Planning to visit Iceland? Don’t want to drive? That’s fine, there are many Iceland day tours available to you.
The thing is to find the right ones for you in a sea of proposals.
So here is my own selection of destinations for the best day trips from Reykjavik: to see the scenery, to get off the beaten path, to see the Northern lights or wildlife… Those Iceland Excursions should be memorable!
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching
Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure
My favorite places to stay:
- Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
- Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
- Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal
My top 5 Iceland Day Tours from Reykjavik – Quick overview
If you don’t want to read the whole article and have only a few day to spend in Reykjavik and visit Iceland, below is my selection of 5 excursions worth joining:
- Visiting the Lagoon of Jokulsarlon – it is a long drive but the scenery is fascinating and the icebergs are fantastics – Check out program and book
- Exploring the Snaefellsnes peninsula, often referred to as the Iceland in Miniature – in one day you will see a lot of what makes Iceland fascinating- Check out program and book
- Go hiking in Landmannalaugar, in the Central Highlands – there are no words to describe the landscapes (Summer only) – Check out program and book
- Chase the Northern lights – go out during night time for a chance to see the Aurora borealis dancing – Check out options
- From May to mid August, if wildlife is you thing, observe the puffins on the coasts of Iceland – Check out program and book
More details and other suggestions after the general info.
Where to stay in Reykjavik
My favorite hotels in Reykjavik center are:
- Luxury: Black Pearl Apartment Hotel
- Charm: Reykjavik Konsulat
- Boutique: Vintage Hotel
- Mid-range: City Center Hotel
- Apartments: Rey Apartments
- Guesthouse: Reykjavik Treasure B&B
- For families: Odinsve Hotel Apartments
Or see all my suggestions in my article: Where to stay in Reykjavik: best hotels
Iceland Excursions – Pros and Cons
Why choose to visit Iceland via day tours from Reykjavik?
I know this website is a lot about Road Tripping by yourself to discover the country. I love that way of traveling.
But I am also a fan of organized tours (as long as they are small group tours). I think this is a great worry-free alternative:
- To enjoy the scenery – on an excursion you can just sit back and capture memories, especially with the ever changing magnificent landscapes of Iceland
- To avoid driving – not everyones enjoy driving… or has a license! Plus, especially in Winter, the Icelandic roads can be tricky. An organized day tour is worry-free
- To learn more – Most guides are passionate about their country and will be happy to share their knowledge, stories and answer all your questions
- Not to lose time – If you have only a couple of days…
However you have to be conscious of the limitations:
- You can’t stop whenever you want – although with small group tours there is often more flexibility
- You can’t change plans and stay somewhere if you like a place
- There are sometimes long legs of trip stuck on the minibus
Why Iceland is great for Guided day Tours
Iceland and its capital city Reykjavik are great for excursions because:
- there is a lot to see within a few hours drive
- Reykjavik is not too big, so it does not take hours to collect everyone and get out of the city
- Every 5 minutes you want to say WOW as you see the scenery
- Reykjavik is a charming city to establish your base – see the best rated accommodations
Best Iceland Day Tours for SCENERY
Let’s start with the Iceland day trips from Reykjavik that take you to the most beautiful scenery in the South of the country.
1. Jokulsarlon Day Trip – long one day tour from Reykjavik
- About the day trip
A Jokulsarlon Day Trip From Reykjavik will take you along the beautiful landscapes of the South Coast with black sand beaches, waterfalls and glacier all the way to the Famous Jokulsarlon. One of the best tours in Iceland.
Jokulsarlon is a glacial lagoon where icebergs detach from the glacier and float by you towards the sea via a channel. Some are white, other blue and other are even black. It is fun to just sit there and imagine shapes (I think I saw the titanic thinking lol!)
Across the road, you can walk to Jokulsarlon beach aka Diamond Beach where some icebergs are pushed back on the black sand beach and you can walk right up to them.
- Self Drive Option
Easy Drive on Road 1 but long – Reykjavik to Jokulsarlon: 4h30 – 370km
- Guided Tour Suggestion
In Summer, the days are long, so after enjoying the icebergs, on the return trip you can stop at the 2 main waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss.
Not many minibus options for this tour. Probably because of the length of the trip and the fact that there are less stops.
Please don’t complain about the length of the drive. You are warned. But it is worth it!
