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Route 1 (Iceland)

Photo: Reykholt, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Route 1, also known as the Ring Road (Icelandic: Þjóðvegur 1 or Hringvegur), is the main highway that encircles Iceland, connecting all of the island nation's major towns, including the capital city Reykjavik.

Travelling along the Ring Road is quintessentially a staple for tourists in Iceland as it crosses landscapes one does not see often in continental Europe: white glaciers and blue icebergs, towering fjords and mighty waterfalls, smoky craters and dormant volcanoes, and for the lucky few: glowing auroras.

UnderstandRoute 1, also known as the Ring Road, is the major highway in Iceland, connecting Iceland's largest towns.
Get inFor visitors from abroad, there are in practice two ways for getting in. If you wish to bring your own vehicle, Smyril Line has a weekly sailing from Hirtshals, Denmark to Seyðisfjörður at the eastern end of the country.
TalkEven though Icelandic is the official language of Iceland, it is easy to get by in English as virtually all locals are fluent enough to at least start a conversation.
PrepareThere are many videos on YouTube that can prepare you well for a road trip around Iceland. If you're too lazy to watch them, just know this: whenever you come upon something unexpected, slow down. Or maybe even stop.
ItineraryThis itinerary is sorted by region, each of which generally takes at least one whole day to traverse.
National parks and lakes
Stay safeWhile most, if not all of Highway 1 is passable in all conditions (given its status as an arterial road), those who intend to detour to see sights must check the latest weather and road conditions to see if they can…
Go nextBeing a ring road, there is no "beginning" or "end," but many worthwhile side trips are just off the ring towards the interior or coast.

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