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Are you going to Iceland and want to make sure you get the most out of your trip? Exploring Iceland can be done in a layover stop, but it is also a fantastic country for a two-week holiday.
However you plan to experience this amazing place, making Reykjavik your home base is the obvious choice.
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and is located on the south west coast. It is situated perfectly with access to unbelievable waterfalls, recently active volcanoes, stunning blue glaciers, and rare wildlife.
You can experience so much of what Iceland has to offer in easy day trips from Reykjavik.
A big surprise for me when planning our trip to Iceland was that the main international airport is almost an hour away from Reykjavik in the town of Keflavik. This is the perfect opportunity to slip in an extra adventure or two on your way to/from the airport such as a nice soak in the hot water of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa or explore the fascinating turf houses at the Open Air Museum.
These day trips can be done on your own with a rental car or you can book them as excursions with tour guides. Keep reading for Reykjavik’s best day trips.
Best time to visit Iceland
When is the best time to visit Iceland? The depends entirely on what you want out of your trip.
If you want the best chance to see the northern lights, then you want to go in winter. The winter has long, dark nights (there are only five hours of daylight in December), which is ideal for seeing the northern lights.
The trade-off is that the winters often have cold windy weather with lots of snow and ice.
Autumn and spring have good opportunities to see the northern lights and have the possibility of milder weather, which is helpful when experiencing the natural wonders in Iceland. The days are a little longer, so you have more time to spend seeing the sights.
Summer is when the country turns green and the wildflowers start to bloom. This is high season for tourism in Iceland, which means everything is a little more expensive.
However, it is still possible to travel to Iceland on a budget. The weather is usually much milder and all of the roads open up.
Iceland is so far north, that it does not get dark at the end of June. This makes it impossible to see the northern lights in summer, but you can visit the most popular sites late at night and have them to yourself.
1. Blue Lagoon
Distance from Reykjavik: 45 minutes/30 miles (48.7 km)
Recommended time at .ocation: Three hours
Relaxing in natural hot springs is one of the most popular things to do in Iceland and visiting the Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular day trips for tourists. The Blue Lagoon is located just 25 minutes from Keflavik Airport and can easily be visited during a longer layover or as a day trip from Reykjavik.
Relax in the milky blue water of the Blue Lagoon while enjoying a silica mud face mask and a beverage of your choice. The water is 39 C (102 F) and perfect for unwinding after a long flight.
There is also a restaurant and a gift shop here.
* Culture tip: The dressing rooms are communal, which was a big culture shock. Everyone minds their own business while changing, but for someone who is used to privacy while changing into swimwear, it was not what I was expecting.
2. Golden Circle
Distance from Reykjavik: 45 minutes/28 miles (44.7 km)
Recommended time at location: All day
The Golden Circle sightseeing route is another one of Reykjavik’s most popular day trips. The Golden Circle is made up of multiple stunning natural attractions in the rough shape of a circle.
I recommend taking a whole day to explore so you have enough time to see it all.
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park is one of the most popular stops on the Golden Circle and a great place to start. You can make a stop at the Visitor Centre and learn about Icelandic history and culture.
After you make your way out of the Visitor Centre, you can walk between two tectonic plates, the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate, something that can only be done in Iceland. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can snorkel or SCUBA dive between the plates at the Silfra fissure.
After walking between the tectonic plates, explore the national park and see a small (but beautiful) waterfall, a dainty church, and the fields where the first leaders of Iceland met to rule the country.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Geysir geothermal area is named after a large geyser in the area. Geysir is no longer active and so doesn’t spout water anymore.
However, you can see a more active geyser named Strokkur in the same area. Strokkur geyser erupts about every eight minutes and shoots water around 15-20 meters (49-66 ft) into the air.
While not technically in the same area as the geysers, you should make a stop at Laugarvatn Fontana on your way from Thingvellir National Park to Geysir geothermal area and experience the geothermal bakery.
There you can watch them make the “lava bread” that they cook in the hot ground. You can also enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs.
Gullfoss waterfall
Gullfoss is a magnificent waterfall on the Golden Circle sightseeing route. It can be seen from one of the many viewpoints or you can walk along the lower pathway to the edge of the waterfall.
