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13 Absolute Best Iceland Tours & Day Trips (All Seasons)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated:

13 Absolute Best Iceland Tours & Day Trips (All Seasons)

Visiting Iceland soon and planning to take guided tours, but are not sure which Iceland tours are best and worth your time the most? In this article, you’ll find our hand-picked selection of the best tours in Iceland. Whether you are making a short stopover in Reykjavik or are traveling around the whole country, this list should help you plan your trip. Find out!

If you are visiting Iceland for the first time, it might be difficult to decide where to go first. Therefore I made this selection of the very best and most popular day tours in Iceland: best day trips from Reykjavik, most popular wildlife excursions, and also tours in the North of Iceland… It will give you a good idea of what Iceland’s must-see places are and what to expect. Most of these tours and guided trips are available the whole year round; some – are seasonal.

Good to know: Most tours in this selection can be done as a day trip from Reykjavik, but some tours depart from other locations. In this article, we focus on the best Iceland tours for all seasons. If you are interested in winter tours (Northern Lights in Iceland, ice caves, snowmobile tours, etc), check out our guide to the best winter tours and day trips from Reykjavik.

If you rather explore Iceland on a self-drive trip (recommended, definitely in summer), check our Iceland itinerary suggestions. But even if you are exploring Iceland by car, you may still want to look into booking a whale-watching excursion, visiting the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, etc.

 
 

Most tours I selected here are bookable through GetYourGuide – our #1 choice when it comes to booking guided tours and excursions for our trips. The reason is simple – they have an excellent reputation, great customer service, competitive prices, and FREE 24 hr cancelation.

For each tour, I also give some practical details to help you plan your trip. Find out!

Did you know that… The most popular ‘tour’ booked in Iceland is the airport transfer to the city. With taxis charging ten times the price of the bus, I strongly recommend you book a bus transfer as well. Check here for more information about the best way to get to Reykjavik from Keflavik airport.

Best Tours in Iceland – OVERVIEW

  1. Golden Circle
  2. Blue Lagoon & other geothermal baths
  3. South Coast
  4. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
  5. Snæfellsnes Peninsula
  6. Whale watching
  7. Puffin tours
  8. Silfra snorkeling tours
  9. Icelandic horse riding
  10. Glacier hiking
  11. Lake Mývatn and Dettifoss Waterfall
  12. Icelandic Highlands (summer only)
  13. More great tours and day trips in Iceland: lava caves, snowmobiling, volcano…
   
 

TIP: We list the most popular tours in Iceland first, so if you are short on time, start with the top of this list and you’ll be sure to cover all the must-sees.

These are the best Iceland tours:

1. Golden Circle

Golden Circle is the no. 1 must-see place in Iceland. Whether you are visiting for a day or for two weeks, no trip to Iceland would be complete without visiting the Golden Circle.

Golden Circle is an area that comprises three famous landmarks – the Geysir area, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park. Due to its proximity to Reykjavik, this is by far the most popular tour in Iceland.

You can visit Golden Circle by car, or you can opt for one of the many available guided tours from Reykjavik. Below are some of the very best options:

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik

Iceland trip itinerary suggestions - from one day to two weeks
Strokkur geyser is one of the main attractions on the Golden Circle
 
 

2. Blue Lagoon and other geothermal baths

The Blue Lagoon is an outdoor geothermal spa close to Reykjavik and Keflavik airport. It is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland and you really have to book tickets in advance. Blue Lagoon is located about 30-40 minutes drive from Reykjavik city center. So unless you have a car it’s best to book a bus transfer from Reykjavik.

TIP: Recently, a new geothermal pool was opened in Iceland, just next to the city. It’s called Sky Lagoon and looks absolutely amazing! You can easily visit from the city by booking this tour which includes bus transfer and entrance tickets. If you have a car, you can also easily drive there and just book the entrance tickets. Check it out – the views are incredible!

There’s also another less touristy (and cheaper) geothermal pool near Reykjavik – Secret Lagoon. Another great option is Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths.

You can also visit these geothermal baths with a guided tour, usually in combination with the Golden Circle:

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik

Blue Lagoon spa - the most popular excursion in Iceland
Blue Lagoon spa – the most popular excursion in Iceland
 
 

3. South Coast Tours

Iceland’s South Coast is another highlight that you must see. It is easily doable as a day trip from Reykjavik and is, therefore, a very popular trip. In fact, south coast tours are the most popular tours in Iceland.

You will visit the famous waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach and the nearby Vik village, Sólheimajökull glacier, and more.

Here are the best-rated south coast tours:

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik 

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do on the South Coast of Iceland

Skogafoss waterfall along Iceland's south coast
Skogafoss waterfall along Iceland’s south coast
 
 

4. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the adjacent Diamond Beach is my favorite place in Iceland. However, it’s located quite far from Reykjavik. So it requires a full day trip with many hours of driving if you decide to visit it with a day tour.

I wouldn’t advise doing this trip in just one day unless you are really short on time. But if you only have a day to spare and want to see this stunning glacial lagoon, then yes, it is possible to visit Jokulsarlon as a day trip from Reykjavik.

