My Top Tips for Visiting Iceland Without a Car

I always say that renting a car is the best way to explore Iceland at your own pace. You have the entire country at your fingertips, and you don’t have to play by anyone else’s schedule. But if you don’t drive, that doesn’t mean you should skip Iceland altogether. 

This country has so much to offer that I think everyone should make time for a visit, regardless of whether they have a license. On my 6 trips to Iceland so far, I’ve not had access to a rental car on multiple occasions. Despite that (or perhaps because of it), I have explored Iceland more than most people. 

Based on my experiences, I’m putting together this guide with my top tips on visiting Iceland without a car. You’ll discover your alternative transport options, along with how to make the most of your adventure. 

What Are My Alternative Transport Options?

If you aren’t going to visit Iceland without a car, you basically have three options: 

• Buses 
• Tours
• Flying

Hitchhiking is a possibility, but even though Iceland is a safe country, I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable doing it. You do that at your own risk. 

Let’s break each of these down. 

Domestic Air Travel in Iceland

Iceland has a comprehensive network of domestic flights connecting Reykjavík with Akureyri, Ísafjörður, the Westman Islands, and many other parts of the country. Flights are generally efficient, with transport times not taking too long. 

Most domestic airports in Iceland are easy to reach from their town/city centers. Even Reykjavík Domestic Airport (not to be confused with Keflavík) is an easy walk from the downtown area. Flights run year-round, but weather can cause delays and cancellations; my mom and I had a flight to Akureyri canceled in 2021 due to a snowstorm. 

While flying within Iceland is possible, it’s also pretty expensive. Your flight costs will easily exceed the price of a rental car if you use them extensively. Moreover, flying isn’t the most environmentally friendly way to explore Iceland. 

Day Tours

On most of my trips where I’ve visited without a rental car, I’ve gotten around with day trips. The trade-off is that you can’t spend as long as you want in each region, but you at least get to see them. 

Day tour availability differs from season to season. But even if you visit Iceland in the off-season, you can join day tours to popular spots like the Golden Circle. Tours will be quite expensive, so if your primary reason of not getting a rental car is to save money—but you have a license—I’d just get the rental car instead. 

Long-Distance Bus Travel Is Possible, But…

Iceland does have a network of long-distance buses. However, I have never used them—and for good reasons. 

First of all, long-distance buses in Iceland often require multiple changes. Besides increasing journey times, I also don’t want to constantly be changing to a different service (and then knowing I’ll have to do the same thing for the return leg). 

Long-distance bus departures are also not very frequent, especially outside the summer. If the timetable had more direct buses, I’d see this as a viable option—but until then, I recommend looking at alternatives. 

While long-distance buses aren’t the best way to travel around Iceland, getting around Iceland’s urban areas by bus is possible. For example, Reykjavík has an efficient network of buses connecting the downtown area to the rest of the Capital Region. 

Now that you know more about your options, I’ll share my top tips for visiting Iceland without a car. 

1. Base Yourself in Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the most logical place to base yourself if you don’t have a rental car. You can enjoy the Icelandic capital without the stress of finding a parking spot (and let me tell you, finding a parking spot in Downtown Reykjavík is PAINFUL so enjoy this). 

The Icelandic capital has a broad range of accommodation for all budgets. I really like Kex Hostel as a budget option, while Alda Hotel is a nice choice if you have a bit more money to spend. 

As a side benefit, you’ll get to explore the city much deeper than most tourists. Reykjavík is one of my favorite cities, and despite its small size, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in the capital. The city has some excellent restaurants and bakeries, too. 

Reykjavík is a helpful base for day tours, meaning you can explore Iceland’s natural wonders while someone else handles the driving. And if you’re into photography, the Icelandic capital is full of photogenic spots. Add some great museums into the mix, such as Perlan, and you’ve got a fantastic experience without even leaving the city. 

How to Get From Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík Without a Car

I always book an airport transfer from Keflavík Airport if I’m in Iceland without a car. Reykjavík Excursions is my go-to option, but the alternatives are just as good. 

The journey to Reykjavík takes around 45 minutes.

