The practical complications begin at the ferry terminal. From the South Coast, you turn from Route 1 onto Route 254 for Landeyjahöfn, and the crossing depends on sea conditions. Taking a rental car aboard means queuing to load it, finding parking after arrival and driving off again on Heimaey; buying a foot-passenger ticket is a different, simpler process. The useful question is not only whether a car would be convenient on the island, but whether your car, accommodation and plans can all be changed if the return sailing moves.
ICENAVI ISLAND TRANSFER FIT
Does taking a car buy route access or add another luggage move?
Rated against island distances, sailings, luggage and parking.
The harbour, volcano and town activities can form a compact route.
Two nights or a large amount of equipment is where it becomes more useful.
When sea conditions change the sailing, the car booking and activities need rearranging together.
Most activities meeting near the harbour do not require a car.
LandeyjahöfnWestman Islands (Heimaey)EldfellLeave the car at the terminal: usually the cleaner day-trip plan
Leave your South Coast accommodation in time to reach Landeyjahöfn, allowing for check-in and the queue before boarding. With the car parked at the terminal, you board on foot, arrive at Heimaey and walk from the harbour to town or your meeting point. After the activity, you return to the ferry without looking for a space or manoeuvring the car off the vessel. Parking, vehicle fares and passenger fares depend on the date; as a planning allowance, set aside about HK$100–250 (NT$400–1,000) per car for parking and incidentals, then compare that with the vehicle fare.
Many island activities begin around the harbour. Boat trips, puffin watching and town dining usually connect easily on foot, and Eldfell can also be reached on foot from town; allow about two hours for the walk and climb. If you do not want to walk the whole way, consider the island bus, a taxi or a short transfer before putting an entire rental car on the ferry for a three-kilometre journey.
Take the car: first ask how far you really need to go
A vehicle fare has a specific purpose when you are staying two nights or more and want to take large bags straight to your accommodation; carrying camping gear, camera equipment or a pushchair; visiting Eldfell, Stórhöfði and a more distant coastal point on the same day; or heading east immediately after the return sailing without time to collect a car at the terminal. In each case, the car removes a real luggage transfer or wait.
Taking a car aboard does not mean every island stop has free parking. Spaces near the volcano trail and coastal viewpoints are limited, especially in high season, and wind or rain can still hide the view at a distant stop. If an activity has a fixed meeting time, check the walk from the parking space to the harbour after you park. The car can otherwise make you more likely to arrive late.
Ferry timing: treat the return sailing as a firm boundary
| Plan segment | Travel time only | Practical allowance | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Coast accommodation → Landeyjahöfn | About 30–60 minutes | 1.5 hours | Fuel, check-in and queuing |
| Ferry crossing | About 35–45 minutes | 1 hour | Boarding, disembarking and collecting luggage |
| Harbour → Eldfell | Walk / short drive | 1.5–2 hours | Volcanic slope, photographs and returning to town |
| Puffin or boat activity | Fixed sailing | 2–3 hours | Meeting, time on the water and disembarkation |
| Return ferry → next South Coast stop | About 1 hour minimum | 2 hours | Disembarking, collecting the car and setting off again |
A standard adult foot-passenger fare for the crossing is often around ISK 2,000–4,000 (about HK$110–220/NT$450–900); vehicles and passengers are charged separately, with the final amount varying by date, vehicle length and ticket type. Boat activities commonly cost around ISK 8,000–15,000 (about HK$440–825/NT$1,800–3,400). Once ferry tickets, activities and South Coast accommodation are combined, the value of taking a car cannot be judged from the vehicle fare alone.
When a one-day plan becomes a two-day plan
For a one-day visit, leave the South Coast early, then choose Eldfell plus one timed activity, with a buffer before lunch and the return sailing. Leaving the car at the terminal is usually cleaner because walking routes and activities are concentrated in southern Heimaey. If you also want the puffin-season cliffs and a boat trip, the sailing timetable will split the day; one of those plans should go.
A two-day visit is where taking a car becomes more defensible. On day one, arrive, check in and walk up the volcano; on day two, choose a sea activity or Stórhöfði before returning to the South Coast around the sailing. Confirm breakfast, parking and luggage arrangements at the accommodation. If the room is close to the harbour, travelling as a foot passenger may still be easier. Read the two-day Westman Islands itinerary, then place the accommodation and sailings on one timetable.
