In relation to planning a visit to Iceland, many of the questions, recommendation, and steered itineraries focus on Iceland’s Ring Street. This highway – additionally referred to as Þjóðvegur 1 or just Route 1 – circles the whole nation of Iceland in 821.5 miles (about 1322 kilometers).
Driving the Ring Road (typically in a campervan) has grow to be the accepted, quintessential strategy to see Iceland. It is what most individuals assume you “have” to do within the Land of Fireplace and Ice.
However do you actually HAVE to drive the Ring Street in Iceland to completely expertise or recognize the nation? No, completely not!
In actual fact, it wasn’t till my FOURTH journey to Iceland that I did a Ring Street journey of my very own. On my first 3 journeys to Iceland, I largely primarily based myself in Reykjavik, taking day journeys and brief (guided) in a single day journeys to locations just like the Golden Circle, inland glaciers, South Coast, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and Blue Lagoon.
And whereas I did certainly LOVE my Iceland road trip, I liked these different journeys, too. I firmly consider you possibly can see a few of the greatest issues in Iceland with out ever needing to get behind the wheel of a automotive your self.
Causes to NOT Drive the Ring Street
Listed here are a couple of the explanation why driving the Ring Street would possibly NOT be a great match for you in Iceland!
1. You do not have a driver’s license
The obvious motive to not drive the Ring Street is that if you do not have a driver’s license in your house nation!
Iceland doesn’t require a global driver’s license to hire a automotive or drive there, however you do have to have a sound driver’s license from your private home nation will full driving privileges (that means permits will not work).
You additionally have to be at the least 21 to hire a automotive in Iceland, which is vital to know!
2. You do not consider in rental automotive insurance coverage
Pay attention, I get it. I (knock on wooden) have by no means been in a critical automotive accident at residence, and customarily take into account myself to be a protected driver. I’ve undoubtedly skipped costly rental automotive insurance coverage up to now (particularly after I obtained a journey bank card that provides me rental automotive safety overseas).
However in Iceland, fundamental minimal automotive insurance coverage is required to hire a automotive. You possibly can’t NOT pay for it (and no, it is not low-cost).
Iceland can also be in contrast to anyplace else you have pushed. The weather will not be merely *climate* in Iceland. The wind can gust so fiercely that it may possibly actually rip off a automotive door or blow out a windshield. You even have to fret about harm from whipping sand, tires popping on tough roads, sheep site visitors jams, and extra. Lots of these items will not be lined underneath fundamental minimal automotive insurance coverage in Iceland (tires and windshields notoriously value additional), and a few rental firms will both require or very firmly counsel extra protection.
If you happen to’re not prepared to pay for the additional protection, it may additionally be greatest in case you do not drive in Iceland.
3. You are not snug driving in distant areas
Within the west and south of Iceland, you are prone to see loads of different vacationers on the highway and at pure websites and sights. However whenever you head up north and into East Iceland, chances are you’ll drive for miles with out seeing a constructing or one other automotive.
Iceland is not an enormous nation, however it is sparsely populated exterior of Reykjavik. Iceland is an extremely SAFE nation, so you do not have to fret about issues like violent crime in secluded areas. However issues like flat tires, unhealthy climate, and errant sheep can crop up at any time.
If being by yourself in distant areas makes you anxious, then you definitely would possibly wish to suppose twice about driving the whole Ring Street.
RELATED: 15 Things You Need to Know Before an Iceland Road Trip
4. You solely wish to see the well-known spots
If you happen to’re primarily going to Iceland to see issues like geysers, glaciers, the Blue Lagoon, waterfalls you have seen on Instagram, and possibly the Northern Lights, you needn’t enterprise across the complete Ring Street in any respect.
Nearly all of “well-known” sights in Iceland are concentrated within the west of Iceland (round Reykjavik), and along the South Coast. You do not have to drive across the complete nation to see them. In actual fact, you do not even must drive in any respect in case you do not wish to!
From Reykjavik, you possibly can simply e book day journeys to see the Golden Circle, benefit from the Blue Lagoon, or chase Northern Lights. And you may e book lengthy day journeys or fast in a single day journeys that can take you to all the key sights across the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and South Coast.
Or you possibly can plan a self-drive journey that focuses simply on the west and south of Iceland.
5. You are visiting Iceland in winter
I will be actually trustworthy with you right here: driving in Iceland in winter could be scary. Even in case you come from a spot the place snow and ice are the norm in winter, you’ll probably be greatly surprised by simply how intense winter climate in Iceland could be.
