How Do the Locals Travel in Iceland?

A Fun Look at the Icelandic Way of Exploring Our Own Country

When you arrive in Iceland, you’ll quickly notice something: Icelanders love traveling around their own island just as much as visitors do — maybe even more. And we tend to do it in three very Icelandic ways.

Here’s a closer look at how locals explore “Niceland,” and why our choices might surprise you.

1. Summer Houses – The Icelandic Dream Escape

All across Iceland, you’ll spot clusters of holiday houses tucked into forests, sitting beside rivers, or nestled among lava fields. These cabins — called Sumarbústaðir (summer houses) — are used year-round despite the name.

Owning a summer house is considered by many Icelanders to be the ideal lifestyle upgrade, and the perfect location has a few key requirements, ranked in order of importance:

✓ Forest

Trees provide shelter from the wind, privacy, and — let’s be honest — a touch of novelty in a country famously short on forests.

✓ Hot Water

If the cabin is near a geothermal borehole, heating becomes inexpensive.
 But more importantly…
 you can have a hot tub on the deck, which is the ultimate Icelandic way to unwind.

✓ Nearby Activity

In many countries, the dream activity near a holiday home might be skiing.
 In Iceland?
 The number one desired activity is golf.
 Yes — Icelanders love their golf courses.

✓ Lake Access (Optional)

Strangely enough, lake access ranks at the bottom.
 While Icelanders love fishing, we don’t tend to do much warm-weather lake recreation — probably because our “summer heat” rarely exceeds 20°C (70°F).

2. Caravans – Freedom on Wheels

Icelanders aren’t famous for meticulous planning — and that’s exactly why many of us love caravans.

A caravan means:

  • No strict schedule
  • No need to pre-book lodging
  • Maximum freedom to follow the weather

Caravans are especially popular in the summer when Icelanders roam the countryside and gather at campsites across the island. We just hope you don’t get stuck behind a slow-moving convoy.

3. Super Jeeps – Iceland’s Most Iconic Adventure Vehicle

Those lifted, oversized SUVs and trucks you’ll see around Iceland?
 We lovingly call them Super Jeeps — and visitors always notice them.

While they look impressive, they’re not about showing off. They serve a real purpose in a country where:

  • Most of the interior is wild, uninhabited highland
  • Roads can be rough, steep, and rocky
  • Many rivers have no bridges
  • Snow and ice cover the highlands for much of the year

Super Jeeps make travel comfortable, safe, and possible in terrain where normal vehicles simply can’t go.

For a deeper look, read:
 Why the Big Tires on Our Cars?