Learn me: driving in a foreign country

I'm leaving for a much-needed vacation in Iceland on Saturday and I'm thinking about renting a car while I'm there so I can see more of the place. 1.5 day rental so I can drive from Akureyi to somewhere in the remote northwest, then to Reykjavik the next day.

I've never driven anywhere but in the good old US of A (not even Canada!), so I'm a bit cautious here. I'll even admit that I don't understand 100% of the European road signs I've seen. At least they drive on the right in Iceland, so that's not a concern. I'm good with the manual micro-car that's the cheapest on the Budget lot, and I've driven dirt roads occasionally, but not daily.

Anyone ever driven in Iceland specifically?

Any foreign-country driving tips, other than watch your damn speed and don't hit the sheep?

It's been years since I navigated anywhere by myself without GPS (not the purple kind) or a smart phone with Google Maps, so that's taking a step back.

My guidebook stresses how remote Iceland can be for the foreign driver, how even the main ring highway isn't much of a highway sometimes, and that tourists screw the pooch sometimes not being ready for dirt surfaces, weather changes, etc etc. This will be the second week in September, so it's after the peak season but hopefully before the real winter starts...

I welcome your tips, admonishments, advice, etc.

Just drive max speed and miss the volcanoes........then try to suggest to the policeman that they are uncivilized since you drive that way in Murika......

I'm done fooling, basically, just remember kmph and roundabouts.....iceland shouldn't be too tricky. Otherwise the rest should be straight forward.

If they have right hand drive cars, beware crossing a split (4 lane) type road. It is very easy to only look the way you are used to, then move to the center, before checking the other way, if you do this you will look the wrong way. I did it on foot in LA when I first got here and my wife did the same thing in a car in Australia.

Driving on the wrong side of the road is about impossible to do.

They drive on the right so it's zero problem. I've never had an issue going to other contries. Even driving left hand drive cars in the UK hasn't been an issue. The only problem I've ever had is when going back to the UK, after a couple of days I forget and set off on the right rather than the left. Never had a problem going fro mthe UK to the continet or America though.

Probably the biggest difference to keep in mind is that most countries do not allow you to turn right on red. Also be very very aware of bicycles because they share the road a lot more in Europe than the U.S.

Driving in a big city (I was in Berlin) was tough at first. I don't think you will have the same kind of insane traffic in Iceland.

SO jealous. I went to Iceland in '06 with my new girlfriend (now wife) for 7 days of car camping. What an amazing country. We went in early June so it wasn't the height of their tourist/summer season yet. Some of the interior roads weren't even open yet.

There is a major paved ring road around most of the island and paved roads in the towns but other than that you are on gravel/dirt. Kinda like this...

Depending on where you want to go you may want to spring for a slightly taller vehicle as there are often water crossings.

Which leads to this...

You could just take the bus

All around the country are "huts" which take reservations and offer a warm place to throw your sleeping bag and always have warm water on the stove. (my shutter was acting up by this point)

Ring road, often with crappy views.

Watch out for these guys, they'll eat your tires. Actually, sheep outnumber people on Iceland 4:1.

You may see some cool cars.

And some great scenery. Black sand beach at Vik.

Glaciers

Waterfalls

Puffins

and maybe even roads like this, so get a bigger car...

IF you head into the interior, get gas or you may be stopping at a gas station like this.

If you have the chance, take a long walk in the snow. It's good for the soul.

When you're done, head to one of these, most towns have them.

Have fun.

This ad paid for by the Iceland Ministry of Tourism. They must have a lurker here. Sold me anyway.

I don't know if it's still considered mandatory for driving in foreign countries, but you can go to the local AAA office and get an international driver's license. http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

^^ Most European countries won't need that, but not all of them so make sure you check first.

Count me in with the jealousy crowd. Always wanted to stopover in Iceland during my many Germany-Canada flights over the last few years. Looks like an incredible and fascinating place for anyone who loves the outdoors! Never got around to it though.

A couple good ride reports on Iceland from ADVRider:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749438

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701127

Don't forget to visit the penis museum. http://www.phallus.is/

Thanks for all the advice folks

hobiercr and EvanB, your photos/links are really freaking awesome. I can't wait!

As a one-way adventure, the rental has become astronomically expensive for a 1.25 day rental (25% tax!), but I'm telling myself that when I drop the car off, I'll have loved every minute of it.

