We have driven from Rovaniemi to Iceland and back, and it is one of the most genuinely epic things you can do from Finnish Lapland. Not a flight, not a package tour — a real overland-and-sea journey across Norway, the Faroe Islands, and the North Atlantic. When people ask us about it, the first thing we tell them is: it is absolutely doable, but it rewards planning. This guide is the planning document we wish we had before we left.

The short version: you drive west across Norway, take the Smyril Line ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark (or Seyðisfjörður-bound via Bergen and the Faroes), spend a few days in the Faroe Islands, and roll off the ferry in Iceland. The long version is what this post is for.

The full route — Rovaniemi to Iceland step by step

There is no single correct route, but there is a logical one. Here is the sequence we used, with rough driving times that assume you are not rushing but also not dawdling.

Leg 1 — Rovaniemi to Tromsø (or Narvik), Norway

From Rovaniemi, head northwest. The most direct road crosses into Norway near Kilpisjärvi and continues to Tromsø. This leg is about 500 km and 6–7 hours of actual driving, not counting stops — though stops are inevitable because the scenery through Finnish and Norwegian Lapland is relentlessly good. You can also divert slightly south to Narvik (used to be the E8/E10 combo), which puts you on the scenic Ofoten fjord. Either way, plan to sleep in Tromsø or Narvik. Both have affordable accommodation options and are worth an evening walk.

Leg 2 — Tromsø to Bergen (or Oslo), Norway

This is the longest driving stretch — roughly 1,600–1,800 km depending on your exact route, with the E6 spine running south through Norway. Most people break it over two to three days. The coastal E39 is spectacular but adds time due to ferry crossings at multiple fjords; the inland E6 is faster. We split this leg at Mo i Rana (good base, close to the Arctic Circle) and then Ålesund or Åndalsnes before heading to Bergen. Bergen is the logical embarkation point if you plan to take the Smyril Line from Bergen rather than Hirtshals — more on that below.

Leg 3 — Bergen or Hirtshals to Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

This is where your car leaves asphalt and boards a ship. The Smyril Line operates the MS Norröna, the only car ferry on the North Atlantic route. It runs weekly in summer (roughly May–September), departing from either Hirtshals in northern Denmark or Bergen. The Hirtshals departure is more flexible and cheaper for most travellers; the Bergen leg is included as an add-on. The crossing to Tórshavn takes approximately 20 hours from Hirtshals or about 12 from Bergen.

Leg 4 — Tórshavn to Seyðisfjörður, Iceland

After your Faroe Islands stopover (we recommend at least two nights), the Norröna continues to Iceland. The final crossing takes about 14–16 hours and arrives in Seyðisfjörður, a gorgeous fjord village in the East Fjords. From there, the Ring Road is immediately accessible and Iceland’s circuit begins.

The Smyril Line ferry: booking, cabins, timing

The Smyril Line is the backbone of this whole journey. Without it, you cannot drive your car to Iceland — there is simply no other car ferry. Here is what matters when you book.

When to book

Book at least three to four months in advance for summer sailings, especially if you want a cabin. The Norröna is the only vessel on this route and fills up fast for June and July. We have heard of people booking in January for July crossings and still not finding their preferred cabin class. Do not leave this until April if you’re travelling in July.

Cabin categories and costs

• Aircraft seat (no cabin): cheapest option. Fine for the short Bergen–Tórshavn leg, gruelling for the 20-hour Hirtshals crossing. We did it once. We won’t again.
• Porthole cabin (2-bed): our go-to. Natural light, actual sleep. Budget roughly €150–220 per cabin per crossing depending on the season.
• Outside cabin: more light, slightly higher. Worth the upgrade for the Hirtshals→Tórshavn overnight.
• Car/vehicle deck: add your car to the booking. Budget €200–350 per vehicle per crossing at summer rates, depending on vehicle length. Measure your car before booking — they charge by the metre.

The onboard restaurant is decent and not outrageously priced by Norwegian standards. The ship has a bar, a cafeteria, and a proper sit-down restaurant. Bring some snacks if you like, but you won’t go hungry.

The Hirtshals vs Bergen route

If you’re driving from Rovaniemi, you have two practical options. The longer scenic route swings through Bergen (adding a Bergen→Tórshavn leg to the ticket). The more common approach is to drive down the E6 into Denmark, take the ferry from Hirtshals in northern Jutland — a quick drive from the Norwegian border — and book a direct Hirtshals→Tórshavn→Seyðisfjörður crossing. This shaves significant driving time and is usually cheaper. We used the Hirtshals route and would do so again.

Quick-reference checklist: what to prepare

These are the things that either caused us stress or surprised us. Print this out or screenshot it before you leave.

