Things to do in Iceland
Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik11 optionsBlue Lagoon Tours17 optionsGlacier Walks11 optionsDay Trips from Reykjavik18 optionsHorse Riding Reykjavik15 optionsFood Tour Reykjavik21 optionsIce Cave Tour from Reykjavik18 optionsReykjavik Airport Transfer14 optionsSnowmobile Reykjavik11 optionsAkureyri Northern Lights Tour5 optionsReykjavik Walking Tour44 optionsSecret Lagoon Tours11 options
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Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike: Geologist-Led Lava Field WalkYou hike across lava fields formed in 2021 with a professional geologist explaining the rock beneath your feet. The round trip takes 3 to 4 hours total, including 1–1.5 hours each way to the crater viewpoint. Crampons, headlamps, transport from Reykjavik, and parking are all included. You return via a scenic drive through the Reykjanes Peninsula's geothermal and volcanic landmarks.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how a volcano works, not just see one from a distance — the geologist's explanation of the rock beneath your feet is what makes the fresh lava fields make sense. Moderate to good fitness is required; it's not a casual stroll.
Vatnajokull Glacier Hike: Small Group Tour & Crampon WalkYou’ll set out from Skaftafell for a half-day hike on Vatnajokull glacier with a certified local guide in a small group—learning to use crampons and an ice axe as you walk past crevasses, moulins, and shifting blue ice. Expect quiet moments, real conversation, and plenty of chances to stop for photos or just take it all in.
Reykjavík Food Tour: Icelandic Tastings & Local BrewsA four-hour food and drink tour of Reykjavík led by a local guide, stopping at carefully chosen eateries and breweries to taste traditional Icelandic cuisine, craft beers and cocktails. You'll walk past historic landmarks including the rainbow street and parliament, and the guide shares local history and insider tips throughout. Minimum age 18; water, coffee or tea, and all fees are included.Is it for me?Book this for your first morning or afternoon in Reykjavík if you want to eat like a local and understand the city through its food and beer scene without planning which restaurants to hit—the guide handles the route, the tastings are already arranged, and you move through the highlights while actually tasting them instead of just walking past.
Reykjavik: ATV Quad Tour with Mountain Views & Small GroupsYou get picked up from your Reykjavik hotel (or a nearby bus stop if downtown), driven to the basecamp, suited up in protective gear, and ride an ATV quad across lava fields and up to Hafrafell mountain for views of Reykjavik and the surrounding towns. The whole outing is about 2.5 hours. Your guide is local and the group stays under eight people, so it doesn't feel crowded. Just know that downtown pickups have restrictions, so you may start at a designated bus stop instead of your hotel door.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to ride an ATV across Icelandic terrain without arranging your own transport or gear—pickup is included and everything you need is provided. Plan for a full-day outing with the ride itself lasting about 2.5 hours, which is what lets you see the lava fields and mountain views without rushing.
Golden Circle half day tour: 6.5 hours, tectonic plates & geysersYou walk between tectonic plates at Thingvellir, watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes at the geothermal area, and stand in front of Gullfoss waterfall—all in 6.5 hours with a certified guide, small-group transport, and guaranteed return to your cruise ship. Pickup and drop-off at Reykjavik port are included.Is it for me?Right for cruise passengers with a few hours ashore who want to see Iceland's three most famous natural sites without arranging their own transport or timing. The 6.5-hour window is what makes all three stops possible and gets you back to the ship on schedule.
3-Day South Coast & Golden Circle Tour: Glacier hike and ice caveA 3-day tour of Iceland's South Coast and Golden Circle that includes a glacier hike on Vatnajökull, a guided visit to Katla ice cave, and a boat ride among icebergs at Jökulsárlón. Pickup from Reykjavik, two nights in 3-star hotels, English-speaking guide, and all glacier safety equipment are included. Minimum age is 13.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to walk on a glacier and explore an ice cave in one trip—most three-day South Coast tours offer one or the other, not both. The fixed itinerary and included guide mean you don't arrange the glacier logistics or the ice cave access yourself; the minibus picks you up and the timing holds the whole route together across three days.
