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Looking for day trips from Reykjavik that are actually doable in a single day and worth the effort? There are so many options!

I spent several days in Reykjavik, exploring the city sights but also branching out for day trips to places like the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and my favourite, the volcanoes of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Reykjavik makes for the perfect home base for an Iceland trip because there is a huge variety of activities surrounding it. There are waterfalls and black sand beaches, volcanoes, unique mountains, whale watching, exploding geysers, tectonic plates, and glaciers all within a dayโ€™s reach of the city.

In this guide, youโ€™ll find the complete list of Reykjavik excursions ranging from sightseeing on coach buses, to more rugged adventures like hiking on a volcano.

Iโ€™ve also added the distances away, how long of a day they require, rental car vs. tour options, and more. So you can make your day trip decisions with ALL the information!

โญ My quick cheat sheet for Reykjavik:

๐Ÿ‘‰ Places to Stay:

โ†’ Loft – HI Eco Hostel If you want to be right in the middle of downtown, this is the best hotel. They also have a large balcony with spots to hang out overlooking the city. Plus a range of cheap hostel dorm beds or private rooms.

โ†’ The Swan House – Another great option close to downtown, with breakfast, parking, and room for families.

โ†’ Old Town Reykjavik – Old Town is right in the middle of downtown and has a tour desk and luggage storage. The rooms are basic but comfortable and clean.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Must-do activities:

โ†’ Tour the Golden Circle – A popular day trip with 3 key attractions. They include Thingvellir, the Great Geysir, and then Gulfoss waterfall.

โ†’ Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik’s Harbour Iceland is one of the greatest whale watching destinations in the world! You can spot humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises right near Reykjavik.

โ†’ Glacier Hiking Experience at Solheimajokull Glacier – This is the closest glacier to Reykjavik and you can actually trek on top of it! A guide takes you hiking with crampons across the ancient ice to see crevasses and glacier ponds.

Group tours or self-drive day trips from Reykjavik?

I personally opted to rent a car because we did a road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road. However, if you are staying in Reykjavik and want to focus on day trips from there, sometimes getting around via group tour can have enormous trade offs. 

For one, if you want zero logistical considerations, the tour options run everything seamlessly for you. You wonโ€™t have to worry about renting a vehicle, parking it overnight in Reykjavik, or planning your excursions in detail.

Plus the guides can add that extra bonus of local knowledge at every stop, and someone to ask questions. 

It can also be cost-effective depending on your circumstances. If you are one or two people, the cost of some tours might be similar to car rentals, especially when you factor in how expensive they are with the extra insurance for Icelandโ€™s sand and ash conditions, gas, parking, and entry fees that are often covered by the tours.

However, if you feel comfortable planning out your days and want flexibility, driving is your answer.

When a group tour wins

  • No planning or winter driving. Pick a date and show up. Transport, timing, and ticketing are all handled, and you wonโ€™t worry about black ice, wind, or sudden whiteouts.
  • Mental energy on long routes. Some day trips from Reykjavik require several hours of driving, and I always find it nice to take a nap on the return journey of a busy day exploring. 
  • Solo travelers. Once you factor a rental car and fuel, a standard small-group tour can be similar in cost and more social.

When self-drive wins

  • You have more freedom. You can stay at stops for however long you wish and spontaneously add extra stops if you want.
  • Cost efficient for groups. If you are 2 or more people, splitting the cost of car, fuel, and parking fees is cheaper.

๐Ÿš—โญ If you are renting a car, I highly recommend booking it through AutoEurope. I’ve found them to be the most straightforward, no hidden fees car sites. Plus they accumulate all the best deals from the local car agencies so you can find the best price.

๐Ÿ’ก Important tip if you are driving

You have to pay for parking at a lot of places. They only accept payment using the EasyPark App or if you have data on your phone and can scan the QR code to pay.