In summer, the days are long and this trip will be very different than in winter, giving you more chances to admire the beautiful South Coast along the way. If you are visiting in winter, consider a 2-day tour instead. That way, you get to see the South Coast and possibly also visit an ice cave.

Despite the long drive, a day trip to Jokulsarlon is one of the most popular tours in Iceland and the customer reviews are great. Below are the best Jokulsarlon tours from Reykjavik:

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik

Iceland winter wonderland - icebergs on Jokulsarlon beach in winter
Diamond beach at Jokulsarlon
 
 

5. Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Another long day trip from Reykjavik, a visit to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is an unforgettable experience. If you are looking for the best, must-do tours that you can do in Iceland in any season, this is one of those places that are absolutely worth your time.

Here are the best tours of Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavik:

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Iceland tours - Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Kirkjufell in Snaefellsnes Peninsula
 
 

Now that we covered all the must-see places that you really should try to see in Iceland, below are more amazing tours that will make your trip even more special. Take a look!

6. Whale-watching tours

There are several places where you can go whale watching in Iceland. The most popular are Reykjavik and Husavik (North of Iceland), but there are some other great options as well.

Reykjavik whale-watching tours are available the whole year, but please note that the best time to see whales in Iceland is from April through September. The best place to see whales in Iceland is up North, with Husavik often called the whale-watching capital of Iceland.

Here are the best whale-watching tours in Iceland:

Mid-March through November
Departs from Reykjavik or from Husavik (1h15 drive from Akureyri)

Whale watching tour in Iceland
Whale watching is best in Husavik
 
 

7. Puffin tours

No summer trip to Iceland would be complete without seeing the puffins. There are some land-based trips, but if you are looking to do tours, the best use of your time is to combine puffin tours with whale watching. Here are the best options:

May till Mid August
Departs from Reykjavik

April/May till August/October
Departs from Husavik (1h15 driving from Akureyri)

Iceland tours to see puffins
Puffins can only be seen in summer in Iceland. The best season is from the end of May to mid August
 
 

8. Silfra snorkeling tours

Silfra is one of the top diving sites in the world, but even if you don’t dive, you can explore the bright blue and crystal clear waters with incredible visibility of up to 100 meters.

All seasons
Departs from Thingvellir NP or Reykjavik (optional at extra cost).

Best combination tours that include Silfra Snorkelling:

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik

Silfra snorkeling tours in Iceland
Silfra snorkeling
 
 

9. Icelandic horseback riding tours

Icelandic horses are rather small, but it would be a big insult to call them ponies. Riding an Icelandic horse is typically an Icelandic thing to do, especially if you do it in a beautiful location in the lava fields.

Most tours are meant for tourists with little or no experience in horse riding. It’s a family-friendly experience that anyone can join.

All seasons
Departs from Reykjavik or from Hafnarfjordur (20 min drive from Reykjavik)

Horseback riding tour in Iceland
Horseback riding tour in Iceland
 
 

10. Glacier hiking & Ice caves

Glacier hiking is another great year-round excursion that you shouldn’t miss in Iceland.

These are the best glacier hiking tours from Reykjavik:

These popular glacier hiking tours start directly at the glacier and are therefore a bit cheaper:

All seasons, unless specified otherwise
Departs from Reykjavik, Sólheimajökull Café (25 min drive from Vik) or Skaftafell NP.

LEARN MORE: Complete guide to glacier hiking in Iceland

In addition to glacier hiking, you can also visit ice caves. While most ice cave tours only run in winter (+- November to March), there is one tour that is also available in summer. Please keep in mind that ice caves are a natural phenomenon and so the conditions change all the time and you never really know in advance what exactly you get to see.

Here are the best ice cave tours in Iceland:

Departs from Skaftafell NP or from Vik, except Langjökull glacier or Katla ice cave which is also possible from Reykjavik.

Glacier hiking guides in Iceland
Glacier hiking – one of the best activities in Iceland that you can do in summer or in winter.
 
 

11. Lake Mývatn and Dettifoss Waterfall

One of the most beautiful and must-see places in the North of Iceland is the area around Lake Myvatn. You can visit it by car, or you can join a guided tour from Akureyri. There are also tours that combine Lake Myvatn with the Dettifoss waterfall.

All seasons
Departs from Akureyri (North Iceland)

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Myvatn

Lake Myvatn - most popular day tour in Northern Iceland
Lake Myvatn – most popular destination in Northern Iceland
 
 

12. Icelandic Highlands

If you visit Iceland in summer, don’t miss the chance to see the highlands of Iceland! It’s a whole other world and completely different than anything else you’ll see in Iceland. 

You do need a super-jeep to properly explore the highlands, so it’s ideal if you can visit with a guided tour. The most popular trips in the highlands include Thorsmork and Landmannalaugar.

Here are the best Icelandic highlands tours from Reykjavik:

Recently, I made a 4-day trip Icelandic highlands trip with a private driver and it’s by far the most special trip EVER.

If you don’t have the time or the budget for a longer trip, check this one-day trip from Reykjavik that covers some of the most amazing places in the highlands: The Secret Circle. It’s organized by the same private guide that I traveled with and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone looking for a very unique tour in Iceland!