Tour Length: 14 hours in summer
Tips:
- You can sit on any side of the bus as you will come back via the same road.
- However I have a preference for the Land side of the bus rather than the sea side
- Note: If you are heading to the South Coast of Iceland, considering the driving time you have 2 options. The one that skip most of the first part to head to Jokulsarlon Lagoon or the one that focusses on the first part and stops at Vik. I am sorry to say that you can’t do both on a one day trip, too much to see and too much driving…
2. South Coast Excursion from Reykjavik
- About the day trip
See some of the highlights of the first half of the Icelandic South Coast.
During the whole drive, the scenery will be breathtaking. And you will stop at:
Seljalandsfoss – the waterfall does not look like much from the front but once you walk behind it, it reveals its magical beauty. Loved it!
Skogafoss – the 60m waterfall is quite impressive with this straight curtain-like drop. You can get really close at its foot or walk to the platform (500 steps)
Reynisfjara – The Ultimate Iceland black sand beach with its sea stacks and interesting geological formations
- Self Drive Option
Easy Drive on road 1- Reykjavik to Vik: 2h15 – 180km
- Guided Tour Suggestion
This Iceland Day tour on a comfortable Minibus will have you hit all those wonderful locations.
Tour Length: 9 hours
Check out program and book
Tips:
- You can sit on any side of the bus as you will come back via the same road.
- However I have a preference for the Land side of the bus rather than the sea side
3. Snaefellsnes Peninsula Day Tour Iceland
About the day trip
The Snaefellsnes peninsula is often called ‘Iceland in Miniature’ because many of the geological and landscapes features that make Iceland famous are gathered here at a smaller scale:
You have iconic waterfalls at Kirkjufell where the mountains behind seem to emit energy that makes the landscape so beautiful (I know I am sounding crazy now, but this location ha something special!)
You have a glacier called Snaefellsjokull – have fun pronouncing it
Crazy cliffs of lava rock with arches and pinacles
And fjords, small volcanoes…
- Self Drive Option
Good drive – not difficult – Reykjavik to Grundarfjordur on the North Coast of the Peninsula: 2h15 – 170km
- Guided Tour Suggestion
A great program for this Iceland Day tour on a comfortable Minibus.
With a small group you will be able to see a lot and not waste time.
Tour Length: 12 hours
4. Iceland Golden Circle Tours
- About the day trip
This is a classic. Not my favorite locations in Iceland but still quite impressive. The Golden Circle tours is done around 3 main stops:
Thingvellir National park (a Unesco world heritage site) – with its historical importance and geological significance. You will long fault lines evidence of the movement of the tectonic plates
Haukadalur, home of Geysir. However the geyser that you will see erupt every 5 to 8 minutes is called Strokkur. A lot of fun. The Geothermal area also displays fumaroles and bubbling mud pools.
Gullfoss, an impressive giant 2 step waterfall. 32m in height, its water is raging in Summer when the glaciers melt
- Self Drive Option
Good drive – not difficult – Reykjavik to Gullfoss: 1h30 – 110km
- Guided Tour Suggestion
A minibus tour for a more personalized experience of the most famous Iceland Day Tour.
Tour Length: 8 hours
Check out program and book
5. Helicopter flight from Reykjavik
The best way to admire the landscapes if often from the sky. I love flying in an helicopter. Sadly I could not fit it in my itinerary.
But I was lucky that my flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri was on a clear day, and I could see a little bit of what you could experience with such a tour.
The elegant shapes of the fjords, the volcanos and the massive side of the glaciers!!!!
It is quite a budget, but your eyes will sparkle for years I think!
Flight time: from 30min to 1h
Need to rent a car in Iceland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Best Day Trips from Reykjavik – ACTIVE & ORIGINAL
6. Snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure
In the Thingvellir National Park (on the Golden circle) are giant fault lines, evidence that the Eurasian and American tectonic plates are moving away.
Some of those fissure are filled with water. The most famous is the Silfra Fissure where you can snorkel or dive.
After that experience, people report about the clarity of the water and the peacefulness of the place.
All the equipment is provided with drysuits to keep you warm.
Tour Length: Half a day
If you are on a self drive tour of the Golden Circle, you can book only the Snorkeling experience without pick-up in Reykjavik.