They donโ€™t have payment machines on-site, but the parking is monitored by camera so you can get a ticket if you donโ€™t pay. 

With that being the case, if you are self-driving you should get an eSIM on your phone. You wonโ€™t have to take the sim card in and out of your phone, just download it and then you can buy data plans from there. I use Airalo whenever I travel now instead of physical sim cards. 

Best Half-Day Tours from Reykjavik:

1. Go Snorkelling in the Silfra Rift, Thingvellir National Park

Distance from Reykjavik: 50 km / 31 miles

Drive Time: 1 hour each way 

Total Time: Typically 4 hours, including the snorkelling activity

The Silfra Rift is the only place in the world that you can snorkel and swim between two tectonic plates. The water is fed from glacial springs and is so extraordinarily clear that you can see 100 meters deep.

It creates this really cool neon-blue effect, so combined with the ancient rock formations, the Silfra Rift has become one of the highest rated dive spots worldwide.

You can snorkel or dive in the rift any time of year. No matter when you go, it is cold. They provide heavy duty dry suits, underlayers, hoods, gloves, and masks that keep you warm. You donโ€™t need any experience at all to do the snorkelling tours, you just need to know how to swim. 

The Silfra Rift is located in Thingvellir National Park which is an easy ride from Reykjavik. You need to join a tour to get all the proper equipment and instructors, so all transportation each way is covered too. 

๐Ÿ’ก Tips: You need to book ahead, ideally as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. It is a bucket list activity, so they fill up.

2. Try Volcano Hiking on Fagradalsfjall

Distance from Reykjavik: 40 km / 25 miles 

Drive Time: 45 minutes – hour each way

Total Time: 4 – 5 hours (depending on how long you hike)

Fagradalsfjall and its surrounding volcanic region was the site of the 12 eruptions that happened between 2021 and late 2024. The area is now filled with fresh lava fields, volcanic craters, and fissures that you can actually hike on top of.

I hiked to Fagradalsfjall and was geeking out over walking on top of real lava that had dried only months before! It crunched under my hiking boots and I could see the ripples of where it flowed through the valley before it dried.

There are 5 hiking trails that lead you to different viewpoints over the eruption sites. You can do a shorter 800 metre hike, 2.5 km or up to 5.6 km round trips.

There are also guided tours that take you hiking at Fagradalsfjall with a real geologist as your guide. Itโ€™s great if you donโ€™t want to figure out transportation or logistics, plus you get the added bonus of local firsthand knowledge to enhance your hike.

If you want to see real lava in Iceland on a half day from Reykjavik, Fagradalsfjall is the place to visit!

โญ๏ธ Since I havenโ€™t hiked there after the latest eruptions, learn more about the five hikes and two car parks in Anywhere We Roamโ€™s guide here. 

3. Spot Giants on a Whale Watching Tour in Faxaflรณi Bay

Distance from Reykjavik: Walking distance from downtown Reykjavik

Total Time: 4 – 5 hours (3 – 3.5 hours of boat time and arrival 30 minutes prior)

Faxaflรณi Bay is accessed by boat right from Reykjavikโ€™s harbour. The bay is a feeding ground for Humpback whales, Minke whales, porpoises, and even dolphins! Reykjavik has become a popular whale watching destination as a result. 

The whale watching tours in Reykjavik spend 3 hours searching for sea life and exploring between the Reykjanesskagi Peninsula and the Snรฆfellsnes Peninsula. You get to see beautiful views of nearby fjords like Kollafjรถrรฐur, the Esja and รlftanes mountain ranges, and Snaefellsjรถkull glacier on clear days in the distance. 

I did a whale watching tour in Husavik instead of Reykjavik, but HIGHLY recommend the activity as a must-do activity in Iceland anywhere. 

Youโ€™re getting wildlife, views, and adventure out of a single half day excursion. What more can you ask for? 

