As a non-Icelander thank you! I ALMOST hit a car parked right on the highway near Jokusarlon while the group(Asians) were out taking photo's. I also watched as a rental car drove off the highway and started spinning donuts across a beach. Its really unbelievable.
If you are planning on visiting Iceland please read this I am an Icelander and I am in general very accepting of tourists, but there are two things that constantly infuriate me. At the top without a doubt is when tourists stop on the side of the road. It is so ridiculously dangerous and I have almost had a car accident because of it on several occasions. Second is when tourists drive on roads or conditions they have no business being on. Roads, that are either marked as impassable (usually during the winter) or roads that their rental car is incapable of driving on, (usually applies in the summer). Driving on mountain roads, especially in the winter is something that should not be entered into lightly. It requires considerable general and driving knowhow, preparedness and equipment (which definitely includes a four by four on huge tyres that is capable of dealing with deep snow and has all the other equipment required in it. I haven't heard of a rental car like that yet). Tourists usually fulfill none of those requirements. Weather in Iceland during the winter can change on a moments notice and even if the forecast says all clear, tourists traveling on mountain roads often find themselves snowed in and trapped in stormy weather. It is a bit of a nightmare for the local search and rescue team. Please don't think I'm saying that all tourists are hopeless unprepared mountaineers that are incapable of driving in tricky conditions. But it doesn't really matter how good of a mountaineer you are if you're not familiar with the conditions in Iceland. I sometimes think car rentals should do a better job of explaining how dangerous it can get in the winter and how likely you are to damage your rental car or worse if you venture through tricky mountain roads in the summer
Thank you for your warning. I know it's been a year since you comment on this, but let me ask you something. Is it possible to do the south coast drive from Reykjavic to Jokulsarlon/Diamong Beach with a 2WD (e.g. Ford Focus) in winter?
As an Icelander, I'd like to add two that need to be known: 1) if a road is closed, it's closed for ALL vehicles! Doesn't matter is you have a 4x drive, no one can use the road except for Ice-sar and police. Some people just can't swallow this thinking they´re better then everyone else with a 4x drive. You're not a special little snowflake *facepalm* 2) the inner circle in a roundabout has the right. If you're in the outer circle and someone in the inner circle wants to exit you need to stop and let them pass. I know it's the other way round in other countries. It's a common driving accident for tourists to crash into locals cars in the roundabout.
I would like to add that if you are not used to driving in bad weather or on icy roads don’t drive too fast. You might not see the ice either so if its cold make sure to look out for that and be careful. And if the road is icy DON’T PRESS THE BREAKS. Also watch out for reindeer’s in the winter especially at night because all you can see is the road when it’s dark and 30 reindeer’s could just come out of nowhere all of a sudden. So just drive slower than it says when it’s winter and it’s dark.
A tip regarding the sheep along the Icelandic roads: If you see a ewe on one side of the road and one or more lambs on the other side, SLOW DOWN TO A WALKING PACE! The moment the lambs notice the approaching car, they WILL bolt towards the ewe, straight across the road.
Excellent point. On my first trip I had a similar issue but with adult sheep. Couple on one side of the road and a couple on the other end. I slowed down as I could already imagine one or two of them wanting to flock together and indeed, last moment, 2 of them crossed
With the sheep. PAY ATTENTION TO BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. If you see a lamb on one side, BE AWARE that the older sheep WILL cross the road before the younger one will and they don't care if a 1 ton metal slab is coming at it at to die for speeds... ALSO if there are sheep on both sides of the road THEY WILL cross over to the largest group, BUT if the ram is on the side with the lesser flock the other group WILL cross over to him. SHEEP DON'T CARE, WE DO. :D If you DO hit a sheep and kill it or injure it in a bad way, call 112 and let them know so that it can be reported to the farmer that owns it and leaving it on the side of the road is a health code violation.
if you Drink, buy Alcohol in the airport duty free shop. if you don't you will regret that , can of beer cost like 3-5 bucks. so Duty free, remember that :)
Another of Jeannie's advisory videos that is spot on! We just returned from a perfect July week in Iceland! Hoping to not hear anything from those traffic cameras!! And yes, gasoline is like 2.28Kr per liter which is about $8USD per gallon. However cost per passenger mile and the freedom to stop at every special place for as long as you want is worth it (compared to travelers being herded on and off a tour bus). Shop hard for rental car rates as there are over a dozen different agencies available there.
In regards to no driving off road/parking on the side of the road - I have heard lots of people repeat this that you should not stop at the side of the road, and that you should find somewhere to pull off and stop, but is it clear where you can pull of to stop, or does that count then as driving off road? I hope that makes sense. I've heard of people pulling off in places that look like parking off the road, but then slapped with a huge fine as it counted as being off road.
