Things to do in Iceland
Iceland is a great destination for activities in an beautiful and rough nature. Some examples for activities and day trips are presented on this page.
Activities
Hiking: There are numberless hiking trails all over the island where you can take a trip by yourself or you book one of the organized excursion. Get more information on hiking in Iceland.
Bicycling: Bikes can be rented in many places in Iceland, e.g. with the renting agency "The City Bicycle" in Reykjavik.
Horseback Riding: You can rent one of the world famous Icelandic Horses and take a day trip or longer tour through the great nature.
Golf: Iceland has more than 50 golf courses, They are open from May to September. In June you can golf 24 hours and under the midnight sun.
River Rafting: There are a lot of glacier rivers in Iceland that are practical for rafting. Tours can be booked at the Icelandic Travel Board.
Angling: Sport fishing is possible in the clear rivers and lakes. The main salmon fishing for example is from end of June to mid-September. Permits must be reserved in advance,
Studying Animals: Iceland is a good destination for bird watching and whale watching.
Sight Seeing: Several tour operators offer a variety of day trips to see the most important attractions of the island.
Day Tours from Reykjavik
If you spend a few days in Iceland, you can take a variety of day trips in the surrounding area of Reykjavik. The bus company BSI ("Reykjavik Excursions") for example offers a wide range of excursions. These and other excursions can be booked with many tour operators and the Icelandic Tourist Board in Reykjavik. Tourists on cruise ships, that docked in Reykjavik habour, can book trips on board of the ship before arrival in Iceland. Some of the most popular tours will be presented briefly below.
Reykjavik City Tour
On a two-hour city tour by bus the main attractions of the most northern capital of the world can be visited.
Golden Circle
The most popular tour with the name "Golden Circle" is one of the most booked trips for tourists visiting Iceland for the first time. The day trip takes travellers to the most important and most famous sights in southwest Iceland. The major highlights are the former Parliament Square and National Park Thingvellir, the Great Geysir area and the Gullfoss waterfall as well as a visit to the greenhouse Hveragerði city.
Blue Lagoon and Reykjanes
The famous Blue Lagoon is located between the international airport and Reykjavik. Visitors schould not miss a bath in the salty, warm lake. The Blue Lagoon can be reached by bus from Reykjavik. The trip can also be combined with a tour on the Reykjanes peninsula. This tour leads to the postglacial lava fields, some very young volcanoes and hot springs as well as vivid populated bird cliffs.
Whale Watching
In the summer months several boats in Reykjavik and Keflafik leave for whale watching in the Faxaflói bay. Outside the main season there are fewer departures. The probability to see Dephines and whales in the Icelandic sea is very high.
South Coast
On this tour the bus passes by the main attractions along the south coast of Iceland. The tour leads to the city greenhouse Hveragerði and to the lovely scenery of the south coast. There, the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss as well as glacier tongues and the rock Dyrhólaey can be visited.
Þórsmörk
A bus operates between Reykjavik and the small city of Hella in South Iceland. In summer a highland bus runs daily from there to the idyllic valley Thorsmörk. The valley in the southern highlands is situated between three glaciers and has due to its sheltered position a very lush vegetation. The hut of the Icelandic Hiking Club is the starting point for numerous tours of the area.
Westman-Islands
The archipelago of the Westman Islands is located off the southern coast and is reachable by plane in just 25 minutes from Reykjavik. The small planes take off at the domestic airport in Reykjavik and transfer to the only inhabited island Heimaey. It is possible to explore the island by foot on your own, but of course it takes some time. There are also offered organized group tours by bus, which often include a boat ride around the island.
Sightseeing flights
Sightseeing flights through various regions of Iceland can be booked at Iceland Tourist Board or any travel agency in Reykjavik. Somes destinations of these flights are Reykjanes and the Westman Islands, the South Coast with volcano Hekla, Geysir and Thingvellir as well as a flight over the west of Iceland to the peninsula Snæfellsnes. Flights can also be booked with the airline Eagle Air at www.eagleair.is
Further trips from Reykjavik
The mentioned trips blong to the most popular excursions from Reykjavik. Many organizers offer further trips and activities such as Iceland horseback riding, fishing tours, diving in the spring Silfra as well as glacier tours a Super Jeep. In winter there are some trips for sighting polar lights.
Booking a day trip
Our partner GetYourGuide (Ad) provides several trips from Reykjavik and other places in Iceland.