parking payments in seconds wherever required.

In some locations, you’ll be asked to pay online on CheckIt.is.

Payments on this platform are valid for the whole day, and there’s usually a few minutes “grace period” if you drive in and out of a CheckIt location quickly.

Pro tip: Take a photo of your vehicle’s registration number using your phone, so you always have it handy, in case the payment machine is some distance from your parking spot.

There are small transaction charges when using payment apps (86 ISK for Parka, for example), so paying directly when possible can save you a small sum.

Expect to pay around 1000 ISK per session when parking charges apply, although rates and charging periods will vary from location to location.

Whenever Parka is applicable, you can pay for parking for up to 24 hours after you leave.

Remember to pay on time, as late fees (from 1490 ISK to 1960 ISK) will apply after that!

Iceland has a reputation as a virtually cashless society, and you could easily spend weeks traveling here without ever needing any Icelandic notes or coins.

However, there are still a few places where having some cash comes in handy, including some of Iceland’s campsites.

Campsite offices and gatehouses may be unstaffed upon arrival, and you might not see anyone to pay for your camping spot.

Wardens will come around at varying times in the evening, but you might be away at a restaurant or exploring nearby.

This can lead to a moral dilemma, particularly if there's no easy way to contact the owners or if the noticeboard doesn't list an online option.

Some Icelandic campsites have an "honesty box" where you can drop coins or notes to pay.

Additionally, some laundry and shower rooms are still coin-operated.

Even if you’re not camping, mobile app payment systems like EasyPark and Parka rely on power and internet connectivity, which can sometimes be interrupted.

So, it’s better to have coins and cash ready, rather than wish you had some…

If you are touring Iceland in a camper van or RV, keep in mind that you can also use the Parka app to reserve spaces at 39 campsites around the country.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the sightseeing spots around Iceland where parking charges will apply.

● All rates are current as of late 2025, and are based on a standard saloon vehicle. Larger vehicles will be charged at higher rates.

● Unless stated otherwise, parking at all locations is available 24 hours a day.

● Overnight parking is not allowed at any of these locations.

● Keep in mind that new parking payments can be introduced at any time.

● If you forget to pay, you can usually settle up within 24 hours of your visit.

● Late payments incur penalties, ranging from 1490 ISK to 1960 ISK.

Let’s start with the Golden Circle, and then cover the rest of the country in a counter-clockwise circuit:

The standard parking charge at Þingvellir National Park is 1000 ISK, with incremental charges for larger vehicles.

The easiest way to pay is by using the payment machines around the park, or you can go online at Checkit.is.

Your payment is valid for all of the parking locations around the park for the entire day.

P1 - Hakið. This is the primary car park, located at the upper end of Almannagjá, where the National Park´s Visitor Center is situated, including the viewing platform.

You can then drive down into the rift valley to park at these locations.

P2 - Efri-Vellir, which is closer to Öxarárfoss.

Öxarárfoss

P3 - Langistígur, a 900-meter walk away from Öxarárfoss.

P5 - Valhöll, which is close to Þingvellir Church and Silfra fissure.

Þingvellir Church

There are payment machines at the Visitor Center, as well as at P2 and P5.

The hot spring that gave its name to all erupting hot springs worldwide, Geysir will capture your heart as soon as you arrive.

You can park here for a maximum period of 8 hours, with rates starting at 1000 ISK, using the Parka app (location 8201).

Brúarhlöð is a beautiful river canyon on the Hvitá River close to Gullfoss, where the raging glacial waters have carved out fascinating rock formations and pillars.

The 1000 ISK Parka fee (location 8219) is valid until midnight each day. Parking for less than 15 minutes does not require payment. There are no facilities here.

Be careful not to confuse Brúarhlöð with Brúarfoss, which is close by!

One of the Golden Circle’s hidden gems, Brúarfoss (Bridge Waterfall), is also known as “Iceland’s Bluest Waterfall”, with fast-flowing rapids that race through the ravine.

The initial parking fee covers you for 4 hours. If you stay longer than that, an additional 2,000 ISK per hour will be charged, for all types of vehicles.

A little way south of Gullfoss, Faxafoss is a widescreen waterfall that stretches across the Tungufljót River for about 80 meters.

On the left, “salmon ladders” make it a little easier for migrating fish to ascend the seven-metre height of the falls here.

The parking fee starts at 700 ISK, payable in person. The cost can be reclaimed if you purchase something from the restaurant.

An unusually colorful volcanic crater, Kerið is streaked with rust-red earth from iron deposits and blankets of velvet-green mosses.

It costs 600 ISK to park here (paid at the kiosk), but there are no toilet facilities.

The old ski lodge at Hveradalir (Skíðaskálinn Hveradölum) is not used much nowadays, having been replaced by the Kerlingarfjöll mountain resort as a base for exploring the Highlands.

