Best Reykjavik Day Trips & Things to Do

Beyond Reykjavik

After you've had your fill of Reykjavik tours, get out of the city and discover the real - or surreal - and rugged Iceland. A world-famous Icelandic destination is the Blue Lagoon. It’s a great choice for day trips from Reykjavik being only 50 minutes away by car or bus. Sure, it has gotten a bit of a reputation as a tourist trap but it is beautiful and the experience, extraordinary. Take a trip to the Blue Lagoon - tickets are often included with Reykjavik tours - and cap it off with a silica mud mask and a dip in the relaxing geothermal waters.

If you’re feeling adventurous, then maybe Reykjavik glacier tours are just what you’re looking for. There are glacier tours that can take you on and around the icy wonders but a trip to Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier, means a trip into inside it. It’s a truly unique adventure.

A Golden Circle tour is a classic among Reykjavik excursions. It’s a popular circuit for tourists to travel. Whether you’re on a super limited time - you can make a day trip out of it - or if you have the time for a multi-day Iceland tour, the Golden Circle is a neat way to see three of the most famous landmarks within 60 miles of Reykjavik: the Þingvellir, a national park of great historic and geological importance; the geysers Geysir and Strokkur at Haukadalur; and Gullfoss or Golden Falls.

Of the many Reykjavik excursions, Northern Lights tours are probably the most popular. The Aurora Borealis is always there but you must go hunting to get a better look at it. While Iceland enjoys the Northern Lights visibility roughly from September to April, finding them isn’t always a sure thing. “Hunters” are subject to the whims of the weather. The lights can be seen—although not very clearly—within the city but for the best experience, a drive or a cruise out of Reykjavik is highly recommended.

Last of the must-do trips out of Reykjavik is the South Coast Iceland tour. There are many natural attractions along the way: glaciers, waterfalls, and volcanoes. But the most vivid of them all is the Reynisfjara basalt sea stacks. Make sure you bring a camera because mist, fog, rain, or shine, they’re definitely picture-worthy.