Is there phone signal on Iceland's Ring Road and in the Highlands?
Reliable on the busy Ring Road and South Coast, weaker between settlements, and not to be relied on in the Highlands. What to set up before you drive, including the SafeTravel app.
On the Ring Road, mostly yes. In the Highlands, not reliably. Reykjavík, the larger towns and the busy stretches of the Ring Road and South Coast have good coverage. Between settlements and in valleys it gets weaker. In the central Highlands, including the Kjölur and Sprengisandur routes, coverage cannot be relied on, and at Landmannalaugar there is some signal at the campsite and none far out on the trails.
Our Iceland eSIM connects to Nova and Síminn. Iceland's emergency line funds shared masts in remote areas that all carriers use, but their exact locations are not published.
Area by area
| Area | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Reykjavík and larger towns | reliable |
| Ring Road and South Coast, busy stretches | reliable |
| Between settlements, valleys, fjords | weaker, gaps |
| Landmannalaugar campsite | some |
| Highland roads and trails | do not rely on it |
Safety apps worth installing
- SafeTravel, the official app, which can send your GPS position to 112.
- 112 Iceland, which needs at least some coverage.
- Call 112 even if you see no bars, and if your iPhone has satellite SOS, it is recommended in Iceland.
What to prepare
- Download offline maps for the whole country before you pick up the car.
- Leave a travel plan on safetravel.is before driving into the Highlands.
- Check road conditions on umferdin.is while you still have signal.
- Fill up and download in the last town before a Highland route.
Quick answers
Does my phone work on the Ring Road?
Mostly yes, with gaps between settlements and in some valleys.
Is there signal in Landmannalaugar?
Some at the campsite, none far out on the trails.
Can I call 112 without signal in Iceland?
Try anyway: an emergency call can use any network that reaches you. SafeTravel's app and satellite SOS on recent iPhones are the backups.
Sources: Fun Iceland (9 August 2026), The Photo Hikes (updated 14 May 2026), SafeTravel, 112 Iceland, DV (15 September 2026). Checked 21 September 2026.