Best Day Trips from Reykjavik, Iceland
Are you looking for the best day trips from Reykjavik, Iceland?
Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital, located in the southwestern part of the country. Although the population of Iceland is small (just 400,000 people), the country is actually quite large, covering nearly 40,000 square miles. The famous Ring Road spans the whole country in a circular route, spanning 825 miles.
The best way to see Iceland is with a road trip on the Ring Road, but you really need at least a full week for this, and ideally two weeks. However, I know not everyone has that much time in Iceland.
Many people visit Iceland on a short stopover of one, two, or three days, and stay in Reykjavik. If you’re doing this, then taking day trips from Reykjavik is the best way to make the most of your limited time.
And luckily, there are some great day trips you can take from Reykjavik! Public transportation is pretty much nonexistent in this country (aside from a very limited bus network), so your best bet is to either rent a car or take a guided tour that includes round-trip transportation from Reykjavik.
Iceland is known for its stunning and diverse natural beauty, earning the nickname the Land of Ice and Fire. You can see glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes, craters, thermal baths, and more in a day from Reykjavik.
Rent a Car or Take a Tour?
Renting a car gives you more flexibility and can be cheaper if you’re splitting the cost among more than one person. I recommend checking Discover Cars to find the best prices on rental cars in Iceland.
However, you’ll have to factor in gas prices (extremely high) and parking fees (which can add up) if you decide to rent a car. I also do not recommend renting a car in Iceland if you’re visiting during the winter, unless you’re extremely confident driving in heavy snow and low visibility conditions.
Taking an organized tour gives you less flexibility since you have to follow a fixed itinerary, but you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics yourself. If you’re a solo traveler, this is most likely the most economical option, and also a good option for anyone who doesn’t want to worry about driving themselves.
⭐ Short on time? These are the top tours and activities I recommend. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Best Day Trips from Reykjavik:
- Full-day Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik
- Half-day Blue Lagoon tour from Reykjavik
- Full-day South Coast tour from Reykjavik
- Full-day Snæfellsnes Peninsula tour from Reykjavik
- Full-day Jökulsárlón tour from Reykjavik
1. Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is by far the most popular day trip from Reykjavik. When visiting the Golden Circle, you’ll get to see several unique natural attractions, including geysers, waterfalls, craters, and more.
This circular tourist route is easily accessible from Reykjavik, making it one of the best day trips if you don’t want to spend hours in transit. It’s very popular, so if you’re visiting during peak tourist season, some of these attractions can feel quite crowded, but I’d still say it’s definitely worth the trip.
Here are the main sites you’ll visit on a day trip to the Golden Circle:
- Geysir (a huge geyser, and the origin of the word “geyser”)
- Gullfoss (a massive, beautiful waterfall)
- Thingvellir National Park (where two tectonic plates divide)
- Kerid Crater (an amazing volcanic crater lake)
There are TONS of Golden Circle tours you can book from Reykjavik. This full-day tour is one of the most highly-rated and best-value options, and it takes you to all four sites listed above. Another option is this longer tour, which includes all the same stops plus a visit to the Secret Lagoon.
2. Blue Lagoon
If you’re very short on time or just looking for an easy, relaxing day trip, the Blue Lagoon is another one of my top picks. If you’re coming from Reykjavik, it’s just a one-hour drive. And if you’re coming from the airport, it’s only a twenty-minute drive, making this a good option for long airport layovers.
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa that is famous for its picturesque pale blue waters. Iceland is well known for its thermal baths, some natural and some manmade (the Blue Lagoon is manmade.)
This half-day tour from Reykjavik is a great option and includes round-trip transportation and admission to the Blue Lagoon with a towel rental, mud mask, and free drink at the lagoon bar. It’s also possible to combine the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon on a longer full-day tour like this one.
3. South Coast
Another great day trip from Reykjavik is the South Coast of Iceland. This takes you along a portion of Iceland’s famous Ring Road, and there are several sites you can see in one day from Reykjavik.
It involves a little more time in transit, since all of the best South Coast sites are two to 2.5 hours from Reykjavik, but it’s definitely worth it to see amazing waterfalls, beaches, glaciers, and more.
These are the top sites to visit on a day trip to the South Coast:
- Seljalandsfoss (a stunning waterfall)
- Skógafoss (another breathtaking waterfall)
- Reynisfjara (black sand beach with basalt columns)
- Sólheimajökull (an impressive glacier)
Much like the Golden Circle, there are various tours you can book that will take you to all of these South Coast destinations on a day trip from Reykjavik. This full-day tour comes highly recommended. If you actually want to walk on Sólheimajökull, not just see it, then this similar tour with a glacier hike is great.
4. Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Another excellent day trip from Reykjavik is the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This takes you up the eastern coast of Iceland to a region known for its dramatic scenery, including black sand beaches, waterfalls, and glaciers. It’s a longer drive from Reykjavik, with many sites being 2.5 to three hours away.
But it’s another stunning part of the country to explore, and it can often be less crowded with tourists compared to the popular Golden Circle sites or even the destinations along the South Coast of Iceland.
These are the top places you can’t miss on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula:
- Kirkjufell (uniquely shaped hill with waterfalls)
- Djúpalónssandur (black sand beach)
- Ytri Tunga (beach with adorable seals)
- Budir Church (picturesque black wooden church)
- Snæfellsjökull (massive glacier)
This full-day tour from Reykjavik is a great option, and it includes a visit to all five destinations. Be prepared for a long day with several hours of driving each way, but you’ll be blown away by the sights.
5. Jökulsárlón
The last day trip on this list comes with a huge caveat, and that is the fact that you’re in for a crazy amount of time spent driving. That being said, I’m still including it because I do think it’s worth it — but this is a destination really best visited on a longer trip to Iceland, and not on a day trip from Reykjavik.
Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon on the southern coast of Iceland. The lagoon is dotted with pale blue icebergs coming from a nearby glacier, and it’s truly a sight to behold. Right across from it is the beautiful Diamond Beach, where massive chunks of clear blue ice shimmer like enormous diamonds on a black sand beach.
This full-day tour includes a visit to Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, including a boat cruise on the glacial lagoon. You’ll also stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall and the town of Vik to break up the long drive.
Best Day Trips from Reykjavik, Iceland
This guide showed you the best day trips from Reykjavik, Iceland.
Whether you choose to go the classic tourist route with the Golden Circle or go further afield exploring the South Coast or the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, there is so much natural beauty to discover in Iceland. Any of these day trips are a great way to get a taste of what Iceland has to offer within a short amount of time.
Enjoy your trip to Iceland!
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