Martin & Tina
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10. 01. 2026 Winter Iceland is like another planet. Frozen waterfalls, endless white wilderness and dancing aurora borealis overhead. To make your experience perfect, you need to know how to deal with the specific conditions on the road. If you’ve read our article on 5 reasons to rent a car in Iceland, you already know that owning your own car is the key to freedom. This is doubly true in winter, but driving has its own specifics.
TIP: Thanks to our partnership with Blue Car Rental, we offer a 5% discount on the entire booking. Just make your reservation through this link and the discount is yours!
See what it looked like on our winter trip to Iceland.
Studded tyres: your best friend on the ice
When we visited Iceland in February 2024, the roads were often one big sheet of ice covered with fresh snow. Here comes the first important news: Every car from our partner Blue Car Rental has studded tyres in winter. These little metal spikes bite into the ice and give you a reassurance we don’t have. They saved the day for us on more than one occasion during a trip in February, allowing us to safely navigate sections where regular winter tires would have failed.
Why go for 4×4?
Although major roads like the Ring Road are regularly maintained, Iceland can surprise you with a quick change in conditions. For a winter trip, we definitely recommend a 4×4. The higher chassis and four-wheel drive will help you in tricky situations, such as leaving your accommodation or crossing mountain passes where the wind is strong and tongues form.
Watch out for the verges
The various waterfalls or even the Icelandic horses lining the roads are beautiful and invite you to take pictures. But be careful here – never pull off the paved road onto the shoulder. On our trip, we saw several tourists with classic sedans (no 4×4) who tried to stop on a “snowy patch” and never left without help. There may be deep mud or a ditch under the layer of snow. If you want to take photos, always use only the designated rest areas.
Don’t underestimate snow storms
Iceland’s weather is unpredictable. Snowstorms can be so strong that visibility drops to zero within minutes.
- Watch the forecast – Expect your plans to change.
- Flexibility – You may be “cut off” for a day by a storm and have to find accommodation in a different place than you had planned. That’s part of winter in Iceland.
Speed and peace of mind behind the wheel
Always adjust the speed to the current situation. If the road is icy, don’t be tempted to drive too fast. Don’t take unnecessary risks and enjoy the views. Unless there’s a completely extreme situation (which only happens maybe 3 times a season in Iceland and the authorities close the roads as a precaution), there’s nothing to worry about. With a careful approach and a good quality car, any average driver can handle winter driving.
Get ready with our itinerary
To make sure you see the most beautiful places and know where to stop safely, unlock our winter Iceland Winter Iceland itinerary. You’ll find a precise day-by-day itinerary, accommodation tips and top stops, as well as tips for spotting the Northern Lights. All in one place.
Winter expedition to Iceland with Northern Lights
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