6 Of the Best Iceland Tours (Based on 6 Visits, Tried + Tested)

Iceland is a country that I’m always excited to visit, so much so that I’ve been there no fewer than six times since my first visit in 2018. The landscapes inspire me like nowhere else, and I love the food and culture. Standing at the waterfront in Reykjavík and feeling a fresh North Atlantic breeze on my face is, to me, also one of life’s simple pleasures. 

During my various trips to Iceland, I’ve taken countless tours. Some of these have been into Iceland’s wilderness, offering the chance to witness some of the country’s most famous sights in person. On other occasions, I have taken tours to get to know more about Reykjavík. 

Of course, not all tours are created equally. While I have raved about some, I don’t think that all are worth your time. Since visiting Iceland is expensive, and I want you to get the most value out of your trip, I’ve compiled this list of tours that I actually recommend taking. 

This isn’t a generic list with lots of random tours and excursions that haven’t actually been tried. You also will not find any stock images. I have flown to Iceland and tried each and every one of the tours that I recommend in this guide. 

1. South Coast Day Tour

Iceland’s South Coast is much bigger than it looks on a map, and in my opinion, you should only try seeing everything in a day if you join a tour. It’s a lot of driving for one (or even two people to do), which is precisely why my mom and I took a South Coast day tour on a previous trip. Well, that and the fact I didn’t have a driving license. 

At the time, my mom and I both agreed that this was the best tour we’ve ever taken in Iceland. Even now, when we speak about previous trips we’ve taken to the country, we still hold this opinion. The tour took us around 15 hours, and it’s an absolute mammoth.

We saw many of the South Coast’s main highlights. For example, we went all the way to the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Seeing the floating ice blocks here felt otherworldly, and we also had the choice to sail along the lagoon as an optional add-on. 

Being on the water and seeing the icebergs up close is a memorable experience, and I strongly recommend doing this. You can book the tour with the boat excursion as an all-in-one ticket if you want to do both (summer-only), though it’s also possible to get tickets without the boat tour included (year-round).

The tour took us to many of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, too, including Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Since it was summer, we were allowed to walk behind Seljalandsfoss and see the waterfall from a unique angle. However, when I went back to Seljalandsfoss during an off-season trip, I noticed that it was closed during that time. 

Skógafoss, meanwhile, is a special place. We really got a feel of nature’s full force here, and you need to see this waterfall’s sheer power with your own two eyes. 

On this tour, we went to the cute town of Vík. Moreover, we visited the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach, which featured in Game of Thrones. To be honest, I think Reynisfjara is a bit overrated—but the rest of the sights on this tour mean it’s still worth booking. 

Our guide took us to a couple of places that many tourists quickly drive past, too. For example, we got to see the Skeiðará bridge monument. It’s located on the side of the Ring Road and is a monument to the bridge that was destroyed in a 1996 glacial run. Despite its serene surroundings, we again realized just how powerful nature is. 

This tour is a long, long day. However, you will see so many cool things that you won’t care about that. We stopped in Vík for some food (this was not included in the tour price, so keep that in mind), but I recommend packing your own sandwiches, snacks, and drinks to keep you fueled throughout the day. 

Where to Meet for This Tour

We booked this tour with a pickup from Reykjavík. You can choose from many hotels in the Icelandic capital; if you’re staying in an Airbnb, simply pick the closest pickup spot. 

You can also get picked up from the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavík, which is just outside the city center. This is slightly cheaper than being picked up from your hotel. 

2. Reykjavík Foodie Walk

Despite being a town in terms of size, Reykjavík has a surprisingly good foodie scene. While in Iceland on a winter trip, my mom and I took the chance to sample the Icelandic capital’s many weird and wonderful flavors. Since the wind was pretty brutal that afternoon, this was also a welcome refuge from the outside elements. 

On this food tour, we tried a variety of main courses, sides, and desserts. My personal favorite was the rye bread ice cream from Café Loki. When I took my girlfriend to Iceland for the first time some years later, I made it a priority to make her try it (she was skeptical at first, but eventually realized that I wasn’t joking about it being good 🙂). 

We also got to try variations of Skyr, along with seafood dishes. Everything tasted fresh, and I enjoyed most of what we tried. My only exception was the hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which were fine but a little overrated. That said, everything else was worth trying—and considering how expensive restaurants in Iceland are, this tour represented good value for money. 

Meeting Point for This Tour

The food tour starts at Harpa Concert Hall. Before the tour, I recommend checking out the interior of  Harpa, which is a Nordic architectural masterpiece. The concert hall is along the seafront and a short walk from Downtown Reykjavík. 

3. Golden Circle Day Tour

While there are plenty of fun things to do in Reykjavík, I recommend getting out and seeing the Icelandic countryside at least once—even on a short trip. The Golden Circle is an absolute classic, and this day tour was one of the first I did in Iceland. It’s the perfect introduction to Iceland’s stunning nature. 