It’s still a scenic location and worth a look if you have some time. If you want to park here, the fee starts at 1000 ISK (Parka location 8216).

Access to the famous “Steam Valley” starts at a trailhead at the edge of Hveragerði.

Parking costs 300 ISK for the first hour, and an additional 1000 ISK for five hours (Parka location 8204).

Requiring a short detour off Route 1, Urriðafoss carries the waters of the Þjórsá, Iceland’s longest river, which runs for 230 kilometers.

Urriðafoss is considered the most voluminous waterfall in Iceland. You can take a swift look for free (10 minutes maximum).

If you want to stay longer, it’s 750 ISK for a two-hour visit, using the Parka app (location 8203).

Fueled by the river Merkjá, Gluggafoss tumbles in two stages from a height of just over fifty meters.

Gluggar is Icelandic for “windows”, and the waterfall gets its name from the holes in the soft palagonite rock carved out by the water flow.

Parking here costs 1000 ISK via the Parka app.

One of the highlights of a South Coast trip, Seljalandsfoss is a spectacular sight, with crystal-clear glacial meltwater tumbling more than sixty meters over an enormous cave.

Use the payment machines to park, or visit the Checkit.is website. Charges start at 1000 ISK.

If you don’t mind walking from a little further away, you’ll find some places to park for free on the gravel paths that surround the area.

Adding to the collection of abandoned aircraft dotted around Iceland, you can visit a US Navy DC-3 that crashlanded in north Iceland in July 1969.

Now located in Eyvindarholt, it costs 1000 ISK (Parka) to see what’s left of the plane. The fee is valid until midnight each day.

There’s a photogenic structure at Sauðhúsvöllur on the South Coast, also known as “The Shed”, where local farmers would keep their milk cans sheltered until the dairy truck came to collect.

If you stop here for a photo, a 1000 ISK parking charge has been introduced.

Easily spotted from the Ring Road, the Rútshellir Caves are the largest man-made caves in Iceland.

The parking fee here is 1000 ISK, payable on the Parka app (location 8210), and it’s valid until midnight.

Probably one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, Skógafoss is a sensational sight at any time of year, and it’s one of the most popular places for travelers in Iceland.

New parking facilities have been added, with charges starting at 1000 ISK, payable via the Parka app (location 8205). The fee allows you to park for 8 hours.

Visiting Kvernufoss offers you a fantastic opportunity to experience a towering waterfall from behind the cascade, with far fewer visitors than you’ll find at Seljalandsfoss.

Parking outside the Skógasafn museum costs 750 ISK on the Parka app.

The fee is valid until midnight each day and allows access to the restrooms in the museum during opening hours.

One of Iceland’s most accessible glaciers, Sólheimajökull (the glacier where the sun lives), is part of the mighty Mýrdalsjökull ice cap and the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark.

Parking here costs 750 ISK and is valid until midnight, payable on the Parka app.

On the black sandy beach of Sólheimasandur sits the decaying wreckage of a US Navy plane, which crashlanded here in November 1973.

A second American forces aircraft has recently been added to the sands of Sólheimasandur nearby, reached with a hike from the parking area close to the Ring Road.

Parking here costs 750 ISK on the Parka app. The fee is valid until midnight each day.

Dyrhólaey is the most southerly point on the mainland, and the name translates to “Door Hill Island”. It’s a popular puffin-spotting location, with phenomenal panoramas.

There are two parking areas. Haey is reached on a steep and twisting uphill road to the lighthouse, while the lower parking area is called Langey.

Parking here costs 750 ISK on the Parka app (location 8202).

The famous “black sand beach” and beautiful basalt columns at Reynisfjara have made it the most popular beach in the country.

There are two parking areas at Reynisfjara. The “lower” parking lot, closer to the beach alongside the Black Beach Restaurant, is charged at 1000 ISK for three hours.

The “upper lot” is about a short walk from the beach, and charged at 750 ISK, again for a 3-hour maximum stay.

A short drive from Vík, you’ll see a turn to the Viking Park and the “Yoda Cave”, which has become a popular photo stop because its outline resembles the famous “Star Wars” character.

 Parking here costs 1000 ISK, payable on the EasyPark or via a QR code.

Fjaðrárgljúfur (Feather River Canyon) is a magnificent winding river canyon carpeted in blankets of fragile velvet-green moss.

It’s well-signposted and easily reached in a 2WD on the first easy stretches of Route 206 after a turn inland from the Ring Road.

Use Parka to pay the 1000 ISK for either of the two lots, and the fee is valid until midnight.

Part of the Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell is lined with picturesque hiking trails and stunning waterfalls, including Svartifoss.

