Iceland (IS)

Taxis (leigubílar) in Iceland are exceptionally expensive. A taxi from central Reykjavik to Keflavík Airport (50 km) costs ISK 18,000–25,000. A 5 km ride within Reykjavik: ISK 2,500–4,000. All licensed taxis use meters. Hreyfill-Bæjarleiðir (561-0000) is the main Reykjavik taxi company. Taxis can be booked via the Hreyfill app. Card payment standard. Uber does not operate in Iceland.

Uber does not operate in Iceland. Samferða (samferda.is) is Iceland's ride-sharing platform for carpooling, primarily used for longer distances. Electric scooters are available in Reykjavik in summer via Hopp (the main provider). The small population makes formal rideshare limited — informal carpooling via Facebook groups is common for regional travel.

Cycling in Reykjavik is possible on dedicated cycle paths, but less dominant than in Scandinavian capitals due to wind and weather. The capital has been expanding cycling infrastructure. Wind is the main challenge — gusts of 20–30 m/s are common. Cycling is pleasant in summer months. Cycle paths connect parts of Reykjavik but are not as comprehensive as Copenhagen. Recreational cycling is popular. Ebikes are increasingly common for commuting. Outside Reykjavik, cycling is primarily recreational (Ring Road cycling in summer is a popular tourist activity). Mountain biking on F-roads when open.

Iceland has NO railway system — no trains of any kind. All inter-regional travel is by road or air. The Ring Road (Hringvegur, Route 1) circumnavigates the entire island — approximately 1,332 km. Driving time around the full Ring Road: 14–16 hours of driving (typically done as a multi-day trip). Domestic flights are essential for reaching remote regions: Akureyri (north), Akureyri (east), Egilsstaðir (east), Ísafjörður (Westfjords), Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands), Húsavík, and others. Air Iceland Connect operates domestic routes from Reykjavik City Airport (Reykjavíkurflugvöllur — different from Keflavík International).

Driving is essentially mandatory for living in Iceland outside Reykjavik. Iceland drives on the right. Roads are generally well-maintained on the Ring Road and in populated areas. Critical Iceland-specific rules: (1) Headlights must be on at ALL times, day and night, year-round — it is the law. (2) F-roads (highland roads, marked F on maps) are ONLY accessible to 4WD vehicles and are ONLY open in summer (typically June–September). Attempting F-roads without 4WD is illegal and dangerous. Never cross rivers unless designated for vehicle crossing with depth markers. (3) Single-lane bridges (einbreiðar brýr) are common — slow to a stop and yield to traffic already on the bridge. (4) Speed limits: 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel/rural roads, 90 km/h on paved roads. (5) Sheep on roads — especially on rural roads in summer when sheep roam freely. (6) Weather can change to blizzard conditions with very short notice year-round — always check vedur.is (Icelandic Met Office) and road.is (Vegagerðin road conditions) before driving. Drink-drive limit: 0.2‰ — effectively zero tolerance.

Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's main international airport, located 50 km southwest of Reykjavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Handles virtually all international flights. The Flybus operates every 30–45 minutes to Reykjavik (BSÍ terminal) — journey approximately 45 minutes. Taxis: ISK 18,000–25,000 to central Reykjavik. Car rental is available at the airport — strongly recommended for anyone planning to travel beyond Reykjavik. Note: the Reykjanes volcanic eruptions since 2021 have occasionally disrupted access roads to the airport (not the airport itself). Reykjavik City Airport (Reykjavíkurflugvöllur) handles domestic and Greenland/Faroe Islands flights.