A visit to Iceland sometimes means a street journey across the Ring Road with lengthy days of driving and switching lodges each evening. However, in case you are solely spending every week or much less in Iceland, it’s potential to base your self within the capital metropolis and nonetheless discover a great deal of Iceland by doing day journeys from Reykjavik.
It is finest to do that in the summertime when you’ve numerous daylight through which to discover. However, it does additionally make sense to keep in Reykjavik if you go to throughout the winter after which ebook day excursions to let another person do the driving. Traveling to areas just like the West Fjords and driving the Ring Road in Northern Iceland can get very tough within the winter when roads are closed attributable to climate.
If you do select to remain the complete time in Reykjavik and take day journeys, simply perceive that it will imply lengthy, full days of exploring — leaving early within the morning and returning within the night or late at evening. You have a selection of both reserving a rental automotive and self-driving or reserving a guided tour with a pick-up in Reykjavik for the most well-liked day journeys.
I nonetheless suggest placing collectively an Iceland itinerary that strikes round on a street journey so that you’ve extra time to squeeze in enjoyable actions and see extra of the nation, however I actually perceive that it’s simpler to discover a lodge in Reykjavik and keep in the identical place for the complete journey with out unpacking and repacking each day or coping with the problem of discovering appropriate lodging alongside the route.
Day Trips from Reykjavik
Note: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
Before heading out of Reykjavik for a day journey, make sure to choose up some snacks on the native Bonus or Krónan and pack a refillable water bottle. Finding locations to cease to eat could be restricted alongside the route. Also, gasoline up the automotive if you see an N1 or different service station — these are additionally nice spots to hit the restroom and seize a chew to eat.
You make additionally wish to verify https://road.is if the climate is iffy to ensure there aren’t any street closures. (See my different Iceland journey suggestions for more information.)
Keep in thoughts that in the event you would favor to take a guided day tour quite than self-drive, I might extremely suggest my associate Hidden Iceland. If you ebook a scheduled small group tour with Hidden Iceland, you’ll obtain 10% if you use promo code WE3TRAVEL. They provide group excursions to many of those locations and may also present personal excursions.
Now, let’s check out the very best day journeys from Reykjavik:
1. Snaefellsnes Peninsula
It took me three journeys to get there however Snaefellsnes is one in every of my favourite areas in Iceland and it makes a fantastic day journey. Located simply two hours west of Reykjavik, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula doesn’t entice the identical variety of large bus excursions that you simply discover within the Golden Circle or the South Coast.
I wrote a complete put up in regards to the high 9 sights on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to see on a day journey from Reykjavik if you wish to see extra particulars. Most Snaefellsnes day excursions will head counterclockwise, beginning in Stykkishólmur. However, an effective way to keep away from crowds is to go to the southern aspect of the peninsula first and finish in Stykkishólmur earlier than returning again to Reykjavik.
Another good thing about touring on this path is that you would be able to prepare to see Kirkjufell round sundown (relying on the time of 12 months in fact) and be part of the road of photographers with their tripods searching for that iconic picture. It additionally leaves you to have dinner in Stykkishólmur at Sjávarpakkhúsid, which is a terrific native seafood restaurant that serves up an incredible seafood stew or mussels.
A number of of the must-do stops on a Snaefellsnes day journey embrace:
- Budakirkja black church in Búdir for its putting structure and scenic location on the coast, the place you may as well stroll all the way down to the seashore or hike alongside the coast
- Raudfeldsgja gorge is a slim canyon within the cliff wall that you would be able to hike into for a really cool and distinctive expertise. Raudfeldsgja just isn’t included in most excursions of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, however it’s nicely definitely worth the cease in case you are self-driving or taking a personal tour.
- The gorgeous Arnarstapi cliffs and land bridge are to not be missed. You can have lunch right here on the fish and chips meals truck or take pleasure in a lunch buffet on the Arnarstapi Restaurant and Bar. After lunch, comply with the trail out to a big stone large after which flip left to stroll alongside the dramatic cliffs till you get to a fishing village. Or, flip left and hike alongside the cliffs as much as Hellnar.
- Lóndranga is the place you possibly can see a towering volcanic plug and the place the lava has flowed into the ocean, creating fairly lovely landscapes. This generally is a fast 30-minute cease if all you do is stroll as much as the overlook and take some images. However, give yourselves at the least an hour if you wish to comply with the trail alongside the cliffs.
- Djúpalónssandur black sand seashore is a good place for images with dramatic rock formations that distinction with the black sand and pebble seashore.