4. Explore Leidarendi Lava Cave

Distance from Reykjavik: 35 km / 21 miles

Drive Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours (1 hour – 1.5 hours spent underground) 

Leiรฐarendi is a large tunnel that was carved out by lava flow thousands of years ago. The walls are rippled with lava stalactites and there are colourful lines left by the molten rivers.

You need to join a guided excursion to see the Leidarendi lava cave. They take you on a guided route through the chambers and small passages. You also get headlamps and helmets. Thereโ€™s a little bit of scrambling, some slipping between narrow spots, and lots of geological wonder.

Short, striking, and close to the city, itโ€™s an entire underground adventure without losing your whole day.

5. Visit the Dreamy Hvammsvik Hot Springs and Hvalfjรถrรฐur Fjord 

Distance from Reykjavik: 60 km / 37 miles

Drive Time: 1 hour 

Total Time: 4 – 5 hours (depending how long you want to soak)

The Hvammsvรญk Hot Springs are one of the most nature-focused hot spring experiences near Reykjavik. They are a cluster of pools that step down into Hvalfjรถrรฐur fjord. The scenery is insane and the geothermal water mixes with the Atlantic Ocean. Hvammsvรญk also has cold plunges into the fjord and saunas. 

If you are visiting the hot springs, I also highly recommend doing it road trip style along the  Hvalfjรถrรฐur (โ€œWhale Fjordโ€) on Route 47. They have lots of pullouts to stop for pictures of the still water and steep green sloped mountains.

There is a bistro at the hot spring to grab a snack and you should book a time slot before going. Bring a swimsuit, towel, and sandals. 

โญ Turn it into a full day: If you want to make this a full day trip from Reykjavik, you could add the Glymur hiking trail, which is right near the hot springs. It is a 7 km (4.3 mile) hike round trip and leads to Glymur waterfall, which is one of the tallest in Iceland.

6. Experience the Coolest Spa on Earth at Sky Lagoon (Kรณpavogur) 

Distance from Reykjavik: 8 km / 5 miles

Drive Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 3 – 5 hours

Another hot spring option that makes for a great half-day from Reykjavik, Sky Lagoon is pure luxury! Their slogan is โ€œwhere the sea meets the skyโ€™ because of their geothermal infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. 

The pool is surrounded by natural rock cliffs and turf house-style rooms where some of the rituals happen. They also have a seven step ritual that combines the lagoon, a cold plunge, sauna (with giant glass windows overlooking the ocean), cold mist, a sky body scrub, steam, and then an elixir.

I hadnโ€™t heard of the sky lagoon before my trip and missed out on this experience. When I head back to Iceland in the future, I plan to make this one of the first stops!

You can purchase a ticket that includes round-trip transportation from the lagoon and the seven step ritual to make the whole process seamless. 

๐Ÿคฉ Here’s where to book your ticket for round-trip transportation!

7. Check Out Another Lava Tunnel at Raufarhรณlshellir

Distance: 42 km / 26 miles

Drive Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 2.5 – 3 hours

Somehow there are two incredible lava tunnels, within half-day driving distance from Reykjavik. That pretty much sums up how epic Iceland is. 

Raufarhรณlshellir is a much taller lava cave with different mineral colours and lava flow lines. There are a series of footbridges you can tour through for about an hour. The chambers are a lot wider than Leiรฐarendi, so if youโ€™re claustrophobic Iโ€™d go with this one. 

๐Ÿคฉ I love this tour of Raufarhรณlshellir Lava Cave

8. Take a Fluffy Horse-Riding Excursion on Lava Fields

Distance: 15 km / 9 miles

Drive Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1.5 – 3 hours

Horseback riding tours are pretty popular in Iceland for two reasons: 

  1. You can trek across lava fields, black sand beaches in Vik, and other out-of-this-world landscapes, and
  2. Icelandic horses are only found in Iceland! They are slightly stockier and often fuzzy!

