The best day trips from reykjavik
Kari Bjorn Photography | Iceland Elopement photographer
LOOKING FOR TOURS FROM REYKJAVIK? CHECK OUT THE BEST SITES FOR HALF AND FULL-DAY TRIPS!
Reykjavik is my hometown! I grew up on the west side of the city, also known as Vesturbærinn (where we support KR Football Club!) Along with the downtown area, it’s the oldest part of town and definitely within walking distance from all the downtown attractions.
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland — it is actually the only city in Iceland. With about 70% the country’s population, it has a plethora of cultural attractions and is a good starting point for exploring the countryside. Day trips from the city will show you the beautiful natural scenery, such as geysers and waterfalls along the Golden Circle route, as well as the black sand beaches, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon along the south coast. Read on to learn more about what are the best day trips from Reykjavik.
My name is Kári (pronounced cow-rih or kah-rih but I am not super picky about it — anything but Carrie, lol)
I am an Icelandic wedding and elopement photographer. In addition to the hundreds of weddings I’ve shot, I’ve also been lucky enough to have worked with magazines and brands such as Vanity Fair, InStyle, and Walmart. I am currently based in the United States but available for weddings and other shoots in Iceland and the rest of Europe.
MY FAVORITE DAY TRIPS FROM REYKJAVIK
Every time I go home for a shoot or to spend time with friends and family I make sure to reconnect with the countryside and visit the sites I spent most of my summers exploring. Here are my 4 favorites!
The Golden Circle
Gullfoss in winter
The Golden Circle is the original day trip in my mind. My dad’s union owned a cabin near Gullfoss waterfall and we spent every single summer hopping around the Golden Circle sites. The trip is comprised of three visits, but there’s more on they way too. The trip from Reykjavik starts at Thingvellir National Park, it sits where the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates separate. This is why earthquakes are frequent in Iceland, but 99% of them are mild and actually go unnoticed. Next up is the Geysir geothermal area, and the Geyser which all geysers are named after, Geysir, haha. Lastly is a visit to Gullfoss waterfall, arguably the most picturesque waterfall in Iceland. This trip is about 6-8 hours and you can do it in a rental car or book a seat with one of the many bus companies that operate year round.
Reykjanes peninsula
Kleifarvatn Lake
You will have already done a bit of this trip by the time you get to Reykjavik. Keflavik International Airport actually sits at the end of the peninsula. But the highway from the airport to Reykjavik is actually the most boring part of this drive, although the lunar-like landscape wows most folks. The trip from Reykjavik should start at Kleifarvatn, a beautiful lake, just a few minutes outside of the town of Hafnarfjordur. The contrasty lava landscapes are ideal for photos. Next up you should drive along the southern shores of the peninsula to Grindavik town but stop by Krisuvikurberg and Seltangar for incredible views of the unforgiving northern Atlantic. Check out Grindavik for lunch or head over to the Blue Lagoon for a swim. After that, drive another 15-20 minutes to the Bridge Between Two Continents, where the divide between the two aforementioned tectonic plates rises from the ocean. This is where you can decide to call it a day and head back or take the longer way back, going through the towns of Sandgerdi and Gardur. On the way back, make sure to take road 420, it’s way more scenic than the highway from the airport. This trip can be as short as 4 hours or a full day.
Vik and back
Views from Dyrholaey
Vik is kind of the hub for travel on the south shore of Iceland. It is about 2 hours from Reykjavik and super close to all the wonderful attractions on the shore. You can still day trip to Vik and back. The first stop takes you off and then on highway 1 for a quick hike down Raufarholshellir cave. Then take roads 38 and 34 to Selfoss town for a morning snack. After that, drive about an hour to Seljalandsfoss waterfall — prepare to get soaked as this is one of a few waterfalls in Iceland you can actually hike behind! Right after is Skogafoss, another gorgeous waterfall. As you get closer to Vik, make sure to check out the spectacular views from Dyrholaey and the black lava sand beach of Reynisfjara. Soon after, you’ll be in Vik for late lunch. Take some time to explore this town and then drive back to Reykjavik with a stop in Selfoss for a reenergizing dip in the local pool! This is definitely a full day, 12 hours for sure!
Snæfellsnes peninsula
Elopement by Kirkjufell Mountain and Waterfall
This is another full-day trip, get your start early and plan to be home just in time for bed. Your first start is the optional Hvalfjordur fjord, the drive around the fjord adds about an hour or two to your trip but it is beautiful. You can also take the tunnel. After the fjord you’ll soon hit Borgarnes, that’s where you’ll get off highway 1 and get on the roundtrip around the peninsula. A few of the amazing landmarks on the peninsula include Kirkjufell mountain and waterfalls, Selvallavatn lake and Berserkjahraun lavafield (make sure to check out the hidden road that actually goes through the field. Only in summer though) — More attractions include Hellnar and Arnarstapi for incredible views and the iconic black church by Budir. Lastly, Bjarnarhofn is the original maker of Hakarl, the fermented shark. Only if you feel like it, haha!
© Kari Bjorn, 2024