Jeanie, your videos inspired me to rent a car on my trip in Iceland when I was there in October for a one day stopover (in lieu of doing the safe and easy tour). I'm so glad I did this, BUT it was not without its challenges. Being jet-lagged and learning the roads on my first ever attempt driving in a foreign country was, well, interesting. I did a day trip of the Reykjanes Peninsula before heading to Reykjavik to spend the night before catching a flight the next morning. Here are some of my observations from my one day drive around the Reykjanes Peninsula and driving around in Reykjavik. 1) Despite your warnings, people DO stop in the middle of the road and don't seem to care if they're blocking traffic. I encountered this a couple of times. It's shocking just how the mesmerizing scenery will make drivers do insane things! 2) Drivers are aggressive the closer you get to Reykjavik despite what I've heard and you've said about Iceland drivers being courteous. I was going the speed limit, and people were speeding past me, cutting me off, and generally road raging and bullying me because I was "in the way." Something I'm not used to. But I'm also a more aggressive drive back home. Maybe they knew I was a tourist in my Toyota Yaris rental car and this was my initiation? 3) Driving in Reykjavik was a nightmare. Google maps is not reliable in Iceland. That led to some frantic moments navigating busy Reykjavik traffic, driving narrow streets for almost an hour because Google maps is glitching out, and even ending up on a street that was dead-ended for construction by a giant pile of asphalt with no warning signage for street closure. There's construction everywhere in Reykjavik, and Google maps is struggling to keep up. 4) Since we're on the subject of Google Maps, I almost missed my shuttle to the airport from the car rental drop-off early the next morning because Google Maps kept routing me on roads near the airport that don't even exist. Luckily I was able to stop and look at a paper map and make it just in time. The moral of the story is have a PAPER MAP for wherever you're going and don't suffer like I did. 5) I would do it all again and can't wait to return for a longer road trip! If you're a good common sense driver, driving in Iceland is manageable. Just take it easy, don't do anything foolish, know how to drive a manual transmission, and prepare to navigate dozens of roundabouts as you are driving into Reykjavik!
Oh dear. Best stay safe at home Jason. Iceland is the easiest place to drive outside of weather conditions that you never mentioned. Maybe if you come back bring your teddy bear to look after you.
I just got home from a trip to Iceland where I rented a car - my first time driving on the "wrong" side of the road (I'm from the UK). The speed limit might be 90kph, but having driven from Keflavik all the way as far as the Diamond Beach, I notice that the majority of traffic didn't seem to pay any attention to that limit!
Hi! I've found your videos very useful and ispiring, thank you for all the useful info and tips! We are gonna get your eBook for sure as we are planning to do the entire circuit. We are arriving to Iceland on the 30th of March and leaving on the 14th of April and we decided to rent a 4X4 and went with a Land Rover Discovery - while they adviced is good enough, there was an option for a Jeep Wrangler - is the Discovery good enough to drive around Iceland during April?
Thank you for the information. We are celebrating my birthday in 3 weeks time in Iceland and we are looking a lot of information that we could get. Thank you so much.
I'm here right now and I really like driving here. However a lot of locals speed. They also cut right back in front of your car after passing on the highway spitting stones at your windshield. When I pass I be sure to give myself enough time and room so I don't have to cut right back in front of the vehicle I just passed. I also noticed that a train of cars build up on the highway. Everyone speeds up just to ride the ass of the car at the front and then tucks behind them and won't pass, building up a long line of vehicles. Also the touring company vans routinely cross over the centre line of the highway on curves. So though I agree that tourists can be the worst drivers, some of the locals are awful too.
I got to Iceland yesterday and it has been two yesterday and the number of traffic circles have more than doubled. Took 41 from KEF to Reykjavik and well you could get dizzy.
And don't turn on the hazard lights because you have stopped at the side of the road to read a map, just use the turn signal! This has ruined "good old Iceland" when people would stop to check if you had the hazard lights on.
Hi, thank for the video, i have a question btw, what is the tolerance speed in Iceland? you mentioned 90KM is limit speed. does it mean 91KM the Speed Camera will catch me?
I will probably not be driving if I go to Iceland. those narrow roads would be nerve wracking and I can bearly even walk properly on ice without falling, let alone drive on it lol
Can you post a video on how to purchase gas? I've heard that people have a lot of difficulty with this. Do people from Canada get pre-paid cards? Heard that Visa doesn't work there.
I could really use a video on camping in Iceland. Where to do it, and the laws. A buddy and I are going next may and we'll only be camping 1 night in each stop. Your videos have been great!
Camp grounds are marked on the highway though the signs are small and can be easily missed. Keep an eye out for the signs or else there are maps that mark the campsites
Good video, but you forgot the most important rule of driving in Iceland. Do NOT drink & drive. They will come down on you hard if you get caught ( as they should). I saw a lady get a $1,000 fine for dui, & that was in 1983.
can you go over the road signs, i noticed the one way or do not enter are completely different and i accidentally went down a one way road, got the strangest look from a senior gentleman and also the amber or yellow coming on before the light changes to green, so odd but really helpful
Great idea Ruth, I will write this down for a video idea - thank you! But in the meantime, I do have a free Iceland road signs guidebook that you can download ;) bit.ly/IcelandRoadSigns
Not exactly. We have search and rescue units all over the country in case someone gets into trouble and of course the usual tug service is there for smaller problems. If you're a tourist it's best to not to stray too far from the ring road but if you do then maybe notify your hotel staff or someone where you're going and when you plan on returning. That way if you get lost and can't call for help we'll send someone after you :)
I am planning a trip to Iceland and your channel has been ever so helpful to watch. I would rather take local transportation than renting a car and driving, so how is the bus transportation between towns?
