The best day trips from Reykjavik run the gamut from high-adrenaline hiking excursions on glaciers and volcanoes to relaxing in steaming pools of geothermally heated water.
Lying in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, at the meeting point of two tectonic plates, Iceland is an island of volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, and waterfalls.
Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital, snuggled on the west coast, and offers easy access to all of this and more. There are black-sand beaches, lupine meadows, and fantastic fjords. From exploring hidden waterfalls to trekking inside a glacier, these are some of the best short trips from Reykjavik.
Reykjanes Geopark
Reykjanes Geopark
Iceland’s jaw-dropping geological landscape is the result of its location, positioned on the mid-Atlantic ridge, where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
The Reykjanes Geopark, on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland is the only place in the world where you can see the meeting of two tectonic plates above sea level.
Recognized by UNESCO in 2015, Reykjanes Geopark is home to an otherworldly landscape that includes miles of moss-covered lava fields, mud pools, and billowing steam, created by the region’s seismic activity. It’s also dotted with volcanoes—both active and inactive—with fault lines and open fissures.
Less than an hour’s drive from the capital, Reykjanes Geopark is one of the best day trips from Reykjavik with some 55 geosites to explore within the park.
Bridge Between Continents
In Sandvík, cross the Bridge Between Continents, a small footbridge above a gaping fissure on the tip of the peninsula. Watch bubbling mud pools in Gunnuhver, a few miles from Sandvík. Iceland’s largest mud pool is here, frothing 65 feet wide with two observation points offering views down onto clay-like pools.
If you’re in the mood for a hearty Icelandic hike, head to Keilir, a cone-shaped hyaloclastite mountain near Trolladyngja volcano. Start your hike at Höskuldarvellir, a green patch among the crow-black lava fields.
From there, an easy trail leads to Keilir. If you make it to the top you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Reykjanes Peninsula, with a map and information board to explain what you’re looking at.
Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara
Reykjavik day trips don’t get more memorable than Reynisfjara, a wind-beaten spot near the town of Vik on Iceland’s south coast. It’s around a two-and-a-half hour drive from Reykjavik and perfectly doable in one day; in Iceland, the roads are virtually empty and the journey is half the fun.
Head southeast on Route 1 via the town of Selfoss to witness this dazzling black-sand beach. There is a car park and a café with bathrooms above the beach.
Reynisfjara is one of the best beaches in Iceland and an awe-inspiring sight, with rugged volcanic sea stacks that rise from the ocean. The sea stacks and cliffs here draw myriad bird life, including puffins, guillemots, fulmars, Arctic terns, and razorbills in summer.
Hálsanefshellir Cave
Marvel at the foaming waves that drench the shoreline and dramatic basalt columns at Hálsanefshellir Cave on the eastern edge of the beach.
Remember to keep a safe distance from the water. Reynisfjara’s powerful sneaker waves can be dangerous, sweeping in unexpectedly, and guidance on the shore advises travelers not to turn their back on the water.
Stop by Vik while you’re here. It’s the southernmost town in Iceland, with a pretty, white timber-clad church and several cafés and restaurants.
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon
Iceland’s most famous geothermal spa is an easy drive from Reykjavik through the ravishing Reykjanes Peninsula. Blue Lagoon coaches operate from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon throughout the day and taxis are readily available to make the familiar journey.
The Blue Lagoon’s mineral-rich pool lies amid craggy lava fields, with steam rising from the warm, milky-blue water. The water’s unique glow is attributed to its high white silica mud and blue-green microalgae content, minerals that are known to help soothe skin conditions such as psoriasis.
With the water heated to around 99–102°F, the Blue Lagoon is among the best places to visit in Iceland, offering a deeply relaxing bath experience and a wonderful break from more active pursuits.
Blue Lagoon
There’s a mud bar for lathering on a mask in the lagoon and a swim-up bar serving sodas, water, ice slushies, and beers. Blue Lagoon entrance tickets include one drink and a wristband issued when you arrive, which means you can purchase more while you’re in the water.
A steam room, a sauna, spa treatments, a gift shop, a spa café, and two fine-dining restaurants—Lava and Moss—are among the Blue Lagoon’s excellent facilities, making this one of the best day trips from Reykjavik.