Summer only
Departs from Reykjavik

Haifoss waterfall in Iceland's highlands
Haifoss waterfall in the highlands of Iceland
 
 

13. Even more amazing day trips and tours in Iceland

There are so many more great tours and day trips that you can do in Iceland. Here are a few of the most popular options:

All seasons, unless indicated otherwise
Departs from Reykjavik, unless indicated otherwise 

TIP: One of the newest tours in Iceland at the moment is hiking to the eruption site of the Fagradalsfjall or Merdalir volcanos. The eruption at Fagradasfjall started in March 2021 and was going on for several months. A year later, in 2022, the Merdalir volcano erupted just nearby. In 2023, Fagradasfjall woke up again for a few days. Even if these volcanos aren’t active anymore, the lava flows are still very impressive and worth seeing.

You can hike there on your own, or you can go on one of the many tours. They pick you up in Reykjavik and guide you on a hike to the volcano. These recent volcano eruption sites are really worth seeing if visiting Iceland at the moment.

Best things to do in Iceland - Fagradalsfjall volcano
Fagradalsfjall volcano eruption in 2021
 
 

So this is our hand-picked selection of the very best tours in Iceland. There are of course many more options, also tours that combine several places, or multi-day tours… You can find the complete selection of the best tours in Iceland on the GetYourGuide website. It’s our one-stop shop for booking all our tours when we travel.

TIP: If you are looking for something more off the beaten path, a really special place that you can visit in a day, consider the Westman Islands. It can be done as a day trip from Reykjavik, with a tour, or from the South Coast.

READ ALSO: Best Half-Day Tours from Reykjavik

More tips for your trip to Iceland:

Reykjavik travel guides:

For more information and destination guides for Iceland, please check our Iceland travel guide. We’ve been to Iceland multiple times and have lots of articles and practical tips for your trip. Take a look!

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

Most popular guided tours, day trips and excursions in Iceland in spring, summer and autumn
Best tours, excursions, and day trips in Iceland
 
 

Photo credits: personal collection, Shutterstock.com, Depositphotos.com, and also Pixabay.com.

You can also read this article in German: Beste Touren, Ausfüge, und Aktivitäten in Island.

Best guided tours and day trips in Iceland

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Brad

Tuesday 13th of August 2019

Hello Jurga, Extremely detailed, well-thought-out and useful information and suggestions!! Thank you so much for your time and effort. We (my wife and I) are trying to piece together the flights and campervan rental to visit this September roughly from the 10th to the 16/17th. Anyway, we are flying out to different locations and I would leave at 09:00h and she at 18:45h from KEF. I was wondering if you knew of any guided day tours leaving from (and returning to) KEF so my wife might make the most of those roughly 7-8 hours she would otherwise be sitting around the airport for. Alternatively we could look at paying a supplement for a second driver and she could drive herself somewhere for the day/lunch... but would rather not have to worry about any troubles with the vehicle or getting lost and missing the flight. A guided tour or bus tour with KEF as the starting/finishing point would be less stress. I'm looking online now but figured asking may be quicker than sifting through all the search results. Again many thanks for your wonderful website!! Saludos from Spain.

Jurga

Wednesday 14th of August 2019

Hi Brad, there isn't much starting/ending from Keflavik, but here are three options for you:

1. Reykjaness Peninsula stopover tour - this is the only one that I found that starts and ends at Keflavik airport. It starts at 10.30AM if I see well and lasts 6 hours, so it could work. It's also a very nice and less known area that most tourists just start to slowly discover now.

2. You could drop your wife off at the Blue Lagoon (book tickets in advance!). There she can also have lunch, spa treatments, etc. if she wants to, and then take a bus to the airport (also book in advance) later that afternoon.

3. You leave her in Reykjavik where she can spend the day in town and maybe visit Perlan (we really enjoyed it) and then take a bus to Keflavik from BSI terminal (where she could also leave her luggage - there are lockers).

Hope this helps!

Beth

Thursday 1st of August 2019

All of your articles have been very helpful in planning my trip, thank you! You recommend the "Get your Guide" agency for several of your tours. Do they typically list available times only one month in advance? On some of the tours there seem to be no options from august through next year. Just trying to make sure I don't miss the boat (literally)!

Jurga

Wednesday 7th of August 2019

Hi Beth, normally they list tours for the upcoming season (just as the companies that operate those tours), so it's very likely that some tours don't run in winter and are therefore not listed (e.g. whale watching tours in the North of Iceland stop after the summer, etc). What tour and for which travel dates are you looking for?

Diana Greer

Sunday 13th of May 2018

Can you book tours you suggested after you arrive or is it best to book in advance?

Jurga

Sunday 13th of May 2018

Yes, of course you can book them last minute, but depending on the season some tours may get fully booked. If you know already what you want to do and on which day, I'd say book upfront. If for whatever reason you decide you don't want to do a tour, you can normally cancel for free up to 24hrs in advance. Another big advantage of booking in advance online vs e.g. at a hotel is that you can read the customer reviews, compare prices and see what exactly is or isn't included, etc. And not have to waste your time on that while on holiday.

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