There are a few main companies that operate bus tours around Iceland. These three companies (Reykjavik Excursions, Sterna, and Stræto) actively operate routes throughout the Ring Road, the Westfjords, and even venture into the Highlands during the summer months. Public transit is not widely accessible in Iceland.
hello jeannie, Bob here from the Netherlands. At the end of May we have planned a 14 day tour in Iceland with a rental car. for the preparation I have seen almost all your RUclips videos and learned useful tips from them. I have 2 questions maybe you can answer them. - is the use of a dashcam allowed? - which water is best to drink, from the tap, from the bottle of the store or from streams, I quickly get upset stomach greetings Bob and keep posting videos on youtube
Hello, Does anyone know if I can drive in Iceland for 4 days with my Mexican driver license (card is in spanish only) or do I need any kind of validation / translation in order to use it there?
Jeannie, I'm taking my family to Iceland, on our way to continental Europe, at the end of the month. I'm staying in Akranes, which is NW of the capital about 45 minutes. Any tips for the area or just in general?
Hey Bryan, check out these videos I posted recently: ruclips.net/video/v-X-s6n-20o/видео.html / ruclips.net/video/ssQ9-h_cbrw/видео.html . Have a great trip with your family!
Pull to the side of the road, turn your hazard lights on and there should be a red triangle in the car and you should set it up behind the car about 15m back so the cars that are coming will se that before they notice the car
I’m not sure where you’re from but if you’ve ever seen a truck break down, truck drivers will sometimes place triangles or lights on the road to warn motorists. You can find triangles in car safety kits & possibly in your rental car if they’re provided.
I always recommend Blue Car Rentals because they include insurances in their prices! And you can use my code #BLUELWV to get a 7% discount on your booking :)
Next year in June will be my first visit, I am a little nervous to drive myself around, and was hoping I can take shuttles instead.... what would you recommend knowing this information?
"speeding cameras aall oover iceland" hahaha! umm noo most of them are actually in the few tunnels we have aand there are only 3 others going the entire circle one way, only situated in the southwest corner lol
Hi Jeannie! Is there any website or any kind of fact collection for natural sites that charge entrance fees now? I’ve heard that e.g. the Stokksnes peninsula, Seljalandsfoss and Kerið charge parking or entrance fees like almost all Icelandic caves (but of course only a little). Are there other places that charge money by now as well?
Hi UChris 1995! I don't think there is a site that has all of that info in one place, there are places charging for parking popping up all the time. Everywhere takes card at this time, so that makes it easy!
There are many unappealing aspects to the notion of living in Iceland, but this video reminds me of what piques my interest in being there (as well as the other northern countries.) Common sense seems to be at the core of life there. Part of common sense is acknowledgement of the fact that there are other people, and you're a part of that larger picture. (It doesn't mean people don't love you, it just means you're not the very center of all of reality.) There's lots to be said for the Mediterranean countries, but I think of the Spanish expression "Viva yo!" ("Long live me"). That beloved expression is uttered when you want to do something that you know perfectly is destructive of society at large, but you want to do it anyway, so you holler "Hooray for me" and vault the fence. It's colorful. It's romantic, dramatic. It's also stupid, and I'd love to live somewhere where everybody knows dumb when they see it, and they understand that there's more than ME. Alas, I suspect that Icelanders stop at red lights at 3:00 AM, and wait for the green, even if there couldn't possibly be a car around for miles. My New York perspective thinks that's a bit much -- but it is a kind acknowledgement of the fact that the law is the law, like a little tribute to the Great Spirit, if you know what I mean. And, you know, when people exercise common sense and common decency, you don't need skillions of regulations detailing every possible situation that arises. Commitment to the spirit of the law at the individual level makes enforcement of the letter of the law lots smoother and cheaper than "Oh yeah? There's no law against it, so sue me!" I could give up tomatoes in winter for that.
Hi there! Thanks for watching and for your message! Yes, you can drive at night and depending on the time of year you come to Iceland, you may have to drive in the dark because the amount of daylight is minimal. As with driving at night anywhere else in the world, you'll need to be more aware and more cautious in the dark!
Jackson Catlett well it's not like they're all over the place, they're mostly in the vestmann islands and various places near the sea such as Látrabjarg.
The pictures you have of the roads are very accurately reflected in the mod maps of Iceland in Euro Truck Simulator 2. The snowy ones in particular! If someone wants to practice Iceland driving at home.
I feel so bad after reading most of this comment because I'm Chinese too , but I believe most of the "Chinese" that never follow the rules are always from China.
You cannot make a right turn on red in Iceland. On the Ring Road there are VERY few toilets, as in hours apart. Take a can, toilet paper with a trash bag (as you can't bury in hard lava fields), and a bottle to pee in. Maybe wear diapers! Haha! I resume driving the Ring Road tomorrow and I will not drink 2 hours before! Seriously!
🤣🤣 Thanks for sharing your tips! Fortunately, my digital maps include locations of toilets so you always know how much longer you'll have to hold it. Check out my travel guides and digital maps here: icelandwithaview.com/product-category/diy/
Im going to Iceland in 2 weeks time. I was going to hire a car to get around (only there for 3 days) so didn't want to be on long tours each day. Think i might give it a miss though.......
As long as your in a designated camp site your OK, but sleeping in a car at the side of a road or in the parking area of one of the sites is no permitted.
