Welcome to
Reykjavik Iceland
backSigning the way
In Iceland we drive on the right. Pedestrians should exercise caution and use a pedestrian pathway if available.
A child under the age of 15 should wear protective helmets for cycling and adults are recommended to do so as well.
A driving license can be obtained at the age of 17, but young people can begin driving lessons at the age of 16. Using a smartphone while driving is prohibited, however it is allowed to talk on the phone with wireless devices. Speed limits are from 30 to 90 km per hour.
It is mandatory to use a seat belt for drivers and passengers. A child seat or seat belt cushion should be used for children under 150 cm.
Street names often describe localities such as Vesturgata, Lækjargata, Hafnarstræti and Skólavörðustígur.
Areas are also named after themes, for example, from Nordic mythology such as Freyjugata and Odinsgata or names from the Icelandic sagas, e.g. Grettisgata and Guðrúnargata.
The oldest neighborhoods have endings like -gata, -stræti, -stígur, -vegur.
As the city expanded, the number of street names increased, eg. -bakki, -fold, -vík.
Borg - city
Sveitarfélag - Municipality
Gata - street
Vegur - road
Stígur - lane
Gatnamót - intersection / crossroads
Hringtorg - roundabout
Brú - bridge
Torg - square
Umferð - traffic
Hjólastígur - bike path
Göngustígur - path
Gangstétt - sidewalk
Garður - park
Leiksvæði - playground
Vinstri - left
Hægri - right
Beint áfram - straight on
Beygja til vinstri / hægri - turn left / right
Leggja bíl - park a car
Bakka bíl - reverse a car
Inngangur - entrance
Útgangur - exit
Áttir - cardinal points:
norður - north
austur - east
vestur - west
suður - south
Varúð - attention
Fyrir framan - in front of
Fyrir aftan - behind
It is important to learn how to read the street signs in order to navigate in Reykjavik. They help visitors to find interesting places and institutions.
Traffic signs are important tools for navigation as well as understanding traffic rules. In Iceland, the driver has an internal lane priority out of roundabouts, unlike some other countries.
In Reykjavik, Strætó provides public transport services by bus, but in Iceland there are neither trains nor trams. The route map can be accessed on Strætó's website. Mjóddin is the main bus stop that connects Reykjavik to the countryside.
In the metropolitan area, most bus routes run every 15 minutes during rush hour, but every 30 minutes otherwise.
Passengers can pay for transport by using cash, a bus ticket, a bus card or an app.
Bus drivers do not carry any change.
Bifreið / bíll - car
Bílastæði - parking lot
Strætó - bus
Rúta - bus / shuttle
Skiptistöð - bus station
Umferðarmiðstöð - bus terminal
Stoppistöð - bus stop
Strætóbílstjóri - bus driver
Brottför - departure
Koma - arrival
Miði - ticket
Bátur - boat
Höfn - port
Leigubíll - taxi
Leigubílstjóri - taxi driver
Hjól - bike
Mótorhjól - motorcycle
According to a survey on travel habits, made by the City of Reykjavik in 2018, 73% of all journeys in the city are made by private car.
There are heavy traffic jams at rush hour, so the municipality's plan is to increase the number of buses and bicycle lanes.