Over the years, the infrastructure around the most popular attractions has been improving. The good news is that there are better paths, more public restrooms, and other services. However, that also means more and more places introduce service fees to keep up the maintenance. In this blog post, we will explain all things parking in Iceland – where to pay and how to pay so you are not faced with unexpected fines and fees at the end of the trip.
Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure you pay road tolls, camping, and parking in Iceland. Failing to do so may result in fines and additional service fees which can easily go up to hundreds of euros/dollars.
So, read this post carefully, and make sure to always check for signs informing you about parking fees.
How to Pay
For your convenience, we recommend downloading Parka and EasyPark to pay for parking in Iceland
Iceland is a pretty cashless society, so paying is easy and hassle-free. Usually, you have the option to use a payment booth on location or one of the apps to pay. These places accept all major debit/credit cards.
We mostly use two apps in Iceland – Parka and EasyPark. I recommend installing them both to be safe. (If you are curious about other useful apps in Iceland, check out my blog post about essential apps for traveling in Iceland).
I would say 95% of attractions use either one (if not both) app. If not, there will be some QR code you can scan to pay online.
There‘s usually also an option to pay at the payment machine as well.
Where to Pay
I will try to keep this list as detailed as possible, but please keep in mind that new places may pop up anytime. Again, always look around; there will be signs.
Generally, expect to pay for parking in national parks, major tourist attractions, and city centers in Reykjavik and Akureyri.
Downtown Reykjavik
Parking zones in Reykjavik
In downtown Reykjavik, there are four parking zones – P1 (red), P2 (blue), P3 (green), and P4 (yellow). Parking is free in the evenings and on Sundays.
| Charging hours | Parking fee |
P1, P2 and P3
Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00
Saturday 10:00-16:00
P4
Monday-Friday 8:00-16:00 | P1 370 ISK per hour
P2 190 ISK per hour
P3 190 ISK 1st and 190 ISK 2nd hour,
55 ISK each hour thereafter
P4 190 ISK per hour |
Parking in ReykjavikThe easiest way to pay for parking is through the Parka app. Some places have pay-and-display ticket dispensers that accept cards and coins. If you pay with the app, you will have to enter the license plate number so there is no need to print out a ticket.
On top of on-street parking, you will also find a few parking garages, all connected to the Parka app.
Downtown Akureyri
A few years ago Akureyri implemented paid parking zones as well. There are two zones (P1 and P2) Charge for each hour is ISK 218 in parking zone P1 and ISK 109 in parking zone P2. The charging hours are the same in both parking zones, Monday-Friday 10:00 – 16:00. Evenings and weekends are free.
Temporary parking zones: Within parking zone P1 and P2, there are marked areas where the maximum parking time is 2 hours. These temporary parking zones are marked with street signs stating the maximum time. In the map above those are dark orange and dark blue. You can’t park there if you plan to stay longer.
Looking to pay for your parking? The easiest way to pay is with your mobile phone. There are also a few payment stations in the city center.
Parking at Tourist Destinations
As I mentioned, most parking next to tourist destinations is free. However, we strongly advise you to always look around for any signs indicating any fees. As Iceland builds more infrastructure and service houses, sometimes the landowners choose to collect fees for maintenance. You can pay with bank cards, or through a special website.
Some places still run on the honor system (I did not list them here), and you will find boxes for cash to pay for facilities on-site. It is probably the only place you won’t be able to pay with your card, so it is good to have some cash or coins.
National Parks
Iceland has three national parks: Vatnajökull, Thingvellir, and Snæfellsjökull. Two of them have implemented parking fees.
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir area is the oldest national park in Iceland and probably the most visited one. Mostly, because it is part of the world-famous Golden Circle.
Entry to Thingvellir National Park is free, but you will have to pay 1000 ISK for parking. There are also designated spots for camping.
The ticket is valid for the whole day in all parking lots (so if you want to drive around, you only need to pay once per day; just keep the ticket with you). You can pay online at checkit.is at the parking machines or inside the Visitor center.
You can find more information about parking in Thingvellir here.
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull is the biggest national park, containing 13% of all land in Iceland. It includes popular destinations in South, East, and North Iceland, so chances are you will visit at least some parts of it.
Just like Thingvellir, there is no entry fee, but expect to pay for parking or camping. Two spots where you will pay for parking are Skafafell and Jökulsárlón (the Glacier Lagoon) in the South.
The price is 1000 ISK. The day ticket is valid until midnight. If you visit Skaftafell and Glacier Lagoon on the same day, you can get a 50% discount on the fee for the second place.