I am sure you are not comparing all travelers to the few bad ones? Although it is there freedom to travel on the budget that fits their means. I have already spent a massive amount of money planning my Iceland trip. Not to mention all the eating, drinking, shopping and museums once I arrive. One person in my trip alone is contributing a great deal to Icelands economy. How would you go about just banning the poor travelers? How would that be okay? I live in a very big tourist town is the US. I count on these travelers to be able to pay my bills and put food the table. Someone working in a restaurant or shop in Iceland may feel the same way.
@@madmaster8304 literally never seen anyone use the rear fog light.. Everybody just seems to drive without lights even in the hardest rain possible here
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
as an icelander thank you for mentioning not to stop at the side of the road.
As a non-Icelander thank you! I ALMOST hit a car parked right on the highway near Jokusarlon while the group(Asians) were out taking photo's. I also watched as a rental car drove off the highway and started spinning donuts across a beach. Its really unbelievable.
@@mtlassen1992 why does it matter they were Asians? A white man makes a racist comment on RUclips. See how ridiculous that sounds?
@@mtlassen1992 "(Asians)" ???
@@lorcanoconnor6274 Chinese most likely, yes.
@@mtlassen1992 is that relevant?
If you are planning on visiting Iceland please read this
I am an Icelander and I am in general very accepting of tourists, but there are two things that constantly infuriate me. At the top without a doubt is when tourists stop on the side of the road. It is so ridiculously dangerous and I have almost had a car accident because of it on several occasions.
Second is when tourists drive on roads or conditions they have no business being on. Roads, that are either marked as impassable (usually during the winter) or roads that their rental car is incapable of driving on, (usually applies in the summer).
Driving on mountain roads, especially in the winter is something that should not be entered into lightly.
It requires considerable general and driving knowhow, preparedness and equipment (which definitely includes a four by four on huge tyres that is capable of dealing with deep snow and has all the other equipment required in it. I haven't heard of a rental car like that yet).
Tourists usually fulfill none of those requirements.
Weather in Iceland during the winter can change on a moments notice and even if the forecast says all clear, tourists traveling on mountain roads often find themselves snowed in and trapped in stormy weather. It is a bit of a nightmare for the local search and rescue team.
Please don't think I'm saying that all tourists are hopeless unprepared mountaineers that are incapable of driving in tricky conditions. But it doesn't really matter how good of a mountaineer you are if you're not familiar with the conditions in Iceland. I sometimes think car rentals should do a better job of explaining how dangerous it can get in the winter and how likely you are to damage your rental car or worse if you venture through tricky mountain roads in the summer
Hi am from icland to! 🇮🇸 But i live in norway
Thank you for the driving info! Wife and I will be in Iceland in 4 weeks and we are soaking up all the good information we can.
Thanks for watching! And thanks for sharing! :)
Thank you for your warning. I know it's been a year since you comment on this, but let me ask you something. Is it possible to do the south coast drive from Reykjavic to Jokulsarlon/Diamong Beach with a 2WD (e.g. Ford Focus) in winter?
Thanks for tips! I am already planning on renting a 4x4 when I visit.
As an Icelander, I'd like to add two that need to be known:
1) if a road is closed, it's closed for ALL vehicles! Doesn't matter is you have a 4x drive, no one can use the road except for Ice-sar and police. Some people just can't swallow this thinking they´re better then everyone else with a 4x drive. You're not a special little snowflake *facepalm*
2) the inner circle in a roundabout has the right. If you're in the outer circle and someone in the inner circle wants to exit you need to stop and let them pass. I know it's the other way round in other countries. It's a common driving accident for tourists to crash into locals cars in the roundabout.
Great points, thanks so much Védís!
Roundabouts? That's not how it works at all in America Haha. You just yield to all lanes when entering.
@@thevirtualzookeeper8226 we yield when entering as well, but ince you're in, the inner lane has the right
Ingi Þór can you find a video of this in action, kinda curious.
It works like that in France and in the rest of Europe I believe.
I would like to add that if you are not used to driving in bad weather or on icy roads don’t drive too fast. You might not see the ice either so if its cold make sure to look out for that and be careful. And if the road is icy DON’T PRESS THE BREAKS. Also watch out for reindeer’s in the winter especially at night because all you can see is the road when it’s dark and 30 reindeer’s could just come out of nowhere all of a sudden. So just drive slower than it says when it’s winter and it’s dark.
A tip regarding the sheep along the Icelandic roads: If you see a ewe on one side of the road and one or more lambs on the other side, SLOW DOWN TO A WALKING PACE! The moment the lambs notice the approaching car, they WILL bolt towards the ewe, straight across the road.
Great point, thanks Halfdan!
Excellent point. On my first trip I had a similar issue but with adult sheep. Couple on one side of the road and a couple on the other end. I slowed down as I could already imagine one or two of them wanting to flock together and indeed, last moment, 2 of them crossed
With the sheep. PAY ATTENTION TO BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. If you see a lamb on one side, BE AWARE that the older sheep WILL cross the road before the younger one will and they don't care if a 1 ton metal slab is coming at it at to die for speeds... ALSO if there are sheep on both sides of the road THEY WILL cross over to the largest group, BUT if the ram is on the side with the lesser flock the other group WILL cross over to him.
