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Golden Circle

Countries in the atlas · Europe

Iceland

An island of fire and ice: geysers, glacier lagoons and the coloured mountains of the highlands.

Russian passport: visa required · 90 daysprices ×3.5 vs Russia

Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Golden Circle
Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Iceland

Golden Circle

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

The classic route from Reykjavík: Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart (a UNESCO site), the Strokkur geyser, which erupts every few minutes, and the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall.

Along the way are the Kerið crater with its turquoise lake and greenhouses where tomatoes are grown with geothermal heat.

Getting there
From Reykjavík, a loop of about 230 kilometres by car, or a day tour.
Fees and tickets
Parking at Þingvellir costs 1,000 krónur per car per day.
Sources (5)
Jökulsárlón
Photo: Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Vatnajökull, Iceland

Jökulsárlón

Access 2/5 · fairly easyJFMAMJJASOND

The lagoon at the edge of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is full of icebergs slowly drifting towards the ocean. Amphibious boats and Zodiacs cruise it, and seals rest on the ice floes.

Across the road is a black-sand beach where the waves wash up chunks of ice. The lagoon is part of Vatnajökull National Park, a UNESCO site.

Getting there
From Reykjavík, about 5 hours by car along the Ring Road, Route 1.
Fees and tickets
Parking at the lagoon costs 1,110 krónur per car until midnight.
Sources (2)
Landmannalaugar
Photo: Borvan53 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Highlands of Iceland

Landmannalaugar

Access 3/5 · needs planningJFMAMJJASOND

Landmannalaugar means mountains of every colour, from pink and yellow to green, the Laugahraun lava field and a natural hot pool by the campsite.

The Laugavegur trek starts here — four days across the highlands to the Þórsmörk valley, one of the best-known routes in Europe.

Getting there
In summer, highland buses from Reykjavík (about 4 hours), or a 4x4 on F-roads with river fords.
Fees and tickets
Parking by booking, for a fee; tents only at campsites.
Why it’s hard
Only mountain F-roads with river fords lead here, open roughly from late June to September; ordinary cars are not allowed. Highland weather can change within an hour.
Sources (4)

Before you go

Iceland: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.

Entry

Russian citizens need a Schengen visa. The Icelandic Embassy in Moscow suspended its work on 01.08.2023; applications are accepted by a visa centre — check where to apply. Since November 2025 the EU has, as a rule, issued Russians single-entry visas.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the trip, and insurance is mandatory: medical care for foreigners is expensive. A Russian driving licence is accepted for car hire.

Rules for any passport

Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.

Sources (4)

Safety

The Russian Foreign Ministry “strongly recommends” keeping in mind possible provocations against Russian citizens. The main risks on the ground are the weather and the highland roads.

Sources (2)

Money and cards

Russian bank cards do not work — bring euros in cash and change them into krónur.

Sources (2)

Flights

There are no direct flights. Connections are via Istanbul, Belgrade and other hubs.

Sources (1)

Laws and bans

  • Off-road driving is strictly prohibited — a fine or prison; F-roads open only in summer.
  • You may not take away lava, stones from protected areas, stalactites, birds, eggs or nests.
  • Drones in protected areas only with permission.
  • Headlights on all year round when driving; using a phone at the wheel means a big fine.
Sources (4)

Budget

prices ×3.5 vs Russia · price level 1.30 (US = 1), 2025

The highest prices in the atlas — 3.5 times higher than in Russia. Plus the €90 visa and paid parking in the national parks: Þingvellir 1,000 krónur, Vatnajökull 1,110 krónur per car.

The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.

Sources (4)