Planned highlight for those interested -

Hike 7 days from Landmannalaugar to Skógar on guided trek

Bus tour of Mývatn, etc

Drive here http://djupavik.com/

The international driving license is nice for countries where police officers try to hold your license/passport and extort cash from you for some made up violation. Then you can say eff it, keep the $25 AAA license. For most of Europe, you'll be fine with your normal license.

Maybe more applicable to the rest of Europe: slower traffic keep right. They are serious about it.

Now I want to go to Iceland- great pics! Just got back from Sweden, leaves started turning while we were there.

And you'll realize really quickly that people in places other than USA can drive. Like they take it seriously. No one ever camps out in the left lane, no one is on the phone, everyone signals, the leave when it turns green. They stop when it's red.

I spent 1500km in a brand new Audi A4 tdi in Spain last summer. Fcuking utopia.

EvanB I am now hooked on those advrider threads. I can't wait to have some time to really enjoy them. Even found our remote gas station early on in the first thread.

peter, you really have no clue what you are in for and you will love it. Take some pictures and post them back here. Is THIS the trek you are doing? If so, the Skogafoss waterfall at the end is truly amazing. That part of the island can be very damp so I hope you have good gear. Proper layering is critical on this island. When we hiked I was often stripping down to a t-shirt and thin shell for the wind and then layering back up when we stopped. The air is so clean and crisp you truly won't believe it. Have an awesome trip.

motomoron wrote: And you'll realize really quickly that people in places other than USA can drive. Like they take it seriously.

MattGent wrote: Maybe more applicable to the rest of Europe: slower traffic keep right. They are serious about it.

I think I'm going to like driving in Iceland. Now let's just hope I don't do anything to accidentally offend these conscientious drivers.

hobiercr wrote: EvanB I am now hooked on those advrider threads. I can't wait to have some time to really enjoy them. Even found our remote gas station early on in the first thread.

I noticed that one too. I've never been interested in bikes much, but now I may have a hankering for a GS....

hobiercr wrote: peter, you really have no clue what you are in for and you will love it. Take some pictures and post them back here. Is THIS the trek you are doing? If so, the Skogafoss waterfall at the end is truly amazing. That part of the island can be very damp so I hope you have good gear. Proper layering is critical on this island. When we hiked I was often stripping down to a t-shirt and thin shell for the wind and then layering back up when we stopped. The air is so clean and crisp you truly won't believe it. Have an awesome trip.

Yep, that's the trek I'll be doing. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm an on-and-off backpacker, so I've got pretty decent gear. Updated my rain pants from a duct-taped set to something new, lighter, and not patched with tape.

I hadn't planned to bring a T-shirt for the hiking portion - was it really that warm? (Remind me what month you were there?) Maybe I'll throw a couple of tech tees in. I was planning on being in lightweight long-john top and windpants at a minimum.

I'm renting a nice wide-angle lens for my Canon, so hopefully I'll get a good shot or two in while I'm there. I'll post back if people are interested.

please make a post with pics. its always cool to read about peoples travels. I do remeber the epic raad trip someone did across the usa a couple of years ago on here while riding a duel sport bike,. the report he did every day was very very cool.

peter wrote: I hadn't planned to bring a T-shirt for the hiking portion - was it really that warm? (Remind me what month you were there?) Maybe I'll throw a couple of tech tees in. I was planning on being in lightweight long-john top and windpants at a minimum.

We were there in early June so it was not the warmest part of the season. It also really depends on where you are in regards to the closest glacier, current weather, etc. Tech tees should do you good. I also chose to go with my shorter boots (Garmont) which was fine. We brought gators but never used them.

Don't forget some sort of eye cover for sleeping. We were in tents and when the sun goes down at 11 AM and up a 1 AM it can really throw you off. Nothing like waking up in a bright warm tent, stepping out to pee in broad daylight and knowing that it is 3 AM.

Please post picts when you get back!

I'm back from my awesome adventure. The driving was not an issue, but was definitely an adventure. I've never driven a car where I've had to downshift because the wind direction changed against me (Hyundai i10).

I have over 900 pictures to process, this panorama is just a quickie experiment. Photo stitching software has improved massively since I last used it. Now it actually works!

link to bigger version I promise more pictures in the somewhat near future.

Wow!! Reminds me of Alaska, the roads were very similar. Can't wait to see more pics.

Maaaan, I was so, so close to a short trip to Iceland on Uncle Sam's dime, now I might have to spend my own.

So I've put up more photos. My basic set is here

Panoramas are fun (these are yet to be edited, some need serious work)

^^ View of the sea from a tiny cabin on Eyjafjallajökull (the volcano that caused massive flight disruptions in 2010