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Before every trip to Iceland, I make sure to download specific apps I know will come in handy.
I’ve also checked and downloaded a lot of apps that other people or guides recommend, so I can tell you which ones are clunky, less updated, or unnecessary.
When you visit Iceland for the first time, you will also realize that a lot of people refer to specific tools or apps to make life easier.
This doesn’t happen with every country, so I thought it was useful to write a guide specific to apps to use in Iceland for every trip. It is complementary to all the travel resources that I use in various places that you can find here.
Most of these apps are safety-focused, in terms of weather and road conditions, and they are necessary whether you are traveling on your own on a road trip or without a car.
A lot of my time in Iceland is spent working as a tour leader, which also complements the safety and emergency-preparation aspect of this guide.
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR ICELAND
- 📲 Best eSIM: Ubigi eSIM (my top pick for convenience and stability) 10GB for 7 days for $11 – Also get 10% your plan with discount code BACHELORTRAVEL
🏨 Best hotel in Reykjavik: KEX HOSTEL – awesome location, great prices for private and shared rooms
🚌 Airport transfer: Keflavík Airport → Reykjavík Bus (Flybus) — cheapest and most straightforward way to get into the city after landing
🍽️ Food experience: Reykjavík Food Walk (guided foodie walking tour) — if you only do one tour in Reykjavik choose this one! Plus, all the food you need to try in Iceland here.
Safety and Weather
If you only browse one category, let it be this one. This is not a nice-to-have but mandatory.
Vedur
This is the go-to weather app. It is also a web-based application, and I check it every day, multiple times an hour, especially during the winter or when leading trips with schools. Bus drivers will also check it constantly, and if you’re road-tripping, I recommend doing the same.
There are two sections to this app that I don’t see people flagging clearly for readers, so please check both.
- Alerts: The /alerts part of the website is very important in case of yellow or orange warnings. These can come fast and heavy, and have often impacted my trips enough to make us leave the area or change plans completely. Some hotels will also print these warnings and put them in the lobby, so they should be familiar to you.
- Weather Forecast: The wind, rain, and temperature maps on the homepage are also very important to check, especially the wind and rain maps.
Road.is
This is the second and most important website you need to have bookmarked. It is also a page I check every single day when on a tour or driving around the country. Most people, again, don’t mention this website, but it has some amazing features.
You will find up-to-date conditions for every main road in the country, with wind direction readings, a color system that shows you whether it is safe to drive, and even live cams.
Just look at the screenshots below from some of the days just after my trip in March 2026, when road conditions were bad. On one of these yellow warning days, flights were cancelled across the board and we had heavy snow and wind storms in the capital that made for some magical photos.
You don’t want to be caught driving in these conditions.
Safe Travel
This is the all-in-one app that most people recommend instead of Vedur and Safe Travel. I think the reason is because the interface and the information are easier to scan. But I think it has less detail than the other two combined, which is why it’s not first on my list.
112 App
This is complementary to Safe Travel, you can notify authorities in case of an emergency. You don’t need to be connected to data to contact emergency services.
My Aurora Forecast
This is more of a fun and nice-to-have rather than a safety app, and it is used to track when the aurora will show up. I think you should check it every day so you know when to set your alarms to wake up and check for the Northern Lights.
Last time in March, I almost missed a beautiful aurora because I fell asleep at 9pm.
📍 There are some alternatives to My Aurora Forecast, like Hello Aurora, but I usually prefer My Aurora. The design is a bit clunky, but it works.
I’ve been lucky to see the Aurora during every one of my visits to Iceland, without doing a tour: which I think comes down to a few things:
- Staying for 10+ days each time.
- Getting out of Reykjavik
- Keeping an eye out, regardless of what the app forecast says.
Driving and Parking Apps
Parka
If you road trip or drive around Iceland, you’ll quickly realize that most popular spots or other locations require you to pay for parking. This app saves you a lot of time and hassle, plus you can pay for some campsites as well.
📍 There is another app called EasyPark, but it is not set up for as many locations.
All Trails
This is an app that has a loyal following for anybody who is into fitness, walking, hiking, and general outdoor adventures. The non-paid version will give you access to track routes and reviews of popular hiking routes, like this beautiful hike around Vík.
Otherwise, you’ll need the paid version to record your trail route, time, and GPS locations.
Google Maps
You can’t go anywhere without Google Maps, so I don’t know why it wouldn’t be on your phone. In addition to road navigation, it is my go-to for finding new spots or looking up reviews for places.
Reykjavik Specific Apps
These are applications that come in handy when you stay in and around the capital.
Klappið
This is the bus app for Reykjavík, which will come in handy when taking public transportation. You can also tap on your phone to pay for tickets directly, but the app makes it easier to look up bus routes as well.
General Travel Apps
eSIM app
There are a lot of good eSIMs on the market. I’ve tested quite a few. I recommend Ubigi for Iceland, as well as these options here. You can read the full guide to setting up and using an eSIM while on the road.
👉 Instead of cluttering this guide, I’ve added all the eSIM related info you need to know, on this guide to eSIMs in Iceland.
Get Your Guide
If you could see my saved tours here, you’d think I’m a millionaire. I’m not. But I just love booking guided trips and tours when I’m traveling. Iceland specifically makes this so easy, and if you’re not renting a car, then you can book activities that include transport. Some of my favorite tours and activities to book are on this list.
- From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour
- Reykjavik: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with 6 Tastings
- Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull
- Reykjavik: the Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour (I have had this tour cancelled on me a few times due to weather, but I will get it next time.)
Viator
This is very similar to GetYourGuide and I usually have both on my phone.
Some tours are listed on both platforms, but others are only available on one or the other — so it’s worth checking both before booking anything.
I don’t think one is necessarily better than the other. It really depends on which one you’re more used to using, pricing on the day, and availability for your dates.
📍 If I’m looking for something specific (like a glacier hike or day trip), I’ll quickly compare both apps before booking.
Splitwise
I’ve been a fan of this app for years, but I’m slightly annoyed with its recent pricing model. With that said, I keep it on my phone when I am on trips with other people and want to split expenses, or when I want to keep track of how much I spend, so I can make my cost guides (which is always).
Calculator App
It pains me to see people download a gazillion conversion apps when you can simply use the calculator mode on your phone. All you need to do is set up the currency conversion, and then you can switch to whatever currency you want. Plus, unlike XE or other currency exchange apps, it works offline as well!
Wise/Revolut
Even if Iceland is in Europe, it uses the Icelandic króna, meaning exchange rates can make your payments much higher than necessary. For EU-based readers, go with Revolut. For others, Wise is a fantastic option to avoid overspending on bank fees.
Ready to book? Top Iceland recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Iceland: Easiest option is Ubigi — reliable across the country and super easy to set up before landing. Check full review here.
🚌 Airport transfer: Book the Keflavík Airport → Reykjavík bus (Flybus) — cheapest and easiest way into the city after landing. Here are all the options and why I chose this one.
🏨 City hotel option: I’d stay somewhere central in Reykjavík for the first day or 2-3 days if you want to see everything. I love KEX Hostel out of all the hotels I’ve tried. Super interesting design, social space, amazing location.
🎟️ Top Iceland activities:
There are so many good activities and tours to do in Iceland. Here are some of my favorites:
- From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour
- Reykjavik: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with 6 Tastings
- Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull
- Reykjavik: the Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour (I have had this tour cancelled on me a few times due to weather, but I will get it next time.)
🚗 Car rental: If you’re doing the Ring Road, compare prices on DiscoverCars — this is what gives you the most flexibility
👚Packing list: Iceland is safer and easier with the right gear. Pack these things.
