Car traffic has increased by more than 100% during the last five years on many tourist routes. The main highway in Iceland, Route 1, circles the country in around 1400 kilometers. Most main roads are asphalted, although the surface is sometimes rough. This has the added benefit of encountering far less car traffic and experiencing wondrous bright summer nights, however, access to shops and services is of course limited. If you must cycle against the wind, consider cycling in the late evening and at night as the wind often calms down in the evening. If it is too windy to cycle, wait at a safe place until the weather has improved. Close to some mountains, gusts easily exceed 30 m/s, even pushing your bike can be impossible.Īdjust your travel plans according to the weather. Wind speed and gusts ( vindhviður) from windy places on the main roads are shown on electronic signs 10–30 km before those areas and also on At wind speeds above 15–20 m/s, cycling becomes dangerous. Always consult the weather forecast ( en.vedur.is, tel.: 902-0600, or ask the locals) before setting off. Wind and rain can cool you down quickly, and there is little shelter as trees are rare. Always carry warm clothing with you, even for short day trips. Strong winds often pick up within 10 minutes, and it can be calm in one place with a rough storm just 5 km away. Keep in mind that the weather in Iceland is much more variable and windy than in other countries. In the interior highlands and on mountain passes, it is often colder and wind, fog, rain or snow is more common. When lows approach, conditions can be quite wet on one side of the country. Most days offer a mixture of clouds and sunshine, but rain showers are frequent. A few warmer days may exceed 20☌ (68☏), but near freezing temperatures are equally common. During this time, the average temperature is 10–12☌ (50 –54☏). The summers are short, and the best time for cycling is late May to early September. Iceland enjoys a cool and windy oceanic climate. Take care to leave the place clean and in its natural state. Nevertheless, free camping with a small tent and a bicycle far away from the next house is legal and will not disturb anyone. Rules have become stricter in recent times. Use the campsite list on to find cycling-friendly sites.Ĭamping outside of designated campsites is a hotly debated topic, particularly related to overnight parking of camper vans, offroad parking, too little distance to inhabited houses and private property, garbarge and human waste. Campsites with a car-free area for tents only may be more quiet. and there may be a party throughout the (bright) summer night. on a nice green spot, you may find yourself surrounded by 2-ton SUVs, caravans, etc., at 11 p.m. Staple foods have relatively fair prices, but for all other goods and services expect to pay much more than in most other countries.Ĭamping on campsites: On many campsites in Iceland, cars are allowed to be driven next to the tent. Cycling in remote areas is a better experience. As most tourists seek to find nature by car, cyclists suffer from heavy traffic on main roads and sparse public transport. At places like Geysir or Gullfoss you will meet hundreds of visitors. Iceland is visited now by more than 2 million tourists per year. Cycling on remote roads, and public transport are safer. Roads are narrow and there are no bike paths. On large parts of route 1, traffic exceeds 3000 cars per day (one car every 10 seconds during daytime). Car traffic has increased massively in recent years. Take enough food and spare parts, and let others or know of your plans before travelling in lonely areas. It can be 200 km to the next shop, public transport or other services. Follow designated paths, and treat nature with care. Due to the cold climate, loose volcanic soils, and increased tourism, trampling of vegetation and erosion are major problems. ![]() Respect nature and use caution even if there is no warning sign. Steep rocks, crevasses, boiling hot springs, glaciers, and ocean beaches with heavy surf pose hazards to visitors. ![]() ![]() Bring warm clothing and adjust your travel plans to the weather. Expect extreme wind speeds, cold, rain and even snow. Weather in Iceland can change from one minute to the next. Be prepared for …Īdverse weather conditions. Cycling in Iceland is a great experience, but challenging. The CYCLING ICELAND 2019 and other independent travel map, made by dedicated cyclists, provides specific advice for all who travel in Iceland by bicycle, on foot, by bus, and also by car. We encourage you to travel around Iceland responsibly and help keep Iceland‘s vast but fragile environment unspoiled for future generations. Cycling and traveling in Iceland is a great experience, but you have to be prepared for harsh weather conditions and rugged nature. Iceland is a country of outstanding natural beauty. Useful info – download as PDF TRAVELING IN ICELAND
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