Thereโ€™s a horse farm just south of Reykjavik called Ishestar that runs horse riding tours over lava fields. You trek over black volcanic rock and green moss, with sea birds chattering in the wind, and mountains in the distance.

๐Ÿคฉ I love this horse riding tour because it’s with a local horse riding centre

9. Take a Quad Ride in the Wilderness Near Reykjavik

Distance: 20-30 km / 12-18 miles (varies depending on the route)

Drive Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 – 3 hours (depending if you choose the 1 hour or 2 hour ride)

If you want to add a thrill to your trip to Iceland, explore some of its raw landscape by quad bike. You donโ€™t need any prior experience to join one of these tours. Theyโ€™ll show you the ropes when you arrive. 

Youโ€™ll explore purple lupine fields, lava fields, mountains, and waterfalls, all surprisingly close to the capital city. There are 1 hour, 2 hour, or 3 hour options. The more time you book for, the further into the rugged terrain you get.

๐Ÿคฉ I love this quad tour over lava fields and to waterfalls

10. Relax at One of the World’s Most Popular Geothermal Spas… The Blue Lagoon

Distance: 50 km / 31 miles

Drive Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 3.5 – 4.5 hours (I spent 3 hours at Blue Lagoon but some spend just 2)

Youโ€™ve likely already heard of the famous Blue Lagoon. However, no list of things to do in Iceland for a half day would be complete without mentioning it. 

Some people argue that itโ€™s become too popular and not worth the visit, however I disagree. I spent over 3 hours at Blue Lagoon and truly believe itโ€™s still worth visiting. There are definitely pros and cons, but it is on bucket lists for a reason! 

If you arenโ€™t renting a car, here is an option that includes round trip transportation and admission tickets in one. Plus thereโ€™s the bonus of free 24 hour cancellation, which you donโ€™t get on the actual website. 

๐Ÿคฉ I love this ticket for the transportation and free 24 hour cancellation!

11. Bathe in the Reykjadalur Hot River (Hveragerรฐi)

Distance: 48 km / 30 mi from Reykjavรญk

Drive Time: 45โ€“50 minutes each way

Total Time: 5 hours

If you want to visit one of the most natural hot springs in Iceland, Reykjadalur is perfect. It is a natural river kept warm by geothermal activity that weaves through a valley. You have to hike about 3 km to get to the bathing area, which takes about 45 minutes. 

Park at the signed car park above Hveragerรฐi and follow the well-used trail up valley. The last stretch runs along the river with wooden boardwalks, and this is the spot you can get in and enjoy the water!

There are no bathrooms by the river, but there is one near the parking lot. And there are open-air changing screens near the soaking area to get changed.


The Best Full Day Trips From Reykjavik

12. The Golden Circle

Total Stops: 3-4

Total Drive Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 

The Golden Circle refers to 3 of Iceland’s most popular attractions forming somewhat of a loop just an hour from Reykjavik. They are:

  1. Thingvellir National Park
  2. The Great Geyser
  3. Gulfoss Waterfall

This is the first activity I did upon landing in Reykjavik. We drove first to Thingvellir. Thingvellir is the only place in the world where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian plates.

We hiked the Almannagjรก Trail from the visitors centre (P1). It is 4 km and can be done as a loop. It leads across board walks, tectonic plate rift, to a lookout point over the entire park, and to the Oxararfoss waterfall. Thereโ€™s also a shorter hike option if you leave from P3 that just takes 2 km to hike to the waterfall.

Next, we drove to see the Strokkur geyser, aka the โ€œGreatโ€ Geyser. It erupts every 5 – 10 minutes, shooting steaming hot water 15 – 40 metres (50 – 130 feet) into the air!!

The whole area around it has bubbling streams and mud pots to see too. Thereโ€™s a cafe and restaurants across the street from it.

The third stop in the Golden Circle is Gulfoss Waterfall. It has two thunderous drops that slam down into a narrow canyon. It was sunny when we went so we could see rainbows in the mist. They have a visitors centre with a cafe and washrooms near the upper lot. We ended up having a picnic lunch here.

