How Many Day Trips Can You Realistically Fit Into an Iceland Trip?

Putting together a successful travel itinerary isn’t as straightforward as you might think. You can be forgiven for thinking that you simply check what’s available for your trip dates, make a list of those tours and activities that interest you and make sure they don’t overlap as you book them up. But if you want to achieve a holiday where you can immerse yourself in what’s going on around you without the need to keep one eye on your watch, then you need to go about planning your Iceland day trips a little differently.

Here at Icelandia, we recommend paring back your itinerary. Iceland without a car is totally doable, especially if you base yourself in the capital and book day trips from Reykjavik. Aim to fit two or three major Iceland day trips into a four- or five-day stay; if you’re planning to stay in Reykjavik for a week then four or five is a realistic target. Balance longer sightseeing days with shorter activities closer to the city, time spent in the capital’s museums and visitor attractions or soaks in some of Iceland’s famous geothermal lagoons.

You can ditch your tick list in favour of a more meaningful experience

Travel shouldn’t be a tick box exercise. Some travellers convince themselves that as this might be the only time they come to Iceland, they’ll attempt to see and do everything – after all, what if they never make it back? Yet that’s a foolish argument, particularly in a place like Iceland. Take its waterfalls, for instance: there are an estimated 10,000 of them littered across the country. Do you really think visiting only a handful would be such a bad thing when there’s no way you could ever see them all?

Focus on experiential travel instead, focusing on activities as well as sightseeing. Instead of stepping onto a beach simply to snap a few photos, sign up for a mud-splattered ATV ride across a broad swath of black sand, saddle up and learn how to tölt as the waves crash onto the shore beside you or book a wildlife-centric tour where the focus is on the birds that nest in cliffside burrows. You’ll remember the fun you had long after you return home.

It allows for spontaneity

Some of the best travel moments you’ll have will be forged from connections for which you never planned. An unexpected conversation with a local you meet in a bar or restaurant might give rise to a recommendation that’s too good to pass up. A tip from a hotel concierge is only helpful if you have the time to run with it. And don’t underestimate your own feelings – if you’ve built some wiggle room into your itinerary then you can hang around (or not) as you please.

In addition, there’s also the weather to contend with. Iceland’s mid-Atlantic position means that stormy, unsettled conditions are commonplace; in fact, some would say the wild and windy weather is part of the country’s unique appeal. But such unpredictability can play havoc with rigid plans – perhaps your eagerly anticipated whale watching trip can’t go ahead until the sea calms down or realising a dream to watch the ethereal dance of the Northern Lights requires some patience as a postponement bumps your tour to a cloud-free evening.

It’s a useful reminder of the importance of downtime

Holidays should provide an opportunity to recharge your batteries, not return to work burned out and in need of another break. If you keep rushing from one activity to the next, it’s tiring – both mentally and physically. That fatigue has an impact on moods and relationships; if you’re so busy that irritability is a constant feeling, then you won’t get the same level of enjoyment from what you’re doing.

While there’s nothing wrong with booking tours back-to-back, the most satisfying trips also build in time for mulling over what you’ve seen and done. There’s a lot to be said for giving yourself time to process what you’ve seen. Cram too much in and lines start to blur. Which was that waterfall you stepped behind? Where did you see those curiously shaped rocks? Leaving time to relive the highlights of your Iceland guided tours allows you to cement those memories.

Before we take a look at how to put theory into practice, let’s remember that this isn’t a one size fits all approach. Before making your own plans, spend a bit of time thinking about your own personal travel style. Factor in your usual levels of fitness and stamina; this may be especially important if you have young children or elderly travellers in your group as they are likely to need additional rest breaks.

As well, consider your typical daily routine at home – are you early birds or night owls? If you’ll need an alarm call to make that full day tour or intend to stay up far later than your usual bedtime to join an aurora hunt, then follow such activities with a day devoted to more leisurely pursuits, such as a convivial brunch or a lazy morning spent pampering yourself in an upscale geothermal spa.

Regardless, it’s always a good idea to leave much of your first day free in case of inbound flight delays. There’s plenty to do in Reykjavik that can be arranged last minute, so you won’t be kicking your heels. Keeping your schedule flexible will ease any anxiety you might otherwise have if the plane’s late or you queue for longer than expected at airport immigration.

However, there’s a notable exception to the flexible first day rule: if you are travelling between the end of August and the beginning of April with the goal of watching the Northern Lights, then schedule your tour for the first evening you are in Iceland. To be able to see the aurora, several factors have to align – clear skies and a strong solar forecast being the most important. Cancellations often happen, but your booking will be shunted forward until you get lucky – so arranging such a tour for your last night gives you one shot only.

