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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Black Sand Beach Horse Riding Tour from Vik: 1-hour rideYou ride for an hour across black sand beaches on calm Icelandic horses, mostly at walking speed, with a helmet included and the option to try tölt if you're comfortable. Arrive 15 minutes early, expect to be weighed for the horses' welfare, and plan for weather that changes — which is part of what makes the landscape so striking. Public transport reaches the stable.Is it for me?Right for riders of any level who want an easy, grounded hour on horseback without the pressure of speed or skill — the walking pace and steady horses are what make it accessible, and the black sand landscape is what makes it worth the trip. Plan for weather that shifts, and know you'll be weighed before riding so the horses stay healthy.
Akureyri: Godafoss & Lake Myvatn with Cruise PickupYou drive from Akureyri Port to Godafoss waterfall, then spend the afternoon at Lake Myvatn visiting Dimmuborgir lava formations and Hverir mud pools with steam vents. You can either soak at Myvatn Nature Baths (book entry separately) or visit Grjotagja cave and rift. A local guide handles transport and timing, returning you to the port before your ship departs.Is it for me?Book this if you're on a cruise ship docking at Akureyri and want to see the region's main natural sites without arranging your own transport or worrying about getting back to the port on time — the guide knows the schedule and the route, which is what makes a full Lake Myvatn day possible in a port stop.
Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Strokkur & Fridheimar Horses Small GroupYou get picked up from your Reykjavik hotel and spend the day at four Golden Circle stops: Thingvellir National Park (where continental plates meet), Kerið crater, Gullfoss waterfall, and Strokkur geyser, which erupts every 7–10 minutes. You also visit Fridheimar Farm to see Icelandic horses, watch a horse show, and taste fresh greenhouse tomatoes. A professional local guide handles the route and timing, and you're back in Reykjavik by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Golden Circle's main sites without arranging your own transport or timing — the small-group format and local guide mean you see more than the standard route, and hotel pickup takes the logistics off your plate.
Húsavík: Whale Watching & Puffin Island RIB Boat TourYou board a small RIB boat in Húsavík and spend two hours searching Skjálfandi Bay for whales, dolphins and porpoises with an expert guide. The boat's speed and small group size — maximum 12 passengers — mean you cover more water and have unobstructed views. Warm gear, life jacket and raincoat are provided. Depending on the season, you'll also see puffins on Lundey Island and fossil cliffs on the Tjörnes peninsula. The tour departs from Húsavík harbor and returns the same way.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually search for whales rather than hope they appear — the RIB boat's speed and small group size mean you cover more of the bay and have clear sightlines, which is what makes close encounters possible in two hours.
Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour & Pro Aurora PhotosYou depart Reykjavik in a heated minibus and hunt the aurora across dark-sky locations chosen by real-time forecast data. A professional photographer captures high-resolution images while your guide explains the science and mythology. You get hot chocolate, Viking photo props, and a warm car to retreat to. If no lights appear, you return free on another night.Is it for me?Book this if you want professional aurora photos without bringing your own camera gear, and you'd rather spend the waiting time entertained and warm than standing alone in the cold — the small group size and the active hunt across multiple locations are what make that possible.
Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise Reykjavik Faxaflói Bay Old HarborYou board a comfortable yacht in Reykjavik's Old Harbor and sail into Faxafloi Bay in search of whales, dolphins, and seasonal puffins. A knowledgeable guide shares facts about the marine life and Icelandic coastline while you stay warm under provided blankets and enjoy unobstructed views from the observation deck. If wildlife doesn't show, you get a free return ticket—no second-guessing whether you should have gone.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Icelandic marine life without arranging transport or timing yourself—the yacht handles the navigation and the guides know where to look, which is what makes a 2-hour morning into something you'll remember.
Reykjavik: 4x4 Northern Lights Tour with Cocoa & PastriesYou’ll ride out of Reykjavik in a small group 4x4 with a local guide watching for clear skies. Warm up with cocoa and pastries while waiting for the Northern Lights to appear — your guide will help you capture photos too. There’s laughter, stories, and those quiet moments under Iceland’s wild sky that stick with you long after.
Solheimajokull Glacier: Small-Group Hike with Gear & GuideYou’ll step onto Sólheimajökull Glacier with a small group and a certified guide who keeps things real (and safe). Feel the crunch of ancient ice under your boots, learn glacier secrets you won’t find online, and catch those wild blue-grey views that stick with you long after. All gear’s included—just bring your sense of adventure.
Iceland 6-Day Ring Road Tour from Reykjavik: Glaciers and geysersYou spend six days circling Iceland by minibus, visiting the Golden Circle, South Coast waterfalls, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and North Iceland's geothermal zones. You hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier with full safety gear, explore a blue ice cave on Vatnajökull, and join a whale watching tour from Hauganes. Five nights of accommodation with breakfast, transport, and a single guide for the entire tour are included, so you don't arrange logistics yourself—you just show up and travel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Iceland's major natural landmarks—waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, and the Ring Road—without renting a car, planning logistics, or switching guides every day. Six days is long enough to reach the north and east without feeling rushed, and the included glacier hike and ice cave tour are the kind of activities that require gear and instruction you'd have to arrange separately otherwise.
Skaftafell Glacier Hike: Small Group Evening Tour & 4x4 RideYou’ll step onto Falljökull glacier with a certified local guide in an extra small group from Skaftafell. Feel crampons crunch under your boots, hear stories from Icelanders who know this ice by heart, and catch those rare moments of real silence far from crowds. Includes all glacier gear and 4x4 ride straight to the edge.
