Due to a big tourism development in Iceland over the past decades, it’s quite easy to see Iceland without a car these days. Back in 2006, when I visited Iceland for the first time, options were quite limited. Having been to Iceland eleven times by now, I have spent many of those trips in Iceland without a car. And you know what? It’s easier than you think!
In this article I will give you my very best tips on how to travel around Iceland the relaxing way and seeing loads. Enjoy reading!
My first (and best) tip: base yourself in Reykjavík
Depending on how much time you have, my best tip for you is to base yourself in Reykjavík and explore Iceland from there on several day tours. There are plenty of options which I will discuss further below in my top three day tours from Reykjavík. In addition, there are plenty of options for shorter tours from Reykjavík such as a puffin boat tour and a city tour. Also some of the famous hot springs can easily be reached from Reykjavík.
Basing yourself in Reykjavík means you won’t have to bother packing and unpacking every single day. I personally find settling into a new hotel room each day quite exhausting and this way, you can easily just leave all your things behind when you’re out and just bring what you need for the day.
Curious where I stayed in Reykjavík? Here are my suggestions for any budget:
All these three options are located at walking distance from the city center so you don’t have to spend a lot of time walking to/from your pick up points. You also have easy access to supermarkets, shops and restaurants. You can find all my accommodation suggestions for Reykjavík in this post.
Day tours from Reykjavík
You can easily get around Iceland without a car and visit a lot of the most famous sights. To avoid backtracking all the time, I would recommend to include these three day tours from Reykjavík in your itinerary. I have listed my complete itinerary that I did in 2025 below by the way, so keep on reading for more suggestions!
- Tour one: a day at the Golden Circle: the Golden Circle is the classic day tour in Iceland and anyone traveling to Iceland for the first time, should see it. It typically includes a visit to Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir. You can find tour options here.
- Tour two: the South Coast: Iceland’s South Coast has everything to offer what Iceland is famous for: glaciers, black sand beaches and iceberg lakes. Day tours all the way to Jökulsárlón are usually quite long (about 14-15 hours return) but truly worth it. Check the best options here.
- Tour three: Snaefellsnes: if time allows it, you can head on a day trip to Snaefellsnes. This peninsula is also called Iceland in Miniature (which I don’t really agree with but hey, that’s not up to me of course) and includes the very famous Kirkjufell mountain. You will find day tours to Snaefellsnes here.
Other tours from Reykjavík (that I have done)
There are plenty of other cool tours that you can do from Reykjavík and which to choose all truly depend on your own wishes. If I may make a few suggestions, you could include some of the following options:
- Blue Lagoon: the classic hot pool located between the airport and Reykjavík. You can easily head to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavík but depending on your arrival time at the airport, you can also first head on a tour to the Blue Lagoon and then onwards to Reykjavík.
- Sky Lagoon: if you want the lesser famous (and expensive) one, the Sky Lagoon is also a great option. Where the Blue Lagoon offers just the famous hot pool, the Sky Lagoon as a complete 7 step ritual including a cool plunge and a sauna. It’s less crowded than the Blue Lagoon but also less iconic of course. You can check tour options here.
- A puffin cruise: I did this tour about 10 years ago while I had a few hours to spare in Reykjavík and absolutely loved seeing puffins from the sea. You can find options and prices here. Note that this is a seasonal tour that runs from May until August.
- Into the Glacier: A tour that I really wanted to do is Into the Glacier and I truly enjoyed it. I did it in winter and it’s quite a long day from Reykjavík, but I found it well worth the long bus drive. Check prices and availability here.
- Reykjadalur hike and hot stream: If you feel like being active and still want to visit a natural hot spring, Reykjadalur is your best option. I’ve been here many times and can recommend this to anyone. You can read more about it in my article about the Reykjadalur hike and find guided tours from Reykjavík here.
Iceland by public transport
Iceland has no trains but does have an extended bus system, which is run by Straeto. They have busses connecting many parts of the the country and it’s an affordable way to get around. I’ve used them in the past and the downside is that you have fixed itineraries and so you sometimes have to wait somewhere extremely long just to see one sight. It is however your most affordable option if you want to go to Iceland without a car and not spend a lot of money on guided tours.
Longer group tours
If you decide you want to travel all around Iceland and not base yourself in Reykjavík, there are plenty of fully organized small group tours to join. They vary from just a few days to a few weeks and anything in between. By choosing a longer group tour, you will travel around Iceland and stay along the way rather than backtrack to Reykjavík every day, which means you will spend less time in a bus and more time along the way.
My favorite option for these tours is Guide to Iceland. They are Iceland’s leading travel agency for 8 years in a row and has a best price guarantee on all services. Check out their small group tours in Iceland here.
My ultimate itinerary for a week in Iceland without a car
You can easily spend a week in Iceland without a car and see a lot. Last year (in 2025) I guided a group of Dutch women on a tour that more or less looked like this. This itinerary is ideal if you want to see some of Iceland’s highlights without constantly changing hotels.
Day 1: arrival in Reykjavík
Arrival on Keflavík Airport and transfer with Flybus to Downtown Reykjavík. You can easily book your Flybus ticket online before you go.
Day 2: Golden Circle Tour
A full day tour in the famous Golden Circle and return to Reykjavík at the end of the day.
Day 3: Reykjadalur Hike
This day we did the Reykjadalur Hike and were back in time in Reykjavík for some sightseeing
Day 4: South Coast Tour
A long day on the South Coast. We made it all the way to Vík and back, however if I could do this over again, I’d add the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon as you have quite an easy day tomorrow when you’ll stay in and around Reykjavík.
Day 5: Reykjavík and Secret Lagoon
A free morning in Reykjavík for a city tour (you can easily walk around town by yourself) and in the afternoon we visited the Sky Lagoon. Of course you can also head to the Blue Lagoon.
Day 6: Snaefellsnes day tour
Today we went on a full day tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. A great way to end a one week stay in Iceland.
Day 7: Departure back to the airport
As our flights left in the early morning, we had a super early Flybus to the airport and left Iceland.
Getting to/from the airport without a car
Keflavík Airport is Iceland’s international airport and is located about a one hour journey from downtown Reykjavík. The easiest and fastest option to get to the city is with Flybus, which has regular trips between Keflavík and the city. You can book your ticket here.
Book your Iceland trip
Do you want to travel to Iceland? Find the best options to book your trip below:
Conclusion and further reading
I hope that with this article I have given you some ideas on how to spend your time in Iceland without a car. As I mentioned at the start of this arcticle, there really is no need to rent a car if you feel uncertain about driving and/or just don’t want to have the responsibility of renting a car in severe weather conditions, which are quite common in Iceland.
In short are these your best options:
– Day tours from Reykjavík: easiest
– Public transport: cheapest but with limited flexibility
– Organized multi-day tours: best if you want to see more of the country without having to do the planning yourself.
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