This pathway is closed in the winter for safety because of the ice that builds up.
Gullfoss waterfall cascades about 32 meters (106 feet) down in two steps. The waterfall creates a large layer of mist and you can frequently see a rainbow on a sunny day.
This is the most popular waterfall to visit in Iceland and it is easy to see why because it is so spectacular.
3. Snaefellsnes peninsula
Distance from Reykjavik: 2 hours/85 miles (136 km)
Recommended time at location: All day
The Snaefellsnes peninsula is a ruggedly beautiful example of everything Iceland has to offer. Make sure to stop at Snaefellsjokull National Park and explore the Snaefellsjokull glacier and Vatnshellir Cave.
Other incredible things to see are the basalt cliffs of Londrangar, the rock arch Gatklettur, and Songhellir Cave.
The Snaefellsnes peninsula is often called “Iceland in Miniature” because it has all the natural attractions that Iceland is famous for in one place. If you don’t have time to spend days exploring the rest of Iceland, you can get a good taste of the highlights by stopping at the black-sand beaches, volcanos, waterfalls, glaciers, and hot springs sprinkled around The Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
4. Visit an open air museum
Distance from Reykjavik: 15 minutes/6 miles (9.1 km)
Recommended time at location: Three hours
The Arbaer Open Air Museum is technically in Reykjavik, but it deserves a spot on the list. There is a smaller open-air museum in South Iceland called the Skogar Museum, which is also excellent to visit.
These museums are the perfect place to learn about the history and culture of Iceland. Our favourite part was exploring the traditional turf houses.
The hours of the museums vary by the time of year, so make sure to visit their website to make sure it is open when you plan to go.
5. Reykjanesfolkvangur
Distance from Reykjavik: 40 minutes/23 miles (37.1 km)
Recommended time at location: Three hours
Reykjanesfolkvangur is a nature preserve on the Reykjanes peninsula not far from Reykjavik. You can spend all day exploring the different natural wonders or you can make it a quick stop after visiting other nearby gems such as the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa or Fagradalsfjall volcano.
Reykjanesfolkvangur can feel a little bit other-worldly with the lava formations, bubbling geothermal pots, jaw-dropping crater lakes, and tall cliffs. The best part of this nature preserve is that you can see most of it with minimal hiking.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of longer hikes if that is your preference, but the main attractions are easy to get to.
6. Hike a real volcano
Distance from Reykjavik: One hour/35 miles (56.8 km)
Recommended time at location: Four hours
There are many volcanos in Iceland. Remember how its called the Land of Fire and Ice? This is where the fire part comes in.
The closest volcano to Reykjavik is Fagradalsfjall volcano. Unfortunately, you can’t see the lava flow from any of the car parks, so it does require a little bit of a walk.
Hiking to see where the flow ended is a short 0.3 miles (0.5km) one direction, but it is a bit of a steep scramble close to the car park. If you would like to see the crater where the lava flowed out of, the hike is around 7.4 miles (12km) round-trip from the car park.
*Safety tip: Lava takes a long time to cool and it was still steaming when we went, one year after the volcano erupted. For your safety, follow the signs and stay on the trails.
7. Thjorsardalur valley
Distance from Reykjavik: 1 hour 45 minutes/77 miles (124 km)
Recommended time at location: All day
Thjorsardalur valley is a hidden gem full of beautiful waterfalls, unbelievable views, and a replica of a Viking-era farm. The valley is approximately 40 minutes off the Ring Road, which makes it much less crowded and touristy and the perfect spot to go for a day trip from Reykjavik.
The main road into Thjorsardalur valley, Route 32, is paved, but many of the roads that break off to the different attractions are dirt/gravel roads.
Thjorsardalur valley has phenomenal waterfalls such as Hjalparfoss and Haifoss.
Haifoss is the fourth tallest waterfall in Iceland and it has another waterfall off to the side called Granni. All three waterfalls are amazing.
Visit Gjain valley to explore caves and waterfalls. Gjain valley is one of the areas in Iceland where they filmed Game of Thrones.
Don’t miss The Commonweath Farm, which consists of a Viking farm and a stave church that were rebuilt on the ruins of an excavated site.