2. If You Don’t Stay in Reykjavík, Stay in Another Tour Hub

I like staying outside Reykjavík sometimes to experience other parts of Iceland, but it’s more difficult without a car. Nonetheless, if you’re not going to stay in the capital, choose another hub where you can book tours to explore the nearby wilderness. 

Akureyri is the best option if you want to explore the north of Iceland. Vík, on the other hand, is where you should base yourself to explore the ice caves along the South Coast. I actually recommend staying in Reykjavík and booking a South Coast day tour if you don’t have a car, since these depart from there. 

Ísafjörður, meanwhile, is where you should base yourself to see the Westfjords. Egilsstaðir is an ideal option for exploring the Eastfjords, especially if you take the ferry from Denmark to Iceland (consider stopping in the Faroe Islands for a few days while you’re at it). 

Vík doesn’t have an airport, so you’d need to take a bus here. Akureyri, Ísafjörður, and Egilsstaðir all do, on the other hand. 

3. Book Day Tours, but Be Selective

Day tours are the best way to explore Iceland without a car, but I recommend being selective. When I book day tours in Iceland, it has to be an absolute yes—otherwise, I’d rather spend my money on other experiences.

Based on my personal experiences, I can recommend these day tours if you’re based in Reykjavík… 

• South Coast Day Trip: Touring the South Coast was very long, but we got to see many of the big-hitters along the South Coast, such as Skógafoss and Jökulsárlón. My mom and I agreed that this was our favorite tour when visiting Iceland in 2019.
• Golden Circle Day Tour: This is an absolute classic that everyone visiting Iceland for the first time should do. I recommend doing the one with Kerið Crater included.
• Northern Lights Tours: If you visit Iceland in the off-season, I strongly recommend a Northern Lights tour. My mom and I did one when we visited in 2018.
• Snæfellsnes Day Tour: We did this tour in 2021 because our flights to Akureyri were canceled. It ended up being a great choice; this is one of my favorite regions in Iceland. 

Start by choosing 2-3 tours you really want to do and allocating a bit more time to explore Reykjavík. Doing day tours every day can get exhausting, as I can attest to from personal experience. This is particularly true when doing longer tours. 

How to Book the Right Day Tours When Visiting Iceland Without a Car

When booking tours in Iceland, I recommend looking for guarantees. Many let you cancel up to 24 hours before free of charge, which allows for flexibility if you change your mind. 

I also suggest trying to find tours with smaller groups. While the larger tour buses are fine, I personally prefer being in smaller groups as it feels more cozy. This won’t always be possible, but check to see if it is for the experiences you want to do. 

Check to see where the tour departs from, too. Some will pick you up from your hotel or nearby, whereas others leave from a specified location. For example, many tours from Reykjavík depart from the BSÍ Bus Terminal.  

4. Make the Most of Iceland’s Summer Daylight Hours

I’ll be honest with you: Summer is actually my least favorite time to visit Iceland. It’s the most crowded time of the year, and prices also skyrocket. But if you’re visiting Iceland without a car, it’s a wise time to visit—especially for your first trip.

You’ll find more tours during the summer, and since you aren’t tied to short daylight hours, it’s possible to see more. Moreover, your tour has less of a chance of being canceled because of bad weather (even though Iceland’s weather is volatile year-round).  

If you visit Iceland in the summer, book your accommodation well in advance. Hotels and guesthouses fill up quickly, in particular. 

5. Be Selective With the Regions You Explore

I can’t fault your ambition if you thought about doing the Ring Road without a car, but it’s going to be incredibly difficult. If you don’t have a rental car, being more selective with the regions you explore is a good idea. 

I suggest picking two regions at most in which you base yourself, and ideally, one. If you take day tours, you have more flexibility to get a quick glimpse of different parts of the country. 

Sticking with just a few regions will mean that you can explore them in more depth, which—in my opinion—is more of a fulfilling experience. 

Conclusion: Iceland Without a Car Is Still Possible

While traveling around Iceland without a car is challenging, it’s still possible. However, you will need to adapt and understand the trade-offs. You’ll be on someone else’s schedule more than your own, and you also won’t have the freedom to explore every single region. 

If you’re willing to make these trade-offs, though, Iceland will still reward you. I can attest to this from multiple trips without a rental car, and I hope that you still decide to explore this beautiful country and everything it has to offer. 

Pin for Later 📌