Snowmobile tour on Vatnajökull: Ride Europe's biggest glacierA snowmobile tour on Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland puts you behind the handlebars to ride across Europe's biggest ice field, with an English-speaking guide, all protective gear, and transport up to 1,000 meters where the view opens onto Iceland's highest peaks. A valid driver's license is required, and participants on a shared snowmobile must weigh 180kg combined or less; solo riders book separately at additional cost.Is it for me?The snowmobile does the riding, so you don't need hiking fitness or endurance—you sit and steer. Book this if you want to cover the glacier's scale and secret trails in three hours without walking, and if you have a valid driver's license and can meet the weight requirements for your snowmobile.
Reykjavik: Golden Circle, South Coast & Blue Ice Cave 3-Day TourYou get picked up from your Reykjavik hotel and spend three days moving through Iceland's most famous natural sites: the Golden Circle on day one, the South Coast waterfalls and black sand beaches on day two, and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon with a blue ice cave expedition on day three. The minibus includes Wi-Fi, your guide speaks English and knows the hidden stops, and breakfast is built in both mornings. You sleep two nights on the South Coast in private rooms with bathrooms, and all safety gear for the ice cave is provided. Plan for full days of driving and walking — that's what makes fitting all four regions into 72 hours possible.Is it for me?Right for travelers with three days in Reykjavik who want the Golden Circle, South Coast, and a glacier ice cave without arranging transport, accommodation, or guide separately — the fixed itinerary and included pickup mean you show up at your hotel and the rest is planned. Expect full days of driving and walking, which is what makes fitting four regions into 72 hours possible.
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Local DriverYou’ll feel instantly at ease with a private transfer from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik or back. Your local driver greets you inside arrivals, tracks your flight for any delays, helps with luggage, and brings you straight to your hotel door — no taxi lines or shuttle crowds. That first moment in Iceland becomes less about logistics and more about settling in.
Vatnshellir Lava Cave Tour: 45-min Guided Volcano WalkVatnshellir Lava Cave is a 45-minute guided tour through an underground cave system on the slopes of a volcano that erupted 8,000 years ago. You explore different lava formations—stalactites, blisters and stalagmites—while learning about Iceland's geology and lava tubes. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour; helmet and flashlight are provided, and children from age 5 can join.Is it for me?Book this tour for a morning or afternoon on Snæfellsnes when you want to step inside a real volcano and see how lava shaped the underground landscape—the guide and all the gear are waiting, so you just show up and walk.
Reykjavik: Hvítá Glacier River Rafting & Golden CircleYou paddle a glacier-fed river below one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls, with all gear supplied and a guide managing the current. The rapids are steady but not extreme, so you're active without being overwhelmed. You'll be wet and cold and working, which is exactly the point. Book this if you want to be in the landscape, not just looking at it.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a half-day activity that puts you directly into Iceland's landscape rather than observing it from a distance, and you're comfortable with cold water and steady physical work.
Isafjordur Whale Watching: Humpback & Arctic FjordsYou board a sturdy vessel in Isafjordur and spend three to four hours scanning the Westfjords for humpback whales, minke whales, and occasionally orca. The boat is IceWhale certified, has onboard restrooms, and the captain is trained in marine wildlife tracking. Sightings are frequent enough that the operator publishes their success rate. You return to harbor with either a confirmed sighting or the kind of story that comes from trying.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see humpback whales without arranging your own boat or guide — the operator handles the tracking and timing, and the IceWhale certification means the encounter respects both the animals and your safety.
Landmannalaugar Hiking Tour: Haifoss Waterfall & Hot SpringsA 13-hour day tour of Iceland's Landmannalaugar highland region combines hiking, geothermal bathing and waterfall sightseeing in one route. You hike an optional two-hour trail through lava fields and multi-colored rhyolite hills, visit Haifoss and Granni waterfalls (the only day tour featuring both), see Hnausapollur volcanic crater lake formed 1200 years ago, and finish by soaking in natural hot springs before returning. The guide speaks English, pickup is included, and children from age 6 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see Haifoss and Granni waterfalls, hike Landmannalaugar, and soak in hot springs all in one day without arranging transport or a guide yourself—the optional hike means you control how much walking you do.