Parking at Skaftafell costs 1040 ISK (Parka) and there is a reciprocal 50% discount if you park at Jökulsárlón or anywhere else in the Vatnajökull National Park on the same day.

The fee is valid until midnight each day and you can drive in and out of the area as you wish.

Two hundred meters high and with two impressive waterfalls, Múlagljúfur is a “hidden gem” that’s well worth the bumpy two-mile track and 40-minute hike to visit.

It’s 1000 ISK to park here (Parka location 7203), after a ten-minute grace period. The fee is valid until midnight each day.

Fjallsárlón is the “glacier lagoon” for Fjallsjökull, an outlet glacier originating from Vatnajökull, Iceland’s mightiest ice cap.

It’s 1000 ISK on the Parka app (location 7204). There’s a 10-minute grace period, but that won’t allow enough time to reach the viewpoint. The fee is valid until midnight each day.

The gorgeous glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón and the incredible iceberg fragments that decorate Diamond Beach draw hundreds of visitors every single day of the year.

The car park at Jökulsárlón and the two parking zones for Diamond Beach (Eystri & Vestari-Fellsfjara) are a single payment zone, and you can come and go between all three as you wish.

If you have parked anywhere else in the Vatnajökull National Park on the same date, there is a 50% discount.

The Viking Café at Stokksnes is the access point for viewpoints of the magnificently moody mountain of Vestrahorn.

Paying 1000 ISK at the café enables you to visit a reconstructed “Viking village” (made for filming TV shows and movies), walk around Kirkjusandur and enjoy awe-inspiring views of one of Iceland’s most beautiful mountains.

There are more than 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland, and you’ll see many of these from the Ring Road for free.

Some require a short hike to find them, and Sveinsstekksfoss (also known as Nykurhylsfoss) is on the way to the Fossárdalur campsite.

Parking nearby is payable on the Parka app (1000 ISK, location 7266).

Close to the Eastfjords hub town of Egilsstaðir and alongside the lovely Lagarfljót stands one of Iceland’s most colorful waterfalls, Hengifoss (Hanging Falls).

One of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland, Hengifoss tumbles 128 meters over multilayered cliffs, with the red clay strata patterns caused by sediments from ancient trees consumed by lava.

It’s 1000 ISK to park here, using Checkit.is.

If there’s one perfect place to go puffin-spotting in Iceland, it’s Hafnarhólmi, in Borgarfjörður Eystri.

A short drive from Bakkagerði, this little harbor is the easiest spot to see puffins up close.

There are excellent facilities here, supported by the parking fee you’re asked to pay via www.puffins.is.

Stuðlagil (Basalt Column Gorge) is one of Iceland’s most impressive sightseeing locations, a marvelous collection of beautiful multi-sided basalt columns lining a colorful river.

There are several viewing locations on both sides of the river, with a parking charge of 1000 ISK at Klaustursel (Parka location 7215). The fee is valid until midnight each day.

This fizzing geothermal area close to Mývatn is filled with steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pools, set in a striking landscape of burnt orange earth and superheated streams.

You’ll need to pay for parking (1200 ISK) using EasyPark.

Attracting your eye from any viewpoint around Mývatn, Hverfjall is a stunning tephra cone stretching around a kilometer in circumference, rising more than 400 meters high.

It’s 1000 ISK to park here, using the Parka app (location 6212). The fee is valid until midnight each day.

A “hidden gem” close to Varmahlíð in north Iceland, the Reykjafoss waterfall and Fosslaug geothermal pool are both close to Hestasport Stables in the heart of Icelandic horse country. It’s 1500 ISK to park here.

From May 1st until September 30th, parking charges apply between 0800 to 2000 in Iceland’s whale watching capital around the harbor and town center.

The charge is 220 ISK for the first hour and 500 ISK for each additional hour.

You won’t need to work out how much to pay, though. The final charge is based on your duration of stay in town, as monitored by cameras with license plate recognition, and charged to your Parka app.

If you’re travelling around North Iceland, you’ll be passing through Akureyri on Route 1.

A little way east of Iceland’s second city lies a 7.4-kilometer-long road tunnel called Vaðlaheiðargöng, which is Iceland’s only toll road.

Taking the tunnel saves some time and distance when you’re traveling between Akureyri, Húsavík, and Mývatn, compared to the old mountain road over Víkurskarð.

If you do take this route, you’ll have 24 hours on either side of passing through the tunnel to pay the toll. Visit https://www.veggjald.is/en for more details.

There are two parking zones in the center of Akureyri (P1 and P2), conveniently located close to most of the city’s hotels and restaurants, and the harbor area.

Credit: VisitAkureyri

Parking charges apply between 1000 and 1600 on weekdays. If you park in Zone P1, the rate is 218 ISK per hour, while P2 is half that, at 109 ISK per hour.