7. Horse Riding in a Lava Field
Icelandic is also famous for its breed of horses. They are small, with straight profile and wide forehead. Their double coat protect them well against the cold.
Apparently even their blood is significantly different.
So if you love riding horses, this is an experience not to be missed. Especially as you will be doing so in quite a surreal landscapes (not the one in my photo of horses below)
Pick up from Reykjavik.
1h30 to 2h riding excursion – Tour Length: Half a day
Learn more and Book
8. Snowmobile on a Glacier
Love winter sports? Well even in Summer you can enjoy the large glaciers of Iceland.
There is lots of space to enjoy a thrill ride on the snowmobiles. So you could almost feel alone on the Antarctic.
This activity takes places on different glacier. For example, Langjökull is the second largest glacier in Europe.
On the way to the glacier admire the famous Gullfoss and see the geyser erupt at Haukadalur.
Once at the base camp, learn how to safely operate your snowmobile
Enjoy a 1hour ride on the vast expanse of white land
Tour Length: 8h
9. Sea Fishing
Love fishing? Have fun sea fishing in the Icelandic waters with amazing views of the Fjords.
All equipment provided.
You can even barbecue your catch right on the boat!
Tour length: Half a day
10. Hiking in Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is one of the most praised landscapes in Iceland. Located in the central highlands, it can only be reached by 4 wheel drive or hiking on the famous Lauvegur trail.
In this valley the colorful mountains look surreal, especially if you watch them soaking in the natural hot springs.
Book your pick up from Reykjavik on top of the tour.
Once there, you ca enjoy a guided 4h hike to make the most of your time in this unique landscape.
At then relax your muscles in one of the natural hot pools.
Full day tour.
11. Off Road Fun in Thorsmork
Reaching Thorsmork is quite a 4WD adventure. The isolated valley is cut from the rest by rivers. Those can be powerful when the ice is melting and the crossing becomes quite a thrill. I trusted my driver but it was still a little bit scary!
At the end the Thorsmork landscapes is different from the rest of Iceland with a greener area where you can hike.
Thorsmork is the “Valley of the Gods”.
On the way enjoy a stop at Seljalandsfoss and the tongue of the glacier with the crazy name (you know the one with the volcano that erupted blocking all air traffic in Europe!)
Tour Length: 10 hours
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…
Reykjavik NORTHERN LIGHTS Tours
And here come the Northern Lights.
The dream of many travelers coming to Iceland.
If you are coming in June/July, I am sorry but you have to forget it, not enough night time to get a chance to see them.
To see great Northern Lights you need a combination of:
- Dark night (no moon, being away from source lights)
- No clouds
- High magnetic activity
And then you have to chase them… If there is cloud you can drive further if it is possible to see them somewhere else. This is why doing a tour with expert Night Lights chasers is a good idea.
3 options for you. Don’t be alarm by ratings on those tours, this is always the case for all companies. People are disappointed not seeing the lights and chasing, stopping, waiting in the cold… for sometimes just seeing a faint glimpse.
But this is the reality. I did not see much on my stay but the little I saw was already great 🙂
12. By Bus
The classic option of a Reykjavik Northern Lights tour is by bus. You check all the day the forecast, you get picked up, you pray for a clear sky… and with some luck you can admire the dance of colors.
If you do not see the Northern Lights then you get another tour for free
13. By Boat
A more original option is to chase them by boat. If you don’t get seasick…
If you do not see the Northern Lights then you get another tour for free.
14. Off Road
With a very small group and a better vehicle, the driver can really take out off the roads to find them.
And you won’t waster time waiting for your turn to get out of the bus.
Tips:
- Bring really warm clothes, hat and gloves
- Think positive
Iceland Day Trips to see WILDLIFE
In season, you can also enjoy wildlife day tours from Reykjavik to see whales or puffins.
But remember that those are wild animals, and it cannot be guaranteed that you see whales.
15. Whale Watching
Best times to see whales in Iceland is from April to September.
Your chances will be lower during other months.
Tour Length: 3 hours on boat
Tips:
- Bring warm clothing to feel comfortable outside on the boat
16. Puffin Tours
Puffins are amazing little creature. Their colors are vibrant. Don’t forget your binoculars!!!! (check out my guide to choosing binoculars)
1 hour boat tour
Best period is form May to Mid-August.
Summer Iceland Overnight Tours from Reykjavik
Want the chance to see even more?