- Saxholl is a volcanic crater left by a volcanic eruption 3,000 years in the past. Be ready to climb some stairs to check out the crater from the highest.
- Snaefellsjökull is the volcano with the Snaefellsjökull glacier on high that dominates the panorama as you loop across the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the National Park. This impressed Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.
- Kirkjufell can be referred to as Arrow Mountain attributable to its form and is that iconic picture that folks affiliate with Snaefellsnes. Kirkjufell additionally made an look in Game of Thrones. You will wish to arrive nicely earlier than sundown to get a parking spot and stroll over to see Kirkufellsfoss waterfall.
- Finish within the small, charming city of Stykkishólmur for dinner.
It actually makes for an extended day journey, however it may be executed with a late return to Reykjavik. The panorama is gorgeous and also you get a style of the essence of Iceland — volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and a beautiful shoreline.
You can take a Snaefellsnes Peninsula group tour with Hidden Iceland and obtain 10% off with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
2. West Iceland
If you keep over within the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, it’s straightforward so as to add on a day in West Iceland, however you may as well go to this space from a house base in Reykjavik. You will simply cowl a little bit of the identical street as you probably did heading into Snaefellsnes.
You will wish to get an early begin and head north towards Borgarnes and Reykholt. Your final vacation spot will likely be Langjokull Glacier, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. If you’re touring within the winter, make sure to verify street situations earlier than leaving your lodge.
Along the best way, you possibly can cease on the Krauma geothermal spa and the Deildartunguhver scorching spring. Another in style spot is the Haafell Goat Farm (name forward to make an appointment.) Stop by the Icelandic Goat Centre to satisfy the endangered species of goats, in addition to horses, sheep, Icelandic chickens, silkie chickens, canine, and cats.
Another 15-Half-hour will convey you to the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. Watch your time as you’ll need to ensure to satisfy your reservation for the Into the Glacier tour. This tour will take you out onto the glacier and right into a man-made tunnel within the ice. Unlike ice cave excursions, that are solely potential within the winter months, you possibly can go to Into the Glacier year-round.
Be certain to have lunch on the Husafell Bistro, or make a reservation at Hotel Husafell, earlier than departing in your tour.
On the return drive to Reykjavik, you possibly can cease on the Grábrók Crater. Here you possibly can climb alongside the edges of three volcanic craters and try the remnant of Viking settlements. Your closing cease could be the Glanni Waterfall, set within the Nordura River.
3. Golden Circle
The well-known Golden Circle is among the hottest Reykjavik day journeys. While this space is a brief drive from Reykjavik, it would be best to give your self a full day to discover
A Golden Circle tour sometimes travels clockwise by way of these pure wonders, so in case you are self-driving a fantastic choice to keep away from the massive bus excursions is to comply with this loop counter-clockwise, within the following order.
Your first cease will likely be on the Kerid Crater for a brief hike alongside the higher rim of the caldera. Icelandic musician Björk as soon as carried out from a platform on the lake on this crater.
As you drive in direction of Flúðir, plan a cease on the Farmer’s Bistro, the place they not solely serve scrumptious meals however you may as well learn the way Icelanders harness geothermal power to develop fruit and greens year-round.
If you wish to go to a pure scorching spring, take a dip within the Secret Lagoon, situated in Flúðir. Reservations aren’t often required within the mornings, however they’re within the afternoon when the buses are likely to arrive.
Continue on to the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, one in every of Iceland’s most gorgeous waterfalls. There are two falls and a number of viewing areas, so it would be best to take a while to discover and revel in them. Chances are that if the solar is out, additionally, you will see a rainbow!
Just down the street is the Geysir Geothermal space. This is dwelling to effervescent mud pots and steaming scorching springs, together with the unique “Geysir” (the place we get the English phrase geyser.) It doesn’t take lengthy to see the energetic Strokkur geyser erupt, because it does each 4 to 10 minutes. It begins with a large blue bubble of water that explodes into the air. It isn’t as tall or dramatic as one thing like Old Faithful in Yellowstone, however the truth that you will get so near see the strain constructing earlier than it erupts and really feel the nice and cozy mist in your face makes it extra thrilling.
You may also cease right here for lunch on the Geysir Bistro or seize some home made ice cream on the Efstidalur dairy farm, situated halfway between Geysir and Thingvellir National park.
