Road signs in Iceland

Road signs in Iceland are visual communication devices placed along roads and highways throughout the country to provide information, warnings, and guidance to motorists and pedestrians. Iceland never ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but road signs in Iceland conform to the general pattern of those used in most other European countries, with certain design elements borrowed from Danish and Swedish practice. Signs tend to be more sparsely employed than in other European countries, especially in rural areas.

A sign displaying the location of scattered farms and homesteads in a rural area of Iceland

Most road signs in Iceland are not retroreflective, making them harder to see at night.

Design

Distances and other measurements are displayed in metric units. All text within the main signs and on auxiliary signs is exclusively in Icelandic with very few exceptions.

Colours and shapes

Icelandic road signs most closely resemble their Swedish counterparts, with rounded corners and yellow backgrounds. However, there are many differences in detail, especially in the silhouettes used.

Shape and colour are used to indicate the function of signs:

Type of sign	Shape	Border	Background colour	Text/Symbol
Warning	Triangular	Red	Yellow	Black
Prohibition	Circular	Red	Yellow	Black
Mandatory instructions	Circular	White	Blue	White
Supplementary	Rectangular	White Red	Blue Yellow	White Black
Directions, sometimes	Rectangular	Black	Yellow	Black
Information	Rectangular	White	Blue	White

Typeface

A version of the Transport typeface employed on road signs in the UK – modified to include accented characters and the Icelandic letters ð (eth) and þ (thorn) – is used on Icelandic road signs.

Gallery

The original legal source for these are the Icelandic Transport Authority,^[1] first ratified in article 289/1995^[2] and subsequently amended in 2019 by 365/2019^[3] and 548/2019.^[4]

Warning signs

Curve to right
Curve to left
Double curve first to right
Double curve first to left
Dangerous intersection
Yield
Crossroad intersection with priority
Skewed side junction on right with priority
Skewed side junction on left with priority
Side road junction on right with priority
Side road junction on left with priority
Offset road junction left right with priority
Offset road junction right left with priority
Roundabout ahead
School zone
Pedestrians
Zebra crossing
Equestrian
Watch for (large) animals horses
Watch for (large) animals cattle
Watch for (large) animals sheep
Watch for (large) animals reindeer
Bike crossing
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on right hand side
Road narrows on left hand side
Workers ahead
Steep descent
Steep ascent
Bumpy road
Bump
Risk of rockfalls or avalanche
Risk of rockfalls or avalanche
Loose gravel
Traffic lights
Low-flying aircraft
Two-way traffic
Tunnel ahead
Road slippery when wet
Dangerous shoulder
Unstable shoulder
Risk of strong crosswinds
Harbour ahead without barriers
General warning/caution
Road grading
Risk of ice on road

Prohibitory signs

Closed to all vehicles
Prohibited entry (from this direction)
All motor vehicles prohibited entry
Cars prohibited entry
Trucks prohibited entry
Buses prohibited entry
Tractors prohibited entry
Motorbikes prohibited entry
Mopeds prohibited entry
Snowmobiles prohibited entry
Bikes prohibited entry
Equestrian prohibited entry
Pedestrians prohibited entry
Width limit
Length limit
Height limit
Total weight limit
Total weight limit of combination
Axle weight limit
Mandatory stop
Stop for checkpoint
Parking prohibited
Beginning of zone with parking restrictions
End of zone with parking restrictions
Stopping prohibited
Yield to oncoming traffic
Maximum speed limit in kilometres/hour
End of maximum speed limit
Beginning of zone with special speed limit
End of zone with special speed limit
Right turn prohibited
Left turn prohibited
U-turn prohibited
Overtaking prohibited
Overtaking by trucks prohibited
End of prohibition on overtaking
End of prohibition on overtaking by trucks
National speed limit applies (rural: 90 km/h)
Minimum space between motor vehicles
Vehicles carrying dangerous goods prohibited entry
Transport of water-polluting substances prohibited entry

Mandatory signs

Go right
Go left
Go straight
Turn right
Turn left
U-turn
Turn right or straight
Turn left or straight
Turn left or right
Keep right
Keep left
Pass either on side
Roundabout
Bikes only
Pedestrian path
Bikes and pedestrians only
Separate lanes for pedestrians and bikes
Path for riders

Information signs

Parking zone
Covered parking zone
Reserved parking place for handicapped vehicle
Reserved parking place for specific vehicle used by handicapped person
Parking zone for buses
Parking zone for trucks
Parking zone for cars
Parking zone with charging station for electric cars
Parking zone for carvans
Parking zone for ambulances
Parking zone for bikes
Parking zone for motorbikes
Zebra crossing/Crosswalk
Main road (priority)
End of main road (priority)
Priority over approaching traffic
Place for allowing oncoming traffic to pass
One-way traffic
One-way traffic
Dead end
Taxi rank
Bus stop
Bus terminal
Handicapped
Urban area
End of urban area
Living street (pedestrian priority, 15 km/h)
End of living street
Pedestrian underpass to the right
Pedestrian underpass to the left
Pedestrian overpass to the right
Pedestrian overpass to the left
Zone for putting snow-chains on tyres
Toll road
Turnaround space for large vehicles on right (tunnel)^[5]
Turnaround space for large vehicles on left (tunnel)^[6]
Entrance to area
Exit from area
Maximum speeds
Traffic enforcement cameras

