Iceland has to be one of the best destinations I’ve ever visited. The landscapes are simply magical and you’ll see things you had no idea existed. The heart of the country is the quaint capital Reykjavik. If you’ve ever been here or seen any photos, you’ll know that there isn’t loads to do. In fact, you could probably cover the key parts of the city in a day. Despite this, many people use this as a base whilst staying in this country. Why? Because there are just so many amazing day trips from Reykjavík.
Having just stayed in Reykjavik in December 2025, I’ll go through my favourite day trips which we did plus the ones which I can’t wait to return for. Here is everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
The Golden Circle
Our first one of our day trips which we took in Reykjavik was the famous Golden Circle. It is the classic sightseeing route in the country and is incredibly popular. The route takes you around the part of Iceland surrounding the capital and you’ll see some of the best the country has to offer.
To do this route, you have two options. Firstly, you can hire a car yourself, or, you can take a tour bus. Overall, the route will take anywhere from 6-8 hours. On this note, I can’t recommend Reykjavik Excursions enough – they were always fantastic.
What to See on the Golden Circle
Þingvellir National Park
A lot of the time, you’ll start with Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and are being pulled apart. Walking between the continental rift here was an incredibly fantastic experience. The walls of the rock seem to go up forever and the views across the valley are spectacular. You can also see the site of Iceland’s first parliament – low rock – which was established in 930 AD.
Top Tip: If you are doing this yourself and are driving in the winter months, I’d actually end with this. We started our tour at Gullfoss (which was beautiful at dawn) and then ended at Þingvellir at golden hour.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Whichever way you’re running your Golden Circle tour, the Geysir Geothermal Area will be the second place you visit. It is right outside of Gullfoss and is famous for – you guessed it – the geysers, the most famous of which is easily Strokkur. This giant geyser erupts every 5-10 minutes and shoots water 30 metres into the air.
Top Tip: If you are waiting for that iconic photograph, wait until you see the water begin to ‘dance’ and form small waves which hit the shore. It is a sure sign that it will erupt in the next minute or so.
Gullfoss Waterfall
Lastly, we have Gullfoss. Seeing this at dawn, covered in snow and ice, has to be near the top of the best things I’ve ever seen. It is just so incredibly impressive and beautiful. On sunny days in the summer, it is said that the waters here form small rainbows, which could be why it is called Gullfoss (literally meaning ‘golden waterfall’).
Another reason for arguably doing this first is because it is quieter. We went at 11am or so during December as the sun was rising. We were the only ones there and got an incredible view of the falls, as well as prime locations for photographs.
One of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls, Gullfoss crashes into a river canyon in two massive tiers. On sunny days, rainbows fill the mist.
The Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon was listed in National Geographic’s 25 wonders of the world back in 2012 and attracts visitors from all over. In fact, many people who only stay in Iceland for a couple of nights will add the Blue Lagoon to their itinerary – it is the classic relaxing day trip from Reykjavik.
To get here, you’ll need to book a coach (either online or from the BSÍ Bus Station, which is usually cheaper) for both ways and pay entrance. Overall, for two people, the visit will set you back at least £350.00. It is rather pricey, but the milky-blue water is a true Iceland icon.
If you just want to enjoy a relaxing warm lagoon but don’t want the hassle or the price tag, check out the Sky Lagoon. This is just 15 minutes from the city centre and is a modern alternative. Unlike the Blue Lagoon, it is man-made and does not feature the natural minerals. However, it does have an amazing oceanside infinity-edge.
If I had to just pick one of these, I’d go for the Blue Lagoon. We really enjoyed it and – because of how large it is – found it to be relatively quiet. I’d also suggest going at dusk. Lots of people who we met swore by this as the place became much quieter and easier to relax in.
The South Coast
After the Golden Circle, the South Coast is probably the most popular of the day trips from Reykjavik. It is a much longer day and takes anywhere from 10-12 hours depending on what you do and who you go with.
What to see on the South Coast
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss is the probably going to be your first stop (or, you can end here – the choice is yours). It has to be one of the most photogenic waterfalls in the world, though from a distance you probably wouldn’t think this. The real magic happens when you get up close because you can actually walk behind this waterfall. It sits around a limestone, mossy cave which you can walk in, giving you plenty of different perspectives.
Top Tip: Wear sturdy shoes for going behind this waterfall as well as waterproofs. The paths are really slippery and you will get wet.
Skógafoss Waterfall
Nearby to Seljalandsfoss is another impressive waterfall; Skógafoss. This waterfall towers up a whopping 60 metres and plunges down sheer cliffs. You can take some really good photos from the base, but I think that the best perspective is actually above.
There are some metal stairs which walk you up the cliff. These seemingly go on forever whilst you ascend, but the views are really worth it. I would say though that a certain level of fitness is definitely required for this.
Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull is one of Iceland’s glaciers, and one of the most unique too – it has black stripes which have been formed from volcanic ash. Once you park, you then will have a short walk up to the glacier which will take you around 10 minutes.
Top Tip: Walk down to the beach by the glacial lagoon for the best photographs.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
No South Coast tour in Iceland would be complete without a stop at the Black Sand Beach of Reynisdranger. What is most impressive here are the striking basalt sea stacks which stick out of the ocean. There isn’t much more to see here other than that, but do beware of the giant waves!
Vík Village
Along the way, you’ll stop at Vik, a small settlement which is famed for its red-roofed church surrounded by mountains. If you are doing this tour yourself, this is also the best place to stop for lunch.