If you want to spend less time on the road and more time at the attractions, consider doing and Iceland overnight trip from Reykjavik or an Iceland Multiday tour.
Suggestions:
- South Coast 2 day trip
With a South Coast 2 day trip, you can cover a lot with most of the main stops: waterfalls, black sand beaches, glacier and Jokulsarlon lagoon (you are saving 4h30 of driving each day by staying overnight)
Check out your options
- 3 day Iceland short break
For example for an overview of many different Icelandic scenery and activities, check out this 3 day tour from Reykjavik covering the Golden Circle, Glacier hiking, Skogafoss and finishing with a relaxing time at the Blue Lagoon
Check out your options
WINTER – Iceland Guided Tours
The scenic tours
- The Scenic Tours listed above are also available in Winter since those roads are cleared. And waterfalls might be partially frozen
- You can also snorkel in the Silfra fissure in Winter
- However Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork will not be available.
The Ice Cave
The extra interest of visiting Iceland in Winter is to visit an Ice Cave. You know the ones from the crazy pictures:
But be aware that very different types of caves are marketed as “ice caves”.
Some do not have this depth and colors, and one is even a man made tunnel…
One of the best ones is the Crystal Ice Cave… but it is far, close to Jokulsarlon.
Caves vary every year, depending in the movements of the glaciers.
See options
Staying in Reykjavik – Accommodations
So staying in Reykjavik and taking day trips from there is a great option!
You can check my article about Iceland accommodations to find suggestions about where to stay. I really enjoyed my charming B&B called Reykjavik Treasure!
Other great accommodation options in Reykjavik
- HOSTEL – The Reykjavik City Hostel has a good rating inside Reykjavik
- CHEAPER – the other option is to stay slightly outside, for example in the Farm Akurhot Guesthouse – Check for availability and price
- DESIGN – If you like modern design, have a look at the 41- Townhouse hotel!
- APARTMENT – An apartment if you want to stay several days and cook. For example check Availability and prices for Odinsvé Hotel Apartments
- FAMILY – Have a look at the Old Charm Reykavik Apartments. They have 2 and 3 bedrooms apartments and a decor with a lot of character. Check availability and latest prices.
- LUXURY – Head downtown in large smart apartments at the Black Pearl – Check availability an Prices
- LUXURY – or get slightly out of the tourist way at Embassy House, a full house superbly decorated that can host up to 10 people – Check Availability and price
- or the Choose among the Best Rated Accommodations in Reykjavik
Where to stay in Iceland?
My favorites:
- Reykjavik, capital city: see best rated accommodations – or my article on where to stay
- Selfoss, between Golden Circle and South Coast: see best rated accommodations
- Vik, near waterfalls and glaciers: see best rated accommodations
- Höfn, gateway to the East fjords: see best rated accommodations
- Egilsstadir, between fjords and North Iceland: see best rated accommodations
- Reykjahlid, for the wonders of Lake Myvatn: see best rated accommodations
- Akureyri, capital of the North: see best rated accommodations
- Grundarfjordur, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: see best rated accommodations
Considering a road trip instead? Check out my eBooks that make planning a trip fun and easy:
Plan your dream trip to Iceland with my guides!
- 8 easy-to-plan maps
- 100+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates
- Useful planning tips
- 130+ large photos
- 2 easy-to-plan maps
- 30 stops, 10 detours
- GPS coordinates
- Useful planning tips
- 70+ large photos
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Great Information about Iceland. I didn’t visit yet. After going through your blog, I will definitely visit at Iceland and experience all the different tours.
Thanks!
Thanks for your comment Nitin. Glad you go inspired!
Loved reading about your trip. It has given me ideas of what to do there and how I need to plan my trip.
Hello, I arrive Saturday 1 September 2018 at 8am on Holland America Cruise Ship and would be interested to know if there is a group tour I can be included in that is going to Langjokull ice cave and snowmobile and other places of interest en-route. Please inform me of itinerary and price etc. (Sunday I intend taking the Golden Circle Tour.) Regards Theresa
Hi Theresa
I am sorry but I am not a travel agent.
I still had a look and all I can find are tours departing earlier than your arrival. Since it is an 11h day tour.
Your only option would be to hire a Superjeep private tour but that will be quite a budget.
I wish you wonderful travels!