Reykjavik Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Reykjavík tours, the Golden Circle of geysers and waterfalls, the Blue Lagoon’s geothermal waters, the dramatic South Coast, whale watching and northern lights, plus glaciers and ice caves. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Reykjavík and Iceland itinerary.
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Explore Reykjavik by interest
Whatever brings you to Reykjavik — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Golden Circle
Geysers and waterfalls.
ExploreBlue Lagoon
The famous geothermal spa.
ExploreSouth Coast
Waterfalls and black beaches.
ExploreNorthern Lights
The magical winter aurora.
ExploreWhale watching
Whales and puffins in the bay.
ExploreGlaciers & ice caves
Hikes, caves and snowmobiles.
ExploreCity & food
The northernmost capital.
ExploreSnæfellsnes
Iceland “in miniature”.
ExploreTop attractions in Reykjavik
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Gullfoss & Geysir
The Golden Circle icons.
Blue Lagoon
The geothermal spa.
Reynisfjara
The black-sand beach.
Northern Lights
The winter aurora.
Faxaflói Bay
Whales and puffins.
Glaciers & ice caves
Frozen adventures.
Hallgrímskirkja
The landmark church.
Þingvellir
Where the plates meet.
Reykjavík in 1 day
- 1Golden Circle
- 2Geysir & Gullfoss
- 3Þingvellir rift
- 4Blue Lagoon soak
Reykjavík in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Golden Circle
- 2Day 2: South Coast
- 3Waterfalls & black beach
- 4Northern lights hunt
Reykjavík in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Golden Circle
- 2Day 2: South Coast
- 3Day 3: Glacier or whales
- 4Iceland highlights
Reykjavík with kids
- 1Geysir eruptions
- 2Whale & puffin cruise
- 3Geothermal pools
- 4Black-sand beach
Golden Circle from Reykjavík
- 1Þingvellir rift valley walk
- 2Strokkur eruption at Geysir
- 3Gullfoss waterfall viewpoints
- 4Secret Lagoon or Kerið crater
Northern lights from Reykjavík
- 1Check the aurora & cloud forecast
- 2Minibus or superjeep hunt
- 3Aurora cruise from the Old Harbour
- 4Cloudy-night backup: Perlan & Sky Lagoon
Full day awayGolden Circle
Geysers and waterfalls.
Full day awaySouth Coast
Waterfalls and black beaches.
45 min awayBlue Lagoon
The geothermal spa.
Full day awayGlacier lagoon
Icebergs and Diamond Beach.
Full day awaySnæfellsnes
Iceland “in miniature”.
Evening awayNorthern Lights
The winter aurora hunt.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Reykjavik visitor asks before booking.
The big choice
Summer (Jun–Aug) brings near-endless daylight and the easiest touring; winter (Sep–Mar) brings the northern lights and ice caves — pick by what you most want to see.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
The midnight sun, mild weather and full access make summer ideal for the Golden Circle, South Coast, whales and the highlands — but no northern lights.
Shoulder (May, Sep)
Fewer crowds, decent weather, and from September a chance of the northern lights — a great balance for touring.
Northern lights season
Roughly late September to early April offers dark skies for the aurora, best on clear, cold nights.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Short days but magical: northern lights, blue ice caves and snowy landscapes, with the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon still accessible.
Pack for all weather
Iceland’s weather is famously changeable in any season — bring waterproofs, warm layers and sturdy shoes.
One day
Enough for the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon.
Two days
Add the dramatic South Coast.
Three days
The sweet spot: Golden Circle, South Coast, and a glacier or whales.
Four to five days
Add Snæfellsnes, the glacier lagoon and more adventures.
A week or more
Use Reykjavík as a base or tour the Ring Road around Iceland.
Travelling with kids
Mix the geysers, a whale cruise and warm pools at a gentle pace.
On foot
Reykjavík’s compact centre — Hallgrímskirkja, downtown and the harbour — is easily explored on foot.
Day tours
Coach and minibus tours from Reykjavík are the easiest way to reach the Golden Circle, South Coast and beyond.
Self-drive
Renting a car gives freedom for the Golden Circle and South Coast; a 4x4 is needed for the highlands and winter conditions.
Boats
Whale-watching and puffin cruises depart Reykjavík’s old harbour.
Geothermal pools
Reykjavík’s geothermal swimming pools are a beloved local way to relax and socialise.
From the airport
Keflavík Airport is about 45 minutes from Reykjavík by Flybus or transfer, often combined with the Blue Lagoon.
Book early
Popular Golden Circle, South Coast, glacier and northern-lights tours and the Blue Lagoon sell out — book well ahead.
Iceland is pricey
Iceland uses the króna (not the euro) and is expensive; cards are accepted everywhere, often contactless and card-only.
Pre-book the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon needs timed, pre-booked entry and sells out — reserve early, ideally on arrival or departure day.
Dress for the weather
Pack waterproof and warm layers year-round; tours often provide overalls for boats and glaciers.
Try the hot dog & skyr
Sample the famous Icelandic hot dog, creamy skyr and lamb soup; tap water is pure and free, so skip bottled water.
Use a free aurora re-try
Choose northern-lights tours that offer a free second attempt if the aurora doesn’t appear.
Golden Circle
Popular Golden Circle tours fill up — book ahead.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon needs timed pre-booking and sells out — reserve early.
South Coast
South Coast and glacier-lagoon tours are busy — pre-book.
Northern lights
Winter aurora tours fill up on clear nights — book ahead.
Ice caves & glaciers
Seasonal ice-cave and glacier tours have limited places — reserve early.
Whale watching
Summer whale and puffin cruises are busy — book ahead.
Golden Circle
Around €60–120 for a Golden Circle day tour.
Blue Lagoon
About €60–90 for Blue Lagoon admission, more with transfers.
South Coast
Roughly €80–140 for a South Coast day tour.
Northern lights
Around €50–90 for a northern-lights tour.
Glacier & ice cave
About €120–200 for a glacier hike or ice-cave tour.
How to save
Choose combined tours, drink the free tap water, and visit cheap geothermal city pools instead of only the Blue Lagoon.
Reykjavik through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fewer crowds and lengthening days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Late aurora chances and easier touring.
- Best for
- Midnight sun, whales and full access.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season; book tours and cars ahead.
- Best for
- Aurora returns with mild touring weather.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A great balance of lights and access.
- Best for
- Northern lights and blue ice caves.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Short days; dress warm and allow flexibility.