10 Easy Day Trips From Reykjavik In Iceland

When I visited Iceland, I didn’t drive around the Ring Road. Instead, I stayed in Reykjavik as a base and did a day trip from there almost every day.

Going on day trips from Reykjavik is a great way to explore more of what Iceland has to offer… without having to switch hotels every night.

In fact, from Reykjavik, you can visit many of the top things to see in Iceland. Here are 10 suggestions for Reykjavik day trips you can go on!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

How To Go On Reykjavik Day Trips

You have two options for going on day trips from Reykjavik. You can either rent a car and drive, or go on different organized tours everyday.

You can check out my post on renting a car in Iceland here, and read about what it’s like to actually drive in Iceland in my post here.

Alternatively, there are several organized tours that offer day trips from Reykjavik as well. In fact, that’s what my parents did when they visited Iceland. They enjoyed having their days planned for them, and not having to worry about finding their way around a foreign country.

Click here to see different Reykjavik excursions around Iceland from Viator.

Day Trips From Reykjavik Aren’t Your Typical City Day Trips…

Day trips from Reykjavik aren’t the typical city day trips that I’m used to recommending.

You see, Reykjavik is the largest city in Iceland. The rest of the country consists of smaller cities and fishing towns but mostly nature to explore.

So needless to say, a day trip from Reykjavik isn’t simply visiting another city. Other cities are far from large enough to ever fill an entire day’s worth of activities.

They might not even be large enough to fill an entire hour!

So because of this, my day trips from Reykjavik often combine a few activities that are close to one another. It’s also often a lot of outdoor activities, like hiking, natural spas, and seeking out scenic spots!

Top 10 Best Things To Do From Reykjavik

So without further ado, here are my top things to do near Reykjavik perfect for a day trip!

1. The Golden Circle (With Thingvellir National Park)

The Golden Circle is probably the top day trip from Reykjavik.

It has two of the most popular places to see in all of Iceland. I’m talking about Gullfoss (the waterfall) and Geysir (the, well, geyser).

Gullfoss Falls is the farthest point in the Golden Circle and it’s about an hour and a half drive from Reykjavik.

But there are a few extra stops you can add to your Golden Circle route from Reykjavik to make it your own, and turn it into a full day trip.

A popular addition to the Golden Circle route is Thingvellir National Park. This is where you can see Öxarárfoss and the old Parliament (which is really just a clump of rocks…).

But you can also stop at Laugarvatn Fontana to taste bread that was cooked in the ground and relax at the spa. Or make your way to Friðheimar for a tomato themed lunch in a greenhouse! And add a stop at Kerið Crater before heading to Reykjavik!

You can read my recommended Golden Circle route here, or book an organized tour to the Golden Circle on Viator here.

2. Things To Do Near Reykjavik: Go To A Natural Geo-Thermal Spa

Iceland is well known for quite a bit these days, like volcanos, stunning waterfalls… the list goes on! But at the top of that list are also natural geo-thermal spas.

Luckily for you, there are several geo-thermal spas near Reykjavik.

The easiest one to go to is the newly opened Sky Lagoon. It’s only about a 10 minute drive from the city centre. Here, you can relax for the day and enjoy a traditional 7-step ritual.

If you’re willing to go a bit further from Reykjavik, there’s also the very popular Blue Lagoon. It’s about an hour’s drive from Reykjavik but you’ll see first hand the incredible creamy blue water and use a silica face mask!

You can read my comparison review to see if the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon is better for you.

3. Reykjadalur Thermal Hot Spring River Hike

Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River is the ULTIMATE day trip from Reykjavik, but you have to be properly prepared for what’s in store.

This is an even more au naturel for a geo-thermal spa combined with an Icelandic hike. That’s right, you’re hiking to a hot spring river in the mountains. It’s epic. At first cold. But then relaxing and warm all around. And 100% worth it!

The start of the hike is about a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik, and then it’s about an hour hike to the thermal river. There’s no a better reward at the end of a hike than this.