SHEEP DON'T CARE, WE DO. :D
If you DO hit a sheep and kill it or injure it in a bad way, call 112 and let them know so that it can be reported to the farmer that owns it and leaving it on the side of the road is a health code violation.
You are very good luck you live in Iceland. I love the miracle nature in Iceland so much.
Thanks for sharing! And thank you for watching! :)
We're going to Iceland on September and your tips are super useful! Keep 'em coming!
if you Drink, buy Alcohol in the airport duty free shop. if you don't you will regret that ,
can of beer cost like 3-5 bucks. so Duty free, remember that :)
Thank you Josue, happy to help!
Rick_The_*ick thanks! I'll have that in mind!
The most useful one to me was the one about not speeding, couldn’t have worked this one out if I wasn’t told.
in addition to the tips, careful to the single-lane bridge, yield and just give way
one thing u should highlight too is the single lane bridges, those really freaked me the firsT time but eventually its all abt patience n manner.
Yes! Thanks for watching! :)
Another of Jeannie's advisory videos that is spot on! We just returned from a perfect July week in Iceland! Hoping to not hear anything from those traffic cameras!! And yes, gasoline is like 2.28Kr per liter which is about $8USD per gallon. However cost per passenger mile and the freedom to stop at every special place for as long as you want is worth it (compared to travelers being herded on and off a tour bus). Shop hard for rental car rates as there are over a dozen different agencies available there.
Thanks Benjamin!
actually the speeding tickets just got raised 1st may. if you drive 160 on 90 road its 240.000 isk witch is about 2.400 dollars
Great to know, thanks for the info!
Police would seize your license AND your vehicle in my country, for anywhere over 50 kph too fast.
In regards to no driving off road/parking on the side of the road - I have heard lots of people repeat this that you should not stop at the side of the road, and that you should find somewhere to pull off and stop, but is it clear where you can pull of to stop, or does that count then as driving off road? I hope that makes sense. I've heard of people pulling off in places that look like parking off the road, but then slapped with a huge fine as it counted as being off road.
Jeanie, your videos inspired me to rent a car on my trip in Iceland when I was there in October for a one day stopover (in lieu of doing the safe and easy tour). I'm so glad I did this, BUT it was not without its challenges. Being jet-lagged and learning the roads on my first ever attempt driving in a foreign country was, well, interesting. I did a day trip of the Reykjanes Peninsula before heading to Reykjavik to spend the night before catching a flight the next morning. Here are some of my observations from my one day drive around the Reykjanes Peninsula and driving around in Reykjavik.
1) Despite your warnings, people DO stop in the middle of the road and don't seem to care if they're blocking traffic. I encountered this a couple of times. It's shocking just how the mesmerizing scenery will make drivers do insane things!
2) Drivers are aggressive the closer you get to Reykjavik despite what I've heard and you've said about Iceland drivers being courteous. I was going the speed limit, and people were speeding past me, cutting me off, and generally road raging and bullying me because I was "in the way." Something I'm not used to. But I'm also a more aggressive drive back home. Maybe they knew I was a tourist in my Toyota Yaris rental car and this was my initiation?
3) Driving in Reykjavik was a nightmare. Google maps is not reliable in Iceland. That led to some frantic moments navigating busy Reykjavik traffic, driving narrow streets for almost an hour because Google maps is glitching out, and even ending up on a street that was dead-ended for construction by a giant pile of asphalt with no warning signage for street closure. There's construction everywhere in Reykjavik, and Google maps is struggling to keep up.
4) Since we're on the subject of Google Maps, I almost missed my shuttle to the airport from the car rental drop-off early the next morning because Google Maps kept routing me on roads near the airport that don't even exist. Luckily I was able to stop and look at a paper map and make it just in time. The moral of the story is have a PAPER MAP for wherever you're going and don't suffer like I did.
5) I would do it all again and can't wait to return for a longer road trip! If you're a good common sense driver, driving in Iceland is manageable. Just take it easy, don't do anything foolish, know how to drive a manual transmission, and prepare to navigate dozens of roundabouts as you are driving into Reykjavik!
Thank you for sharing! :)
Oh dear. Best stay safe at home Jason. Iceland is the easiest place to drive outside of weather conditions that you never mentioned. Maybe if you come back bring your teddy bear to look after you.
What an A hole you are. You must be one of the morons yelling and screaming.
@@levioliver3794 Describing my experience driving in Iceland makes me an A hole? What a jerk you are.
Guys , is driving from right side a challenge in Iceland? I’m going this month but I’m anxious to get overwhelmed with driving in Iceland.
I just got home from a trip to Iceland where I rented a car - my first time driving on the "wrong" side of the road (I'm from the UK). The speed limit might be 90kph, but having driven from Keflavik all the way as far as the Diamond Beach, I notice that the majority of traffic didn't seem to pay any attention to that limit!
Thank you for this. So many people want that Instagram photo so bad they lose all common sense.
Liz Bohnen If people are stoping on the road, natural section will get them soon.
Do the locals get mad if you're driving slow?
