Day trips · Reykjavík · Iceland
5 best day trips from Reykjavík
Where to go when you want a day away from Reykjavík, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Reykjavík is Golden Circle (A 6–8 hour loop by car or tour). The closest option is Hveragerði and Reykjadalur hot river, about 45 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Hveragerði and Reykjadalur hot river (45 km)
- Most popular
- Golden Circle
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Circle | 120 km | A 6–8 hour loop by car or tour | Hire car or guided tour | First-timers, Families, Couples |
| South coast waterfalls and Vík | 180 km | About 2.5 hours each way by car | Hire car or guided tour | First-timers, Couples, Families |
| Blue Lagoon | 47 km | About 45 minutes by car or coach | Car or scheduled coach | Couples, Luxury, First-timers |
| Snæfellsnes Peninsula | 180 km | About 2.5 hours each way by car | Hire car or guided tour | Couples, Quiet stays, Culture |
| Hveragerði and Reykjadalur hot river | 45 km | About 40 minutes by car | Car or bus to Hveragerði | Couples, Solo travellers, Budget |
The day trips
120 km · A 6–8 hour loop by car or tour
1.Golden Circle
The classic loop links Þingvellir National Park, where the Alþingi parliament met from 930 and the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart; the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall. Snorkelling in the clear Silfra fissure at Þingvellir can be booked as an add-on.
- Getting there
- Hire car or guided tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Couples
180 km · About 2.5 hours each way by car
2.South coast waterfalls and Vík
Route 1 east passes Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind, and the 60-metre curtain of Skógafoss before reaching the black-sand beach of Reynisfjara and the village of Vík. Many tours add a guided walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier.
- Getting there
- Hire car or guided tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Families
47 km · About 45 minutes by car or coach
3.Blue Lagoon
Iceland's most famous geothermal spa sits in a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula, with milky-blue mineral water and silica mud masks. Because recent volcanic activity on the peninsula has affected access at times, check the official site for current status before booking.
- Getting there
- Car or scheduled coach
- Best for
- Couples, Luxury, First-timers
180 km · About 2.5 hours each way by car
4.Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Often called Iceland in miniature, the peninsula has the much-photographed Kirkjufell mountain, the Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano, the black church at Búðir, seal colonies at Ytri Tunga and sea cliffs at Arnarstapi.
- Getting there
- Hire car or guided tour
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, Culture
45 km · About 40 minutes by car
5.Hveragerði and Reykjadalur hot river
Above the greenhouse town of Hveragerði, a hike of about 3–4 km each way through the steaming Reykjadalur valley leads to a warm river where you can bathe surrounded by mountains, with simple wooden changing screens.
- Getting there
- Car or bus to Hveragerði
- Best for
- Couples, Solo travellers, Budget
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buy tickets in the Klappið app or pay contactless where available; drivers do not give change.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Reykjavík?
Golden Circle. The classic loop links Þingvellir National Park, where the Alþingi parliament met from 930 and the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart; the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall.
+How long does it take to get from Reykjavík to Golden Circle?
A 6–8 hour loop by car or tour — Hire car or guided tour, about 120 km.
+How long does it take to get from Reykjavík to South coast waterfalls and Vík?
About 2.5 hours each way by car — Hire car or guided tour, about 180 km.