Everything from gourmet cuisine to the bare minimum – gas stations in Iceland are packing a punch and are ready to take care of you on your adventure. Follow us on a journey through the sacred Icelandic landscape of octane-rich culture and find out what it is all about, all in this article.
Gas Stations in Iceland – An Overview
We love road-tripping around this magical island, and none of it would be possible without the large network of gas stations in Iceland. When you have a large island like this, with many settlements scattered across the coastline, having the infrastructure to allow people to move around comfortably is crucial. This is why you will frequently come across gas stations in Iceland along both larger and smaller roads.
Fuel Types and Prices
In Iceland, you will see three types of fuel that you need to care about:
- 95 octane petrol, which will have a green handle.
- Diesel, which will have a black handle.
- Electricity, which will be the one that is completely separate and marked very clearly with a lightning bolt.
Some gas stations might have two more handles, one blue and one yellow, that you don’t have to worry about unless you are driving a bus, truck, or very heavy machinery.
Fuel Prices in Iceland
Depending on where you go, fuel prices in Iceland may be different. This is mostly dependent on location and type of gas station. The brands with more unmanned stations tend to have a slightly lower price, and the further away they are from a main harbor, the higher the cost will be.
Iceland has a few dominant gas station brands:
Lately, Costco has also tried to get into the market, but they only have one station in Reykjavik, and they’re not gaining much ground in the already saturated gas station industry in Iceland. That being said, the lone-ranger Costco gas station has been credited for being one of the cheaper options to fuel up at.
The prices for 95-octane petrol (that you will most likely be using) will look something like this:
- ÓB/Olis: Cirka ISK 300–325 per liter
- Orkan: Cirka ISK 300 per liter
- N1: Cirka ISK 325 per liter
- Atlantsolia: Cirka ISK 300 per liter
As you can see, the average price per liter is around ISK 300, which equates to about EUR 2, or USD 2.15. N1 is the one gas station brand that tends to not use unmanned stations, making their prices slightly higher than the competition. They are also very well known for being the option to choose for combined gas/grocery runs.
EV Charging
If you are driving an electric car, you will not always get charger stations around the gas stations in Iceland. You will, however, get charging stations next to hotels, grocery stores, and other places you would normally park for a longer period. Check out the map of charging stations for your electric ride around Iceland.
Services and Amenities
As we mentioned earlier, Iceland has a strong gas station culture, and everything is often just “a little bit more” than you would usually come across in your home country. All manned gas stations in Iceland will offer toilet facilities to their patrons free of charge, and you will often find that information is in English as well as Icelandic.
How well the gas station is equipped to accommodate foreigners will often depend on how far away from the main routes you go.
Self-Service Stations
One positive thing about living on a small island with not too many inhabitants and good control is that there is still some sort of honor system in certain places. One such instance you are sure to run into is the unmanned gas stations where you are in charge of the whole process from payment to filling up the car.
This might be confusing to some, so these stations will have some infographics that tell you how to pump gas in Iceland when you don’t have any staff to take care of you. Even though this might sound like a mission and a half, it really isn’t.
The instructions will be there, and as long as you have a pre-paid gas card, a debit card, or a credit card with a 4-digit PIN, you’ll be fine. Right at the pump, simply buy the amount of gas you want, of the type you need, put the nozzle in the right place on the car, and wait. Et vóila!
Icelandic Gas Station Food
Stopping at a gas station in Iceland traditionally comes with buying something to put in your own gas tank too. The Iceland gas station food is a big part of the culture, and hot dogs in all shapes and sizes are almost always on the menu. You will often also be able to get at least a simple burger, a baguette, and/or a salad to keep the hunger at bay.
It’s more a rule than the exception that the manned gas stations in Iceland have a selection of groceries. This is why many Icelanders treat the gas station as a convenience store as well as a place to pump gas. The larger gas stations in Iceland that are staffed 24/7 will have the largest selection of groceries with most everyday items on the shelves. The smaller ones will likely focus on basic staples like bread, milk, and eggs, as well as the emergency snacks-candy-soda combo for those late movie nights.
The quality of the food items in a gas station in Iceland is often on par with what you would get at a grocery store, even if the price is guaranteed to be a bit higher. We don’t recommend buying groceries in bulk at the gas stations, but it is a good option if you’re on the road and need to buy that one thing you forgot to get in Reykjavik before you left.
