Road signs in Iceland

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

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, first ratified in article 289/1995 and subsequently amended in 2019 by 365/2019 and 548/2019.

Warning signs

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

Prohibitory signs

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

Mandatory signs

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

Information signs

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

Service signs

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

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

Direction signs

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

Temporary signs

• 
  Temporary traffic restriction notice (construction)

Additional signs

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

Old signs

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  Warning (1949-1975)
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  Stop (1956-1975)
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  Prohibited parking (1937-1969)
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  Stop (1945-1956)

Traffic lights

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  Red traffic lights
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  Red amber traffic lights
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  Green traffic lights
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  Amber traffic lights