• Smyril Line booking confirmed: car dimensions, cabin, full crossing dates — done at least 3 months in advance.
• Car insurance valid in Norway, Faroe Islands, and Iceland: check your policy — Faroe Islands and Iceland are not automatically included in standard EU green cards. Call your insurer before you go.
• Norwegian AutoPASS account (optional but useful): many toll roads and ferry crossings in Norway charge automatically. AutoPASS or a pre-registered card avoids fines.
• Faroe Islands tunnel toll payment method: the Faroe Islands have paid subsea tunnels. Register at faroeislands.fo or use the app. Cards are accepted but registration avoids queues.
• Iceland’s F-road rules: if you plan to drive highland roads (F-roads) in Iceland, you need a 4WD vehicle with appropriate ground clearance. Rental exclusions do not apply to your own car but assess honestly.
• Cash (Norwegian krone and Danish krone): cards work nearly everywhere in Scandinavia, but having some cash is useful at small Norwegian roadside stops.
• Full tank before Kilpisjärvi: the stretch from Finnish Lapland into Norway thins out in terms of fuel stations. Fill up in Rovaniemi or Muonio.
• Accommodation pre-booked in Bergen/Hirtshals and Tórshavn: summer availability in Tórshavn in particular is tight. Book ahead.

Driving through Norway: what surprised us

Norway is the longest and most variable part of the overland stretch. A few things caught us off guard.

• Toll roads are everywhere. Norway has an extensive toll system — cities, tunnels, and bridges all have AutoPASS readers. If your car is not registered, you will get an invoice sent to your home address, but it is simpler and cheaper to register online before entering Norway.
• Fjord ferries break up the E39. If you take the coastal route, you’ll cross several short fjord ferries. These are inexpensive, scenic, and run frequently — but they add 20–40 minutes each, which adds up across a day.
• Fuel is expensive. Norway has some of the priciest petrol in Europe. Budget for it. Fill up just before the Norwegian border if coming from Finland — Finnish prices are noticeably lower.
• Speed limits are strictly enforced. Average speed cameras are common. The limits feel low (often 80 km/h on main roads) but they exist for a reason — the roads are narrow and moose are real.
• Trollstigen and Atlantic Ocean Road are worth the detour. If you have an extra day, the mountain road at Trollstigen and the Atlantic Ocean Road between Kristiansund and Molde are genuinely breathtaking. Neither is on the fastest route south, but both are close enough to justify a loop.

The Faroe Islands stopover

The Faroe Islands are not just a transit stop — they’re one of the most visually striking places we’ve been. The Norröna schedule typically gives you two to three days in the Faroe Islands between the inbound and outbound sailings, and that is enough to see quite a lot.

• Tórshavn is tiny but walkable: the old town (Tinganes) takes half a morning. Spend the rest of your Tórshavn time at the harbour market or hiking the ridge above the city.
• The subsea tunnels connect most major islands: you can reach Eysturoy, Streymoy, Vágar, and Sandoy without a ferry from your car. The famous Eysturoy underwater roundabout is genuinely surreal to drive through.
• Gásadalur and Múlafossur waterfall: the waterfall that pours off a cliff into the Atlantic. It is real, it is as dramatic as the photos suggest, and it is about an hour from Tórshavn.
• Lake Sørvágsvatn: the optical-illusion lake that appears to float above the ocean. Worth the walk out, allow 2–3 hours including the hike.
• Weather changes fast: the Faroe Islands can go from sunshine to horizontal rain in 20 minutes. Pack a waterproof and do not plan tight schedules.

Mistakes we made so you don’t have to

• Booking too late and losing cabin choice. Our first attempt at this trip we booked the Smyril Line in May for July. The only cabin left was a four-berth inside room shared with strangers. Book early.
• Not checking insurance coverage. We assumed our Finnish car insurance covered Iceland. It did not, automatically. We had to call our insurer from Tórshavn and add a rider. Do this before you leave home.
• Underestimating Norway driving times. The E6 on a map looks straightforward. In reality, the speed limits, fjord ferries, tunnel tolls, and sheer volume of stunning pull-off opportunities mean you cover far fewer kilometres per day than you expect. We were two days behind schedule by the time we reached Bergen.
• Eating only onboard the ferry. The Norröna’s restaurant is fine, but pricey for three meals over 20 hours. We now bring a small cooler bag with good food from shore.
• Skipping the Faroe Islands in a rush. On our first crossing we only had one night in Tórshavn. It was nowhere near enough. Budget at least two full days — ideally three.
• Not pre-registering the Faroe tunnel tolls. We queued at a manual payment point for 25 minutes in the rain. The app takes five minutes to set up. Set it up before you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

A final word from Rovaniemi

We left our apartment in Finnish Lapland with a thermos of coffee, the dog asleep in the back seat, and a vague itinerary. What we came home with was a far clearer sense of just how connected the North Atlantic world is — Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, all of it bound together by the same grey-green ocean and a certain shared willingness to live at the edge of the inhabitable.

This is not the easiest trip. There are costs — ferry prices, Norwegian petrol, the occasional wrong turn into a dead-end gravel fjord road. But it is one of those journeys where the travel itself is the point, not just the destination. If you are sitting in Rovaniemi reading this and wondering whether to do it, our answer is: yes. Plan it, book the ferry early, give yourself time in the Faroe Islands, and go.

We are always happy to answer specific questions about the route — leave a comment below or find us on Instagram.