Silfra Fissure Snorkeling from Reykjavík: Between Tectonic PlatesSilfra Fissure snorkeling from Reykjavík is a small-group activity in Þingvellir National Park where you drift through crystalline water between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, guided by a certified PADI Divemaster. Round-trip minivan pickup from Reykjavík is included; groups stay under 6 people per guide. You'll wear a specialized dry suit, thermal layers and gloves—the cold-water gear is provided—and the guide photographs you underwater. Minimum age is 12; participants must be able to swim and have moderate fitness.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving in Reykjavík with a free afternoon or morning and want to see one of the world's most unusual snorkel sites without renting a car or navigating to the park yourself. The small group size and included guide photography make it worth the full day.
Húsavík: Whale & Puffin RIB Speedboat SafariYou board a modern RIB speedboat in Húsavík and spend two hours searching Skjálfandi Bay with an expert guide. The boat covers a wide area to maximize whale sightings, you wear provided thermal overalls and rain gear, and outside puffin season (April–August) the focus stays on spotting large whales. Arrive 40 minutes early at the Gentle Giants Ticket Center.Is it for me?Book this if you want to hunt whales on a fast boat rather than sit on a larger vessel — the RIB's speed and range are what let the guide cover more of the bay and keep those odds high, and the family company's local knowledge is what makes the difference between a tour and an actual search.
Reykjavik Walking Tour: Street Art, Hallgrímskirkja & City LandmarksYou walk 3 kilometers through Reykjavik's Parliament House, Hallgrímskirkja church, street art alleys and Einar Jonsson's sculpture garden with a small group and English-speaking guide. The tour includes Icelandic tastings and takes two and a half to three hours, with some uphill sections and stairs. Book this if you want the city's main sights plus the hidden corners, without arranging your own route or timing.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want Reykjavik's main sights plus the street art and quieter corners, without mapping the route themselves or worrying about timing — the small group size and fixed itinerary handle both.
Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Tour: Guided ExplorationA guided tour of Raufarhólshellir, one of Iceland's longest lava tunnels, departing from Reykjavik with transport included. You receive a helmet, headlamp and walking stick, descend into the tunnel on built platforms and paths, and learn about the geological features that form only inside lava tubes. Tours run 2–3 times daily and take around 3 hours total.Is it for me?You have a half-day free in Reykjavik and want to see real Icelandic geology without renting a car or spending a full day traveling. The transport and guide are arranged, so you show up at pickup and the tunnel does the rest.
Grade 4 Rafting Iceland: Glacial Canyon WhitewaterGrade 4+ rafting on Iceland's East Glacial River (Austari Jökulsá) is an 18 km paddle through a deep basalt canyon in the highlands, guided by internationally certified professionals with safety kayakers alongside. The river runs year-round under the Hofsjökull glacier with no roads, crowds or phone signal. You need moderate fitness and the will to paddle hard, but no prior rafting experience; the operator provides a full safety briefing, premium drysuit, and all gear to stay warm in glacial water. Transport from Akureyri is available as an add-on option at checkout.Is it for me?You're fit enough for sustained paddling and ready for genuine Grade 4+ whitewater—this is the river that delivers the adrenaline, not a beginner's introduction. If you want one serious adventure activity in Iceland, this is the one that earns the reputation.
Horseback Riding in Lava Fields from Reykjavik: Icelandic HorsesHorseback riding in lava fields near Reykjavik takes you through volcanic terrain on Icelandic horses matched to your skill level, with a professional English-speaking guide, pickup from your hotel or bus terminal, and rain clothing and helmet provided. The tour covers 5–7 km depending on the group's experience, with two route options: a smooth riding path along the red hills or a more challenging route by Rauðarvatn, where Iceland's first forestry efforts began in the early 20th century. Total time is 2.5 hours, with 1.5–2 hours spent riding.Is it for me?Your guides match you with the right horse and handle all logistics, so you just show up and ride through lava fields at a pace that works for your experience.
Snæfellsnes & Kirkjufell: Small Group Day Trip from ReykjavíkYou’ll ride out from Reykjavík into wild landscapes — golden-sand beaches with seals at Ytri Tunga, lonely Búðakirkja against glacier views, basalt cliffs at Arnarstapi, and finally Kirkjufell with its iconic waterfall. Expect real weather, stories from your guide, and moments where Iceland feels bigger than you expected.
Reykjavik: Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & TastingYou tour Iceland's only whisky distillery, walk the production area where Flóki is handcrafted from local barley, and taste three spirits — whisky, gin, and brennivín — while a team member explains the sheep dung smoking and pot distillation methods. You leave with product history and the story of how Icelandic grain farming came back. Small groups, no crowds, questions welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how Icelandic whisky is actually made — the barley story, the smoking process, the whole thing — without spending hours in a large group or feeling rushed through the tasting.
Kayaking Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon Icebergs No ExperienceKayak on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon in Iceland with a professional guide, paddling stable sit-on-top kayaks among icebergs and blue ice formations. The tour lasts about two and a half hours, includes all gear and instruction in basic paddling technique, and suits any fitness level. Meet at the basecamp parking lot; bring warm clothing and extra socks, and arrive 30 minutes early. Children are welcome from age 14, with one child per adult.Is it for me?The basecamp parking lot is where you start, so you don't need a car or a ride beyond getting to that point—if you're staying elsewhere in South Iceland or renting without a vehicle, confirm the parking location when you book. The guide handles everything on the water, which means you show up, get fitted, and paddle; nothing else to arrange or time around.
Iceland South Coast: Private Glacier View & Lava Show Day TripYou’ll feel Iceland’s South Coast with every sense: glacier air on your skin, volcanic sand underfoot, real molten lava glowing just meters away. With a local guide handling every detail and pickup from Reykjavik included, you’ll get close to waterfalls and taste hot soup in Vík before heading home with your head full of wild landscapes.