Plan to spend the day here and come prepared with everything you might need. Make sure you bring food, water, and good hiking shoes! And a bathing suit of course. If you want to really fit into Iceland traditions, pick up some fish jerky (hardfiskur) at the grocery store for the hike!

P.S. Read my full guide to hiking and relaxing at Reykjadalur Thermal Hot Spring River or book an organized tour with Viator to the Reykjadalur hot spring here.

4. Selfoss: Day Trips From Reykjavik

It seems like we drove by Selfoss on every single day trip from Reykjavik.

It’s only a 45 minute drive, so it’s a pretty simple thing to do from Reykjavik.

It’s nowhere near the size of Reykjavik, but I would say it’s one of the larger towns. And with the increased amount of tourism in Iceland, Selfoss has grown over the years and is continuing to expand.

It has an adorable city centre today with shopping, food, and Skyrland.

Skyrland is a must-visit on any trip to Iceland. No seriously! It’s a small interactive museum all about Skyr, Iceland’s century old superfood.

P.S. Read about more Icelandic food you have to try while you’re there in my post here.

If you’re interested in chess, you can also head to the Bobby Fischer museum (Fischersetur Selfossi) in Selfoss. And if you’re not interested in chess, be sure to check out the book coffee shop across the street, Bókakaffið.

5. Lava Centre, Keldur, & Caves of Hella

To get a deeper insight into Iceland’s history, you’ll find a treasure trove just past Selfoss, and still within easy driving distance of Reykjavik!

Starting with the Caves of Hella, you can see first-hand Iceland’s oldest archeological remains. These manmade caves date back centuries, and must be explore on a guided tour (see availability on Viator).

Next, head to the Turf homes at Keldur which were used up until the 1950s! They are perfect examples of how Icelanders used to live up until not long ago. You can tour the grounds for free, or pay for a guided tour inside the turf homes (which I recommend – it’s really cool!).

Finally, check out the Lava Centre to discover the reality of volcanoes in Iceland today. It’s an expensive museum (reserve now and pay later on Viator here), but volcanoes are a huge part of Iceland (past and present!).

I will admit, after leaving the Lava Centre, I did feel a tad less safe knowing how many active volcanoes were surrounding me at every moment in Iceland…

6. Reykjavik Excursions To Waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss

Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss are probably the two most popular waterfalls in Iceland.

Seljalandsfoss is a MUST-SEE! This is the waterfall where you can actually walk behind the falls– and it’s SURREAL (especially at sunset, if you can make that happen!). Once you’re here, you can also check out Gljufrabui and Sauðafoss waterfalls.

If you have some extra time, I recommend making a quick stop to check out Rutshellir Caves before continuing on to at Skógafoss.

Skógafoss is the real show stopper waterfall here. Walk up to the top of the falls and continue on Fimmvorduhals Trail along the river to see even more waterfalls and scenic spots.

You can book a full day tour organized through Viator to these show stopper waterfalls here.

Whatever you do though, don’t go to the Skógar Museum… unless you’re looking for a way to escape the Iceland rain for a bit! It’s just a bit of a messy museum.

P.S. Make sure you have your rain gear for this day trip from Reykjavik, otherwise you’ll end up SOAKED! I’m talking rain jacket, rain pants, rain cover for your bag, and even a waterproof bag for your phone!

7. Reykjavik Day Trips: Vík & The Black Sand Beach

Vík is a seaside village, but one of the most popular ones to visit in Iceland. This is also just about the farthest South you can get on a day trip from Reykjavik. The drive is about a 2.5 hour drive from Reykjavik.

On the drive, you’ll also pass by some of the other things to do near Reykjavik, like Selfoss, Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss. So you can easily combine it if there’s something along the way you want to see.

But, if you want to save some time to do things in Vík, then I would prioritize things to do in this area.

In Vík, check out the famous church at the top of the town (Vík i Myrdal Church) for a view. Vík is also where you’ll see the infamous black aand beaches of Iceland.

There are actually a few spots to check out the beach like, Reynisfjara and Hálsanefshellir Cave. Or you can sign up for horseback riding along the shore, see the tour on Viator.

Just watch your back for sneaker waves while you’re here, and never get too close to the water!

