Road Tripping the Land of Ice & Fire: Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Car in Iceland

Iceland is an incredible country, and there is so much to see! But hiring a car in Iceland isn't that budget-friendly. So is it worth hiring a car in Iceland? Or are there better ways to explore?

I have been to Iceland twice, and have learned a lot about the best things to do, and the best ways to see them. That's why I'm here to help answer all the questions you may have, and see if hiring a car in Iceland is the right choice for you.

Is a Self-Drive Tour in Iceland Worth it?

First things's first- what is the best way to get around Iceland?

Well, while there are a ton of cities in Iceland that don't require a car, Iceland is a little bit different.

The country of Iceland has so many stunning landscapes, and a lot of them can actually only be reached by car! Hiring a car in Iceland is certainly worth it if you want to explore different areas of the country, but may not be so necessary if you are visiting for just a weekend, or a very short amount of time.

🚗 Should I Drive or Rent a Car in Iceland?

We always prefer renting a car, and think hiring a car in Iceland is the way to go! If you are going to be visiting for more than 3 or 4 days, then it will let you see a lot more than relying on tours alone, and may even be cheaper.

Id you are only staying in Reykjavik, and have just a layover or a couple of days, then it may be wiser to skip hiring a car in Iceland, and doing a Golden Circle tour, experiencing the Blue Lagoon, and exploring the city of Reykjavik itself.

Here are some fun tours you can take from Reykjavik:

🛻 Do I Need a 4x4 in Iceland?

There are certain areas of Iceland where you will certainly need a 4x4, while there are others that it's not very necessary. Depending on the itinerary you'd like to take, will depend on whether or not you should hire a 4x4 or not.

The Golden Circle

If you don't have a ton of days in Iceland, but want to explore some cool nature, then the Golden Circle is the number one tourist route to take. This road is easily accessible, and doesn't need a 4x4.

Things to Know About Hiring a Car in Iceland

Now that you have decided on hiring a car in Iceland, let's go over having the best road trip possible.

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❣️ Hiring a Car in Iceland: Places to Visit

One of the things we loved about hiring a car in Iceland is experiencing all of the different landscapes! There are 10,000 waterfalls in the country, and so many of them are located right off the side of the road. In fact, we used the opportunity to constantly fill up our water bottle.

Have your camera ready, because not even 5 minutes will ever pass by without seeing some kind of incredible scenery.

Here are some of the places work adding to your Iceland road trip bucket list:

The Golden Circle

This is the most famous (and touristic) area of Iceland. With a number of stops, you can easily pull over right off the main highway to experience a number of things such as:

• Kerid Crater: large volcano crater with a lake in the middle and red rocks and grass around it

• Gulfoss: the most famous waterfall in the area

• Thingvellir National Park: stunning natural park where Game of Thrones was filmed

• Geyser Geothermal Area: a massive geyser that erupts every several minutes

• Fridheimar Tomato Farm: family-run farm that's a great place for lunch

The West Fjords

This is one of the most underrated areas of Iceland, and is known for its dramatic cliffs and puffins. Some of the highlights include:

• Budir: extensive lava fields

• Hellnar: cliffs with giant rock arches

• Snaefellsjokul: national park with a big glacier in the middle of it

• Kirkjufell: an iconic cone-shaped volcano with waterfalls right next to it.

• Latrabjarg: giant cliffs with puffins

• Dynjandi: beautiful set of waterfalls

Akureyi

This is the second biggest city in Iceland, and is the main hub for exploring the north of the country. Some of the highlights are their incredible thermal baths, breweries, and even a mix of both- a beer spa!

East Iceland

East Iceland has some of the most impressive landmarks in the country, as well as one of our favorite towns. Here are a few things you should check out while in the area:

• Studagil Canyon: turquoise river with large basalt columns surrounding it

• Hengifoss: a tall waterfall surrounded by striking red rock

• Seydisfjordur: an adorable town on the coast with a rainbow road, cute blue church, and nice bars

• Vok Baths: unique set of thermal baths on a lake

• Eystrahorn: one of the most beautiful mountain peaks on the island

Vik/Southern Iceland

The south of Iceland has become one of the most visited areas by tourists, and with good reason! Full of striking rock formations, black sand beaches, lupine fields, and the best glaciers, it's also one of our favorite areas in Iceland. Here are a few of the things you shouldn't miss out on:

• Skogafoss: one of the most beautiful and grandest waterfalls in the country

• Seljalandsfoss: a unique waterfall that you can walk behind

• Vik: a quaint town facing black sand beaches

• Reynisfjara: a black sand beach with basalt columns and other incredible rock formations

• Jokulsarlon: the most famous glacier that can easily be visited

• Diamond Beach: a black sand beach with massive chunks of ice from Jokulsarlon glacier

• Sólheimasandur: an abandoned plane wreck

The Westman Islands

This is one of the least-visited areas of Iceland, but was another one of the most underrated! In order to get here you'll have to take the car ferry from Landeyjahöfn. It's known for its colorful volcanic craters, an elephant-shaped rock, and surrounding green islands once used for fisherman.

The Highlands

The highlands is the area with some of the most otherworldly formations in Iceland. The roads there can only be accessed in the summer, and a 4x4 is absolutely necessary.

The area is completely remote, but some of the things you can experience are rainbow mountains, colorful volcanic craters, and giant geothermal fields.