Best Iceland Day Trips & Things to Do

Reykjavík

No Iceland tour will bypass Reykjavík. The city is a picture of modernity with pockets of history. Beautiful year round, Reykjavík is especially alluring in wintertime. But no matter what time of year, you can enjoy the many of the city’s attractions on your Iceland vacation.

Hallgrímskirkja, the church, particularly its gracefully soaring tower, can be seen from all around the city. By its design and construction, the church straddles the old and new aspects of Reykjavík. Standing in front of it is a statue of Leifur Eiríksson, another amalgamation of old and new. The statue was gift from the United States to Iceland in the Alþingi Millennial Festival in 1930 that commemorated the 1,000th anniversary of the Icelandic parliament.

Höfði House, Perlan (the Pearl), Harpa, the Solfar Sun Voyager sculpture, the Nordic House, and the Old Harbour—where you can find the Whales of Iceland exhibit—are some of the other attractions around the city.

Golden Circle

If you’re visiting the city, Reykjavík excursions are a likely considerations. Of the Icelandic tours, the Golden Circle is definitely one of its most popular attractions. It’s the perfect Iceland day tour for those who aren’t staying long enough to go on a Ring Road tour around the country. The Golden Circle tour takes you to the countryside right outside Reykjavík centered on three of the most famous: the Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss, each of which is a must see on your trip to Iceland.

The Þingvellir (Thingvellir) national park’s major feature is the rift valley, the dramatic fissures that display the drift of the North American and the Eurasian contenental plates. A walk through them is like traversing two continents in one go. Þingvellir also means assembly plains. Within the park is the site of the ancient Icelandic general assembly, the Alþingi (Althingi) and the Lögberg (Law Rock). The Alþingi is the country’s oldest and highest institution, having been established in 930 A.D.

The geysers at Haukadalur are next in the route. Its famous geysers, Geysir—where the word geyser was taken from—and Strokkur are two of the largest in the area. Currently, only Strokkur is active, blowing up steam and very hot water roughly every ten minutes.

The Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is the next highlight on the Golden Circle. This waterfall on the mighty Hvítá River is aptly named. With its brownish, sediment rich, glacial ice waters, the falls take on a golden hue on sunny days.

South Shore

A tour to Iceland’s south shore will lead you through its mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and black beaches. Hike the Mýrdalsjökull or admire and lament the undulating caves showing the glacier’s increasing melt. Walk behind the magnificent Skogáfoss waterfall by the village of Skogár. Stroll along Reynisfjara’s black pebble beach to the striking basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar—totally picture worthy. Enjoy rest of the beautiful black beaches all the way to the charming village of Vík. It's perfect for a mini Iceland vacation.

Northern Lights

A trip to Iceland almost always means seeing the Northern Lights. Keep in mind that it is most visible in winter, making Iceland winter tour packages your best bet—those are sure to incorporate options for scenic Northern Lights tours.

Whichever Iceland tours you choose, expect to spend the entire trip in awe of the untouched wildlife, diverse wilderness, rich culture, and stunning, otherworldly landscapes.