Reykjavik: Katla Ice Cave & South Coast Day Trip with Super-JeepYou’ll travel from Reykjavik along Iceland’s wild south coast with a local guide—walk behind Seljalandsfoss, hear Skógafoss thunder, taste salt at Reynisfjara Beach, then ride a super-jeep into Katla Ice Cave with all safety gear included. It’s cold, raw, sometimes muddy—and honestly unforgettable in ways you don’t expect.
Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon with Geysir & GullfossYou walk through a UNESCO rift valley where tectonic plates meet, watch a geyser erupt every few minutes, stand at the edge of Gullfoss waterfall, and finish the day soaking in geothermal water. The 9.5-hour tour includes an English-speaking guide, transport with Wi-Fi, Secret Lagoon entry, and an audio guide in multiple languages—so you move through four major sites without arranging logistics yourself.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want the Golden Circle's main sights plus a geothermal soak without arranging separate transport or pool bookings. The 9.5-hour pace means you move steadily through four major stops, which is what fits them all into one day and leaves time to actually rest in the water.
Reykjavik Whale Watching RIB Boat Tour: 2-Hour Small GroupYou arrive at the Old Harbour, get suited up in warm overalls and safety gear, then board a custom RIB boat with a small group and an expert guide. Two hours out to the whale feeding grounds in Faxaflói Bay, with a summer stop at puffin island Akurey, then back along the Reykjavik coast. Hotel pickup and drop-off are optional. If no whales appear, you get a free return ticket.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want a small-group whale watching experience without the crowds, and who don't mind that sightings aren't guaranteed—the free return ticket covers that risk. The two-hour format and optional hotel pickup make it easy to fit into a Reykjavik day without long logistics.
Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport Transfer: 45 minutes, WiFi includedYou board at Reykjavik's BSI Terminal and ride 45 minutes to Keflavik International Airport with WiFi, USB charging, and air conditioning included. The bus drops you at the terminal doors, so you walk straight to check-in without transferring again. Book your departure time to match your flight schedule, arrive 15 minutes early, and you're done with the logistics.Is it for me?Book this if you're flying out of Reykjavik and want to skip the rental car return or the negotiation with a taxi driver — the fixed price and scheduled departure mean you know exactly when you're leaving and what it costs.
Sólheimajökull Ice Climbing and Glacier Walk: Learn to ClimbSólheimajökull ice climbing and glacier walk in Southern Iceland combines a guided hike across the glacier with instruction in ice climbing basics and a climb up the vertical crevasse walls. Your guide teaches you about glaciers while you move, provides all safety equipment and climbing gear, and keeps the group to six people maximum. The tour takes about four hours and requires moderate fitness; participants must be at least 12 years old.Is it for me?You're climbing the ice yourself with a guide managing the rope and teaching you as you go—not watching a demonstration or being led on a walk. This suits anyone who wants to learn ice climbing by doing it, has moderate fitness and doesn't mind cold and real physical work. If you want to experience a glacier without climbing vertical walls, look for a glacier walk without the climbing component instead.
Hvammsvík Hot Springs Reykjavik: Geothermal Pools & Ocean DipYou gain entry to eight naturally heated geothermal pools with views of the fjord and surrounding mountains, plus access to the Atlantic Ocean for a cold dip. The Comfort admission option includes a rental towel, wading shoes, and one drink at the swim-up bar. An on-site bistro serves seafood soup and other meals (no reservations). Free parking and a steam room are included. Plan 2–3 hours for a full visit.Is it for me?Right for anyone wanting to soak in geothermal pools without arranging transport, entry, or timing — the site handles the logistics so you just show up and bathe. The mix of hot pools and cold ocean access works year-round, and the on-site bistro means you can stay as long as you want without leaving to eat.
Reykjavik: Silfra Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates & PhotosYou're picked up from Reykjavik, driven 45 minutes to Thingvellir National Park, and suited into a wetsuit for 30–40 minutes snorkeling in Silfra's glacial fissure between two tectonic plates. Your guide photographs the experience (40–100 images, free download), and you get hot chocolate after. Groups stay at six people per guide, which keeps the moment personal and unhurried.Is it for me?Book this if you want to snorkel in one of the world's clearest waters without arranging your own transport, equipment, or timing — the small group size and included guide mean you're not managing logistics while you're floating between two continents.
