Reykjavik has so much to offer, make sure you do not miss out on the many interesting places to explore in the city. There are also several day tours available that take you on adventures outside of the city, and return you safely back the same day. Reykjavik is a great base for your exploring, whether you are just in the mood for exploring art galleries, museums, cozy cafés or venturing outside of the city limits for road-trip adventures, Reykjavik has got you covered!
Live availability
Book tours with live availability
Find Tours In Or Around Reykjavik
Find things to do in Reykjavik by browsing the tours below.
About two thirds of Icelanders live in Reykjavik and the towns around it, so nearly every day tour in the southwest starts here. The city is small: most of what you came to see sits within a 25 minute walk, and two unhurried days cover it. Treat it as a base, not a destination.
What Is Worth Doing in the City
Hallgrímskirkja is the landmark you navigate by, and the tower elevator buys the clearest view of the colored roofs and the bay. Harpa is worth the waterfront walk even without a concert, and the foyer is free. Whale watching boats leave from the Old Harbour, along with puffin boats between May and August. The National Museum and the Settlement Exhibition cover how anyone ended up here.
The most local thing you can do is swim: neighborhood geothermal pools open early and cost less than anything else here. Sky Lagoon, 15 minutes from downtown in neighboring Kópavogur, is the designed version, with an ocean facing infinity edge. See our guides to free things to do in Reykjavik and the top ten in the city.
Day Trips From the City
The Golden Circle, a 143 mile (230 km) loop past Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, is the standard first day out. The South Coast is the better single day: waterfalls, a black sand beach and a glacier tongue. The Reykjanes peninsula is closest, half a day of lava and steam that fits around an airport arrival. Our guide to day trips from Reykjavik has the rest.
| Day trip | Typical full day bus tour price |
|---|---|
| Golden Circle | 12,300 to 18,000 ISK (about $89 to $130 / EUR 82 to 120) |
| South Coast to Vík | Around 18,000 ISK (about $130 / EUR 120) |
| Snæfellsnes | 19,600 to 21,300 ISK (about $142 to $154 / EUR 131 to 142) |
| Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon | Around 31,300 ISK (about $227 / EUR 209) |
What It Costs and How Pickup Works
Evening northern lights buses run from September to April and start around 11,200 ISK (about $81 / EUR 75). Whale watching from the Old Harbour starts around 14,000 ISK (about $101 / EUR 93).
Most bus tours include hotel pickup inside the city zone, and this is where mornings go wrong. Pickup time is not departure time: the coach then spends up to half an hour collecting from other stops before leaving town. Be outside when your window opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Reykjavik?
Two days cover the city at a walking pace. After that, day trips are the better use of your time.
Is Reykjavik walkable?
Yes. The main sights sit within a 25 minute walk of one another. Sky Lagoon and the outer pools want a bus or a short taxi.
Does hotel pickup come to my door?
Often, but not always. Narrow downtown streets get a numbered bus stop instead, and your confirmation says which applies.
Can you reach the glacier lagoon in a day?
Yes, year round, but it is 236 miles (380 km) each way and most of the day goes on the road. Two days on the south coast is calmer.
Explore Iceland by region
Hover or tap a location to explore