Iceland is one of Europe's last great adventures. Endless highland tracks, weather that changes by the hour, barely any mobile reception outside the Ring Road. The right apps on your phone can make the difference between a smooth road trip and a stressful ordeal. Here are 10 apps that belong on every Iceland traveller's phone.
1. Iceland Explorer – Your Digital Travel Guide
Free · iOS & Android · icelandexplorer.app
Yes, this is our app. But we built it to fill a gap we felt on our own first trip to Iceland: there's no good, offline-capable travel guide that shows you what's worth discovering around your current location on an interactive map.
What it does: 155+ hand-picked attractions on an interactive map, from waterfalls and geysers to hidden hot springs. 10 curated routes (Golden Circle free!) with daily stages and exact road navigation. A companion mode that guides you step by step through each tour. Aurora forecast with KP index and best viewing locations.
Why it belongs on this list: Most Iceland guides are either booking portals or bloated guidebooks with 500-page PDFs. Iceland Explorer focuses on the essentials: What's near me? How do I get there? What do I need to know? Fully available in English and German.
Free: 55+ POIs, Golden Circle route, custom route planning, aurora forecast. Premium (one-time purchase): All 155+ places, 10 curated routes, unlimited custom routes.
2. Veður – Iceland's Official Weather App
Free · iOS & Android · vedur.is
"If you don't like the weather in Iceland, wait five minutes." You'll hear this a hundred times on the island. It's true. The Icelandic Meteorological Office app (vedur.is) is the only source you can truly trust.
What it does: Hourly forecasts for every location in Iceland, storm and wind warnings, temperature and precipitation maps, aurora forecast (cloud cover + KP index).
Pro tip: Check the colour-coded map every morning before setting off. Green means clear driving, yellow means caution, red means stay at the hotel. Especially in winter, a snowstorm can reduce visibility to zero within minutes.
3. SafeTravel – Safety First
Free · iOS & Android · safetravel.is
An app that can save lives in an emergency. SafeTravel is operated by ICE-SAR, the Icelandic Search and Rescue, and should be on every phone.
What it does: Real-time warnings about road closures, weather, and natural hazards. The most important feature: Check-In. You register your planned route and expected return time. If you don't return, the rescue team knows where to search.
When you need it: Before any hike off marked trails, highland drives, and winter travel in general. Iceland doesn't have nationwide mobile coverage. If you get stuck in a blizzard on an F-road, your last check-in is your lifeline.
4. Google Maps – Don't Forget Offline Maps!
Free · iOS & Android · maps.google.com
Google Maps works surprisingly well in Iceland, even on remote stretches. But outside the Ring Road and larger towns, mobile reception drops out regularly.
Do this before you go: Download the entire Iceland map for offline use (~200 MB). Go to: Profile → Offline maps → Select your own map → mark all of Iceland → Download. You'll navigate even without reception.
Alternatives: maps.me also offers great offline maps, and Waze has an active community in Iceland reporting road conditions.
5. My Aurora Forecast – Finding the Northern Lights
Free (basic) · iOS & Android · Website
The Northern Lights are every Iceland traveller's dream. But they don't show up on demand. This app massively improves your chances.
What it does: KP index forecast (higher is better), cloud cover map (you need clear skies), push notifications when activity is high, camera settings for aurora photography.
Reality check: Aurora is visible September to April. You need three things: KP 3+, clear skies, and darkness. The app shows all three factors. Drive at least 20 minutes outside Reykjavík to escape light pollution.
Tip: Iceland Explorer has a built-in aurora forecast with the best viewing locations across Iceland. Both apps complement each other perfectly.
6. AllTrails – Plan Your Hikes
Free (basic) / Premium from $35.99/year · iOS & Android · alltrails.com
Iceland has some of the world's most spectacular hiking trails: Laugavegur, Fimmvörðuháls, Skaftafell. AllTrails helps you find the right trail for your level.
What it does: Over 600 Iceland trails with distance, elevation profiles, difficulty ratings, and user reviews. GPS tracking of your hike. Offline maps (Premium). Photos and current condition reports from other hikers.
Note: Offline maps require Premium. Worth it if you plan several day hikes. For shorter trails at tourist spots (Svartifoss, Glymur, Skógafoss), the free version is fine.
7. Klappið – Bus Travel in Reykjavík
Free · iOS & Android · straeto.is
If you're spending a few days in Reykjavík (and you should!), you need Klappið. It's the digital ticket system for Strætó, the public bus service.
What it does: Real-time schedules, route planning, buy tickets directly in the app (490 ISK single ride, day and week passes available). No fumbling with cash on the bus.
Good to know: The bus system covers the greater Reykjavík area (Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær). For intercity travel (e.g. to Keflavík Airport), use separate operators like Flybus or Airport Direct.
8. Parka – Pay for Parking by Phone
Free · iOS & Android · parka.is
In Reykjavík and at tourist hotspots like Þingvellir, you need a parking solution. Parka makes it cashless and hassle-free.
What it does: Pay parking fees via the app, extend your time without walking back to the car, reminders when time's running out. Works in Reykjavík, Akureyri, and at many tourist attractions.
Alternative: EasyPark works similarly and is more widespread across Europe. If you already have EasyPark on your phone, it works in Iceland too.
9. Google Translate – Decode Menus and Signs
Free · iOS & Android · translate.google.com
Most Icelanders speak excellent English. But menus at traditional restaurants, road signs, and information boards at historical sites are often only in Icelandic.
Killer feature: Camera translation. Point your phone at Icelandic text and see the translation live on screen. Works offline too if you download the Icelandic language pack beforehand (~50 MB).
Fun fact: Icelandic has barely changed since the Viking Age. The language has letters like Þ (th), ð (voiced th), æ (ai), and ö. Words like 'Eyjafjallajökull' or 'Fjaðrárgljúfur' suddenly become pronounceable once you learn the rules.
10. XE Currency – Convert Prices
Free · iOS & Android · xe.com
Iceland is expensive. Very expensive. A beer costs 1,500–2,000 ISK, a simple lunch 3,000–5,000 ISK. XE helps you keep track.
What it does: Real-time exchange rates from ISK to your home currency, offline mode with last known rates, favourites for frequently used currency pairs.
Money-saving tip: Always pay by credit card in Iceland (Visa/Mastercard). You almost never need cash. Card exchange rates are nearly always better than changing cash. Even street food vendors and public toilets accept cards.
Bonus Tips
112 Iceland: Iceland's official emergency app. Sends your GPS location directly to the rescue coordination centre. Hopefully you'll never need it, but if you do, it's priceless.
Spotify / Podcast app: Download playlists and podcasts offline. The Ring Road is 1,322 km long, and on long highland stretches there's no internet for streaming.
Wolt: Food delivery in Reykjavík. After a long road trip day, sometimes you just want to crash at the hotel and order in. Works reliably in the capital area.
Download Before You Go
The most important tip: download all apps and offline data before you leave. Keflavík Airport has free WiFi — use your gate waiting time productively. Once you're on the Ring Road, you'll be glad everything is ready.
The short version: Veður for weather, SafeTravel for safety, Google Maps offline for navigation, Iceland Explorer for attractions and routes, My Aurora for Northern Lights. These five cover 90% of your needs. The rest is a bonus.