Driving to Iceland by ferry: the Smyril Line self-drive guide

By Stefán · Iceland Roads · Written by a local who drives these roads

The route and schedule

Smyril Line's Norröna is the only ferry that lets you bring your own vehicle into Iceland. It sails from Hirtshals in Denmark, calls at Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands, and terminates at Seyðisfjörður on Iceland's east coast. The Denmark-Faroe leg runs a couple of times a week; the onward leg to Iceland typically runs about once a week, and only in season - there's a real gap in the depths of winter with no Iceland sailings at all. Schedules and exact dates shift year to year, so check the current published schedule before you book, not last year's.

Door to door from Denmark, budget roughly two to three days, including the Faroe Islands stop. Many travelers deliberately break the journey there for a day or two rather than staying aboard the whole crossing - the Faroes are worth it in their own right if you have the time.

Before you sail: insurance and paperwork

Bring your vehicle registration document and a valid driving license, as you would for any international car trip. The item people miss is insurance: Iceland is in the European Economic Area but not the EU, and insurers are inconsistent about whether cover described as “EU-wide” or “European” actually extends to it. Call your insurer specifically about Iceland before you sail, and ask whether you need a Green Card or equivalent international motor insurance certificate. Don't assume - confirm it in writing.

Arriving at Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður itself is a tiny, walkable art town - worth an hour or two before you drive on if your arrival time allows it. It has limited services for a fresh arrival, so plan your first fuel stop and any shopping for Egilsstaðir, the nearest town and regional hub, once you're over the pass. Fuel in Iceland is the same 95/98 unleaded and diesel you'd expect from continental Europe, but many stations outside towns are unstaffed and card-only - have a PIN-enabled card ready.

The one road out: Fjarðarheiði

There is exactly one road connecting Seyðisfjörður to the rest of Iceland: route 93 over Fjarðarheiði, a roughly 30-40 minute mountain pass to Egilsstaðir. There is no tunnel bypass, and a planned one (Fjarðarheiðargöng) was pushed back in Iceland's 2025 national transport plan, with construction now not expected until sometime after 2040. This pass closes with genuinely little notice outside summer - check the live alert bar and today's conditions before you drive it, especially on a shoulder-season crossing. If it's closed when you land, wait it out in Seyðisfjörður rather than attempting it - see the road rules guide on why a closed road means closed for you too.

Winter tyres apply to your car too

Iceland requires winter tyres (minimum 3mm tread) from 1 November to 14 April, and that law applies to every vehicle on Icelandic roads regardless of where it's registered - a foreign plate doesn't exempt you. If you're sailing in on a shoulder-season crossing (the Norröna's season runs later into autumn and starts again in spring, right at the edge of this window), get your tyres sorted promptly once you land rather than assuming your home-country tyres are adequate.

Confirm before you sail

Insurance coverage for Iceland specifically, not just “Europe” - in writing, from your insurer.

Check before you cross

Fjarðarheiði's live status - the alert bar and today's conditions, every time, not just once.

Sort out on arrival

Winter tyres if you're landing near the edges of the legal season (early spring or late autumn).

Common questions

Can I bring my own car to Iceland?

Yes, on the Smyril Line ferry (Norröna) from Hirtshals in Denmark, via a stop in the Faroe Islands, arriving at Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland. It's the only sea route for bringing a vehicle into the country.

Does my home car insurance cover driving in Iceland?

Don't assume it does. Iceland is in the EEA but outside the EU, and insurers vary on whether "EU-wide" or "European" cover actually includes it. Contact your insurer before you sail and confirm Iceland specifically - ask about a Green Card or equivalent international cover if they require one.

Does the Smyril Line ferry run all year?

No - it's a seasonal route, not year-round. Sailings to Iceland typically run roughly weekly from spring through autumn, with a gap in the depths of winter. Check the current published schedule before planning a winter crossing; don't rely on a year-old timetable.

How long does the ferry crossing take?

Roughly two to three days door to door from Denmark, including a stop in the Faroe Islands - many travelers break the journey there for a day or two rather than staying aboard the whole way.

Do I need winter tyres if my car isn't registered in Iceland?

Yes. The winter-tyre requirement (1 November to 14 April, minimum 3mm tread) applies to every car driving on Icelandic roads regardless of where it's registered. If you're sailing in on a shoulder-season crossing, get this sorted promptly after you land.