We booked the full day south coast tour with Get Your Guide and really enjoyed our experience.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula
As we only had four days in Iceland, we never had time to do the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but it is definitely top of my list for the future. It is often described as “Iceland in Miniature” and features everything you could want from a trip to the country. You’ll find volcanoes, black sand beaches, waterfalls, lava fields, and plenty of cliffs.
Again, you can either do this yourself or on a tour. Again, expect this to take around 6 hours or so.
What to see on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Kirkjufell Mountain & Kirkjufellsfoss
This has to be the most photographed peak in Iceland and is the quintessential landscape you think of when you think of Iceland. To be honest, this would be the thing that I want to see most for my future day trips from Reykjavik.
Arnarstapi
Think dramatic sea cliffs featuring incredible shapes which have been carved into them by the sea.
Djúpalónssandur Beach
Another dramatic black sand beach with large stacks towering out of the water. You can also find shipwreck remains here too!
Snæfellsjökull Glacier
Nothing quite shouts the Land of Ice and Fire more than the Snæfellsjökull Glacier, where a volcano is literally topped by a glacier. It has to be one of the most unique spots anywhere in the country and has inspired artists and writers – such as Jules Vernes – for centuries.
Reykjanes Peninsula
When you see the segment of ‘Reyk’ in a word, it usually means that there are vents nearby. In fact, Reykjavik translates into “smoky bay’. It comes as no surprise then that the Reykjanes Peninsula is highly volcanic and is famous for hot springs, tectonic rifts and lava rocks.
Again, we didn’t get to do this during our four days in Iceland but I would seriously love to do it. In particular, I would really like to see the Krýsuvík Geothermal Area as well as the famous Brimketill Lava Rock Pool.
The Reykjanes Peninsula feels otherworldly — all steaming vents, endless lava fields and strange, sulphur-scented landscapes.
Whale Watching
As somebody who is married to a marine biologist, I couldn’t not go to Iceland without going on a whale watching tour! These day trips operate from Reykjavík year-round and it is the perfect place to spot some of the most famous whale species in the world. These include humpback whales, minke whales and killer whales (orca), as well as various species of dolphin and porpoise. In the summer months, you can also spot puffins.
Tip: I should say that sadly our tour was cancelled! The seas around Reykjavik can be rather choppy, especially during the winter months. Make sure that you leave a day or so spare just in case.
The Lava Tunnel – Raufarhólshellir
Raufarhólshellir is one of Iceland’s largest, and most famous, lava tubes. It was formed during a volcanic eruption over 5,000 years ago. For this one, I’d definitely recommend a guided tour so that you can learn more about the geology. You’ll learn about the dramatic rock structures and the highly colourful caverns.
I would add that Raufarhólshellir is usually less-busy than some of the other tours listed above and it is in close proximity to Reykjavik. It is ideal for people wanting a half day tour.
Þórsmörk (Thórsmörk) – Valley of the Gods
For the most dramatic scenes in Iceland, head to Thórsmörk – aptly named the Valley of the Gods. It is a rich valley surrounded by volcanoes and glaciers, and features wild rivers and incredibly green landscape.
This is not accessible year-round by normal cars and so you’ll need to book a ‘super-jeep’ to pass through. This can be costly and the adventure here is certainly not for everyone. However, it is well-worth it once you arrive.
Borgarnes & Hraunfossar Waterfalls
Iceland allegedly has anywhere from 10,000 – 200,000 waterfalls. Whilst some of these are hugely popular, others are more modest but are no less beautiful.
The Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls are examples of this and make for some really good day trips from Reykjavik. Again, you can either drive yourself or take a tour to the area just north of the capital. Expect fewer people but very pretty views.
What to See
Hraunfossar & Barnafoss
These two waterfalls stand side by side and go down lava rock. They are both a bit different though. Barnafoss is actually high-powered and goes down a single stream, whereas Hraunfosser is more widespread and features many miniature waterfalls.
Deildartunguhver
This is Europe’s most powerful hot spring and is very impressive to see. You can’t swim in this – the temperature is extreme!
Reykholt
A historical village which is linked to medieval writer Snorri Sturluson.
Northern Lights
Lastly, and if the time of the year is right, go out and see the Aurora Borealis; the Northern Lights. We were lucky enough to see them from our room at the Fron Hotel, however we were very lucky as we had a terrace to enjoy.
We also headed out with Reykjavik Excursions one evening. This was part of our Golden Circle tour, which acted as a two-in-one. There wasn’t any difference in price between this and booking it separately. Our tour featured six coaches and drove us out for about 50 minutes outside of the city. We chose a clear day and saw the lights immediately after leaving the coach.
Whilst six coaches sounds obscene, we didn’t notice at all when we got out and were able to watch the lights easily. Don’t expect them to look like how they do in photos; you’ll need to set your camera to specific settings. Doing this in winter with a hot chocolate was easily one of the highlights of my 2025.
Tip: Book this for the first night of your stay in Iceland. All the tour companies offer a deal of a free additional night if you don’t see the lights! You can also combine this with other day trips from Reykjavik.
Final Thoughts | Day Trips from Reykjavik
There are so many different day trips from Reykjavik to choose from and I doubt I’ve scratched the surface. Iceland has to be one of the best places to explore anywhere in the world, and I am already planning a return visit to add to this list. There is just so much to see and do that I couldn’t possibly list all of them – I’ve not even mentioned the sports such as skiing, snowmobiling and diving!
I hope that you found this post useful in planning your day trips from Reykjavik. If you have any questions please reach out; I always love hearing from you.