Your closing cease of the day will likely be Thingvellir National Park (additionally written as Þingvellir National Park.) Besides being a pure surprise, this UNESCO World Heritage website can be the sight the place the world’s longest repeatedly run parliament was based and nonetheless operating 1,000 years later.
Thingvellir lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic ridge. You can clearly see the rift and the way the motion of the tectonic plates pulls the island aside, roughly 2.5 cm yearly. If you’re adventurous, you possibly can even snorkel between the tectonic plates in Silfra.
From Thingvellir, you possibly can full your Golden Circle route and simply return to Reykjavik for the evening.
Take a Golden Circle Platinum tour with Hidden Iceland and save 10% with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
4. Iceland’s South Coast
A day journey to Southern Iceland is among the most lovely drives you’ll expertise — protecting gorgeous waterfalls, beautiful inexperienced cliffs, rolling lava fields, and black sand seashores. You will see loads of Icelandic horses and fields dotted with sheep alongside your drive.
Start off on the Lava Centre to find out about Icelandic volcanoes and geology. Alternatively, you possibly can finish your day on the Icelandic Lava Show in Vík.
Then you can begin to discover a number of the prettiest waterfalls in Iceland (make sure to pack your rain gear.) First up will likely be Seljalandsfoss waterfall. You will see the waterfall as you make your strategy alongside the Ring Road however attending to stroll proper as much as the bottom of the falls, after which truly stroll behind the waterfall is a do n’t-miss expertise!
While all of the bus excursions cease right here, not as many proceed a brief distance down the cliff face to Gljúfrarbúi, the place you hike right into a slim canyon to seek out this not-so-secret waterfall.
Thirty minutes additional down the street, you’ll come to Skogafoss waterfall in Skogar. You can stroll to the foot of the falls or climb a staircase to see the falls from above. This is definitely my favourite waterfall on Iceland’s South Coast.
After exploring the waterfalls, proceed alongside Rt 1 to Rt 218 to Dyrhólaey, a promontory the place puffins nest in the summertime and a stone sea arch.
Another in style cease alongside the south coast is Reynisfjara seashore. A rock collapse in August 2019 closed a big portion of this seashore, however a lot remains to be accessible so you possibly can stroll on the black sand seashore and see the well-known sea stacks and basalt columns.
I might sometimes suggest ending up at the present time journey from Reykjavik in Vík, the place you possibly can discover the city, have one thing to eat, stroll alongside the beautiful black sand seashore, and see dramatic sea stack rock formations.
I do know that some individuals will go all the best way to Diamond Beach and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on a day journey from Reykjavik however I’ve executed it, and I don’t suggest it. It is an 18-hour day and a ton of driving. If you’ve every week to spend in Iceland, I might break this journey up into two days and keep in a single day close to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Then you’ll have time to take a boat trip within the lagoon to see the icebergs in the summertime months or in winter months, take a guided tour of an ice cave.
Book a South Coast Fire & Ice Tour with Hidden Iceland and save 10% with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
5. Reykjanes Peninsula
The Keflavik International Airport is situated on the Reykjanes Peninsula (pronounced (pronounced Reyk-ee-ness), which makes it an ideal place to discover on the day that you simply arrive or depart Iceland. You may also break it up throughout each days, taking the arrival day to go to the Blue Lagoon for a number of hours, one in every of Iceland’s hottest sights (even when I didn’t adore it.) Then you possibly can go to the opposite sights earlier than you depart.
I’ve outlined how you can go to the Reykjanes Peninsula on a day journey, however a number of of the highlights embrace:
- Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel takes you into the earth to see the remnants of an historical volcanic eruption
- Seltun geothermal space – this space options mud pots and scorching springs which might be simply accessible from the car parking zone alongside a boardwalk
- Lake Kleifarvatn – the lake is among the deepest in Iceland and the biggest on the Reykjanes peninsula. It is a good looking spot to {photograph} due to the volcanic panorama and lava fields surrounding the lake. There is even a perception {that a} “Loch Ness Monster-like” large worm and a medium-sized whale reside within the lake.
- Gunnuhver geothermal space – this geothermal space options effervescent mud swimming pools and steaming fissures. The largest characteristic is the Gunnuhver mud pot. Legend has it that this was named for a ghost who attacked individuals and shook the homes, which an area reverend was capable of do away with by forcing her into the mud pot.
- The bridge between two continents – right here you possibly can cross the 60-foot-long bridge that connects the North American and Eurasian continental plates or stroll by way of the sandy soil of the Alfagja rift valley between two continents.