You’ll need to pre-book a trip to the Blue Lagoon. Due to recent volcanic activity in the region, a section of the main road between Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon is temporarily closed, with a diversion in place that adds to the journey time, though it’s still reachable in roughly 90 minutes.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss
Less than two hours from Reykjavik, on the iconic Golden Circle route near Geysir Geothermal Area and Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland.
Lying on the Hvita River, fed from the Langjökull glacier in southwest Iceland, this powerful, two-drop waterfall plunges around 105 feet into a rocky canyon that was formed at the end of the last Ice Age. During summer in Iceland, around 4,943 cubic feet of water tumbles into the canyon every second.
Feel the waterfall’s refreshing spray as you walk the paths to the viewing platforms around Gullfoss. There’s a café for warm drinks, sandwiches, and cakes at the Gullfoss Visitor Center, where you could also pick up a souvenir and find out more about this natural landmark.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Geysir Geothermal Area
If you’re looking for Reykjavik day trips that allow you to see multiple Iceland landmarks in one day, go to Geysir Geothermal Area, a 10-minute drive from Gullfoss. Visitors are met with jets of steam from ruptures in the earth’s surface puncturing the air.
This simmering natural cauldron is one of Iceland’s most thrilling attractions, the result of a series of powerful earthquakes and the eruption of Mt. Hekla at the end of the 13th century.
The Great Geysir, or Stori-Geysir, has been dormant since 1935, when it came to life briefly after lying dormant since 1916. When it was active, simmering-hot water would shoot up to 262 feet into the air, putting on a magnificent display.
Gaze at today’s star attraction, Strokkur, which lies a short distance south of the Great Geysir, erupting around every 10 minutes, launching boiling columns of water up to 98 feet into the air.
There’s a lovely bistro and a gift shop selling indulgent Icelandic knits and other items at the Geysir Centre, with parking and bathroom facilities.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss
This enchanting south coast waterfall is one of the best day trips from Reykjavik and is reachable in under two hours. What makes Seljalandsfoss so special is the pathway leading behind the waterfall, allowing for visitors to stand behind the veil of water as it falls.
Take in the breathtaking sight of the waterfall dropping almost 200 feet from the Seljalandsá River, over the cliff edge, and into a plunge pool below.
After, follow the gravel path to another waterfall, Gljufrabui, which is almost hidden in the crevices of the green-covered cliff. Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui are a short 10-minute walk apart. Facilities include a parking lot and a hut selling gifts and snacks.
Langjokull Glacier
Langjokull Glacier
Langjökull, or the Long Glacier, stretches 361 square miles and is the second-largest glacier in Iceland. Langjökull draws skiers, hikers, and adventure-seekers keen to try snowmobiling and 4×4 jeep rides within this rugged, icy terrain.
One hour from Reykjavik at the closest point, Langjökull lies on a hyaloclastite mountain range and two active volcanoes, although these are considered relatively calm, having only erupted 32 times in 10,000 years.
One of the best things to do in Iceland is to join a guided tour deep inside Langjökull through tunnels carved into the ice. Langjökull ice cave is the largest of its kind in the world.
Langjokull Glacier
The experience begins by boarding an eight-wheel-drive monster truck at Langjökull Klaki base camp, which is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Reykjavik. The all-terrain vehicle then traverses the snow, ice, and tundra landscape to reach the tunnel’s entrance.
Witness the sparkling blue-white glacier from this otherworldly perspective, led by an expert guide who will share fascinating tidbits about the glacier’s formation during a one-hour tour inside the ice tunnel, where you’ll see waterfalls plunging through the darkness and even an ice-carved wedding chapel.
If you opt to make your own way to Klaki base camp, you’ll need to rent a 4×4 vehicle that’s suitable for driving the gravelly mountain road. Naturally, you’ll want to wear warm clothing, hiking boots, and waterproof outerwear for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Hvammsvik Hot Springs
Hvammsvik Hot Springs
Relaxing Reykjavik day trips include Hvammsvik Hot Springs, one hour north of the capital on the Hvalfjörður, or Whale Fjord.
These dreamy Icelandic hot springs, set against a mountain backdrop, include eight pools of different sizes that stretch into the Atlantic Ocean, with each one heated to a different temperature.