8. South Coast
Distance from Reykjavik: 2-5 hours/80-236 miles (129-379 km)
Recommended time at location: All day
There is so much to see along the South Coast of Iceland, that it might take two day trips from Reykjavik to see it all. The South Coast of Iceland is full of spectacular waterfalls, black sand beaches, caves, glaciers, and dramatic views.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss is a majestic waterfall that is easily accessible and located right off of the Ring Road. This waterfall is tall and has lots of water flowing over it, but what really sets it apart is that there is a path you can follow that leads around behind the waterfall.
The other bonus is that there is a second waterfall accessible from the same trail called Gljufrabui, which is set back in a narrow canyon.
Dyrholaey Point
Dyrholaey Point is a stunning viewpoint on top of sheer cliffs. The trail is level gravel and easily accessible but can be a little treacherous if it is windy.
Once you make your way out to the edge, you are surrounded by unbelievable views. On one side you have a black sand beach stretching out as far as you can see and on the other side, you have an extraordinary arch dipping down into the ocean.
Reynisfjara black sand beach
Reynisfjara beach is a famous black sand beach along the South Coast of Iceland. The unique basalt columns add to the beauty of the scenery with the waves crashing onto the beach.
The water is not safe to swim in due to the fierceness of the waves and the freezing temperatures, but you do not want to skip out on this stop. In summer, you can see puffins flying to their nests along the top of the cliffs.
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is pushing it as far as day trips from Reykjavik go, but if you have the time to make it down and back, it is absolutely worth it. Large chunks of ice wash up onto the black sand beach and it makes for a jaw-dropping landscape you do not want to miss.
I recommend stopping along the way at the other sites along the South Coast as you travel to Diamond Beach.
9. Hike on a glacier
Distance from Reykjavik: 2-4 hours/103-204 miles (165-329 km)
Recommended time at location: All day
There are four glaciers close enough to Reykjavik for a day trip: Solheimajokull, Snaefellsjokull, Langjokull, and Vatnajokulll. Take a tour or drive yourself to one of these stunning glaciers and experience them for yourself.
You will need a guided tour to walk on the glaciers, so make sure to book that beforehand. The contrast between the blue glacial ice, black volcanic sand, and white ice is incredible.
While visiting a glacier, it is the perfect opportunity to visit an ice cave. You can explore a naturally-formed ice cave at Vatnajokull glacier. You can also tour a man-made ice cave at Langjokull glacier.
Exploring a glacier is something you can take a full day to do on its own or you can combine it with other activities that are close by.
10. Visit the Westman Islands
Distance from Reykjavik: Two hours/85 miles (137 km)
Recommended time at location: All day
The Westman Islands are the perfect day trip from Reykjavik. You have to take a ferry to get to them, but that adds to the beauty of the adventure.
The ferry takes you along the base of the stunning cliffs of the Westman Islands. Once you arrive at the Westman Islands, you have so many options.
Try the traditional sport of Sprangan, visit a museum, go on a jaw-dropping hike, visit the only Beluga Whale Sanctuary in the world, or view puffins from a lookout.
11. Go on a puffin or whale watching tour
Distance from Reykjavik: 0-2 hours/0-85 miles (0-137 km)
Recommended time at location: Four hours
Iceland is known for being home to many puffins and its seas are also frequented by whales. Seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is something you won’t want to miss.
Humpback whales are the most common whale to see, but there is a chance to view other species as well.
These tours are available from Reykjavik or you can take a tour while visiting the Westman Islands. Both puffin viewing and whale watching peak in the summer, so this might not be the best day trip for you if you are visiting in the winter.
Iceland is the most magical place to explore. It is no wonder that there are many tales of elves living around Iceland with the dynamic landscapes everywhere you go.
There are so many different things to see and do and they are all just a day trip from Reykjavik.
Whether you are in Iceland for a short weekend getaway or you are taking two weeks to explore the whole country, you will never have enough time to see everything the Land of Fire and Ice has to offer. It is full of hidden gems and surreal beauty.
You do not want to miss out on feeling the mist from the outstanding waterfalls, hiking up real volcanoes, watching puffins flying around, or exploring glaciers before they melt.
