Self-drive tours of Iceland

Self-drive tours give you the flexibility to go where you like, when you like. This means there’s a whole world of possibilities and no one tour that’s the best.

The right trip for you will depend on how many days you have to spend in Iceland and what you want to see. You might be thinking about driving the whole Ring Road, or just zooming in on a specific region. The choice is yours.

Here’s an idea of what you could get up to on an Iceland driving tour:

• Watch icebergs pass you by at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
• Chase the Northern Lights in the darkness of winter
• Explore the Snæfellsnes peninsula or “Iceland in Miniature”
• Go on an ice caving excursion under a glacier
• Spend an afternoon unwinding in the Blue Lagoon
• Check out the unusual landscapes of North Iceland
• Sample local cuisine at towns and villages around the country
• Follow the winding coastline of the Westfjords region
• Hop aboard a boat to join a whale watching tour
• Spot magnificent waterfalls on Iceland’s south coast

Start by browsing the self-drive packages above. Play around with the filters to narrow down your search until you find the one for you.

You can definitely safely enjoy a road trip in Iceland in wintertime. Although the weather might sometimes present a few challenges, most of the time major roads are clear and accessible.

Snowplows regularly clear the roads in winter, especially in towns and near popular attractions. That said, heavy snowstorms may sometimes mean you have to take a slightly different route than planned.

One of the benefits of booking with Iceland Tours is that we can quickly update your itinerary should the weather get in the way. All you need to do is call our in-country 24/7 helpline, and we’ll take care of the rest. This means it’ll take more than snow and wind to slow you down!

If you’re not confident about driving in wintry conditions, fear not. We’ve got multi-day tours from Reykjavík, group tours, and privately guided tours. On all of these trip types, you’ll let someone else do the driving.

If you want to drive the Ring Road, you can technically do it in as little as 2 days. But you probably wouldn’t get much sleep or have much time to enjoy the scenery!

We recommend at least 7 days for a Ring Road trip. This will give you long enough to see all the main attractions. If you want to spend more time in each location though, 10–14 days road-tripping in Iceland would be best.

On a longer trip, you can add in regions off the Ring Road like the Westfjords or Snæfellsnes peninsula. We offer itineraries up to 19 days long if you want to see the whole country.

With any length trip, you have the option to add extra days when booking online.

Summer is the most popular time of year for a self-drive trip in Iceland. The months of June, July, and August offer the best weather and plenty of sunlight, meaning you can pack more into each day.

Winter self-drive trips are also an option, and great for hunting down the Northern Lights. If that’s your thing, then a trip in October, November, or December would be ideal.

The coldest months in Iceland are January and February. In the depths of winter, we’d recommend a shorter self-drive itinerary in a specific region.

Springtime offers better weather and it’s generally a quieter time of year. If you want to beat the crowds, a trip in March, April, or May is perfect. Check out this article about Iceland in spring to find out more.

All of our self-drive tour packages include the following as standard:

• Rental car of your choice, with unlimited mileage
• Basic liability insurance coverage
• Collision damage waiver
• Authorization for second driver
• Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
• Accommodation level of your choice
• Breakfast every day
• Detailed itinerary crafted by local travel experts
• 24/7 helpline in Iceland, just in case you need it

When you book your vacation on our website, you’ll be able to choose your preferred rental car and accommodation level.

You can see what vehicles are available on this car rental page.

The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.

Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.

Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.

In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.

For all the info on how to handle these, see this guide to driving in Iceland.

Most people won’t need a permit to drive in Iceland. You just need to have held your driver’s license for at least 1 year at the time of rental. Also, you need to be at least 20 years old, or 23 years old to hire a jeep or van.

If your license is in a non-Latin script, such as Chinese or Arabic, you will need to apply for an international driving permit in your home country.

On a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:

• Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
• Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
• Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.

Feel like getting closer to nature? Check out these self-drive camping tours.

Flights aren’t included with our vacation packages. We believe this gives you the most flexibility and access to the lowest prices. Once you have an idea of when you want to travel, you can look for flights online.

You can fly directly to Iceland from major cities in Europe and North America. If you’re traveling from somewhere else, you might need to get a connecting flight.

There are multiple daily flights from hubs like London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol, so you should be able to find a connection that makes sense for you.

First, take a look at the Iceland self-drive packages on this page. Try using the filters to narrow down your search by season, budget, and attractions.

Tip: You can use the heart icon on any package to favorite it. That way, you can compare similar packages or just save the ones you like for later.

Once you’ve found the self-drive trip for you, follow the steps on the package page to complete your booking. On our website you can:

• Select your dates and add extra days in Reykjavík
• Pick your preferred rental car and accommodation level
• Add extra activities and day trips
• Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

If you need a bit of help along the way, use the live chat in the bottom-right corner of any page.

Yes, you can choose any start date you like for a self-drive tour! As you set the pace on a road trip, you don’t have to work to a fixed departure schedule.

Definitely! When you book a self-drive tour on our website, you can pick your rental car and accommodation level of choice.

What’s more, you have the option to add extra days in Reykjavík at the start or end of your trip. You can fill these days with activities and excursions by bus, or simply spend the time enjoying the city.

If you want to customize your trip even more, get in touch and we’d be happy to help. Just so you know, there’s an additional fee for this service. See our terms and conditions for all the details.

It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.

In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.

In Iceland, you can expect all weathers no matter what time of year you visit. With that in mind, it’s good to make sure you’ve got everything you need to stay cozy, warm, and dry.

Here’s a packing list to help you get ready for your trip:

• Tough, waterproof walking boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Sweaters or fleeces
• Waterproof raincoat
• Warm winter jacket
• Scarf, hat, and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear (for pools and hot springs)
• Lip salve and moisturizer

For more tips on what to bring for a winter trip, see this Iceland winter packing guide.