Hi! I've found your videos very useful and ispiring, thank you for all the useful info and tips! We are gonna get your eBook for sure as we are planning to do the entire circuit. We are arriving to Iceland on the 30th of March and leaving on the 14th of April and we decided to rent a 4X4 and went with a Land Rover Discovery - while they adviced is good enough, there was an option for a Jeep Wrangler - is the Discovery good enough to drive around Iceland during April?
Hi Juan! Thanks so much for watching and supporting my business! You've made a great choice with the Discovery! Happy travels!
Your videos and information are great! Your peppy personality makes your videos fun to watch. We are headed to Iceland in two weeks!
Love to hear that and thank you for watching! Have a great trip and tag me in your photos so I can follow along 😊
im from iceland and she is so right
Im also from icland but i live in norway
How long does it take for a non stop drive around the ring? I heard 12 hours
Thanks for good and logical tips, I appreciate all of them!
You're so welcome Kathy!!!
Iceland is a good place to visit and. I have been there. People r helpful. All rolls there in Iceland are for safety reasons not for annoying.
Do you need an international license to drive in Iceland and how old do you have to be to rent a car in Iceland?
No need for an international license.
Thank you for the information. We are celebrating my birthday in 3 weeks time in Iceland and we are looking a lot of information that we could get. Thank you so much.
What a great way to celebrate!
I'm here right now and I really like driving here. However a lot of locals speed. They also cut right back in front of your car after passing on the highway spitting stones at your windshield. When I pass I be sure to give myself enough time and room so I don't have to cut right back in front of the vehicle I just passed. I also noticed that a train of cars build up on the highway. Everyone speeds up just to ride the ass of the car at the front and then tucks behind them and won't pass, building up a long line of vehicles. Also the touring company vans routinely cross over the centre line of the highway on curves. So though I agree that tourists can be the worst drivers, some of the locals are awful too.
Do not use turn lights, no one is using them in Iceland, it's best to just remove them from the car to make it lighter.
I got to Iceland yesterday and it has been two yesterday and the number of traffic circles have more than doubled. Took 41 from KEF to Reykjavik and well you could get dizzy.
haha, there are a lot of roundabouts in Iceland!
Thanks for the advice.
Thank you for telling me about the speeding tickets. Probably would have got one.
You're so welcome!
Can you please make a video what glaciers you can drive to with and without a 4x4 rental please?
This better be satire.
And don't turn on the hazard lights because you have stopped at the side of the road to read a map, just use the turn signal! This has ruined "good old Iceland" when people would stop to check if you had the hazard lights on.
So if I get a flat tire I should keep driving and avoid pulling off the road to fix it 🤔
Where do you park your car in Reykjavik Centre if you're staying in a hotel with no free car parking spaces
What was the website that helps you see all the road conditions?
Another great video Jeannie :D
What side of the road do they drive on ? You fail to mention it anywhere in the video !
Hi, thank for the video, i have a question btw, what is the tolerance speed in Iceland? you mentioned 90KM is limit speed. does it mean 91KM the Speed Camera will catch me?
I agree Jeanie, just some common sense and not too much to ask for for visitors.😯
One way bridge crossing was biggest thing for me... and it is not mentioned here at all...
I like Iceland's road signs, and in mainland europe too, but it's like a blast from the past back to the 80's - Speed Racer - Go Speed Go!
I will probably not be driving if I go to Iceland. those narrow roads would be nerve wracking and I can bearly even walk properly on ice without falling, let alone drive on it lol
Can you post a video on how to purchase gas? I've heard that people have a lot of difficulty with this. Do people from Canada get pre-paid cards? Heard that Visa doesn't work there.
Hahahahahahahaha. You pull up at a filling station, fill your tank and pay. How complicated is that?
byteme9718 my dude, you can’t roast the uneducated that’s not cool.
if you go on the main highways.. it's never more than 100km between gasstations.. that's like what.. 60 miles :)
How often do the Police check Driving License
I could really use a video on camping in Iceland. Where to do it, and the laws. A buddy and I are going next may and we'll only be camping 1 night in each stop. Your videos have been great!
Great idea! Thanks for watching!! :)
Camp grounds are marked on the highway though the signs are small and can be easily missed. Keep an eye out for the signs or else there are maps that mark the campsites
Can you do one how to avoid rental car scams
Good video, but you forgot the most important rule of driving in Iceland. Do NOT drink & drive. They will come down on you hard if you get caught ( as they should). I saw a lady get a $1,000 fine for dui, & that was in 1983.
can you go over the road signs, i noticed the one way or do not enter are completely different and i accidentally went down a one way road, got the strangest look from a senior gentleman and also the amber or yellow coming on before the light changes to green, so odd but really helpful
Great idea Ruth, I will write this down for a video idea - thank you! But in the meantime, I do have a free Iceland road signs guidebook that you can download ;) bit.ly/IcelandRoadSigns
Can you make a video on how to pump gas in Iceland? My sis and I got lucky last time someone just came to help us lol
Great idea! Thanks for watching! :)
Iceland sounds like where i need to be right now.
It's the best place on earth!
Great tips! Thank you
Thank you. I get gas card from different gas companies and that help me keep the tank full.
Does Iceland have a Highway Patrol to assist stranded motorists ect?
Not exactly. We have search and rescue units all over the country in case someone gets into trouble and of course the usual tug service is there for smaller problems.
