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Iceland

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{{infobox Country
|country = Iceland
|in = Scandinavia|map= <map lat='65.25670649344259' lng='-20.89599609375' zoom='5' view='01' float='right' />
|language = Icelandic
|capital = [[Reykjavík]]
|hitch = <rating country='is' />
}}
'''Iceland''' is a very good country for [[hitchhiking]]. It is a member state of the [[Schengen Agreement]]. People are shy but are nice. There aren't many cars though. With the astronomical bus prices, hitchhiking will be a great help to your Iceland trip budget. Most of the cities and towns in Iceland are small enough so that you can easily walk out to their edge to hitch. Beware of the Icelandic climate. While not very icy, it can be very miserable with a cold [[weather#Rain|rain]] and strong winds, even in August. If you want to hitch through the middle of the country on roads where only SUV can drive, make sure that the lift you get can take you the whole way. You don't want to get stuck in the middle - it's like being on the moon!
There is a [http://www.vegagerdin.is/english/road-conditions-and-weather/the-entire-country/island1e.html website] where you can check the degree of traffic on any given route. It's made to keep [[weather]]/[[road conditions]] up-to-date, and is updated every few hours.
Note that '''Iceland''' is an island country in the summer time (June-August), it can be very easy to get North Atlantic. It is a ride. Many Icelanders, and even more tourists in rented cars, are driving around member state of the small country, and are always happy to pick you up[[Schengen Agreement]].
Iceland has It is a popular carpooling very good country for [http://www[hitchhiking]], as the people (though shy) are nice.samferdaWaiting times can sometimes be long since there are not so many cars.net/ website] In the summer time (June-August), which is particularly useful for finding it can be very easy to get a ride . Many Icelanders, and even more tourists in rented cars, are driving around the small country, and are always happy to the remoter corners pick you up. Most of the countrycities and towns in Iceland are small enough so that you can easily walk out to their edge to hitch.
Beware of the Icelandic climate. While not very icy, it can be very miserable with a cold [[weather#Rain|rain]] and strong winds, even in August. If you want to hitch through the middle of the country on roads where only SUV can drive, make sure that the lift you get can take you the whole way. You don't want to get stuck in the middle. Even in the summer you can still be caught by a snowstorm. There is a [http://www.vegagerdin.is/english/road-conditions-and-weather/the-entire-country/island1e.html website] where you can check the degree of traffic on any given route. It's made to keep [[weather]]/[[road conditions]] up-to-date, and is updated every few hours. The emergency number is '''112'''. [[File:IcelandHitchhiking.JPG|thumb|300px|right|[[User:PhysicsHipster|PhysicsHipster]] hitchhiking Iceland in January.]] == Hitching to Iceland in ==
=== Ferry ===
In [[Hanstholm]] (during high season) or [[Esbjerg]] (low season) ([[Denmark]]), there is a [[hitchhiking a boat|ferry]] of the Faroese [http://www.smyril-line.com/ "Smyril Line"] that goes every Saturday (Tuesdays during high season) to [[Seyðisfjörður]] (in the east of Iceland) via [[Tórshavn]] ([[Faeroe Islands|Faroe Islands]]).
There hasn't been any account of people who hitched the ferry, but there are tariffs for cars including two or four persons. This should mean that there is at least in theory the possibility to travel with somebody on the ferry for free. The regular fares are quite reasonable for a 48-hour trip though - from €55 eur 55 to €107 eur 107 (as of 2010, ''plus couchette/berth'') depending on the season. There are no trucks on board, they leave containers at the port and they are picked up at the arrival by other trucks. There are many more people going between Denmark and the Faroe Faeroe Islands than from there to Iceland. As a single traveller, you can easily find a ride on board, especially on the way back from Iceland. A possibility to pay less is to buy a ticket to the Faroes Faeroe Islands only, and do the rest of the trip for free. Once in Tórshavn, you have to get off the ferry for about 8 hours, and then come back. In order to go back on board, you have to show your key card at a desk with an old lady, but if there are people waiting, you can just walk by and nobody will give you trouble. Your key card to the cabin will most likely still work, and in fact, even one from another time! Otherwise you can just hang around the deck, even with your luggage. Food on board is expensive, you should buy enough stuff for 2 days upon leaving. In Denmark, you can try walking directly into the ferry without being noticed, if you are willing to take the risk!
There is a cargo connection from [[Reykjavík]] to [[Halifax]], [[Canada]] provided by [http://www.eimskip.is / www.eimskip.is]. Not sure if it can be hitched, but sometimes it's possible to get one-time jobs on board! === Plane === The cheapest low cost companies flying to Iceland depart from Denmark (Copenhagen) and U.K. (London, Manchester, Edinburgh) and most often if you have to pay for your trip is so much cheaper than the ferry (up to eur 50 one way from/to Scotland!). There is a precedent from a French TV program ("Nus et culottés", search for episode, "Avionstop en Islande" or similar) where the two protagonists try to hitchhike private planes from several Scottish airports and in the end do succeed from the most northern one, [[Wick]]. As for any different means of transportation that is not car (e.g. boat hitchhiking) the waiting time are so much longer, but if you are lucky you could find a lift in a couple of days; plus it appears the Scottish locals as the airport staff is nice welcoming and willing to help hitchhikers. Give it a try!
== The Northern Coast: Hitching from [[Reykjavík|Reykjavik]] to [[Akureyri]] ==
[[File:HH_Iceland_-_Martin_2010_-_2.jpg|thumb|right|Tartin hitching north-east Iceland in summer 2010]]
A relatively easy route, hitching a ride from Reykjavik to Akureyri in the northeast north-east is easily doable in a day; the journey is less than 400 km, and many cars are going all the way between the two cities. This is a good route for beginners, given the safety and relatively short distance. One may, however, want to allow for two days each way, especially on the return trip to Reykjavik, since getting a ride from Akureyri is much more difficult.
To leave Reykjavik, check out the spots in the [[Reykjavík|Reykjavik]] article. Don't stray too far from the villages, in case you can't get a ride or bad weather rolls in, but it is typically easier to flag down cars outside of settlements. Because many places are remote and weather cold and rainy, remember to be well-dressed, and caring plenty of water and food (and preferably a tent). Wild camping is permitted is all Iceland, except natural reserves. Only rule: don't leave anything behind! Don't spoil this beautiful country!
Stick your thumb out, wave to cars, and have fun; it shouldn't take too long to attract a ride. Most Icelanders under 40, and many above, speak excellent English; in fact, they may begin the conversation in that language. Make sure that, if they can't take you all the way, it will at least be possible to drop you off near or in a village.
From Akureyri, it is possible to hike beside Route 1 to the town's edge. Rides are more scarce here, since there are fewer long-distance travellers. There is some traffic between the city and villages down side-roads; if someone can only take you to a motorway intersection, make sure the village is within walking distance. Weather changes rapidly in Iceland, even more so on the north coast. It's no fun to be stuck out in an arctic Arctic blizzard all day, miles from the next town.
A common starting point from Reykjavík onto the ring road is to take Bus 15 to Mosfellsbær and walk along Route 1 until you find a suitable spot (See map).
Hitching from there to Borganes is relatively easy; there are many cars passing, so the wait is not that long. Hitchhiking in the Snaefellsnes peninsula is a very beautiful experience. The road to Stykkisholmur and then to Olafsvík is relatively easy. You might want to spend the night in Grundarfjörður as it is probably the nicest town in the area. From Olafsvik to Hellnar or Arnarstapi, the waiting time can be longer, but with patience it's also doable. You can hitch from there to Borganes and from there it's also easy to hitchhike to the highlands to Husáfell, and back. [[User:Elfin|Elfin]] would suggest finding a ride in Olafsvik going all around the tip of the peninsula as from Hellissandur the road, Utnesvegur, is very tiny and it's hard work finding a ride in Hellissandur or onwards, especially outside the tourist soon. Locals have no point of driving there.
Hiching Hitching to and around the Myvatn area is very easy. Myvatn is a very tourist spot in the summertime. You can easily move around the lake to see the main atractions, and you can also hitch to Krafla volcano and to Namaskard colorful colourful springs (which are a few minutes from the lake). Another famous spot is Askja, but this is very difficult mountain road, and as such there is very little daily traffic. The weather is very dramatic at this place with absolutely no facilities, in hundreds of kms around.
[[File:HHIceland.JPG|200px|thumb|right|[[User:Gutuater|Gutuater]] hitchhiking from Reykjavík to the ferry in Seyðisfjörður in June 2009.]]
 