The Golden Circle tour took us to Þingvellir National Park, which is still one of my favorite places in Iceland. I’ve had the privilege of returning on later trips, and in my opinion, you need to come here before you can fully understand Iceland as a country. It’s also where Iceland declared independence from Denmark in 1944. 

On this tour, we got to walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Moreover, we enjoyed stunning views of the national park’s surroundings. On a short December day, the lighting was beautiful, too. 

After Þingvellir, we went to Geysir and the Strokkur geyser. Strokkur erupts regularly, and watching the water shoot up from the ground was pretty interesting. The strong smell of sulfur wasn’t enough to stop me from enjoying this place, and it was good to stop for a few minutes. 

We then went to Gullfoss. This waterfall is another example of nature’s full force in action, and even though it was -13ºC (8.6ºF), I had no problems standing here and watching the 100+ cubic meters of water cascade downward each second. 

The Golden Circle day tour runs year-round, and for us, it was around seven hours. While we went in the winter, I have been back to the Golden Circle at other times of the year—it’s worth visiting regardless of when you’re in Iceland. I recommend doing this tour close to the start of your trip. 

Where to Meet

You’ll meet your tour guide at the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavík. 

4. Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Tour

On a 2021 trip to Iceland, we never actually intended to visit Snæfellesnes. However, our flights to Akureyri were canceled due to a snowstorm. So, we had an extended stay in Reykjavík. 

Frantically trying to find things to do, we decided to book a day tour to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Neither my mother nor I had been here before, so why not? 

As it goes, that was a great decision. Our day trip to Snæfellsnes was the highlight of that trip. 

Snæfellsnes is the peninsula that sticks out just north of Reykjavík. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of Iceland, and while it’s not on the Ring Road, it is well worth a detour. This tour took us to many of the peninsula’s main sights, including Kirkjufell—the iconic mountain that featured in Game of Thrones. 

While Kirkjufell is a sight to behold, it’s not the only place we visited. We also went to Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur beach, and various other spots. Although it was very windy that day, we were blessed with one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. 

The tour also involved a lunch stop in Ólafsvík. While not the main reason for visiting, the village does have a cool church. The restaurant we stopped in was quite nice, too.

Meeting Point for This Tour

You can choose to get picked up from your hotel. Otherwise, you have the option to meet at another designated spot in Reykjavík. 

5. Northern Lights Hunting

Seeing the Northern Lights is one of the main reasons for visiting Iceland outside the summer, and having seen them twice, I can confirm that it’s an amazing experience. The first time I saw them was on a Northern Lights hunting tour. 

On this tour, we were driven outside of Reykjavík to the Icelandic countryside. Since the Northern Lights are not guaranteed, our driver took us to where we had the best opportunity to see them. We were there for a few hours before seeing anything, and I won’t lie to you… It was FREEZING. 

Eventually, the sky turned a dim green. However, the aurora actually wasn’t very strong. Still, we boarded the bus. 

But then, as we were about to leave, our driver told us to get back off the bus. The skies had exploded, and the Northern Lights had exploded, and I have never seen anything like it. It was one of those moments that felt surreal, and something I still look back on with fondness. 

Since the Northern Lights are not guaranteed, we chose a tour where we could get free rebooking. The one we picked had a free re-entry ticket to be used within three years if we didn’t see them the first time, which was a huge selling point. Our tour also offered refunds if the weather had forced it to be canceled on all the days we were in Iceland. 

Where to Meet for This Tour

You can choose from various meeting points throughout Reykjavík. 

6. Whale-Watching in Faxaflói Bay

On the morning of my whale-watching tour, it wasn’t exactly top of my mind. My immature 23-year-old self had been out drinking the night before, and like other British guys that age left to a street of pubs and bars abroad, I went over the top. Let’s just say that I… wasn’t feeling great. 

Nonetheless, I still decided to get out of bed and step on a boat while the wind in Reykjavík was howling. Because nothing does wonders for an upset stomach like increasing your chances of seasickness, right? Anyway, as it goes, whale-watching is less of a “punishment” and more of a “really fun activity to do when you’re in Iceland”. 

Our whale-watching tour took us out onto Faxaflói Bay, the stretch of water between Reykjavík and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Even though we visited outside the peak whale-watching season, we still got to see them. We were even blessed to see a humpback whale rise out of the water. 

Even if we hadn’t seen any whales, the views were beautiful. I’d love to do another whale-watching tour without a hangover now that I’ve grown up, and for you, I strongly suggest making it part of your Iceland itinerary. 

The Meeting Point

Whale-watching tours in Reykjavík depart from the Old Harbor. You can join them year-round.

Final Thoughts

You’ll find countless tours in Iceland, and knowing which ones are worth your time is essential. Besides getting the maximum value for your money, it’s also important that you pick tours that are actually aligned with what you want out of your trip. 

While I’ve tried several tours in Iceland, a few stand out—and now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better idea of what is worth your time when you visit. If this is your first trip here, consider checking out my tips on what to know before visiting Iceland for the first time.

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