This map is produced by Hjólafærni á Íslandi and contains a list of bicycle services around Iceland on one side including all the major roads with an indication of how much traffic you can expect on the roads and other details of interest.

The line map on the other side shows the various public transport options in Iceland, summer 2014. The colours and numbers of the lines refer to the different bus systems, operators and local connections in the country. More at publictransport.is

You can download the PDF-version (5 mb) here: Cycling Iceland map summer 2016 front side.

You can download the PDF-version (8 mb) here: Cycling Iceland map summer 2016 back side.

You can download the PDF-version Main cycling route in the capital area 2016 (1,6 mb) here: Main cycling route in the capital area 2016

Download the Campsites in Iceland 2016 bochure here: Campsites PDF

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

Website: cyclingiceland.is

The 2017 map is also available at http://cyclingiceland.is/

The Icelandic mountainbike club is a proud member of Icelandic Cyclists' Federation organizations as are all the most active cycling clubs in Iceland like The Cycling Club of Reykjavik ( HFR) and Hjólamenn.

The Icelandic Cyclists' Federation was established in 1995 as an umbrella organisation for touring, commuting and sports cyclists  in cooperation with a national body for non-competitive sports (Íþróttir fyrir alla), under the Icelandic Sports Association. The official name is Landssamtök hjólreiðamanna (in Icelandic), abbreviated LHM.

LHM promotes cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transportation and recreation, a competitive sport and a family-friendly non-competitive sports activity.

LHM represents the interests of all cyclists in Iceland at the local and national level.
LHM is a member of the European Cyclists' Federation.

Website: LHM.is

Member clubs:

Íslenski Fjallahjólaklúbburinn ÍFHK - ( www.fjallahjolaklubburinn.is ) established 1989

Hjólreiðafélag Reykjavíkur HFR ( www.hfr.is ) - is a club for sports-cyclists, first established (1924). HFR have regular training sessions all year. They arrange several competitions, both on tarmac and on gravel/off-road. HFR members have competed internationally, like in the small nations championships. HFR was instrumental in the establishment of the Cycling committee of the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland and oversee national championships.

Hjólamenn, established January 2005.
Hjólamenn ( /www.hjolamenn.is )  is a club for sports-cyclists, established in 2005. They have regular training sessions all year. They arrange several competitions, both on tarmac and on gravel/off-road. Members have competed internationally, like in the small nations championships. Hjolamenn have a representative in the Cycling committee of the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland.

Hjólafærni á Íslandi
They run many different projects individually and in copoeration with others. Website: hjolafaerni.is

Sports competitions

At hjolamot.is you can see a list of most competition in the cycling sport.

If you are planning an adventurous cycling trip, Iceland is unique in many ways.  It's safe to travel here and you will find Icelanders very helpful and friendly. It's easy to plan your own trip but we also list a few companies that specialize in guided bike tours.

We do not sell or organize trips but here we have gathered extensive information for the independent cyclist touring Iceland.  If you come well prepared, with good quality clothes and gear you are more likely to thoroughly enjoy cycling in Iceland. We are a non-profit cycling club and all work is done by volunteers.

If you have general questions on Iceland check out the Tourist board or some of the service providers linked on our pages.

If you are planning a cycling trip here and after reading our advice you still have cycling related questions we are glad to try to help. You can send us an e-mail with you question on cycling related things, please keep it simple and send it to Darren at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will try to help. (Make sure the subject is Cycling in Iceland to get through the spam filters.)

And those of you we have given advice, do let us know how your trip went. We love hearing about your trips, what you found the highlights, what route you chose and if you encountered trouble we would like to learn from them.

If you have photos or travelstories online we would love to share them here, both with icelandic cyclists and those planning to come to Iceland.

Bike rentals and guided bike tours

There are several bike rentals and companies offering guided tours in Reykjavik and around the island. Here are some of them:

The bike company

Specializing in mountain biking adventures, Bike Company is a licensed travel agency in Iceland. The staff is a group of great people, experts in the field of mountaineering and biking. Our philosophy is simple; we strive to give our guests the opportunity to enjoy the best of Iceland during a safe, fun-filled adventure. 

Check out their website for further details: www.bikecompany.is

Borgarhjól

Borgarhjol was established in 1983,  They offer fully equipped quality bikes in both male and female versions and various frame sizes.