There is also a fourth attraction not far from the circle, called the Keriรฐ Crater. Most guided tours include this stop. It has a red rim with stairs down to a lake that’s formed in it. 

People often consider the Golden Circle one of the top things to do near Reykjavik.

๐Ÿคฉ I love this tour because it includes the extra visit to Kerid Crater

13. Take a Guided Hike Between Glaciers on the Fimmvรถrรฐuhรกls Trail

โญ Note, this day trip only works from about Mid-June to September.

Distance from Reykjavik: Approx. 156 km / 95 miles

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time: 15 hours

The Fimmvรถrรฐuhรกls Trail is one of the most epic hiking trails in Iceland. It traverses between two glaciers: Eyjafjallajรถkull and Mรฝrdalsjรถkull and runs 25 km (15 miles) point to point from Skogafoss waterfall to รžรณrsmรถrk.

The trail is often nicknamed the โ€œwaterfall alleyโ€ because there are 26 waterfalls on route. Youโ€™ll also see the steaming Magni & Mรณรฐi volcano craters, snowfields (even in summer), and descend into รžรณrsmรถrkโ€™s mossy valleys.

The trail usually takes between 8 – 10 hours to complete. Itโ€™s not easy to do self-guided because it is point to point, so most do it either as a multi-day hike there and back or book it guided so they have transportation drop them off and then pick them up at the end. 

Fimmvรถrรฐuhรกls is really disconnected from the crazy tourist stops you find elsewhere in Iceland and has a more rugged adventure vibe.

๐Ÿคฉ This is one of the only day trips for the trail and requires you to self-drive to get to Skogafoss

14. Hike on Ancient Ice at Solheimajokull Glacier  

Touching the ancient ice!

Distance from Reykjavik: 174 km / 108 miles from Reykjavรญk

Drive Time: 2.5โ€“2.75 hours each way 

Total Time: 9 – 10 hours

Solheimajokull Glacier was one of my favorite stops on our road trip around Iceland and itโ€™s day trip distance from Reykjavik.

It is an outlet of Mรฝrdalsjรถkull and the most accessible glacier to visit. We only had to walk about 15 minutes from the parking lot to get right up close to it.

To explore on top of the glacier, you need to book in with a guide for safety reasons. Youโ€™ll get to hike on the ancient ice, seeing the bright blue ice as close as you can possibly get, the stripes of volcanic ash layered inside it, the deep crevasses, and glacial ponds.

Youโ€™re with a guide so itโ€™s safe and get all the fancy equipment like crampons, ice axes, harnesses, and helmets.

The guided treks last about 3 hours. Itโ€™s a lot of wow factor for minimal efforts and in my opinion the best day trip on this list. You can hike on it at any time of year! 

๐Ÿคฉ I love this guided tour on top of Solheimajokull

15. Landmannalaugar Hot Springs (Super Jeep Safari or Hiking)

Distance from Reykjavik: 180โ€“200 km / 112โ€“124 miles

Drive Time: 3 – 3.5 hours each way

Total Time: 12โ€“14 hours

Landmannalaugar has actual rainbow mountains. They are made from rhyolite, which creates a colourful kaleidoscope across the landscape, combined with black lava fields and steam hot springs.

The best hikes in the park are the Blรกhnjรบkur and Brennisteinsalda trail (9โ€“10 km, 4โ€“6 hrs) and the Laugahraun loop (4โ€“5 km, 1โ€“2 hrs).

The area is also known for its hot springs by the Laugahraun lava field. The best combo is to do some hiking and then finish the day with a soak.

Landmannalaugar is in the southern highlands so you need to drive on F Roads to get there. Those require 4×4 off roading vehicles to navigate. A lot of people visit it as part of a guided tour so they get the highlights in without needing experience to drive on the rough terrain.

