If you only have a few days in Iceland, which isn’t enough time to allow you a proper road trip around the famous Ring Road, taking a few day trips from Reykjavik is probably your best option. This is particularly true if you are not fond of having to change hotels every day. Below we present our Best Day Trips from Reykjavik Travel Guide.
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We will present some shorter and longer day trips, depending on your interests and the amount of time you are willing to spend on the road. Our focus is on presenting self-drive road trips, but we will also provide links to some great organized tour options if you prefer not having to rent a car.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Icelandic mainland and is definitely a unique National Park because you’ll find here both evidence of Iceland’s stark geological processes playing out right in front of you and the birthplace of parliamentary sessions–that’s right, the first-ever parliament in the world was held here. Here you’ll also find ruins, cascades, canyons and beautiful scenery all around, all within a stone’s throw of Reykjavik. You can easily spend 2-3 hours here exploring the park’s main attractions.
It’s only a 45 min drive to reach Þingvellir from Reykjavik.
The Golden Circle
Unless you have been living in a cave (apologies if you have), you likely know that The Golden Circle is the most popular tourist route in southern Iceland, which covers three primary stops: Þingvellir National Park (which we covered above), the Gullfoss waterfall, and the geothermal area in Haukadalur, which contains the geysers Geysir and Strokkur. The name Golden Circle is a marketing term for the route, derived from Gullfoss, which means “golden waterfall” in Icelandic.
Gullfoss is probably Iceland’s most famous and most photographed waterfall. Apart from its size and beauty, what makes Gullfoss particularly special are the numerous different viewpoints from which one can admire its multi-step drops and the spectacular canyon below the final drop.
Haukadalur is a geothermal valley in South Iceland. Although it is home to numerous hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles, it is most famous for its geysers: Geysir (The English word geyser derives from Geysir) and Strokkur — and both geysers are a short 50m apart.
Geysir was the first geyser to ever be described in the literature, in the 13th century, making it the first geyser that was known to Europeans. However Geysir is not the most active geyser in the area and is not very predictable; that title goes to Strokkur, which erupts every 4-10 minutes with steam that can reach heights of 130 feet (40 meters) high.
Doing the full Golden Circle loop will take you around 3h30 (including return). Keep in mind that you will likely want to spend at least 30 min each at Gullfoss and Geysir, and at least an hour (but probably more) at Þingvellir. So you are looking at a good 6-7 hour day.
Golden Circle & Kerid
Surprisingly, it only adds 2 min of driving time to add Kerid Crater to your Golden Circle itinerary, on top of allowing you to see different scenery on the outgoing and return legs of the road trip. This combo should definitely be on your radar when considering the best day trips from Reykjavik.
Kerið is a striking volcanic crater lake filled with milky aquamarine water against a backdrop of stark black and deep red slopes, in the Grímsnes area of South Iceland. It is unique among crater lakes in several ways. First, its caldera likely didn’t form from an explosion as most do; it is believed to have formed when the magma in the center simply depleted itself, and the empty chamber beneath caved in. Second, it is a relatively young crater compared to other Icelandic craters, which is the major reason why Kerið’s slopes are red in colour, rather than volcanic black. The iron deposits in the soil are still relatively new, and they give the terrain its distinct reddish colour.
You would love to see some of these attractions but are now keen on having to drive yourself? Then check out these highly-rated organized tours:
- Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater
- Golden Circle and Kerið Crater Small Group Tour
- Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon
Iceland’s South Coast (western part)
What do two waterfalls, a plane wreck, and a black sand beach have in common? Not much, other than their close proximity to one another — that’s why we grouped them together here. They are all located along a stretch of 60 km of the Ring Road, just west of Vik.
The road trip will require about 5h30 of driving (including return), which is definitely doable during the long summer days. It’s a long day, but well worth it in our opinion.
The first of these you will come across coming from the west is the majestic Seljalandsfoss. It’s conveniently along Iceland’s Ring Road (roughly a 90min drive from Reykjavik), and what makes Seljalandsfoss particularly interesting is one of its unique features: you can go for a stroll behind the falls!
Another 20-25 min down the Ring Road from Seljalandsfoss (going east) you will find thundering Skógafoss. Where Seljalandsfoss has a walking path behind the falls, Skógafoss has one going to the top to provide you with amazing views from above the falls. And the occasional rainbow.
While most love Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Reynisfjara, visitors seem to other love or hate the Sólheimasandur plane crash site (in 1973 a United States Navy DC plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Sólheimasandur). On the one hand, it’s not particularly Icelandic, and it requires a fair walk to get it (roughly 1hr each way from the parking lot right off the Ring Road), so it’s understandable that it’s not for everyone and it might not end up on your personal list of top things to see and do in Iceland. On the other hand, if you are looking for an easy walk on flat terrain (especially if it’s nice out) and like exploring abandoned and usual places, this might be for you.
Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland, just beside Vik í Myrdal, which is the southernmost village on the mainland of Iceland. It’s approximately 25 km east of the Sólheimasandur parking lot. The beach is in a stunning setting of sea stacks and basalt columns and black volcanic sand. Because of the latter fact, it is often referred to as “the” black sand beach in Iceland, even though there are countless black sand beaches in Iceland.
Please be careful when visiting Reynisfjara Beach, the sea here has claimed several lives. Most of the south coast is very susceptible to “sneaker wavers”, huge coastal waves that can suddenly appear in a train of smaller waves. There are no significant landmasses in between Antarctica and the shores of Reynisfjara, meaning waves have thousands of kilometres to build. Visitors are advised to never turn their back on the waves, and keep a safe distance of at least 30 meters.
You would love to see some of these attractions but are now keen on having to drive yourself? Then check out these highly-rated organized tours:
- From Reykjavik: South of Iceland Full-Day Trip
- South Coast Classic: Full-Day Tour from Reykjavik
- South Coast: ATV Quad Bike 2-Hour Safari
Iceland’s South Coast (eastern part)
Okay, we’ll start with the important caveat that it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to see the eastern portion of Iceland’s South Coast as part of a single-day trip – unless it’s during summer when the sun is out for 16-20 hours per day and you are willing to drive during 12 of those hours (6 hours each way), and that doesn’t include any sightseeing time. Seeing both the western and eastern portions of Iceland’s South Coast is much more manageable if you are willing to spend the night somewhere along the coast, preferably near the point of turning around, such as in Hofn.
If this is something you would consider doing, then we would recommend dividing the attractions listed here into two so that you have some interesting things to see on the return leg.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Somewhat caught between Southeast and Southwest Iceland lies Fjaðrárgljúfur, a majestic 100m deep and 2km long canyon like no other. A short 3 km drive from the Ring Road brings you to the parking lot, from which you can hike along the canyon’s ridge and enjoy spectacular views. Its serpent-like shape, sheer cliffs, and green moss coverage definitely make it a very unique canyon to witness and explore. Deep in the canyon, a lazy river serpentines its way toward the sea.
Skaftafell
Skaftafell is a true wilderness area in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park. Here you’ll find lots of hiking trails, Iceland’s tallest mountain as well as its largest glacier. In truth, however, we didn’t spend enough time in Skaftafell to fully take advantage of what it had to offer. With only 10 days in Iceland, we had to cut a few corners so we only hiked to Svartifoss after our arrival (3.2 km return), enjoyed the scenery around the campground and spent the night, and then were on our way early the next morning to explore the glacial lagoons further down the ring road. But there is definitely more to see and do here with more time.
The Glacial Lagoons – Fjallsárlón & Jökulsárlón (& Diamond beach)
Fjallsárlón is an impressive glacial lagoon in Iceland, located on the southern end of Vatnajökull glacier. Although not as popular as its bigger brother Jökulsárlón (10 km further east), you can get much closer to the ice cap because of Fjallsárlón smaller size, which gives you get the impression that Iceland’s largest volcano Öræfajökull, looms over Fjallsárlón.
The icebergs themselves are more impressive at Jökulsárlón, whose lagoon is roughly five times bigger than Fjallsárlón’s. Here you’ll find blue, white, turquoise and black streaked icebergs shifting and dancing across the lagoon. The icebergs are 1,000-year-old chunks of the retreating Oraefajokull glacier that have broken off and are floating out to sea.
Did we say floating out to sea? That’s right. Although the icebergs from Jokulsarlon tidal pond float out to sea, the ocean’s waves bring them back to shore where they end up on the black volcanic sand of Diamond Beach (the proper Icelandic name for the beach is Breidamerkursandur), just across the road from the lagoon.
Stokksnes & Vestrahorn
Vestrahorn, on the Stokksnes peninsula in Southeast Iceland, is one of the country’s most breathtaking mountains. It’s slightly off the beaten track, a 10 min drive off the Ring Road (roughly an hour from Jökulsárlón lagoon), meaning you’re likely to see fewer tourists around (in fact, we were somewhat curiously all alone when we visited).
Note that Vestrahorn is located on privately owned land, and the owners charge an entrance fee (900 ISK in 2023). The fee can be paid at the Viking Cafe, which will allow you to visit the Stokknes beach, the nearby lighthouse and the Viking Village (which is a movie set built in 2010 but was never used).