Travellers often ask how many days in Iceland they’ll need. That’s a bit of an open-ended question, but a few days is enough to capture a flavour of the country, particularly if there’s a good chance you’ll return some day. Here’s how such a three day Iceland itinerary without a car might look.

On arrival day, catch the Flybus into Reykjavik and plan to spend the rest of the day exploring the Icelandic capital. Begin at Perlan, where the exhibits explain how the country’s glaciers and volcanoes have shaped a nation; there’s also a fantastic view of the city from its rooftop observation deck. If there’s time, you might also consider a uniquely Icelandic attraction such as Lava Show or Flyover Iceland.

Grab some Icelandic food at one of Reykjavik’s characterful food halls – your first chance to try plokkfiskur, lamb soup or a tasty plate of fish and chips. If conditions are right, go chase the aurora on a Northern Lights tour; in summer, capitalise on the Midnight Sun to enjoy an evening activity outdoors.

Devote your second day in Iceland to a full-day tour, keeping your evening flexible in case your aurora hunt had to be postponed. Shortlist from three popular routes: the Golden Circle, the South Coast (a short version as far as Vik or a longer day tour all the way to Jökulsárlón and back) and a Snæfellsnes day trip. They all have the wow factor.

Round out your stay with a soak at one of Iceland’s incredible geothermal lagoons. Many of the country’s top pools are located within easy reach of the capital so it’s a case of choosing an aesthetic that suits your style. For instance, the rustic chic vibe of Hvammsvik Hot Springs, positioned at the water’s edge at Hvalfjörður, is an enticing proposition. Sophisticated Sky Lagoon now has competition – notably from newcomers Laugarás Lagoon and Reykjaböð Hot Springs on the Golden Circle, but its city centre location takes a lot of beating. Blue Lagoon is a classic, and as you’ll find it en route to the airport, it makes a lot of sense for travellers short on time.

With two extra days at your disposal, you can add another Iceland day trip without your itinerary feeling rushed. Adapting the three day break might look like this.

Keep your arrival plans the same, but do a Golden Circle day trip the following morning. Tour Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss waterfall, three of Iceland’s most iconic locations. As the Golden Circle Direct tour lasts around 6.5 hours, it’s common to add on an activity. For example, pair it with a dining experience in a tomato greenhouse at Friðheimar, a tour through the Icelandic countryside on horseback or a snowmobile ride over Langjökull (the country’s second largest glacier).

This gets you out into the countryside early on – unsurprisingly, many visitors are impatient to see the extraordinary landscapes that Iceland is known for. Dial the pace down a notch on day three with a leisurely day in the city, taking a summer boat trip to spot puffins or relishing the warmth of a geothermal lagoon during the chilly Icelandic winter months. You might choose to schedule a half day tour, such as a subterranean adventure at Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel or snorkelling through the crystal clear water of Silfra Fissure.

Our South Coast Wonders tour works well for day four. A South Coast day trip enables you to tick off a couple of Iceland’s most remarkable waterfalls – Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss – as well as black sand beaches, like Reynisfjara near Vik. Opting for a longer day out brings within reach the icebergs of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and beautiful Fellsfjara (you might know it as Diamond Beach). Alternatively, tackle Iceland in miniature with an excursion to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, known for its striking beaches, volcanic backdrop and another must-see waterfall in Iceland, Kirkjufellsfoss.

Next, follow a similar pattern to day two and centre your schedule on blowing off some steam. Outdoorsy types will be keen to sign up for an adrenaline-fuelled off road adventure in Hengill. This geothermally active area presents Icelandic nature at its most raw, yet it’s still only a short distance from Reykjavik. Sólheimajökull is also an adventure playground, the dramatic setting for glacier hiking and lagoon kayaking yet just a few hours’ drive east of the capital. Maybe you’ll move that geothermal lagoon visit to this afternoon so that you can spend your last morning shopping or learning about anything from pilot whales to penises in one of downtown Reykjavik’s diverse array of museums.

With seven days to fill, four or five full day tours make sense and there are countless possibilities to populate your Iceland day trip itinerary. If you’re keen to relax and enjoy Iceland slowly, limit yourself to tours of the Golden Circle, South Coast and Snæfellsnes Peninsula on alternate days and schedule downtime in between. Alternatively, a faster paced itinerary might incorporate a full day tour using the Highland Bus to reach Landmannalaugar or Þórsmörk in summer. Coming in spring or autumn? Pick from the Reykjanes peninsula or West Iceland sightseeing tours to tap into that off-the-beaten-track vibe.

When it comes to slotting full and half day tours into a Reykjavik based Iceland itinerary sometimes less is more. We recommend you try to achieve some sort of balance between long day trips and shorter, action-packed activities. For more Iceland itinerary ideas check out our handy guide or browse Icelandia’s extensive range of Iceland guided tours from Reykjavik and see what gets you excited.