If you're a tourist it's best to not to stray too far from the ring road but if you do then maybe notify your hotel staff or someone where you're going and when you plan on returning. That way if you get lost and can't call for help we'll send someone after you :)
I am planning a trip to Iceland and your channel has been ever so helpful to watch. I would rather take local transportation than renting a car and driving, so how is the bus transportation between towns?
There are a few main companies that operate bus tours around Iceland. These three companies (Reykjavik Excursions, Sterna, and Stræto) actively operate routes throughout the Ring Road, the Westfjords, and even venture into the Highlands during the summer months. Public transit is not widely accessible in Iceland.
hello jeannie, Bob here from the Netherlands. At the end of May we have planned a 14 day tour in Iceland with a rental car. for the preparation I have seen almost all your RUclips videos and learned useful tips from them.
I have 2 questions maybe you can answer them.
- is the use of a dashcam allowed?
- which water is best to drink, from the tap, from the bottle of the store or from streams, I quickly get upset stomach
greetings Bob and keep posting videos on youtube
Hello, Does anyone know if I can drive in Iceland for 4 days with my Mexican driver license (card is in spanish only) or do I need any kind of validation / translation in order to use it there?
Jeannie, I'm taking my family to Iceland, on our way to continental Europe, at the end of the month. I'm staying in Akranes, which is NW of the capital about 45 minutes. Any tips for the area or just in general?
Hey Bryan, check out these videos I posted recently: ruclips.net/video/v-X-s6n-20o/видео.html / ruclips.net/video/ssQ9-h_cbrw/видео.html . Have a great trip with your family!
Hi Jeannie, another great video. What month does Iceland start to turn from Amber to its lush Green?
DEAN_TO basically now lol
In May, sometimes late in May. May is spring. September is autunm.
Is you have an emergency, like your tire pops etc do you recommend pulling to he side of the road then or is it typical to stay in the lane?
M Arriaza never ever stay in the lane in case of emergency, pull to the side or better find the next by-way or rest area.
Pull to the side of the road, turn your hazard lights on and there should be a red triangle in the car and you should set it up behind the car about 15m back so the cars that are coming will se that before they notice the car
asdisasdisasdis wtf is this red triangle.
I’m not sure where you’re from but if you’ve ever seen a truck break down, truck drivers will sometimes place triangles or lights on the road to warn motorists.
You can find triangles in car safety kits & possibly in your rental car if they’re provided.
Only saw one! speeding camera in 2 weeks and 4500km of driving. This one was nearly the airport :D
do you have websites or car rental companies you recommend? So many to choose from?
TheOtherChef I rented from Sadcars in February of 2018. Great 4x4, free GPS, hassle free. Was the lowest price.
I always recommend Blue Car Rentals because they include insurances in their prices! And you can use my code #BLUELWV to get a 7% discount on your booking :)
Do you give tours?
Does your FB group still exsist?
Next year in June will be my first visit, I am a little nervous to drive myself around, and was hoping I can take shuttles instead.... what would you recommend knowing this information?
I would say that almost every road sign is in English also.
"speeding cameras aall oover iceland" hahaha! umm noo most of them are actually in the few tunnels we have aand there are only 3 others going the entire circle one way, only situated in the southwest corner lol
imalwaysright359 exactly my thoughts lol. We all know where they are 😂😂 Then just escort redline ex for the police cars 🙄😂
how are the roads on september?
Hi Jeannie! Is there any website or any kind of fact collection for natural sites that charge entrance fees now? I’ve heard that e.g. the Stokksnes peninsula, Seljalandsfoss and Kerið charge parking or entrance fees like almost all Icelandic caves (but of course only a little). Are there other places that charge money by now as well?
There is a 700 kr parking fee the Seljalandsfoss and 500 kr fee at Thingvellir National Park.
Hi UChris 1995! I don't think there is a site that has all of that info in one place, there are places charging for parking popping up all the time. Everywhere takes card at this time, so that makes it easy!
I *may* be going to Iceland in like a year lol but I'm already searching the internet for info cause I'm inpatient
There are many unappealing aspects to the notion of living in Iceland, but this video reminds me of what piques my interest in being there (as well as the other northern countries.) Common sense seems to be at the core of life there. Part of common sense is acknowledgement of the fact that there are other people, and you're a part of that larger picture. (It doesn't mean people don't love you, it just means you're not the very center of all of reality.)
There's lots to be said for the Mediterranean countries, but I think of the Spanish expression "Viva yo!" ("Long live me"). That beloved expression is uttered when you want to do something that you know perfectly is destructive of society at large, but you want to do it anyway, so you holler "Hooray for me" and vault the fence. It's colorful. It's romantic, dramatic. It's also stupid, and I'd love to live somewhere where everybody knows dumb when they see it, and they understand that there's more than ME.
Alas, I suspect that Icelanders stop at red lights at 3:00 AM, and wait for the green, even if there couldn't possibly be a car around for miles. My New York perspective thinks that's a bit much -- but it is a kind acknowledgement of the fact that the law is the law, like a little tribute to the Great Spirit, if you know what I mean. And, you know, when people exercise common sense and common decency, you don't need skillions of regulations detailing every possible situation that arises. Commitment to the spirit of the law at the individual level makes enforcement of the letter of the law lots smoother and cheaper than "Oh yeah? There's no law against it, so sue me!" I could give up tomatoes in winter for that.