Check out their website:www.borgarhjol.is

Hike and Bike

Hike and Bike offers quality hiking- and mountainbiking tours in the region of Myvatn. Lake Myvatn and the surrounding area is one of the most beautiful area of Iceland. Hike and Bike offers both half-day and full-day tours with passionate leaders, tours that suit people of all levels.

Check out their website: www.hikeandbike.is

Icebike andventures

Icebike andventures offers a totally different experience: "We are not a travel agency running huge trips all year round. We are running a small private business and we can only offer our services during August only because we hold an immense respect for protecting the land and soil, and because we want you to have the best possible biking conditions. We consider this to be very important and that makes our trips very exclusive. "

"All routes are AM allmountain, not xc. There is a lot of hike and bike with plenty of fun on the way down. Recommended bike; 4-7 inch suspension, 15kg or less. These trips are not intended for persons with beginner bike skills. All participants should have some allmountain experience."

Check out their website: icebikeadventures.com  

Iceland Activities

Tours and bike rental

From their website: Iceland Activities:

If you like to bike, hike or surf, look no further!  By selecting our tours, you are guaranteed to get quality tours for the lowest price.
 
Iceland Activities is a family company that has extensive experience, over 20 years, of the surrounding area of Hveragerði. Our goal is to take you out of the main tourist areas and into Icelands unique nature and show you all the remarkable things that make Iceland so amazing. We offer various tours ranging from two hours up to a day trip, many of our tours are also available in the evening sun. Iceland Activities is located in Hveragerði, the Icelandic capital of hot springs. Hveragerði is 45 km east of the capital Reykjavík (30 minutes drive).

Iceland Bike

Iceland Bike offers a personal eco-friendly bicycle tour of Reykjavik to first-time visitors to the city. No visit to Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, is complete without meeting a knowledgeable local person – who brings the places to life!

A visit to Reykjavik is incomplete without travelling along the city’s coastline by bike. We won’t just show you the essential must-sees and the breath-taking sights of Iceland’s capital; We tell you the stories that bring these places to life! 

Check out their website: Iceland Bike

Kria Cycles / Ride.is / Trails in Iceland

The guys at Kria Cycles have been offering bike tours and also hire bikes of various types.

Check out these websites: www.kriacycles.com and Trails in Iceland

MiM = Made in Mountains

"Tailor made trips. We can and will join you in almost any tailor made trip you can think of. Between our superhero Emil, which has explored most of Iceland’s trails on a bike and Þorlákur (Láki) which has hiked most glaciers in Iceland, sailed rivers in all parts of the country on a kayak anything is possible.

Specializing in cycling we’ll take you and your travel buddies on single or multi day adventures, tailor made for you."

Check out their website:  www.madeinmountains.is

Mountain Biking Tours in Iceland with Nature Explorer

If your interest is mt. biking, Iceland has a lot to offer; great diversity in scenery, secluded roads and fun mountain tracks that provide different challenges and a lot of fun.

We are a small company and so are our groups. That's the way we like it; smaller groups, bigger adventure. It's more personal and therefore more fun for our guides and our clients. We design bike tours for groups. 

Check out their website:  www.natureexplorer.is/mountain-biking

Opus Adventures

From their website:  www.opusadventures.is

"Our philosophy is simple and we aim at giving our guests the opportunity to enjoy the best of Iceland in a safe, fun (and stomach) filled adventure holiday that is in perfect balance with the environment. "

VIKing Bike Rental

VIKing Bike Rental helps tourists to spend their holidays in an active way by discovering South of Iceland by bike. We help you to find the most convenient routes to visit wonders of nature in the vicinity of Vík.

Website: vikingbikerental.com  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vikingbikerental

West Tours' bike rental

There are many options in Ísafjörður and surroundings for biking. You can bike along the main roads that goes to three different directions out of the town or ride along some of the old roads and muddy mountain roads. It is also a good idea to combine biking and hiking in the mountains.

West Tours have few mountain-bikes for renting out to travellers.

The West Tours Staff is more than happy to help renters to organize a biking tour in the area.

Check out their website: www.vesturferdir.is

Mobile phones
The GSM network is short range but can be used in all major towns and villages but not in the interior. If you own a mobile phone you can check with your service provider if you can use your phone here.  For more information check out Siminn or Vodafone. Check the rates before using your mobile here because the international roaming rates for mobiles is often just crazy! If you plan to use your mobile the best option may be to get a prepaid icelandic SIM card.