There are also some marked areas where the maximum parking time is two hours.

You can use EasyPark and Parka to pay for parking in Akureyri. There are also three payment machines at Skipagata, Túngata, and Gilsbakkavegur.

If you’re driving a vehicle that runs on environmentally friendly energy sources (electric, hydrogen, or methane), there are allocated “green” parking spaces adjacent to the charging points.

These parking spaces must be paid for when specified. Remember to move your vehicle as soon as the recharging period is completed.

One of the best places in Iceland for seal spotting, Illugastaðir lies on the western side of the Vatnsnes peninsula in north Icelalnd, close to Hvammstangi.

It’s 1000 ISK to park here, using the Parka app. If you stay at the campsite, parking is included in the price.

One of the Westfjords greatest sights, Dynjandi (The Thunderer) is a wedding cake-shaped waterfall that cascades more than a hundred meters over several steps.

Parking here starts at 750 ISK on the Parka app (location 5201) or on the Glaze app. There are no facilities here.

The Snæfellsnes town where the ferry to the Westfjords docks, has recently introduced paid parking zones around the harbor.

Zone P1 (short-term) is 500 ISK per hour for the first two hours, and 200 ISK per hour for each additional hour, payable on the Parka app or with a QR code.

Zone P2 (long-term) is 1500 ISK per day for the first seven days, and 1000 ISK per day thereafter. Short visits or drives through these zones are not chargeable.

These charges will apply between May 1st and September 30th each year.

Just outside Stykkishólmur lies a small mountain called Helgafell (Sacred Hill), where a temple dedicated to Thor, the Norse god of thunder, used to stand.

Parking is available on private land, currently charged at 650 ISK, payable onsite.

Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) is one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, a picturesque peak that draws thousands of visitors to the northern coast of Snæfellsnes.

Parking at Kirjufell costs 1200 ISK, payable on the EasyPark app, a QR code, or at the payment machine in the car park.

There’s a year-round seal colony at Ytri-Tunga on the south coast of Snæfellsnes, where you can look for these charming creatures on a golden sand beach.

Parking here starts at 900 ISK, payable at this kiosk or on the Checkit.is website.

Arnarstapi is a popular service area on the southern side of Snæfellsnes, drawing visitors to see Gatklettur and the basalt cliffs here, and with a selection of restaurants and accommodation options.

There is a 1000 ISK charge to park at Hótel Arnarstapi, payable on the Parka app (location 3401). The fee is valid until midnight each day.

Lóndrangar is one of the most spectacular sights on Snæfellsnes, two towers of volcanic rock and basalt columns that draw the eye from various perspectives.

You can see it from a distance on the eastern side at free viewpoints, or get as close as you want with a short hike from the Visitor Center at Malarrif on the western side.

Parking there costs 750 ISK on the Parka app (location 3200)

A beautiful West Iceland waterfall close to Route 1 that draws many visitors, Glanni is named after the brightness of the waters that cascade here.

It’s 1000 ISK to park here, using the Parka app (location 3004). The fee is valid until midnight each day.

Seltún is an active geothermal area on the southern side of Reykjanes, with several hot springs bubbling and spitting magma-heated water and mud into the air.

Also known as Krýsuvík, it’s 750 ISK to park here, payable on Checkit.is

Iceland's oldest lighthouse, Reykjanesviti is also a marker for the famous “Volcano Man” keyboards and the Great Auk sculpture.

You can pay for parking here (1000 ISK) with the Parka app.

If you want to explore the recent volcanic eruption sites on Reykjanes, there are hiking trails from four parking lots around Fagradalsfjall.

Keep in mind that access is subject to change at short notice, and follow updates from SafeTravel.is before considering a hike from here.

Parking costs 1000 ISK, valid until midnight and payable on the Parka app.

When you return your rental vehicle, make sure you understand the rules for parking at Keflavík International Airport, in case you pass through this area.

There’s a 15-minute or 30-minute grace periods for dropping off or picking up passengers, depending on which of the two zones you choose to park.

Longer stays in the airport car park will be chargeable.

As visitor numbers to Iceland continue to grow, the ongoing upgrades and improvements for facilities at popular locations around the country will continue.

Keep in mind that other locations around Iceland may apply parking charges at any time, so it’s sensible to check every time you arrive somewhere for current rules.

Whenever you stop for a break in Iceland’s villages and towns, check the signage to see if any parking charges are applicable.

And remember to de-link your rental vehicle from these apps at the end of your time in Iceland, just to avoid any possible crossover with future users.

One more thing: Be cautious of any stickers with QR codes, which may lead you to fraudulent platforms.

Only use Parka, EasyPark, Checkit.is and other official platforms to pay for parking in Iceland!