Ferries to Iceland

Other than flying, there's one way to get to Iceland: the Smyril Line ferry Norröna. It sails from Hirtshals, at the northern tip of Denmark, to Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands and on to Seyðisfjörður in Iceland's East Fjords. Unless you're bringing your own car or you want the sea voyage for its own sake, flying is faster and usually cheaper. But if you want to drive your own vehicle around Iceland, this is how you do it.

When it sails

The ferry runs all year between Denmark and the Faroes, but it doesn't reach Iceland in winter. In 2026, according to Smyril Line's sailing schedule, the first arrival in Seyðisfjörður was 18 March and the last departure is 19 November. There are no Iceland sailings from late November to mid-March. The pattern changes with the season (all times local):

• Mid-March to May, and September to mid-November: leaves Hirtshals Sunday at 15:00, calls at Tórshavn Tuesday morning, and arrives in Seyðisfjörður Wednesday at 09:00. It sails back from Seyðisfjörður on Thursday at 20:00.
• June to early September: leaves Hirtshals Tuesday at 11:30, calls at Tórshavn Wednesday evening, and arrives in Seyðisfjörður Thursday at 08:30, leaving again at 10:30. In summer there's also a Saturday departure from Hirtshals, but that one only goes as far as the Faroes.

Counting the time difference (Iceland is two hours behind Denmark in summer), that's about 47 hours from Denmark to Iceland in summer, and closer to three days in spring and autumn. Smyril Line sometimes changes dates, so check the current schedule before you plan around it.

What it costs

The fares I listed in 2010 are long out of date, and Smyril Line prices vary a lot by season, cabin and vehicle. You pay for the passage, and then for a cabin or berth on top; a car, camper or motorbike is priced separately, and meals on board cost extra. Get a quote for your dates on the Smyril Line site. If you're traveling in July or August, book early.

Arriving in Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður is a small town at the head of a long fjord in the east, about as far from Reykjavik as you can get in Iceland. From here, the road climbs over a mountain pass to Egilsstaðir, the main town in the east and a stop on the Ring Road. If you're on foot, Strætó route 93 runs between Seyðisfjörður and Egilsstaðir, and Icelandair flies daily from Egilsstaðir to Reykjavik.

Arriving in the east flips the usual trip around. Most visitors start in Reykjavik and see the east last, if at all. Coming off the ferry, you've got the East Fjords, Mývatn and Akureyri close at hand, with the south coast later in the loop. Read driving in Iceland before you roll off the boat, especially if you arrive in March, April or November, when the pass can be icy.

Bringing your own car or camper

This is the main reason to take the ferry. A few things to know:

• Iceland now charges for road use by distance: since 1 January 2026 there's a kilometer fee of 6.95 ISK per km for cars up to 3.5 tonnes. If you're bringing a foreign-registered vehicle, ask Iceland Revenue and Customs how it applies to you.
• You can't park a camper overnight wherever you like. Outside organised campsites and towns, you need the landowner's permission.
• Off-road driving is banned, and the mountain F-roads need a capable 4x4. Safetravel's highland driving page is worth reading.
• Iceland Revenue and Customs has rules for temporary imports. Check them if you're bringing anything beyond ordinary travel gear.

Is it worth it?

If you're only coming for a week or two, fly. Old advice on this page pointed to low-cost flights on Iceland Express. That airline is gone (it was bought by WOW air in 2012), and so are WOW air and PLAY, which shut down in September 2025. Icelandair and a long list of foreign airlines fly to Keflavík now; see flights to Iceland and, from Britain, getting to Iceland from the UK.

The ferry makes sense if you're staying a month or more with your own vehicle, traveling with a lot of gear, or you'd like to stop in the Faroe Islands on the way. For more ways to see Iceland from the water, see cruises in Iceland.

Photo by ChrisGoldNY