When rough seas turn the car into a liability
Westman Islands sailings can be affected by wind and waves, so a departure may be moved or cancelled. Vehicle and passenger bookings need handling together, while the rental agreement, South Coast hotel and island accommodation can all be connected. If you are going for one activity, leaving the car at the terminal makes it easier to switch the afternoon to a South Coast waterfall. If the car is already on the island and you have checked in, a cancellation means finding a new plan for the car, room and activity at the same time.
Check the sailing notice and Iceland road conditions, rather than relying on a weather map alone. Calm seas do not guarantee that Route 1 will be clear for your onward drive. Keep the post-ferry drive short, especially in winter when travelling from the terminal towards Vík or Hella.
Choose the ticket for the route you are actually taking
| Your route | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| South Coast day return, harbour activities | Leave the car | Activities are concentrated, with less parking and luggage handling |
| Two nights, with substantial equipment | Take the car | Luggage goes straight to the accommodation and distant stops are easier the next day |
| Puffin boat trip plus Eldfell | Leave the car initially | Making the fixed meeting time matters more than driving three kilometres |
| Drive straight to Jökulsárlón after returning | Decide around the sailing | The car avoids a collection step, but the risk from a changed sailing is higher |
To decide whether puffin season justifies giving up a South Coast night, read about Westman Islands accommodation during puffin season. If you are comparing activities only, see puffin cliffs and boat trips, and confirm the meeting point and sailing first.
What to do when you reach the terminal
From Vík or Hella, aim to reach Landeyjahöfn at least one hour before the sailing. Vehicles queue, passengers need their tickets ready, and handling bags and outer layers in the wind takes longer than expected. With the car left behind, divide luggage into a small bag for the ferry and leave bulky items in the parked vehicle. With the car aboard, confirm the vehicle length, boarding time and parking at your island accommodation. After disembarking on the return, allow time for collecting the car, using the facilities and refuelling before committing to a long drive.
A common adult return ferry fare for a Westman Islands day trip is around ISK 3,000–6,000 (about HK$165–330/NT$680–1,350), with vehicles priced separately by length and date. For four people, the total cost of taking a car may approach the price of hiring a one-way transfer, but parking and queueing still count. Compare the people, vehicle, parking, island transfer and activity costs together rather than choosing by the lowest passenger fare.
Eldfell and a puffin activity need different clocks
The return walk to Eldfell usually takes about two hours; the slope is exposed, and mud after rain slows the pace. Harbour activities run to a fixed meeting time. In puffin season, a boat or bus excursion to the cliffs is more dependable than driving yourself because arriving on time is the priority. To fit both plans comfortably, an overnight stay adds more useful time than bringing a car; a car reduces distance but cannot extend the ferry timetable.
If an activity is cancelled, leaving the car at the terminal lets you turn the afternoon into a South Coast waterfall or a supply stop in Vík. With the car on the island, you must work out how to bring it back. Read Westman Islands weather and the following night before buying a non-changeable vehicle ticket.
With only half a day, map the walking route from the harbour to the volcano against the return sailing. With two nights, you have room to wait for better sea conditions or move the puffin activity to another day. That difference has more impact on the trip than the simple question of whether the island has cars.
Before departure, save screenshots of your ferry ticket, activity meeting details and hotel telephone number so you can find the next step if the signal is unreliable.
Leave one blank space in the itinerary for sea conditions and slower walking.
Keep time in reserve for the return.
Check Westman Islands stays and activities around the sailing
Enter your dates, party size and whether you are taking a car, then compare the ferry, Heimaey room options, parking, activity meeting times and your next South Coast night.
Q&A: taking a car to the Westman Islands
Do I need to take a car for a day trip?
Usually not. The harbour, Eldfell and activity meeting points can be connected on foot or by an island transfer.
When is taking a car worthwhile?
A car makes a clear difference for a two-night stay, large luggage, camping equipment or a more distant coastal stop.
What happens if the ferry is cancelled?
Passenger and vehicle bookings, accommodation and activities all need rearranging, so a changeable option gives you more flexibility.
How much time should I allow for parking at Landeyjahöfn?
Allow at least an hour for check-in, queuing and walking; do not plan from the South Coast driving time alone.
How should I compare the vehicle fare?
Add the vehicle ticket, passenger tickets, parking, fuel and luggage-handling time, then compare that total with the transfer cost if you leave the car behind.
Related reading
If you are visiting for one day, start with a Westman Islands day trip or overnight stay; for puffin activities, read about puffin cliffs and boat trips.
References
- Herjólfur ferry (sailing and vehicle ticket information).
- South Iceland official visitor guide (South Coast and Westman Islands information).
- OpenStreetMap contributors (map base layer used for the location map).