Before even getting to Vík, you can also stop at Dyrhólaey for even more breathtaking views and a lighthouse (and puffins if you’re lucky!).

But, the best thing to do in Vik by far? The Skool Beans cafe… a coffee shop in a school bus!

8. Katla Ice Cave

The Katla Ice Cave is a surreal experience you can’t do anywhere else, and nowhere else in Iceland if you’re visiting during the summer months!

Katla is a volcano underneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Over the centuries, layers of ice and ash have accumulated, creating picturesque ice caves as it slowly melts.

In recent years, a few companies have teamed up to maintain this ice cave and make it safe for tourists to explore.

The best way to visit the Katla ice cave is through an organized tour. It’s actually past Vík, but there are tours leaving from both Reykjavik AND Vik. See tour options on Viator here.

I will have to put a caveat to this day trip from Reykjavik though… It’s absolutely terrifying! I mean, you’re walking on a melting glacier, atop an active volcano (which could technically erupt whenever… this is Iceland afterall!).

It’s nevertheless an incredible experience and I’m so happy I did it. But I’m thankful my sister didn’t tell me the full truth when she recommended it to me, otherwise I never would have gone. I won’t lie to you though, so here’s the full truth in my unfiltered review here!

9. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula: Kirkjufellsfossar

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Iceland. It’s packed with everything that makes Iceland beautiful: waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and more… And with all that, it’s no surprise it’s at the top of the list of easy day trips from Reykjavik.

You can drive it clockwise or counter-clockwise, it will be gorgeous either way. Most stops will be fairly quick, just a short walk from the parking lot to the main viewpoint, so you can catch quite a few of them one day!

A great place to start is with the iconic Kirkjufellsfoss, about 2.5 hours from Reykjavik. This stepped waterfall is set against the backdrop of a soaring conical mountain, and is probably the most famous spot on the peninsula.

Other popular stops along the way are the beautiful rock formations of Djupalonssandur Beach, the Londrangar basalt cliffs, and Arnarstapi.

Take a tour of the lava tubes at Vatnshellir Cave (see it on Viator), or try your luck spotting seals at Ytri Tunga.

Make sure and stop in at some of the visitor centres and museums, to learn more about the history and unique ecosystems of the peninsula once you’re here.

10. Reykjavik Excursions: Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula is adjacent to Reykjavik, and there are quite a few things to do here. This is, of course, where the International Airport in Iceland is located, so most of you will come through here at some point.

But other than the airport, Keflavik has a few worthwhile museums to check out, like Viking World and The Icelandic Museum of rock’n’roll.

This is of course where you’ll find the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, which is very popular to visit on your way to or from the airport.

There are some scenic sports that are worth checking out, like the Hafnarberg sea cliffs, the Bridge Between Continents, and Gunnuhver Hot Springs.

You can also check out the small fishing village, Grindavik (currently at experiencing a lot of volcanic activity).

Currently though, the Reykjanes Peninsula is getting worldwide attention due to the increased volcanic activity in the area. In fact, when we visited in July 2023 a volcano had just erupted, and we were able to see it on our drive to the airport!

Need A Place To Stay In Reykjavik?

We stayed in Reykjavik our whole time in Iceland at the Skuggi Hotel by Keahotels. They offered free parking (upon availability), breakfast, and a modern room. Check updated prices and availability on Booking.com.

If you’re interested in spa services at the tip of your fingers, ( I mean, you’re in Iceland after all!), stay at Midgardur by Center hotels. My parents stayed here and highly recommend it. Check updated prices and availability on Booking.com.

If you’re staying in Reykjavik for one night before heading out to drive the Ring Road, my sister stayed at the Hotel Frón and would recommend it for a one night stay. Check updated prices and availability on Booking.com.

Or, check out more hotel options in Reykjavik, Iceland

My Iceland Day Trip Amazon Must Haves

Read More Related Posts

• The Best One Day Iceland Golden Circle Route From Reykjavik
• Renting A Car In Iceland: The Who, What, Where, Why &… Why Not!
• 10 Amazing Things To Do In Reykjavik Iceland Your First Time

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Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API