10 Best Day Trips from Reykjavik

With some of the most incredible landscapes you can find on our planet, Reykjavik is a unique place where nature seems to remain untouched. If you are thinking of visiting the capital of Iceland you should keep in mind that this is not just any vacation destination, it is truly something else.

There are many things to see and do in Reykjavik, from the popular Golden Circle tours, views of the amazing Northern Lights, whale watching, adventure tourism experiences, and more. Believe me you won't regret it, Reykjavik is one of those destinations that will win you over and stay with you forever.

Enjoy a visit to the incredible Thingvellir National Park, which was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

You will be able to see waterfalls, impressive lakes and glaciers, as well as the exact point where the tectonic plates divide, creating a truly amazing landscape worth visiting.

Some of these tours offer pick-up at the accommodation, although it is also possible that you may have to go to a meeting point. During the 7-hour excursion you will travel in a minibus with your specialized guide through different areas of the Golden Circle.

This 300 kilometer route has some of the most breathtaking views of Iceland, places full of charm and natural beauty.

With this type of excursion you will be able to see the first and original geyser, called Geysir, after which the others were named. This is located in the area of Haukadalur, a place of great geothermal wealth, everything here will seem to be boiling. Visiting the great Geysir from Reykjavik is one of the most made excursions for travelers.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 55 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 7 hours.
• In favor: you will be able to see some of the essential points of Reykjavik.
• Against: the itinerary is closed and may not be recommended for small children, since it lasts all day.

On the South Coast tours from Reykjavík you will enjoy some of Iceland's most naturally charming places. After leaving the capital, the tour will allow you to see, hand in hand with your guide, wonders such as Skógafoss waterfalls, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano or the black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, all aboard a comfortable minibus.

Iceland is full of majestic corners. You can stop to take amazing pictures of landscapes that do not seem to be from this planet, such as the Sólheimajökul glacier or the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk... if you dare.

They also usually include a visit to the picturesque village of Vik Vik, where you can take some pictures of the Trolls on the beach, a huge basalt formations very popular among tourists.

The tour includes a stop for lunch at a restaurant located on the beach of Reynisfjara. Lunch is not usually included, although travelers are usually treated to typical Icelandic snacks.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 98 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 10 hours.
• Pros: An excellent tour of some of the best places in Iceland.
• Disadvantages: the duration may not be suitable for small children.

Another type of excursion that also goes to the South Icelandic coast has as its main destination Lake Jökulsárlón.

During the tour you can see the most imposing views of the country's largest active volcano, Oraefajokull. You will marvel at the incredible views of Skaftafell, in the Vatnajokull National Park.

This is one of the most complete and extensive excursions, since it lasts about 14 hours. You can visit the black sand beach of Diamond Beach, with its large chunks of ice melting in the sun, from them comes the name of the beach.

You can also enjoy the most majestic glacier in Iceland, the Vatnajokull and Jökulsárlón lagoon.

This guided tour will also allow you to learn all about the history of the country. Many of these tours can pick you up at your accommodation and then you will depart in a heated, air-conditioned minibus with wifi, along the beautiful roads of Iceland. Lunch service is not normally included, so you will need to think about taking something to eat.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 175 euros per person.
• Duration: an average of 14 hours.
• In favor: it is one of the most complete excursions that can be done.
• Against: it can be a bit extensive.

Enjoy an 11-hour excursion to the west of Iceland, touring the majestic and hypnotic lava fields aboard a comfortable minibus. You will feel like you are on another planet with the volcanic rock and its curious shapes.

The lava fields of Berserkjahraun are 4000 years old and are among the most famous landscapes in Iceland.

You can take amazing pictures in Arnarstapi, a small fishing village full of charm. You will see cliffs, amazing rock formations and the black sand beaches of Djúpalónssandur, all of which are full of stories about Vikings and sailors.

You can also see the beautiful Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, a place of great beauty where you can't help but feel that you are in the middle of the purest nature. Here it seems that man has not yet arrived.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 110 euros per person.
• Duration: 11 hours approximately.
• In favor: this is an excursion in which you will be able to enjoy the lava fields like no other.
• Against: it may be a little long to do with children.

This 8-hour tour takes you to some of the most representative points of the Golden Circle, Thingvellir National Park with its natural wonders, Gullfoss waterfall, Strokkur and its famous Geysir, Haukadalsvegur and the Secret Lagoon, or Blue Lagoon.

This type of tour is for small groups on board a minibus. Your guide will tell you all about the history of Iceland and the places you visit, as well as about the Viking past of the region along with its most chilling details.

What differentiates this tour from others that also visit the Golden Circle, is precisely the entrance to the Secret Lagoon or Blue Lagoon. It is a natural pool of thermal waters, an incredible place to take a warm bath in the middle of nature. This place is one of the oldest in Iceland and one of the best to leave any kind of stress aside.

You will see the snow-capped mountains meters from where you are and the steam from the lagoon waters rising to the sky. An incredible and surreal experience, since the blue color of its waters contrasts with the white that surrounds it. Taking this tour to see the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik is truly a must.

The tour does not usually include lunch, so you will need to bring some snacks to eat along the way.

Information of interest:

• Price: from €127 per person.
• Duration: approximately 8 hours.
• Pros: an impressive experience with which you can get to know the blue lagoon, one of the jewels of Iceland.
• Against: the itinerary is closed.

If you are passionate about geology and adventure, a hike to the Meradalir volcano is a unique experience to see the power of nature up close in Iceland. On this tour, you'll hike over terrain formed by ancient eruptions and explore landscapes of still-steaming lava, while learning about the island's volcanic activity.