Not solely are you able to anticipate rain and snow and icy roads, however the WIND in Iceland is what could be essentially the most terrifying. Wind that can throw that rain and snow sideways throughout roads, and wind that’s sturdy sufficient to blast by means of home windows and rip automotive doorways clear off. (That is why you are at all times urged to take out additional insurance coverage to your rental automotive!)
And whereas the Ring Street is paved all the way in which round Iceland, it is not at all times cleared of snow and ice throughout large storms. Additionally, it is quite common for components of the Ring Street to shut fully throughout very excessive winds, when it is too harmful to drive.
If driving in these unpredictable situations would make you anxious (it positive would make ME anxious, and I am from Ohio!), then you definitely’re a lot better off basing your self in Reykjavik and taking excursions from there through the winter months. Let somebody with extra Iceland expertise do the winter driving!
6. You are not permitting any flexibility in your plans
Alongside this identical vein, in case you’re planning a visit to Iceland (any time of yr, actually) and have packed your itinerary so full that you simply’re not permitting for any flexibility in your plans, you won’t wish to attempt to drive the whole Ring Street.
It is unattainable to foretell unhealthy climate, highway closures, or different pure phenomena that may pressure you to change your plans on the final minute. (For instance, a volcano began erupting every week earlier than my very own journey to Iceland, however we have been capable of shift our plans to ensure we might safely go see it.)
7. Your Iceland journey is lower than every week
You want AT LEAST every week to drive the whole Ring Street with stops. Any journey shorter than that can have you ever driving lengthy distances and never having the ability to cease to see/do a lot alongside the way in which. (However I personally advocate at the least 10 days for the Ring Road.)
In case your journey to Iceland is lower than every week, then I might advocate sticking to only one half of Iceland as an alternative. (Once more, there’s nothing flawed with this, as many of the well-known sights are within the west and south anyway.)
You possibly can nonetheless see rather a lot with 5 days in Iceland – nevertheless it’s not lengthy sufficient to drive the whole Ring Street.
RELATED: An Epic 10-Day Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
8. You are touring with a giant household
If you happen to’re touring with greater than 4 folks, it will be powerful to make a Ring Street highway journey work comfortably. You *can* hire a bigger car, however it will be dear. And discovering motels or guesthouses in Iceland with rooms that may accommodate greater than 2 folks will also be difficult, particularly in excessive season.
So you will be a excessive rental automotive value, AND presumably having to e book two separate lodge rooms in all places you keep. Most often, you would be higher off renting a bigger residence in Reykjavik, and reserving small group excursions (and even non-public excursions) from there.
(And in case you’re a household with 2 dad and mom and a pair of youngsters, watch out in relation to campervans! These could appear to be a wonderful method to avoid wasting cash in Iceland, however I can inform you from expertise that these vans are sometimes smaller in actuality than they seem on-line. I am unable to think about really sleeping 4 folks in most of them.)
9. You are anticipating luxurious lodging
Iceland is a Nordic nation, and which means clear and environment friendly structure, and a excessive customary (and value) of dwelling. But when you are going to Iceland anticipating 5 star motels all through the entire nation, you’re going to be sorely upset.
There are some luxurious motels within the Reykjavik space (and on the Blue Lagoon), and some luxurious leases alongside the South Coast. However all through many of the nation, the most typical type of lodging is definitely the independently-owned guesthouse. Guesthouses in Iceland are clear and comfortable, however they’re principally funds lodging the place all visitors share bogs and customary areas.
I’ve stayed at some pretty guesthouses throughout Iceland – however they undoubtedly aren’t fancy!
In a few of the extra distant components of Iceland (within the north and east particularly), there aren’t even a ton of guesthouses to select from. And in case you’re touring throughout excessive season (which is summer season), these fundamental lodging choices will probably be dear and e book up far prematurely.
10. You are not enthusiastic about driving
If driving the Ring Street would not sound thrilling or interesting to you… then do not do it! Do not let the peer strain of social media persuade you to take journey that is not actually your type.
You do not HAVE to drive the Ring Street with the intention to take pleasure in a visit to Iceland. Specializing in a smaller space in Iceland will nonetheless make for a improbable journey with none of the stress that comes together with driving all the way in which across the nation.
What do you suppose? Is driving the Ring Street in your bucket record? Or probably not for you?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!