== The West Coast: [[Snæfellsnes Peninsula|Snæfellsnes peninsula]] ==
The west peninsula is a great place to visit with a national park, a glacier, beatiful coast lines and small villages. The fastest way to reach it is from Borganes. The ring road pass through the town so you can try to hitch at bus stops or before the village's center, where you can find a Bonus market, a good place to hitch since many locals and tourists stop there to buy food.
 
If you hitch in the town many cars go also north (to [[Akureyri]]), because the road split down the main road where you can find a traffic circle. Do not go there as there are no good spots.
== The Southern Rim: Hitching from [[Reykjavík]] to [[Egilsstaðir]] ==
== Cities ==
* [[Reykjavík|Reykjavik]], the largest city and the capital
* [[Akureyri]]the great capital of the north
* [[Egilsstadir]]
* [[Hofn]]
 
== Personal experiences ==
I traveled all the ring road and the west peninsula between July and August 2015 in 14 days taking it slow. Iceland is a very easy country and i met amazing people, mostly tourists. The weather changes really fast and the wind could be really strong but beautiful sunsets and sunny days are always there if you can wait. Hitchhiking in general was very easy for me, the average waiting time was of 10 minutes (minimum time of waiting was of 5 minutes and maximum of 30 minutes). I reccomend to hitch mostly in the morning when many tourists drive on the main road so you can get a lift to go to the major natural beauty.--[[User:Francesc4052|Francesc4052]] ([[User talk:Francesc4052|talk]]) 21:08, 28 October 2015 (CET)
 
== Links ==
{{hitchbase_country|89}}
{{IsIn|Scandinavia}}
{{Template:Europe/countries}}
[[wikipedia:Iceland]]
[[trash:Iceland]]
[[nomad:Iceland]]
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[[Category:Iceland| ]][[Category:Island]][[Northern Europe]] 
[[de:Island]]
[[fr:Islande]]
[[pl:Islandia]]
[[ru:Исландия]]

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