The tour departs from Reykjavík and, after a drive, you will enter the volcano area for a guided hike. Along the way, you will enjoy spectacular panoramic views and feel the warmth of the earth beneath your feet. An expert guide will accompany you at all times to explain how these volcanoes have shaped Iceland over the centuries.

This excursion is ideal for those looking for an experience in direct contact with nature and the geology of the region. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the changing conditions of Icelandic weather.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 76 € per person.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours.
• Pros: unique opportunity to explore an active volcanic area.
• Cons: walking on uneven terrain is required, so it is not recommended for people with reduced mobility.

If you want to live a unique experience in Iceland, you can not miss an excursion to the Katla Ice Cave, an impressive natural spectacle inside an active glacier. On this excursion, you will travel from Reykjavik to the Icelandic highlands to enter a cave formed by the ancient ice of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

The tour includes a ride in an off-road vehicle to the cave entrance, where, equipped with helmet and crampons, you can explore the blue and black ice tunnels sculpted by nature. An expert guide will explain how these formations change over time and help you understand the importance of glaciers in the Icelandic ecosystem.

This excursion is perfect for those looking for a different kind of adventure, with the opportunity to see a natural phenomenon unique in the world. In addition, the route offers breathtaking views of Iceland's volcanic and glacial landscapes.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 195 € per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Pros: access to one of the most impressive ice caves in Iceland.
• Cons: Due to the nature of the terrain, it is not recommended for people with mobility problems.

A great experience to enjoy the snowy landscapes of Iceland to the fullest. From Reykjavik you will be taken in a comfortable coach through some of the most representative places of the region.

This is one of the best recommended excursions to do in winter in Reykjavik. You will visit the imposing Langjökull glacier, the Thingvellir National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Gullfoss waterfall and the geothermal area where the famous Geysir is located, the first and most important of all geysers in the world.

But the biggest attraction of this tour is that you can spend an hour aboard a snowmobile touring the Langjökull glacier at full speed. A unique adventure to experience alone, with friends or with family.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 210 Euros per person
• Duration: about 10 hours
• Pros: you will be able to enjoy the snowy landscapes on a snowmobile.
• Against: the snowmobile ride may leave you wanting more.

Do you want to climb two of Iceland's most important mountains on a 4-wheel ATV? On this exciting guided tour you can experience all the adrenaline of feeling part of these incredible lunar landscapes on earth.

At full speed you can travel through emblematic places of the country, such as Lake Hafravatn, all the charm of the Reykjanes Peninsula and the beautiful Blue Mountains from above. As you go along your guide will tell you all about each of the places you see.

This experience, as well as the Reykjavik snowmobile tour invite you to immerse yourself in adventure and feel like an explorer, and all in some of the most wonderful places you can imagine.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 123 euros per person.
• Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes.
• For: an experience full of excitement and adrenaline.
• Against: not recommended for small children.

Among the best-known excursions in Iceland are those in search of the stunning northern lights.

Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see this phenomenon in the sky. Those who have had the opportunity to witness an aurora borealis agree that it is one of the great wonders of nature.

You will depart from your accommodation or from the agreed pick-up point, together with your guide on a night adventure aboard a minibus or van. Since this is an unpredictable natural phenomenon, the destination of the excursion is decided the same day according to weather forecasts.

Although the tour guides know the best time to see the northern lights, it is important to know that it is impossible to guarantee that you will be able to see them, precisely because it is a natural phenomenon.

Many times, in the event that it cannot be seen, the guides will reconvene the group for the following night, always according to availability.

Don't hesitate, taking a tour to see the Northern Lights in Reykjavik is one of the best plans to do in Iceland.

Information of interest:

• Price: from 43 euros per person.
• Duration: from 3 to 5 hours.
• In favor: you will be able to witness one of the most wonderful spectacles of nature.
• Against: the aurora borealis is unpredictable, so there is a possibility that you may not be able to see it clearly. Sometimes, however, the guides offer to repeat the experience the following day.

Booking an excursion is very easy, the best and most recommended way is always to book online.

This way you can choose from the many options available and read the comments of other travelers who have already taken these tours, so you can be sure that you are hiring a tour with a serious and high quality company. On the other hand, if you book a tour on the street you may have a bad experience.

Whether you are interested in the best gastronomic tours in Reykjavik or options with more adrenaline, such as the incredible helicopter tours, you will see that on the internet you can find everything you need to have an unforgettable trip.

Each excursion has a different duration according to what you intend to visit, generally ranging from 2 or 3 hours to 14 hours. Ideal for each traveler to choose the option they like the most.

Depending on the excursion you choose, you will be able to see some of the most incredible places in Iceland, from the Blue Lagoon, Geysir and the geothermal area, to glaciers, snow-capped peaks. There are truly many options that this amazing country has to offer.

Remember that Iceland has low temperatures throughout the year, so it is always advisable to bring a coat when hiking, especially if you are going to visit outdoor places where low temperatures are felt much more.

I also recommend that you take some waterproof footwear, the terrain is usually uneven and often snowy or icy, so keeping your feet dry and warm is of great importance.

Prices depend on the number of hours and the type of tour you decide to book, but generally range from 76 to 136 Euros. As you will see there are options for all budgets.

It is highly recommended to take an excursion from Reykjavik because there are many attractions on the island, so taking an excursion will allow you to get to know in detail some of the natural beauties of this beautiful country.

By taking an excursion you are guaranteed to see some of the most important places in Iceland, besides there are specific regions that cannot be visited on your own or, at least, it would mean a higher expense and a lot of time.

In addition, the guides will inform you about the history and past of the country, its culture and some curiosities. It is always better to take a guided tour.