You can pay at the machines on the spot or use the Parka app.
Learn more about parking in Vatnajökull National Park here.
Snæfellsjökull National Park
There are no fees in the Snæfellsjökull Nation Park. We highly recommend visiting the Visitor Center at Malrrif to learn about the park‘s wonders.
Attractions around Iceland
Please note that we do our best to list all places and prices, but some places might be missing. Pricing also can change with short notice. If you come across a place that is not on the list or any discrepancies, you are welcome to drop us an email at info@happycampers.is
For your convenience, we also mention which app to use to pay for parking in Iceland. There might be additional ways to pay on the spot, but not always.
South Iceland
Fjaðrárgljufur Canyon – 1000 ISK via Parka
Reynisfjara a.k.a. Black Sand Beach – 750-1000 ISK via Parka
Brúarfoss waterfall – 750 ISK via Parka
DC-3 Plane Wreck in Eyvindarholt – 1000 ISK via Parka
Seljalandsfoss waterfall – 900 ISK via ticket machines on the spot.
Gluggafoss waterfall – 1000 ISK via Parka
Kvernufoss waterfall – 750 ISK via Parka
Skaftafell – 1000 ISK via Parka
Jökulsárlón (The Glacier Lagoon) – 1000 ISK via Parka
The Diamond Beach – 1000 ISK via Parka
Sólheimajökull glacier – 750 ISK via Parka
Solheimasandur – 750 ISK via Parka
Fagradalsfjall Volcano – 1000 ISK via Parka
Hjörleifshöfði (the Yoda Cave)* – 1000 ISK via EasyPark
* These places are known to charge additional fees up to 5000 ISK if guests fail to pay upon arrival.
West Iceland
Kirkjufellsfoss* – 700-1000 ISK via EasyPark
Seal Beach at Ytri-Tunga – 650 ISK via Checkit.is
* These places are known to charge additional fees up to 5000 ISK if guests fail to pay upon arrival.
North Iceland
Illugastaðir – 400 ISK via Parka
Hverir Geothermal Area* – 1200 ISK via EasyPark
Hverfjall crater – 1000 ISK via Parka
* These places are known to charge additional fees up to 5000 ISK if guests fail to pay upon arrival.
East Iceland
Stokksnes (Vestrahorm beach) – 1000 ISK – (pay at the Viking Cafe).
Highlands
Landmannalaugar – 450 ISK
Starting in 2024, visitors planning a trip to Landmannalaugar will have to pre-book parking spaces and pay a service fee. The fee for 2024 will be 450 ISK.
You can pre-book online at https://ust.is/reservations
For more information, please visit the Environmental Agency´s website.
Road Tolls
As for the road tolls, we have only one tunnel in North Iceland near Akureyri that you have to pay for.
The Vaðlaheiði tunnel
Vadlaheidi tunnel in North Iceland
The Vadlaheidi Tunnel, located near Akureyri in North Iceland, is a 7.5 km (4.7 miles) long tunnel on the Ring Road. It goes through the Vikurskard Mountain Passage, which is dangerous for driving in bad weather. On a nice summer day, the mountain road is a nice drive through the mountains that will add 10-15 min to your trip.
The only toll road in Iceland – tunnel near Akureyri in North Iceland
The payment system for the only road toll often confuses people. There are no booths where you will be charged; It is a contactless system where cameras scan every car upon entry. Visit tunnel.is to pay toll online. You can pay 24 hours before or 24 hours after entering the tunnel. The price for one trip is 1850 ISK (if you pass the tunnel more than once, you have to pay every time).
What Happens If You Do Not Pay Parking Fees in Iceland
As I mentioned in the beginning, the main reason is to avoid late fees for avoiding paying for parking.
Please note that many of the parking areas in Iceland are not manned, and the data is collected via a camera system. Therefore, if you think you can avoid paying by arriving late at night or waiting until somebody shows up to charge you – that won’t work. Just because nobody stops you and issues a ticket doesn’t mean it won’t be sent to the office.
Again, it is your responsibility as a traveler to pay upon arrival. You can use payment booths or apps, whichever you prefer.
I received a ticket – what do I do?
First of all, double-check the details – license plate, date, and time to confirm it was you.
If you find a parking ticket on your car, you can pay it at the nearest bank or bring it with you to your rental company and they will help you sort it out.
To dispute the claim, you´ll have to contact the service provider. If you paid for parking, attach a receipt as proof of payment). We recommend keeping the physical receipts with you (or taking a photo of them). That’s why it is more convenient to pay via app.
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