Driving a 4x4 Car for Iceland Travel
Iceland is one of the most unique travel destinations in the world.
Most visitors arrive by plane, but there is a ferry service from Denmark that takes about two days.
Once in the country there are a few ways to get around such as local tour flights, bicycling or even hitchhiking, but most experts recommend a 4x4 car for Iceland travel to get the most out of your trip.
It is actually relatively cheaper to use a rented car instead of a tour company excursion, because there are no entrance fees to the sites worth seeing.
The national or main road in Iceland is Route 1, commonly known as Ring Road.
It has 830 miles that encircle the island, and it connects most of the towns as well as the scenic sights.
Driving in Iceland requires caution because you may experience unfamiliar conditions.
For example, there are a number of single lane bridges on Route 1, and the rule is to let the closest vehicle cross first.
It is also not uncommon to see sheep, horses and cows along or in the road.
The rule of thumb is to expect these animals to dart in front of you, so extra caution is required.
Often a paved road changes to gravel, and this can cause accidents.
There are also blind curves and narrow roads that could be very dangerous.
Mountain roads are usually closed in winter, and most can only be driven with a 4x4 Iceland vehicle.
If the letter "F" prefixes a road number (e.
g.
F128), a four wheel drive is required to drive on the roads.
Many vacationers start their tour in Reykjavik, the northernmost capital city on earth.
Reykjavik is known for its exciting nightlife and shopping.
The city has museums, art galleries, botanical gardens, musical venues, festivals and other cultural activities.
It is a great place for whale watching, horseback riding and nearby hiking.
About 47 km southwest of the city is the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
To the east is the Pingvellir National Park where you can see the lava fields resulting from the fissure between the European and the North American tectonic plates of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
As you travel north on the Ring Road, you will be glad you rented a 4x4 car for Iceland travel to visit the scenic outbacks of the country.
Vatnajokull National Park covers almost 12 percent of Iceland's surface.
Here you can find the highest mountain in the country, Hvannadalshnukur, the largest glacier Vatnajokull and the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss.
Iceland has about 30 small islands, and one of them, Grimsey, is crossed by the Arctic Circle.
Here you can see the midnight sun in its entirety whereas on the mainland the sun will dip below the horizon briefly.
Grimsey has about 100 inhabitants, and is about 25 miles from the north coast of Iceland.
Visitors receive a certificate that proves they crossed into the Arctic!
Most visitors arrive by plane, but there is a ferry service from Denmark that takes about two days.
Once in the country there are a few ways to get around such as local tour flights, bicycling or even hitchhiking, but most experts recommend a 4x4 car for Iceland travel to get the most out of your trip.
It is actually relatively cheaper to use a rented car instead of a tour company excursion, because there are no entrance fees to the sites worth seeing.
The national or main road in Iceland is Route 1, commonly known as Ring Road.
It has 830 miles that encircle the island, and it connects most of the towns as well as the scenic sights.
Driving in Iceland requires caution because you may experience unfamiliar conditions.
For example, there are a number of single lane bridges on Route 1, and the rule is to let the closest vehicle cross first.
It is also not uncommon to see sheep, horses and cows along or in the road.
The rule of thumb is to expect these animals to dart in front of you, so extra caution is required.
Often a paved road changes to gravel, and this can cause accidents.
There are also blind curves and narrow roads that could be very dangerous.
Mountain roads are usually closed in winter, and most can only be driven with a 4x4 Iceland vehicle.
If the letter "F" prefixes a road number (e.
g.
F128), a four wheel drive is required to drive on the roads.
Many vacationers start their tour in Reykjavik, the northernmost capital city on earth.
Reykjavik is known for its exciting nightlife and shopping.
The city has museums, art galleries, botanical gardens, musical venues, festivals and other cultural activities.
It is a great place for whale watching, horseback riding and nearby hiking.
About 47 km southwest of the city is the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
To the east is the Pingvellir National Park where you can see the lava fields resulting from the fissure between the European and the North American tectonic plates of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
As you travel north on the Ring Road, you will be glad you rented a 4x4 car for Iceland travel to visit the scenic outbacks of the country.
Vatnajokull National Park covers almost 12 percent of Iceland's surface.
Here you can find the highest mountain in the country, Hvannadalshnukur, the largest glacier Vatnajokull and the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss.
Iceland has about 30 small islands, and one of them, Grimsey, is crossed by the Arctic Circle.
Here you can see the midnight sun in its entirety whereas on the mainland the sun will dip below the horizon briefly.
Grimsey has about 100 inhabitants, and is about 25 miles from the north coast of Iceland.
Visitors receive a certificate that proves they crossed into the Arctic!
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