You’ll be surprised at the variety of experiences you can arrange which are close enough to the city to be back in time for dinner, enabling you to make the most of a short stay in Iceland without constantly having to move from place to place. In this article we’ll run through some of the possibilities and demonstrate how easy it is to book a diverse programme of tours and activities through Reykjavik Excursions.

Where can you go on a day trip from Reykjavik?

The Golden Circle

Let’s begin our curated selection of tours and activities by focusing on one of Iceland’s most popular sightseeing routes: the Golden Circle. Of all the Reykjavik day trips we might suggest for a first-time visitor, this is the one not to miss - the perfect blend of striking landscapes with a dash of Icelandic history and cultural heritage thrown in for good measure.

On a Golden Circle tour with Reykjavik Excursions you can sit back and relax as we drive through pretty countryside to reach Þingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s first parliament met for more than 800 years. But the area is also geologically significant, as a gnarly plate boundary looms above the flood plain of the River Öxará in the form of a remarkable steep-sided gorge.

Tours continue on to Geysir Geothermal Area, a steaming valley where you can watch in awe as Strokkur sends a jet of superheated steam and boiling water high into the air. It’s a reliable show, with action on average every five to ten minutes. This captivating geyser is the country’s largest and a must-see.

Equally impressive is the third stop on the Golden Circle tour: Gullfoss waterfall. This magnificent cascade crashes down a double step in the Hvítá River; a trail alongside the edge of the valley gives visitors the chance to feel the spray and get a sense of the water’s immense power.

It’s also possible to combine our basic Golden Circle Direct tour with a wide range of other activities. Enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with snowmobiling on Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier after mighty Vatnajökull. More sedate alternatives include horse riding tours in the countryside outside Hveragerði and the chance to luxuriate in the deliciously warm water of a geothermal lagoon.

The South Coast

The Golden Circle isn’t the only area that’s popular for Reykjavik day trips. Our South Coast of Iceland tours also deliver on incredible landscapes and provide the basis for some of Reykjavik Excursions’ top-rated days out. Whether you opt to make it as far as Vik and back or push on further east, you’ll be richly rewarded with world-class scenery.

This part of Iceland is characterised by dramatic scenery. Drive east and you’ll soon be in the shadow of steep-sided escarpments littered with scree over which tumble some of the country’s most impressive waterfalls. Inland, hidden canyons reward those who venture off the main road. Vast expanses of lava, the result of volcanic eruptions in centuries past, compete for your attention with jaw-dropping glaciers.

As the ice retreats, the landscape is altered; without such change we wouldn’t have exquisite glacial lagoons like Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón, nor the iceberg-strewn Diamond Beach. Meanwhile, wild and windswept beaches like Reynisfjara - infamous for its dangerous sneaker waves - are a reminder of how nature’s work is never finished.

From straightforward South Coast sightseeing tours to more active pursuits, those who venture east will be delighted. The precise form your adventure takes is up to you: hike to magical ice caves or up onto its surface on an Iceland glacier hike, kayak across tranquil glacial lagoons, enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with a thrilling zipline descent or ride an ATV to a remote wrecked plane.

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Another must-do Iceland excursion from Reykjavik is a Snæfellsnes Peninsula day trip. Once again this part of the country is an easy commute from the capital making it an ideal pairing with activities within the city. It’s a packed day’s itinerary but you’ll consider it well worth it once you experience the scenery in this corner of West Iceland.

Nature takes centre stage here with some of the most remarkable coastal landscapes in Iceland. From the golden sands of Ytri Tunga to the wave-cut arches of Arnarstapi, this peninsula’s views are as outstandingly beautiful as they are varied. On Djúpalónssandur beach, known for its rounded pebbles of volcanic origin, you can test your strength at the lifting stones, which decades ago were used to test the suitability of would-be seamen.

Meanwhile, the area’s volcanic nature is also responsible for the craters you’ll encounter at Hólahólar, another of the stops on this fascinating tour. Some people will tell you this place is also home to the Huldufólk, Iceland’s hidden people, adding an extra dimension to its appeal - even if you’re not sure you believe in elves yourself.

The Reykjanes Peninsula

You’ll have driven across the Reykjanes Peninsula on your way to Reykjavik from Keflavik. However, the region has many visitor attractions and landmarks, so you should consider backtracking and spending the day there. Many tourists can’t resist a soak in the milky blue water of the Blue Lagoon, a luxurious geothermal bath midway between the capital and the airport.