- The Reykjanes and Gardur lighthouses
- Geldingadalur volcano lava discipline – this website has been dormant for the reason that fall of 2021 so you possibly can’t at the moment see energetic lava flows however you possibly can nonetheless see the most recent lava fields in Iceland
Other factors of curiosity that you simply would possibly wish to cease at in your strategy to the airport or as a part of a day journey from Reykjavik are the Viking World Museum or the Icelandic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
You can take a bunch tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula together with the lava tunnel and lava discipline with Hidden Iceland. Save 10 p.c with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
6. Capital Region
Luckily day journeys from Reykjavik don’t all the time must contain hours and hours of driving. There are quite a lot of enjoyable actions within the Capital Region that you would be able to mix right into a day journey. First of all, there’s loads to do in Reykjavik itself, together with the lava, ice, and Northern Lights reveals at Perlan, the Saga Museum, Hallsgrimkirkja church, procuring, the Whales of Iceland Museum, and Harpa live performance corridor.
From the Old Harbour in Reykjavik, you may as well take pleasure in an Express whale-watching tour or a puffin cruise in case you are visiting throughout the summer season.
If you’re up for an tour, head to the city of Mosfellsbaer for lunch on the Mosfells Bakery. After lunch, it’s time to get soiled with a buggy journey (use promo code WE3TRAVEL to avoid wasting 10%) You will strap right into a two-seat buggy and drive over the rugged panorama by the slopes of Esja Mountain; climbing hills, operating by way of river beds, and far more.
If that isn’t your cup of tea, you may as well ebook a session at one in every of Iceland’s latest scorching springs, the scenic Sky Lagoon on the outskirts of Reykjavik.
In the winter, at evening you possibly can take an tour from Reykjavik to get into the countryside with the hope of seeing the Northern Lights. Book a small group Northern Lights tour right here!
7. Glacier Hiking
If you’re visiting the Land of Ice and Fire, it would be best to stand up near the ice portion of the nation. A wonderful means to do that year-round is by taking a glacier hike in Iceland. There are two primary locations to go glacier climbing in Iceland: Sólheimajökull glacier in south Iceland or Vatnajökull glacier close to Skaftafell. Since Sólheimajökull is barely a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, this makes a a lot better selection as a day journey from Reykjavik.
Sólheimajökull is a part of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, which covers the caldera of the volcano Katla, one in every of Iceland’s largest volcanoes. On your glacier hike you’ll cross crevasses, sinkholes with waterfalls, and ice ridges, plus have an opportunity to drink recent glacial water!
Book a glacier hike tour!
BONUS: Other Day Tours from Reykjavik
There are many distinctive issues to do in Iceland which might be inside driving distance from Reykjavik. Some of those can solely be executed as a part of a guided tour. A number of that we’ve executed and beloved embrace:
Superjeep tour
Þórsmärk Valley, also referred to as Thorsmark, is a large valley in South Iceland named after Thor, the Viking God of Thunder. Plenty has thundered on this valley, which is framed on three sides by glaciers ( Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull) and has seen its share of volcanic eruptions.
If you wish to get off the crushed path of the Ring Road and see a few of Iceland’s untouched inside, an Iceland tremendous jeep tour into Thorsmark is the best way to go as you possibly can’t entry this space by commonplace rental automotive. On this tour you’ll ford rivers and go deep into Iceland’s glacial inside for a really thrilling journey.
Book a Super Jeep tour of Thorsmark with Hidden Iceland and save 10 p.c with promo code WE3TRAVEL.
ATV Tour
From the South Coast, you possibly can take an ATV tour onto a Black Sand Beach to see the well-known aircraft wreck. You will cross small streams and rivers to the black sand seashore close to Dyrhólaey after which proceed to to the DC-3 aircraft wreck earlier than looping again to dwelling base. This is a good journey for adults and teenagers, particularly in case you have some expertise off-roading.
Book an ATV Tour with Hidden Iceland and save 10 p.c with promo code WE3TRAVEL
Learn More about Visiting Iceland
If you’re visiting Iceland, don’t miss a number of the different articles I’ve written primarily based on my three journeys to Iceland and the 20+ journeys I’ve deliberate for others. And don’t overlook, in the event you ebook a scheduled group tour with Hidden Iceland, you’ll obtain 10% if you use promo code WE3TRAVEL.
Where to Stay in Reykjavik
I’ve written a whole put up about family-friendly lodges in Reykjavik, however you may as well seek for availability in Reykjavik utilizing the map beneath:
PIN THIS FOR LATER