No Google Maps or Waze there?
From everything I have heard in videos on visiting Iceland it sounds way to complicated a place to go. I'm staying home.
can we drive at night??
Hi there! Thanks for watching and for your message! Yes, you can drive at night and depending on the time of year you come to Iceland, you may have to drive in the dark because the amount of daylight is minimal. As with driving at night anywhere else in the world, you'll need to be more aware and more cautious in the dark!
@@IcelandwithaView wow thanks for replying! coming April 10th! fingers crossed i catch the aurora
U are missing the turirist that are popping on the side of the road but thanks for the things you said
Could you do a video on the puffins? We are going to Iceland in June and want to know all about them!
Steve Prince ahhh no just see/photograph them... not eat them 😂😁
Steve Prince thank you!!!
Carly Zahrt go to resturant and eat them.
Carly Zahrt I just went and I couldn’t find a single one smh
Jackson Catlett well it's not like they're all over the place, they're mostly in the vestmann islands and various places near the sea such as Látrabjarg.
The pictures you have of the roads are very accurately reflected in the mod maps of Iceland in Euro Truck Simulator 2. The snowy ones in particular! If someone wants to practice Iceland driving at home.
I feel so bad after reading most of this comment because I'm Chinese too , but I believe most of the "Chinese" that never follow the rules are always from China.
You cannot make a right turn on red in Iceland. On the Ring Road there are VERY few toilets, as in hours apart. Take a can, toilet paper with a trash bag (as you can't bury in hard lava fields), and a bottle to pee in. Maybe wear diapers! Haha! I resume driving the Ring Road tomorrow and I will not drink 2 hours before! Seriously!
🤣🤣 Thanks for sharing your tips! Fortunately, my digital maps include locations of toilets so you always know how much longer you'll have to hold it. Check out my travel guides and digital maps here: icelandwithaview.com/product-category/diy/
Im going to Iceland in 2 weeks time.
I was going to hire a car to get around (only there for 3 days) so didn't want to be on long tours each day.
Think i might give it a miss though.......
I hope you have the best.trip.ever!!:)
@@IcelandwithaView Thank you ❤
I am from US, I'll be stopping on the side for pictures and drive off-road!!!
Do cars really flip over in Iceland?
Idiology when hulks around, anything can happen.
thank you
Just saying you can stop on the side road if it’s like in the country or like where is not much traffic
Only if you're clearly visible and obviously stopped
Zach of course
Good luck with that.
2:55 you want to have your headlights and seatbelts on. How do you know what i want???? I dont
Thank you for the videos! Does anybody know if it is illegal to sleep over in a car in Iceland in May-June? Many thanks!
As long as your in a designated camp site your OK, but sleeping in a car at the side of a road or in the parking area of one of the sites is no permitted.
DEAN_TO has it right - there are plenty of campsites around Iceland. Have a great trip!
The no right on red law really screwed me over lol
I once saw an american tourist turn right on red, got pulled over and threw a tantrum about it. It was a very entertaining few minutes for me
Yeeeaaaaaaaaah.
We are leaving in a few weeks for Iceland :) this is a great to know what to do and not to do :)
Thanks Froilan! Happy to help :)
Thanks. I will go there. ^___^. Hope we will meet in one day
Thanks for watching! :)
lol the citizens drive like 40 kph faster than everyone else
roman Maguire that’s because they know where the cameras are.
99% of this advice is true everywhere. I don't need a video to tell me to put my seatbelt on and not overspeed...
Lapel mic?
You literally told us everything that everyone should do and every country around the world. I was hoping to learn about the roundabouts
even if these tips aren't specific to iceland, roundabouts DEFINITELY aren't lol
Rose Connolly From the other comments I’ve seen roundabouts work very differently.
The Captain That is what I was thinking.
@@madmaster8304 nope, they did not seem to work any differently
Once a wise old man from Quebec Canada told me not to drive abroad
From India
Hi
Farr too Loooooong winded. Could have been covered in 30% of the time she took. So, people give up halfway through.
roads.is no longer works
Why you keep doing that? The video starts at 1:00
The sound on some of these videos is awful! Can't listen to it.
Do donuts on the side of the road..
I'm actually really looking forward to the day when not so many people are visiting Iceland. It is becoming quite uncomfortable.
Thats very rude. Tourist spend lots of money and can help your economy. Weather YOU personally need it or not, its good for others in your country.
I am sure you are not comparing all travelers to the few bad ones? Although it is there freedom to travel on the budget that fits their means. I have already spent a massive amount of money planning my Iceland trip. Not to mention all the eating, drinking, shopping and museums once I arrive. One person in my trip alone is contributing a great deal to Icelands economy. How would you go about just banning the poor travelers? How would that be okay? I live in a very big tourist town is the US. I count on these travelers to be able to pay my bills and put food the table. Someone working in a restaurant or shop in Iceland may feel the same way.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
3:01 This is in The Netherlands ;)
LFMFN what? That if the weather is bad you should have your fog lights on? Isn’t this common knowledge?
@@madmaster8304 I only said: " 3:01 This is in the Netherlands."
@@madmaster8304 literally never seen anyone use the rear fog light.. Everybody just seems to drive without lights even in the hardest rain possible here