The 5 Best Shore Excursions from Reykjavik Harbour

1.German-Speaking Golden Circle Small Group Tour from Reykjavík – Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 216 reviews · 8 hours · from $182Our pick

Join a German-speaking guide such as Andy or Petra for an 8 to 9-hour Golden Circle shore trip from Reykjavík. Visit Kerið, Gullfoss, Strokkur, Þingvellir, Laugarvatn, and Efstidalur farm, with pickup at Skarfabakki and groups capped at 19.

“Tolles Programm für einen Tag Island. Tour in kleinen Gruppen. Petra ist ein toller Guide, weiß alles über Island und geht super auf die Gruppe ein, z.b wenn Kinder dabei sind.”

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2.From Reykjavik Port: Golden Circle Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 84 reviews · 7 hours · from $200

Join GeoIceland for a 6 to 8 hour small-group drive from Reykjavik Port to Gullfoss, Geysir, and Thingvellir. Your English-speaking local guide may add stops for Icelandic horses, a geothermal farm, volcanic sites, or local treats when time and conditions allow.

“The guide was excellent and full of information! The waterfalls were absolutely amazing! The landscape was beautiful and the history by our guide was very useful. It’s a tour that every visitor to Iceland needs to take on their vacations. We enjoyed the day and Iceland!”

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3.Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 61 reviews · 3 hours 50 minutes (approx.) · from $108

Cruise from Reykjavik’s Skarfabakki Harbour into Faxaflói Bay for porpoises, dolphins, minke whales, and humpbacks. Your guide explains the wildlife and local waters, while thermal coveralls, WiFi, seasickness tablets, and a return ticket if nothing is seen make the outing easier in Iceland’s changeable weather.

“Time indication for pick up as inaccurate. We were told pick up noon, meant was however between noon and 12.45. We had to call once again to clarify. Crew did excellent in spite of the rough sea. Actually date was bad for whale watching as most big whales were already gone. We did only see a little bit of a mink whale.”

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4.Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 56 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $63Best value

Cruise from Reykjavik’s Skarfabakki Harbour to Akurey Island, where an expert guide points out puffins, Arctic terns, and other seabirds. The small boat circles the island, pauses with the engine off for photos, and returns in about an hour. Binoculars, coffee, and port transfers are included.

“Amazing, amazing, amazing! The crew gets you really close to the puffins, there are soo many of them flying by and over your head as well as bobbing along on the water and wandering about on the island itself. I was nervous as I'd seen reviews saying the birds are soo small you can't even see them. I've come to the conclusion these reviewers should have gone to specsavers.”

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5.Golden Circle – Shore Excursion from Reykjavik in Minibus, English

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $156Top rated

You’ll tour Iceland’s Golden Circle from Reykjavik in an air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking local guide. Expect Gullfoss, Strokkur, Kerid crater, Thingvellir’s tectonic gorge, a geothermal fissure, farm-made ice cream, and a short Reykjavik drive, usually with no more than eight people.

“We were in a van with only eight of us. Our driver was also the guide and took us to the usual places of interest along the Golden Circle. It was a long tour, actually even longer than the eight hours listed in the online description. The weather waRead more”

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