Car Washes
If you are anything like us, you won’t be afraid to take the occasional gravel road if adventure beckons in the distance. Even if you don’t hit every F-road in Iceland, your car will quickly get dirty and need a good rinse. Most gas stations will offer a free cleaning option during the summer in Iceland, as long as you do it manually yourself. This is available even for some of the self-service gas stations.
If you want to have a more luxurious experience, many of the slightly larger, manned gas stations will have an automatic car wash. This will cost you but will get the car nice and clean without any significant effort.
How Can I Pay at the Gas Stations in Iceland
Like most things on the island, physical cash is on its way out, and this is true for the gas stations in Iceland too. Most will accept cards, but not always cash. As the country becomes more digital, paying in Iceland will rely more and more on the card systems.
Planning Your Trip – The Backbone of Any Successful Road Trip
Giving in to the occasional impulse is a part of going on road trips, especially in new countries. However, ensuring you reach all your set destinations and have enough gas to reach the next petrol pump is crucial to making the road trip work.
Planning the ultimate Iceland itinerary will make many things much easier to deal with along the road. Simply make note of the places you want to visit and how you are going to get there, and you’re already halfway done. After that, you should have a look at a map of gas stations in Iceland and mark the ones close to places you want to visit as well as others nearby.
This way, you’ll immediately know if you can make a little detour or not. Planning the trip will make it significantly easier to budget your holiday so you can spend money where it counts.
Discount Programs and Loyalty Cards
Another great way to save a buck on your trip is to look at any discounts that the gas stations may offer. When you rent your car, the best tip we can give is to talk to the car rental company and ask if they are partnering with any specific brands. Chances are that they will have at least one solution for saving you a buck or two on gas on your trip through the land of fire and ice.
Usually, it will be a pre-paid card or collaboration that would give you a percent or two off the price. As you’re racking up the kilometers, this will eventually lead to some notable savings.
In general, visitors are out of luck when it comes to loyalty deals for gas stations in the country. You must be an Icelandic resident to sign up for the discount cards yourself, so the only way to save on discount programs is to chat with your rental company.
What Makes Icelandic Gas Stations Unique?
Iceland gas stations come in all shapes and sizes. You can come across stations that have two pumps and no staff, just to drive into a gas station with a fully equipped restaurant and grocery store just a little bit down the road. This wide range in service and supply is one of the most prominent features that sets getting gas in Iceland apart from most of the world. Another more important feature is the culture.
The Culture of Gas Stations in Iceland
If you want to truly experience Iceland, visiting a few gas stations will be a must to get a real feel for the country. The gas stations in Iceland are not only just places to pump gas and leave, but they’re also a central part of Icelandic culture. Stepping into a gas station in Iceland is like stepping into the beating heart of the nation that fills the veins with petrol, diesel, and hot dogs.
If you, as a foreigner, walk in, look the person behind the counter in the eye, and ask for “pylsa með öllu”, or “ein með öllu”, you will take part in one of the most sacred traditions in modern Icelandic culture. It translates to “a hot dog with everything on” or “one with everything on.”
Chances are that the person behind the counter will crack the widest smile you have ever seen and, with love and enthusiasm, start preparing the unofficial national dish. Pair that with a soda in the most unnatural color you can find, and you can step out of that gas station as an honorary Icelander.
The FAQ for Gas Stations in Iceland
Below, you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about gas stations in Iceland:
Is it Expensive to Get Gas in Iceland?
Compared to most other countries, gas can be expensive here. If you’re traveling Iceland on a budget, you can check out the tips to get the most bang for your buck.
Can I Pump My Tires at the Gas Stations in Iceland
Yes! Pretty much every gas station in Iceland allows you to pump the tires.
Is There a Gas Stations in Iceland Map?
There is, but checking out gas stations on Google Maps along the route you want to drive is a good first step.
Can I Get Food at the Gas Stations in Iceland?
Oh yes! It’s almost mandatory to get a hot dog (or veggie dog) at the gas stations in Iceland.
Get Ready for the Gas Stations in Iceland
Looking up an Iceland gas station map and getting to work will be easy now that you know what to expect from this country. The most important part of the experience is to lean into the culture and not be afraid of finding out how to get gas in Iceland at unmanned stations. The next step is to rent a campervan in Iceland and have a cat about the discounts!