This quiet spot wasn’t always so calm, with Hvammsvík used as a naval headquarters by allied forces during World War II that saw over 200 ships anchored offshore and almost 40,000 soldiers stationed here.
One of the best things to do at Hvammsvik Hot Springs is go for an invigorating swim in the open ocean followed by bathing in the warm baths, with some heated up to 104°F. Pack swimwear and consider a wet suit if you plan on enjoying an ocean swim. Towels and swim shoes can be rented.
There’s a swim-up bar, private showers, and changing facilities. Hvammsvik also offers activities such as paddle boarding and Wim Hof experiences of breathwork and cold water immersion.
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls
Hraunfossar Waterfalls
These two waterfalls in Iceland are located just steps apart, northeast of Reykjavik, in west Iceland.
Barnafoss, which translates as “children’s falls,” is a white rapid waterfall steeped in folklore. Namely, a tale of two boys, brothers who lived nearby, who are said to have met a tragic death after falling into the waterfall after trying to cross it.
Barnafoss cuts through a narrow valley made up of jagged lava rock formations. In contrast, Hraunfossar is less ferocious and more serene, consisting of several falls that trickle from small rivulet streams in the Hallmundarhraun lava field into the Hvítá River.
Follow the trail between the two waterfalls, which takes just a couple of minutes, and cross the bridge above Barnafoss. Parking, bathrooms, and a café are located at Hraunfossar.
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park
Surrounded by mountains, Thingvellir National Park is home to an eye-popping rift valley created by two tectonic plates slowly ebbing apart at a rate of just over an inch per year.
It was here that Iceland’s first Parliament, Althingi, was established in A.D. 930. Althingi remained in Thingvellir until 1798, before relocating to Reykjavik, with the remains of around 50 stone and turf booths visible and 10th-century remains thought to be buried underground. There’s plenty more to do in Thingvellir, including fishing, hiking, and horseback riding.
Silfra
This UNESCO national park is also home to a vast lake filled with Arctic char with diving permitted at two sites, Silfra and Davíðsgjá. The clear visibility at Silfra is astounding, making it one of the best diving spots in the world. It’s the only place where you can dive in a fissure between two tectonic plates.
At Thingvellir National Park Visitor Center, discover the Heart of Iceland exhibition to learn more about the park’s rich history and remarkable landscape.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Bjarnarfoss
The remote Snaefellsnes Peninsula is another of the best day trips from Reykjavik. This frilly arm of west Iceland lies between the Westfjords in the north and the Reykjanes peninsula to the south. It has black- and blond-sand beaches, lava fields, volcanoes, waterfalls, and is dotted with remote towns and museums.
Stop by the towering Gerðuberg Cliffs. Standing up to 46 feet tall, they’re one of the longest rows of basalt cliffs in Iceland, spanning over half a mile. You could also stop to admire the 262-foot Bjarnarfoss, a beautiful waterfall near Budir.
Budir’s black church is a marvelous sight. From the church walk to the windswept Budir Beach followed by a light lunch of shellfish soup at Hotel Budir. On the white-sand Ytri Tunga Beach, a short distance from Budir, you’ll find a colony of seals lounging on the rocky coastline.
Caves of Hella
Caves of Hella
If you travel 90 minutes southeast of Reykjavik on Route 1, you’ll end up in the small community of Hella, next to the Ytri-Rangá River. Just outside of the town are 12 mystical caves, known, unsurprisingly, as the Caves of Hella. Unlike Iceland’s lava and ice caves, these ancient caves are entirely manmade.
The Caves of Hella are Iceland’s oldest archaeological remains. Their exact origin remains a mystery, though historians believe they were built before the arrival of Vikings in the ninth century. Join a guided tour to explore five of the Caves of Hella and witness carved stone seats, wall carvings, and ancient crosses.
Tag on a visit to the spring-fed Aegissidufoss waterfall, a mile or so south of the caves. There’s a hiking trail that leads from Hella to the waterfall that follows the bends of the salmon-rich Ytri-Rangá River. The picturesque waterfall’s drop is short, but broad. On a clear day, capture a shot of Aegissidufoss with Hekla volcano in the background.
Read: Best Things to Do in Reykjavik
View from Reykjavik
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