The internet
There are some internet cafés in Reykjavik but usually the easiest access to computers around the countryside may be in libraries.  Your internet service providers may give you webaccess to your mail but if not you can get a free internet mail address through hotmail, gmail, yahoo etc. and keep in touch with friends and family.

Notes
Note that the first weekend in August is the Icelandic "Bank holiday" when everybody get the Monday off and there is heavy traffic on most roads, especially Route 1.

Before the tunnel under Hvalfjörður opened up there used to be a ferry from Reykajvík harbour to Akranes and it may still be on old maps. This used to be the easiest way out of Reykjavík escaping the heavy traffic on the surrounding roads. For the summer of 2017 a new ferry service is planned so check out that option. Cycling is not allowed in the tunnel which is 5.7km of which 3.75km is under the sea going 165 meters down. The good news is that the traffic in beautiful Hvalfjörður is down by 60-90% for the 60km stretch making it a pleasant ride. In all other road tunnels cycling is allowed. Not all of them have lights so that's another reason to have your bike fitted with front and rear lights and make sure they are not blocked by luggage.

We update this guide regularly and add links both on this page and the links page to more information available on the web as I find it and we also add new photo galleries regularly so bookmark the main page and check again soon. We would love to hear from you if you have been to Iceland it would be great to hear your story, see if you agree with our guide and maybe add a link to your web pages if you have already published your travelogue or put up a photo gallery from Iceland.

Iceland has a well organized network of buses that you can use to save time or add flexibility to your planning, check out BSI Travel, Vatnsmyrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavik. Tel. +354 562 1011. 

For more detaild information on public transport in Iceland check out the Cycling Iceland map in the menu.

Taking a bus makes it possible for you to go further in a limited time rather than having to cycle back.

The buses usually take bicycles (not too many if you are travelling in a group) for a small additional charge.

Most hotels will gladly store your bicycle box for you if you stay with them a night or two. New boxes are usually easy to get at one of the bikeshops we list in the menu.

There are also luggage lockers available in at least six locations in Reykjavík. The maximum storagetime is between 4-30 days. More information at www.luggagelockers.is

Bicycle and repair shops

Bicycle stores are mostly to be found around Reykjavik. There one can find most spare parts, equipment and general repair service, and even get boxes to pack your bike for the flight home:
Orninn, Skeifunni 11d, 108 Reykjavík. Map
G.A.P. Faxafen 14. 108 Reykjavík. Map
Markid, Ármúla 40, 108 Reykjavík. Map
Hvellur, Smiðjuvegur 30, 200 Kópavogur. Map

Borgarhjól , Hverfisgötu 50, 101 Reykjavík. Map
Hjólið, Smiðjuvegi 9, 200 Kópavogur. Map
Kría cycles , Hólmaslóð 4, 101 Reykjavík. Map

And outside the Reykjavik area:

Sportver, Glerargotu 28, 600 Akureyri. Map
Sportvik, Skidabraut 2, 620 Dalvik. Map
Hjólabaer, Austurvegi 11, 800 Selfoss. Map

One can not expect to find all spare parts or tools in the countryside, so it's advisable to bring your own or buy all the necessities before leaving Reykjavik. It is hard to find bicycle repair shops in the countryside but service stations or garages for cars are to be found in most villages where one can get help (if needed) and repairs.

For a more detailed list check out the Cycling Iceland map 2016

Maps
You can order all kinds of maps from Ferdakort.is  The 1:500.000 road map should have enough detail for your trip. 

Check out The National Land Survey of Iceland for more detailed information.

The Public Roads Administration maintains this online road map of Iceland wich is regularely updated and shows all roads in Iceland and marks areas where traffic is prohibited due to contidions. It's a PDF document and you can zoom in for more detail. See also "Roads".

Also check out the Cycling Iceland map in the menu.

Reykjavik
Reykjavik has a network of paths for walking and cycling. It has practically no markings so you might make a wrong turn now and then but it's all a part of the adventure.  Here is a detailed map of the path system.