Package up this iconic spa with a host of other sightseeing opportunities. You can’t help but notice that it’s geothermally active as you admire the steaming fumaroles and mud pots of Krýsuvík and Gunnuhver hot spring, the largest in the country. Both are undisputed highlights of the Reykjanes Global Geopark.

At the south western tip of the peninsula you’ll be able to scour the craggy cliffs for seabirds and as you look out to the ocean, understand the need for lighthouses such as Reykjanesviti. The Bridge between Continents, straddling the gap between two tectonic plates, is another must-see.

Reykjanes is also one of the most convenient options for a Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik. The area’s sparse population yet proximity to the capital means you can be staring up at an inky black sky in as little as half an hour. We offer a range of tours, by bus, super jeep and boat, to Reykjanes and elsewhere.

Reykjavik

Let’s not forget the capital itself. Reykjavik’s an attractive place to wander on foot, or even use the Hop On, Hop Off Bus to get around. Nevertheless, to get the most out of it we’d recommend you sign up for some specific tours and activities. A guided Reykjavik city tour gives you the opportunity to learn more about the city’s history and heritage. Themed walking tours covering topics such as food and mythology are also informative and entertaining in equal measure.

A number of attractions help explain Iceland’s remarkable landscapes. At Lava Show, you’ll sit so close to molten lava that you’ll appreciate its intense heat as you learn about magma’s properties. Similarly, with tickets for Flyover Iceland and Perlan, you’ll get a flavour of what the Icelandic countryside looks like. It’s ideal for getting an overview before you set out to explore for yourself or to see what you don’t have time for if you’re only in town for a brief visit.

One of the most popular activities from Reykjavik, whale watching tours are a must. Iceland hosts a significant number of cetaceans and it’s common to see species such as humpbacks, minke whales, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins without travelling far into open waters. Tours to Faxaflói Bay depart regularly year-round from the Old Harbour.

In summer, you can also board the Puffin Express. Iceland’s home to a sizeable population of Atlantic puffins who arrive each April to nest and rear their chicks, making this boat tour an enticing prospect. Their distinctive colouring, rapidly beating wings and awkward landings endear them to many visitors. Come before mid-August if you’re keen to see them before they head out to the ocean again.

Convenient and reliable

Booking a tour with us if you’re based in Reykjavik is both convenient and reliable. Feeder minibuses pick up from a number of locations within the central part of the capital so wherever you are staying there’s sure to be a stop close by. In all, there are fifteen bus stops from which to choose and these are mapped on our website to help you identify which is the best fit for your needs.

We also clearly indicate how long each of our tours last, which helps you plan your schedule and combine tours for an action-packed itinerary. In addition, many of our most popular options are already packaged up for you as combo tours. You simply decide what you want to do with your time and we’ll make sure you’re in the right place for the second activity.

Planning your Iceland excursions using our website is straightforward, with clear information about what to expect and at what time of year each one is offered. It’s easy to see whether a tour is suitable for all your party with minimum age requirements clearly specified and a guide to the level of fitness needed to partake in certain activities.

Our day tours from Reykjavik have been carefully curated so that you can utilise your time to best effect. The facility to book online allows you to make all the arrangements before you set foot in Iceland or see whether something’s available last minute should you unexpectedly find yourself with free time on your hands.

Many of our tours operate year-round though some, such as puffin spotting and Northern Lights tours are by their very nature seasonal activities. In summer, the extra hours of daylight mean you can be more ambitious with your sightseeing plans. Bear in mind that this is when Iceland is busiest, so plan tours ahead of time where you can.

In winter, we sometimes travel to and from attractions while it’s dark to maximise the sightseeing time you’ll have at those all-important landmarks. Of course, for some activities - such as soaking at a geothermal baths like Sky Lagoon, Hvammsvik Hot Springs or Blue Lagoon - it doesn’t matter when you schedule them.

With careful planning, it’s possible to fit a lot into a short space of time, so even if you’ve flown to Reykjavik for a long weekend you can get a feel for what the rest of the country has to offer. Why not take a look at the wide range of tours and activities on our website and start figuring out your itinerary today?