Activities in Iceland

Short on time in the capital? Whether you're on a layover or have a single day to spend in Reykjavík, these picks make the most of a few hours:

• Reykjavik Food Walk. Discover authentic Icelandic cuisine through the eyes of local foodies. During this walking tour, you’ll pass by some of the most famous attractions in Reykjavík while your local guide shares the stories behind the city and its food.

• Whale watching from Reykjavík Old Harbor. A 2–3 hour boat trip from the heart of the capital into Faxaflói Bay, where minke whales, humpbacks, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises are spotted year-round. Easy to slot into a tight itinerary with no transfer outside the city.

• Whales of Iceland. A whale museum on Grandi next to the Old Harbor, displaying life-size models of 23 whale species in a blue-lit underwater-style hall. Admission includes audio guides in 12+ languages, daily live guided tours, and documentary screenings. About 1 to 2 hours, with the on-site Big Little Whale Café for breaks. A solid fallback when the weather rules out the boat.

• Reykjavík City Card. The best bang for your buck. The card provides free entry to most of Reykjavík's museums, art galleries, and thermal pools, plus discounts on food, public transport, and other activities in the capital.

For more options based in and around the capital, browse our Reykjavík day tours.

Iceland's summer season runs roughly from June through August. It's the only window when the highland F-roads open, when the Midnight Sun keeps the sky lit around the clock near the June 21 solstice, and when Atlantic puffins are nesting on coastal cliffs. These conditions unlock a set of tours that aren't available the rest of the year:

• Landmannalaugar Hiking Day Tour. A guided day trip into the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, where rhyolite mountains shift from red to green and lava fields, canyons, and steaming hot springs sit within walking distance of each other. Only accessible by F-road in summer. Pack a swimsuit for the natural hot pool at the end of the hike. 
  
  
• Westman Island, Volcanoes & Puffins tour. A full-day trip to Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Walk across the 1973 Eldfell lava flow that buried a third of the town, hike to the crater rim, and visit cliffside lookouts where Atlantic puffins nest from May through August.

• Whales & Puffin Tour from Reykjavík. A 3 to 5 hour boat trip from Reykjavík Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay, combining whale watching with a stop at a nearby puffin nesting island. The four species most commonly spotted are humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. Operates only May through August, when the puffins are ashore on their breeding cliffs.

• Hvítá River Rafting. A 3-hour Class 2 rafting trip down the Hvítá River through Brúarhlöð Canyon, the same glacial meltwater that feeds Gullfoss waterfall. Available May to September only, when river levels and water temperatures allow safe descents. Rated Moderate, open to ages 11 and up.

For the full season inventory, including multi-day trips and packages, browse all Iceland summer tours and vacation packages.

Iceland's winter runs roughly from November through March. Daylight shrinks to around four to five hours near the December 21 solstice, but those long dark hours are the point. The Northern Lights become visible on clear nights, natural ice caves form fresh inside the glaciers as the cold sets in, and the landscape resets under snow, turning familiar summer routes into something completely different. These are the tours that work best in this window:

• Golden Circle and Northern Lights. Northern Lights hunting is the ultimate winter adventure in Iceland. Combine it with a Golden Circle tour and make a day of it! During the tour, you’ll visit Thingvellir, Haukadalur Valley, and Gullfoss. Cap the day off with a Northern Lights show.

• Snowmobiling and Ice Caving. This is the ultimate winter adventure combo. Start your day with a snowmobiling tour across Langjokull (the Long Glacier) and then descend into a natural ice cave. No previous snowmobiling experience is needed and all necessary gear is provided.

• Skaftafell Blue Ice & Glacier Hike Tour. Iceland's natural blue ice caves form fresh in the glaciers each winter, with new chambers carved by meltwater as the ice shifts. This tour pairs a guided glacier hike on Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull, with a visit inside a naturally formed cave in Skaftafell Nature Reserve. About 4 hours total including the gear-up. Crampons, helmet, and harness provided. Available October to April only, for ages 8 and up. Meets on location in Skaftafell.

For the full season inventory, including multi-day trips and packages, browse all Iceland winter tours.