Guidebooks
There are a few guidebooks on Iceland, including The Visitor's KEY to ICELAND which very popular with Icelanders. The Lonely Planet is a popular choice. And you can download some of the free brocures available at every tourist information stop and gas stations: What's on in Iceland, Áning - accomodation and more

	The Visitor's KEY to ICELAND Description: This essential guidebook accompanies you around the country. Organised arond maps - of all the roads in the country including the highlands and all mountain roads, as well as streetmaps of towns and villages - it gives a running commentary on all you see, providing information and anecdoted relating not only to natural featurs but also to local social, political and literary history. The book is available in English, German and Icelandic. Available from: http://www.randburg.is/is/ib.html
	The biking book of Iceland - Part 1: The Vestfjords (2012) Description: Iceland is full of fantastic biking routes. This book describes fourteen day trip cycle circuits, including detours and local knowledge. They range from short and easy family trips to long rough terrain rides. The first book in The Biking Book of Iceland series is about the Westfjords. This remote area is largely free of heavy traffic, is famous for its magnificent landscapes and offers a feast for the senses with the sounds and smells of nature and its clean air and water. The book contains over 200 colour photos. Each circuit is accompanied by an informative, easy to use map which includes colour coded indications of road gradients. Available from: www.vestfirska.is and bookstores in Iceland.
	The biking book of Iceland - Part 2 This is the second in the series but only available in Icelandic. This book describes 22 day trip cycle circuits on the Snæfellsnes peninsula and neighbouring area with detailed maps of the routes. Available from: www.vestfirska.is and bookstores in Iceland.
	The biking book of Iceland - Part 3 This is the third in the series but only available in Icelandic. This book describes 12 day trip cycle circuits on the Reykjanes peninsula and neighbouring area from Hvalfjörður to lake Þingvallavatn. Available from: www.vestfirska.is and bookstores in Iceland.
	The biking book of Iceland - Part 4 This is the fourth in the series but only available in Icelandic. This book describes 12 day trip cycle circuits on the south coast around Selfoss and up to Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir area, or Árnessýsla county. Available from: www.vestfirska.is and bookstores in Iceland.
	The biking book of Iceland - Part 5 This is the fifth in the series but only available in Icelandic. This book describes 12 day trip cycle circuits on the south coast in Rangárvallasýsla county. Available from: www.vestfirska.is and bookstores in Iceland.
	Island per Rad The first guidebook written specifically for cycle touring was only available in German and originally published in 2001. It's called Island per Rad and is written by Ulf Hoffmann who has cycled extensively here in Iceland. He has made the material available online and is working on translating it to english. Check out his website: www.bikingiceland.com  (Kettler ISBN 3-921939-88-3)

Websites
Michiel Erens has travelled extensively around Iceland and maintains a great website with extensive advice on cycling in Iceland, different routes and areas in Iceland, photos and more: ME Iceland pages.

He has some advice on where to go here: Where to go

He also has links to other sites with information on cycling in Iceland and travellogs from people who have cycled in Iceland: ME links.

Looking for off-road trails?

Check out the wikiloc.com website for tips from other riders:

Want to ride around Reykjavik?

Check out the Strava heatmap to see what paths riders are using:

The Reykjavík Grapevine
The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times a year with an online version: grapevine.is 

Magazine
Iceland Review is a respected magazine in english with an online version here.

Free guides
There are several brochures you can pick up in tourinst information stands including Around Iceland that promises to be "a complete travel handbook that lists all places to stay, museums, tours, things to do, etc. There is also a german version, check out their website heimur.is

Visiting rules of Icelandic nature.
We would like to remind everyone traveling around Iceland that littering is strictly forbidden and if you travel in the interior highlands you must bring everything back or throw it in garbage bins at the campsites. Please help us keep our country tidy! Because of the short summers waste may take decades to decay and erosion may expose gabage your try to bury.

Emergency.
If an accident occurs one should contact the next police station immediately. The emergency telephone number is 112.
S.V.F.I. (The national life-saving association of Iceland) runs emergency-shelters all around the country. These shelters are only for emergencies. Unnecessary use of these shelters is strictly forbidden and the food there is only for real emergencies. They often have guest books that you are welcome to sign and write when you stopped by and were you are headed, this can be helpful if someone has to be tracked down.

General information
You can find general information at these websites:  www.visiticeland.com, www.visitreykjavik.is, www.iceland.is, www.discovericeland.is, www.travelnet.is to name just a few. Safetravel.is is also operated by the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue.