Why rent a car in Iceland?
Iceland is becoming a popular tourist destination for the adventurous type, with cheap flights from many European destinations making it easily accessible. It is a country of immense natural beauty and in a digital age where social media reigns supreme, there are plenty of awe-inspiring photo opportunities.
One thing that you should consider before travelling to Iceland is renting a car. There are plenty of benefits to renting a car for your stay in Iceland that can make your trip even better. With some great rental deals available, especially in the low season, you should take advantage of the options that are available.
Natural Beauty
As a country, Iceland is renowned for its natural beauty and many people visit to take in the sites. With plenty of things to see and do such as ice caves, natural geysers and volcanos, it can be an adventurer’s dream destination. Many of these natural beauty spots are outside of the major cities and can be difficult to reach by public transport. It is more than likely that you will also be doing a lot of walking while out for the day and it can be tiring. For this reason a rental car can be ideal as you won’t want to be doing even more walking to the bus stop and back to your hotel.
Short Stays
Renowned as a stopover destination, many people are not in Iceland for long and with cheap flights it makes the perfect destination for a short break. With a large number of things to see and do around the country, it can take a long time to travel to each destination by public transport. In order to make the most out of your trip it is advisable to rent a car for your stay. This way you can cover the most ground in a short space of time. It also allows you greater freedom on your trip and you can plan your route and the things you want to see in advance.
Great Roads
Many people are cautious about driving in other countries as they are unfamiliar with the roads. People often worry about getting stuck in traffic or not being able to find their way around. You don’t have to worry about these things in Iceland though. This is because many of the roads around the country are fairly open and not very busy. This makes navigating the roads easier as you can drive at your own pace around the roads. Coupled with the natural beauty of Iceland, there are also plenty of places to stop along the way. Make sure you plan your route in advance though and check the condition of the roads you will be driving on.
Food & Drink
Although Reykjavik has of course got plenty of restaurants and places to eat, some of the smaller towns outside of the capital don’t have so many. Iceland is known to be fairly expensive for dining out too compared to some other European cities. A lot of people who travel to the country often opt for self-catering as this can make it a much cheaper trip. If the local shop is a fair distance from your hotel, then you don’t want to be walking too far in order to get your food supplies and having to carry them back. If you’re not staying in the capital, then you might want to check how far the local supermarket is before traveling.