For many, Iceland is Europe's most jaw-dropping campervan destination: an island of fire and ice where, within a few kilometres, you'll see giant waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, geysers, black beaches and lava fields. The star way to explore it is the Ring Road, its round-the-island route. It's an expensive trip with demanding weather, but unforgettable. Here's the essentials.
The Ring Road
Route 1, or the "Ring Road", circles the whole island (around 1,300 km) and links up most of the big attractions. Driving it in full takes at least one or two weeks to enjoy properly. It's the backbone of any trip to Iceland.
What you'll see
- The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, the Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall.
- Waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Dettifoss... all over the island.
- The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach.
- Black beaches (Reynisfjara), lava fields and geothermal areas.
How it's usually done
The standard approach is to hire a campervan in Iceland (bringing your own means long, expensive ferry crossings from Denmark). There are many rental companies with vans suited to the country. Hire and living costs there are high; budget carefully.
What you need to know
- The weather calls the shots: very strong wind and sudden changes even in summer; check the forecast daily.
- Regulated overnight parking: it's forbidden to stay overnight outside authorised campsites; use the campsite network.
- Respect nature: don't leave the paths; the ecosystem is fragile.
- Summer for the full Ring Road and the midnight sun; winter for the northern lights (with more risk).
In summary
Iceland offers waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and the Ring Road on a wild, unforgettable trip, in exchange for high costs and demanding weather. The step to take today: if you decide to go, hire a campervan there, spend one or two weeks on the Ring Road, check the weather daily and only stay overnight at campsites; it's one of the most spectacular trips out there. Link it with our routes through Europe.