The guided tours are on the pricey side, but if visiting once-in-a-lifetime truly rugged landscapes in Iceland is a priority, it might be worth it. 

๐Ÿคฉ Here’s an epic super jeep tour of Landmannalaugar from Reykjavik

16. Check off the Bucket List Worthy Katla Volcano Ice Cave Tour

Distance from Reykjavik: 170 km / 106 miles

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time: 11 hours

The Katla ice cave is a tunnel through the Kรถtlujรถkull outlet of the Mรฝrdalsjรถkull. It gets its name because it is part of the glacier that covers over top of the Katla Volcano.

The cave is vibrant blue with black tiger stripes that were formed from thousands of years of volcanic ash from Katla.

You can either drive to Vik (a town with so much to do on Iceland’s South Coast) and join a guide at the Ice Cave Bistro (arranged in advance) or take a round trip excursion right from Reykjavik. The tours run all year and the beauty is, the cave changes shape constantly from the melt-freeze cycle of the seasons.

So in theory, you are seeing a completely different ice cave then those that came before you!

๐Ÿคฉ I love this tour because it includes some south coast waterfalls too!

17. Tour the South Coast Waterfalls

Distance from Reykjavik: 130 km / 81 miles

Drive Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 6 – 12 hours

The south coast was my favourite part of Iceland. It has a crazy number of waterfalls, hiking, black sand beaches, and adorable towns packed into a drivable distance from Reykjavik.

The waterfalls along the route are Seljalandsfoss, Gljรบfrabรบi, and Skรณgafoss. 

Seljalandsfoss and Gljรบfrabรบi are only 10 minutes walk apart. You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss for pictures (and only get a little bit damp) and get stunning photos standing right beneath Gljรบfrabรบi.

A fraction of those that see Seljalandsfoss actually venture further down the trail to discover the second hidden waterfall. I was shocked how few people were there when I visited. 

Skogafoss is one of the most powerful waterfalls in Iceland. It’s picture perfect in its wide shape and towering height. You view it at ground level first and then can walk up the metal stairs to see it from the top.

You can self-drive this route and stop at some other attractions like Vik and Seljavallalaug pool (my favourite geothermal spot) along the way. Or there are great tour options if you don’t have a car.

๐Ÿคฉ I love this tour because it combines the south coast waterfalls with a glacier hike on Solheimajokull

18. Hike on Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

Distance: 150 km / 93 miles

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Trip Type: 12 hours

Eyjafjallajรถkull is another insanely beautiful glacier you can hike on from Reykjavik. It lays overtop of a volcano reaching 1,666 metres above sea level.

The hike starts from Seljavallalaug swimming pool (my favourite geothermal spot in Iceland). You hike up a small mountain until you get to the base of the glacier. You’ll get a lunch break before getting equipped with your crampons, harness, and ropes. You get to summit the icy slope and see amazing views of the glaciers around you.

At the end, you get to relax in the warm water of the swimming pool. When I go back to Iceland, this is the first tour I’m going to book. I had never heard of it before arriving there.

๐Ÿคฉ I love this guided tour of Eyjafjallajokull

19. Myrdalsjokull Glacier Quad Biking

Distance from Reykjavik: 180 km / 112 miles

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time: 12 hours

Quad biking is one of my favourite adventure activities and what better place to do it than over black sand beaches and to an ancient glacier. You’ll see the DC-3 plane wreck and drive right up to Mรฝrdalsjรถkull Glacier.

You’ll get to quad bike past other famous spots like Dyrhรณlaey, and then your bus home stops at Skรณgafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.

You don’t need any experience to drive a quad bike, just a drivers license! And if you don’t have one, you can ride on the back with someone who does.

