Best chance to see the eclipse in Iceland is by being mobile, so rent a car
So you've decided to travel to Iceland for the total solar eclipse in 2026. Great choice! The best way to explore this alien place is to rent a car and drive around.
Renting a car allows you to travel at your own pace to any location within the path of totality you wish. This is especially important if you're a photographer with solar telescopes and cameras and need time to find the perfect, most photogenic locations.
Iceland is known for being a cloudy place. However, it is seldom completely overcast everywhere. Conditions can be vastly different between short distances, even only one or two hours drive away from where you are staying. This means that being mobile improves your chances of seeing the total solar eclipse immensely.
There are few important things to keep in mind.
Rent a car from our affiliate Blue Car Rental
Start driving early. We expect heavy traffic after noon on August 12 to the best locations.
Be patient afterwards. Expect heavy traffic on the way back from your viewing site.
Find a safe place to park. Never park on the edge of a road and never drive off road. Icelandic nature is delicate and you don't want to leave marks for years to come.
Take really good care of nature.
Bring warm clothes, snacks and loads of patience. Iceland can be windy and chilly, even in August.
The Icelandic highlands are stunning and August really is the perfect time to visit. To go there, you need to rent a 4x4.
In the highlands, late summer nights are especially beautiful. Just after midnight, there's sufficient darkness to see the Northern Lights. We highly recommend Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll.
Check out Jamie Carter's article Beyond Totality: 10 things to see in Iceland before and after the total solar eclipse for more travel ideas.
Iceland's electricity generation is almost entirely from renewable sources, primarily hydropower and geothermal energy. So make your travel a little bit more eco friendly by renting an electric car. There are numerous charging stations in multiple locations, even at many hotels. Easy, comfortable and environmentally friendlier.
Beyond Totality: 10 things to see in Iceland before and after the total solar eclipse by Jamie Carter
The Westfjords Way from Visit Iceland
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula from Visit Iceland
The Volcanic Way from Visit Reykjanes
Arctic Coast Way from Visit North Iceland