You would love to see some of these attractions but are now keen on having to drive yourself? Then check out these highly-rated organized tours:
- From Reykjavik: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Full-Day Trip
- From Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Small Group Tour
- Reykjavík: 2-Day Tour with Icebergs, Glaciers & Waterfalls
Snæfellsnes peninsula
Snæfellsnes is a large peninsula extending 90 km from West Iceland, between the Reykjanes Peninsula to the south and the Westfjords to the north. The Snæfellsnes peninsula is often referred to as a “Miniature Iceland”, because of the diversity of its beautiful and stunning landscapes not unlike what you’ll find elsewhere around Iceland. Snæfellsnes peninsula is the perfect place to visit if you only have a few days in Iceland and most of the key sites listed below can be visited in a day.
To enjoy the area at a more relaxed pace it would be ideal to spend the night on the Peninsula, but it’s definitely doable in one day. Adding the driving time and sightseeing time together and you are looking at about a 10-hour day.
The first place worthy of a stop is the town of Stykkishólmur –however, if you are a bit short on time, you can cut out Stykkishólmur from the above itinerary to save about 25 min of driving time, which will allow you more time to focus on the natural wonders that the peninsula has to offer.
Stykkishólmur is a charming town with colourful houses and a picturesque harbour. Stopping by Stykkisholmskirkja is also worth your time, as it’s one of Iceland’s few modern-looking churches with impressive and unique architecture.
Heading further west you will come across the Berserkjahraun lava field, which was one of our favourite places to drive in Iceland. In fact, one of the best ways to visit the area was to slowly drive around the bumpy gravel loop road that goes around and through the 4000-year-old lava field. The landscapes here are completely otherworldly.
After touring the lava field, brace yourself for one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland, Kirkjufellsfoss, made famous in part of the scenic backdrop offered by Mount Kirkjufell and its distinctively shaped peak.
Once you reach the western point of Snæfellsnes you will have entered Snæfellsjökull National Park, where there are several sights of interest that offer great opportunities to stretch your legs and admire spectacular coastal scenery.
Skarðsvík Beach is a beautiful and rare golden sandy beach in Iceland, encompassed by dark volcanic rocks.
Djúpalónssandur is a black sand beach beautifully framed by stunning rock formations.
Warning regarding the above-mentioned beaches: take heed that these are treacherous waters and the Atlantic Ocean’s rip currents can easily carry you out to sea. They are best enjoyed from a safe distance.
Lóndrangar basalt pillars are an impressive sight. Once a volcanic crater, all that remains after millennia of ocean erosion are two great pillars upon a cliff. The dramatic setting has earned them the nickname ‘the rocky castle.’
After exiting the National Park and heading back east, you will reach Arnastapi & Gatklettur. The former is a picturesque small fishing village at the foot of Mount Stapafell, while the latter is a stunning arch-shaped rock formation, set over the water with bird-rich cliffs nearby.
A short drive further east and a slight detour towards the coast will take you to one of Iceland’s most photogenic churches, Búðavegur, a small wooden church dating from 1848.
Our last stop on before leaving the peninsula Ytri Tunga Beach famous for its seal colony. However, unfortunately for us, they were nowhere to be found that day. Typically the best season to see them is during the summer months from May to early August, we were about a month too late.
If the Snaefellsnes Peninsula looks like an interesting place to you, be sure to check out our dedicated page to the Peninsula.
Map of top things to see and do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula
You would love to see some of these attractions but are now keen on having to drive yourself? Then check out these highly-rated organized tours:
Reykjanes Peninsula & Blue Lagoon
Often overlooked by most tourists, Reykjanes peninsula is definitely worthy of your time. Many think that this region is home to two things, the airport and the famous Blue Lagoon, but there is so much more.
Garður Lighthouses – the smaller striped one is one of the first lighthouses built in the country, dating back to 1897.
Bridge Between Two Continents – a 15-meter (50 ft) footbridge spanning a gaping rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
Shipwrecks near Grindavik & Hópsnes lighthouse – There are about 10 shipwrecks along the Hópsnes peninsula near Grindavík. Most of the wrecks have information boards detailing their history.
Brimketill lava rock pool & sea cliffs
Hvalsneskirkja – a small photogenic stone church dating from 1887.
Blue Lagoon
Last but not least, we’ll end with the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Many have debated whether the Blue Lagoon is even worth the steep entry price. Well, that is obviously a very personal and subjective decision. We felt the Blue Lagoon was a truly unique experience and we would definitely go again. Yes, it’s an expensive activity, but then again it’s not something you do every weekend. It’s a spa experience like no other, set in a magical backdrop of Icelandic volcanic terrain. We also stayed well beyond sunset, and it’s an even more magical experience after dark.
Map of top things to see and do in Reykjanes Peninsula
There are also a few things and places we didn’t get the chance to explore during our loop around the Reykjanes Peninsula, such as the Viking World Museum in Njardavik, the Hafnarberg sea cliffs, and the Fagradalsfjall Volcano, which erupted in March of 2021 and subsequently became a tourist sensation.
That wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Travel Guide of the best day trips from Reykjavik and that it will prove useful in helping you plan your trip to Iceland.
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