Service signs

Emergency service
Hospital or medical centre
Police station
Pharmacy
Emergency shelter
Emergency phone
Fire extinguisher
Information
Information booth
Public telephone
Public lavatory
Outhouse
Waste tank discharge
Town centre
Industrial place
Vacation houses^[7]
Place of interest (indoors)^[7]
Point of interest
Hiking trail
Picnic site
Viewpoint
Viewpoint with information
Rubbish bin
Rubbish container
Radio station/FM Frequency
Petrol station
Garage/Repair shop
Tyre repair
Cars rental
Refreshments shop
Restaurants shop
Restaurant in private home
Hotel
Hostel (sleeping bags only)
Youth hostel
Rental cabin
Refuge hut
Campsite
Caravan park
Cooking facilities
Shower
Hot tub
Laundry facilities
Meeting facilities
Internet access
Swimming pool
Recreation centre
Sports field
Horse hire^[7]
Horse track^[7]
Horse stables^[7]
Horsecart rental^[7]
Fishing
Ocean fishing
Whale watching
Ski lift
Ski lift with chair
Cross-country ski area
Snowcat trips
Golf course
Shooting range^[7]
Snowmobile rental
Water scooter rental
Bike rental
Boat rental
Water skiing
River rafting
Church
Cemetery
ATM
Bank
Post office
Tourist shop
Supermarket
Bakery
Food kiosk
Handicrafts
Greenhouse
Ice cream shop
Art gallery
Library
Aquarium
Livestock animals park
Dog hotel
Veterinarian
Music venue^[7]
Ferry
Boat trips
Commercial harbour^[7]
Fishing harbour^[7]
Airport
Aerodrome/Airstrip

Route and direction signs

Directional signs within the urban Capital Region of Iceland (including Reykjavík and its surrounding areas) have a blue on white design. Outside the Capital Region, signs are generally black on yellow.

Route direction
Route direction without number
Turn off (a) within the Capital Region
Turn off (b)
Turn off to place of interest, airport, harbour, public building or other place of service
Notice of destination ahead
Exit lane (a) within the Capital Region
Exit lane (b)
Destination ahead (a) with distances within the Capital Region
Destination ahead (b) with distances (rural)
Destination ahead per lane
Destination ahead and map (a) within the Capital Region
Destination ahead and map (b)
Lane direction sign within the Capital Region
Destination ahead with route numbers (b)
Place (turn off)^[7]
Place name (e.g. a river)^[7]
Street or road name
House numbers
Road number
Road number (approach)
Unnumbered road^[7]
Abandoned farm^[7]
County or municipal boundary sign^[7]
Beginning of the municipality
Destination and distance (urban area, except Capital Region)^[7]
Destination and distance (rural area)^[7]
Information signs
Information of bike path
Information on bike path^[7]

Direction signs

Reduction of available lanes (option 1)
Reduction of available lanes (option 2)
Approach Lane merges right
Use of lanes at an intersection
Lane markings
Lane directions and restriction (bus lane on right)
Lane directions and reccomendation (heavy vehicles on right)
Sign showing number of lanes on road to be entered
Direction signs
Direction signs
Direction signs
Direction signs
Direction signs

Temporary signs

Temporary traffic restriction notice (construction)

Additional signs

When the "road condition" begins
On left
On right
On both sides
Extended
Extended indication on the left
Extended indication on the right
Extent of prohibition area^[7]
Duration (timing) of prohibition^[7]
Parking time limit^[8]
Parking places, parallel to road^[7]
Parking places, perpendicular to road^[7]
Parking places, angled^[7]
Distance
Handicapped parking^[8]
Arrow right
Turn left
Turn right
Arrow direction
Arrow left
Course of priority road at intersection^[7]
Course of the priority road
Course of the priority road
Caution, Blind people^[8]
Caution, Deaf people^[8]
Weight limit^[8]
Tow zone^[8]
New road surface^[8]
Unbridged river crossing^[8]
Slow road: Driving is difficult but not impossible for non-4×4 cars^[8]
Difficult road: 4×4 car required (these and "TORLEIÐI" are typically preceded with an F, e.g. F35)^[8]
Mountain road: Extremely difficult terrain, even in 4×4s^[8]
Blind hill^[8]
Blind hills ahead (multiple)^[8]
Area with higher accident risk^[8]
Single-lane paving (unpaved shoulders)^[8]
Start of gravel road, slow to 80 km/h (for the best conditions, vary by weather)
One-lane bridge^[8]
One-lane tunnel
Stop ahead^[8]
One-lane bridge (with width)^[8]
Running event on road (temporary)^[8]