๐Ÿคฉ Here’s the epic quad biking excursion from Reykjavik

20. Visit the Famous Krka Mountain in Snรฆfellsnes Peninsula

Distance from Reykjavik:  170 km / 106 miles

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time: 11 hours

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is one of the most popular day trips from Reykjavik. People say it is like a “mini Iceland” because it contains such a huge variety of the country’s best natural features in such a small space.

The big attraction to see in the peninsula is Krka Mountain. You’ve probably already seen pictures of it if you’ve seen any photos of Iceland.

They also have Snรฆfellsjรถkull National Park known for its glaciers, the Lรณndrangar cliffs and the Saxhรณll volcano crater. I also highly recommend doing the Arnarstapiโ€“Hellnar coastal walk and spotting seals at Ytri-Tunga beach.

You can loop it in a long day and there are plenty of guided day tours that leave from Reykjavik.

๐Ÿคฉ I love this tour of Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavik!

21. Visit รžรณrsmรถrk, AKA Thor’s Valley! 

Distance from Reykjavik: 150 km / 93 miles

Drive Time: 3 hours

Trip Type: 10 hours

Thor’s Valley is one of the most rugged valleys near Reykjavik. It has enormous sentimentality among locals.

The valley has Eyjafjallajรถkull volcano and glacier, river crossings in 4×4 vehicles, untouched waterfalls, and the best highland hike in Iceland, Laugavegur.

The guide will show you secret locations in the valley and the best viewpoints over the valley’s mountainous landscape.

Heads up: This is a highland tour similar to Landmannalaugar so the private tours on the pricier side.

22. Take a Northern Lights Tour in the Winter

Distance from Reykjavik: Varies

This is not entirely a day trip, but is essential to mention for anyone travelling to Reykjavik in winter. The Northern Lights tours typically take you out of Reykjavik each night, searching in remote areas away from light pollution for the illustrious Aurora Borealis.

The best time to see them is between November – February, but it’s also possible to see them as early as late September and as late as March.

You need a clear sky and high Northern Light levels, so it can be a thrill heading out each night looking for them.

You can do a single night of searching for them or book in an accommodation that offers the perfect space to spot them every night of your stay.

FAQs About Reykjavik Excursions

1) What are the best first-timer day trips from Reykjavรญk?

The Golden Circle, South Coast to Vรญk (Seljalandsfoss, Skรณgafoss, Reynisfjara), Snรฆfellsnes Peninsula (Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi), and the Reykjanes Peninsula. Each mixes big sights with easy logistics.

Are winter day trips safe?

They can be, but it does get more challenging and you should be really comfortable with driving in snow. Check road conditions at road.is and weather at vedur.is the morning you go. I would personally opt for guided tours in winter, even though I live in Canada so drive in snow all the time.

What should I pack for a day trip?

Waterproof jacket/pants, warm layers, hat and gloves (even in summer), sturdy shoes, snacks, water, and a power bank.

Next: How to Plan Out Your Itinerary From Reykjavik

Now that you’re getting a good idea of the day trips you can do from Reykjavik, the next step is to put them together into an itinerary.

I put together a 4 day itinerary in Iceland from Reykjavik that is jam-packed with Reykjavik sightseeing but also as many of these half and full day trips as can be!

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read it Next Here: An EPIC 4 Day Iceland Itinerary For Summer

Read More:

Read More About Adventuring in Iceland:


Plan Your Trip - My Favourite Resources

๐Ÿ“ฑ Stay Connected Without Expensive Roaming Fees

I never travel without an e-Sim now. You pay a fraction of roaming fees, and simply download the e-Sim to your phone instead of switching SIM cards. The service I always use is Airola.

๐Ÿ  Book Your Accommodation

I always use Booking.com to find and book the best hotels at the cheapest rate. For cheap and social options, I love using Hostelworld - they also have private rooms.

๐Ÿ„โ€โ™€๏ธ Book Your Tours and Excursions

I book adventure tours anywhere in the world through Manawa. My second favourite is Viator - it has the largest selection of tours with local operators and offers flexible cancellation.

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